2006

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 36th Annual Legislative Conference ended last night with their annual Awards Dinner. More than 400 tables — at up to $750 per seat — filled the Washington Convention Center as…

A story in today’s New York Times calls attention to the shift on K Street following last week’s elections. Quoted in the story is Steve Elmendorf, a longtime aide to former St. Louis Congressman Richard…

I’m scheduled to be a guest this morning on The Freeman Bosley, Jr. Show around 9:00 a.m. on 100.3 The Beat - KATZ FM. We’ll be talking about the results from Tuesday’s elections. Keep up…

School board member Peter Downs made a motion at tonight’s administrative meeting to have the superintendent look at cancelling the district’s contract with controversial maintenance contractor Sodexho. By a vote of 4-2, the board voted…

by Peter DownsFebruary 22, 2006 -- Superintendent Creg Williams' announcement at the St. Louis school board meeting on February 14 of a "strategic plan" for city public schools obscured another important act at the meeting:…

Superintendent Creg Williams may have overreached his authority when he made roughly 1,000 teachers reapply for their jobs a few weeks ago. The superintendent's contract expressly states that while he can recommend such firings or…

Take a look at St. Louis a half a century ago in this 9 minute promotional video from the old St. Louis Community Chest fund. Keep up with St. Louis politics at www.pubdef.net Video_Reports

At a meeting of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus yesterday in Jefferson City, legislators debated over whether current chairman, State Rep. John Bowman, should be allowed to keep the post during the upcoming session. According…

by Peter DownsFebruary 19, 2006 -- Confused, frustrated, feeling a little seasick from one quick reverse after another from the St. Louis Public Schools? The repeated backward and forward of press releases and retractions from…

After rallies with President Bush Friday in Springfield and Joplin, which the campaign estimates were attended by 11,000 people collectively, Sen. Jim Talent continued his trek across Missouri with stops in Perryville, Kennett and West…