2006

READ IT HERE FIRST The National Republican Senatorial Committee has started a new Internet ad this week again hitting Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill on her personal finances. Estimating McCaskill’s net worth at between…

U.S. Senator-elect Claire McCaskill will serve on five Senate committees, including the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to the Associated Press. From the AP: The newly elected Missouri Democrat also will have a seat on…

by Peter DownsMarch 20, 2006 -- Richard Pack made a modest proposal to the St. Louis Board of Education on March 14: teach children how to focus by teaching them chess.Pack said he was a…

A letter from Peter Downs, school board member and founder of The St. Louis Schools Watch:As one of the seven school board members, who must vote on the disposition of the ROTC program currently at…

Pub Def is looking for a part-time camera operator. Ideal candidate should: Know how to operate a high-end video camera Be reliable and responsible Be familiar with editing software such as iMovie and Final Cut…

by Peter DownsJanuary 18, 2006 -- An ambitious private plan to build a sports stadium to serve St. Louis Public Schools and St. Louis City residents has ground to halt.The Community Stadium Project, the nonprofit…

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…

By Susan Turk and Peter DownsFebruary 6, 2006 -- A group of parents gathered at Washington Montessorion Friday morning to express their continueddissatisfaction with the school. Parent DelisaTaylor, who has had children in the Montessori…

School Board president Veronica O’Brien was denied a restraining order today against fired Vashon basketball coach Floyd Irons and his friend and supporter, Demetrius Johnson. O’Brien had alleged that the two — along with several…