2006

Republican Leslie Farr has lost his bid to get his party’s nomination for a second run against Congressman Lacy Clay in the 1st District. Mark J. Byrne easily defeated Farr, who had recently become at…

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…

by Peter DownsThe St. Louis Board of Education on January 17 approved a fundamental change in the way students are admitted to magnet schools. The board voted 4-1 to give preference for admission to magnet…

The chief financial officer of the St. Louis Public Schools had some more bad news for the school board at last night's meeting. The roughly $2 million shortfall for the 2006-2007 budget is actually more…

Starting July 1, the St. Louis Public Schools will be operating without a new budget. The school board yesterday rejected the budget proposed by Superintendent Creg Williams which would have added $4 million to the…

Claire McCaskill has declared victory in her race for U.S. Senate. Check back for video… Keep up with St. Louis politics at www.pubdef.net

The St. Louis Board of Education tonight voted to table a proposal to close Cleveland High School to allow time for more public debate. They also requested that Superintendent Creg Williams provide more details on…

A story in today’s Kansas City Star examines how some of U.S. Senate candidate Claire McCaskill’s husband’s business dealings would create “several potential conflicts of interest” should McCaskill successfully unseat Sen. Jim Talent. Click here…

Below are answers from school district administrators to questions from St. Louis Board of Education member Peter Downs regarding items on the administration's consent agenda for April 18, 2006.Textbook items: (Numbers 4, 5, 11, 12,…