Election 2012

Primary 2012: Breaking Down the Votes

A look at how candidates fared in University City and statewide races Tuesday.

Missouri voters turned out Tuesday for the 2012 primary election. Voters in University City and across the state saw several contested primary races and ballot issues. Here's a look at Tuesday's winners and losers: U.S. Senate Congress Statewide Offices State Representative Townships Issues A complete list of vote tallies is below. Winners are in bold.

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University City: Meet Missouri's Olympians

Meet the athletes from Missouri who will be competing in the 2012 Olympic Games.

They've put in innumerable hours of sweat, blood and tears to get where they are today. They are among the best of the best and are ready to prove their mettle. 529 athletes from 45 states will represent the United States at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. They are competing in events as diverse as athletics, fencing, rowing, soccer and basketball. For everyone, from swimmer Katie Ledecky, 15, to 54-year-old equestrian jumper Karen O’Connor, these Games represent the culmination of all the hard work and dedication they've put in to win the coveted medal. It's time to meet the Olympians from Missouri. Here are a few quick facts about our Olympians! Spenser Mango Michael Rodgers Becky Sauerbrunn Looking for a way to celebrate the Olympics …

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Gov. Jay Nixon Vetoes Contraceptive Services Bill: Agree or Disagree?

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they have religious or moral objections. What do you think of his actions?

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed a bill that would have allowed employers to deny insurance coverage for contraceptive services if they have religious or moral objections. Nixon, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, said Missouri law already provides "strong religious protections" that let employers and employees abstain from paying for contraceptive coverage based on their beliefs. From the report: Nixon said the bill would undermine the current protections because it would let an insurance company "impose its will, and deny inclusion of contraceptive coverage, even if that position is inconsistent with the rights and beliefs of the employee or employer." At a news conference in his Capitol office this morning, Nixon said he vetoed the…

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Leaving Pets and Kids in the Car: Should the Law Do More?

According to one organization, a child can die from heat stroke on a 72-degree day if left unattended in a car.

Each summer, the same old story comes up—irresponsible parents and pet owners leaving their children or pets in the car during times of extreme heat. The result can be devestating. According to the Department of Geosciences at San Francisco State University, more than 500 children have died because of being left in a hot car since 1998—11 have been reported thus far in 2012. Most of the time, parents or pet owners tragically forget about their kids or pets. But the incident rarely finds sympathy amongst the public. According to SafeKids.org, a child can die from heat stroke on a 72-degree day. That's because their bodies aren’t the same as adults and a child’s body can heat up five times faster than an adult’s. And according to the Weather…

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Denise Bertacchi

8:45 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012

The way Patch is formatted right now, the cutlines only show up when you click the photos. Its there.   more ›

Missouri/Illinois High School Baseball Showcase Is June 18

A weekend devoted each year to area baseball skills, games and clinics will be held at Busch Stadium June 18. The selected top players include a University City athlete.

The third annual PNC Bank High School Baseball Showcase presented by Rawlings on June 18 will provide 50 fortunate high school seniors the chance to demonstrate to NCAA coaches and professional scouts they have what it takes to make it in the big leagues. Among them are local baseball players from University City—see the 2012 roster that accompanies this article. Kevin Phillips of University City High School is one of the catchers for the Missouri team.  With a 1:15 p.m. first pitch at Busch Stadium on June 18, the Baseball Showcase game will feature both Missouri and Illinois high school All-Stars, nominated by area high school coaches and chosen by a selection committee of sports writers from both sides of the river. All Showcase players…

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Patch Political Potpourri

Missouri Voters Will Decide a Bevy of Ballot Issues This Year

Plus: A goodbye and a thank you from your purveyor of Potpourri.

This election cycle brought about an unprecedented flow of initiative petitions -- 143 to be exact. Even though an innumerable amount of trees were sacrificed in paperwork, only four items have any chance of making it to the ballot. Earlier in May, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan announced that various groups had turned in signatures for the following ballot initiatives: It’s not known yet whether any of these items will actually be put up for a vote. For one thing, several of the items, including the cigarette tax increase and the payday loan measure, are tied up in litigation. Arch City Chronicle writer Dave Drebes indicated earlier this month that the cases may be heard later in June. The other wrinkle is that the proposals need a …

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Nate Birt

9:27 am on Saturday, June 2, 2012

Jason, you're a credit to your industry. Keep up the good work, and have a blast at your new gig.   more ›

Should Rush Limbaugh Be in the Hall of Famous Missourians?

Rush Limbaugh was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians this week. An honor well deserved? Or a mistake on the part of Missouri lawmakers?

Rush Limbaugh, the controversial conservative commentator, was enshrined into the Hall of Famous Missourians this week, sparking controversy across the state and country on whether Limbaugh should be worth of such an honor. Limbaugh's name now sits amongst such famous Missourians as Mark Twain, Dred Scott, Jack Buck and Stan Musial. According to the St. Louis Beacon, Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley gave reporters less than a half-hour’s notice of the ceremony. From the Beacon: Tilley’s decision to honor Limbaugh, a Cape Girardeau native, has sparked opposition from Democrats and progressives because of Limbaugh’s often strong words when he talks about people with whom he disagrees. Limbaugh’s bust will be placed in the Capitol’s Hall …

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Sonny Pondrom

10:49 am on Monday, November 5, 2012

I don't think Missourians should be proud of just anyone born here. I think a famous person should be someone our children should look up to. Putting this Missouri boy on a pedestal with people who have made great contribution to this country is a mistake and demeaning to the current group of heros.   more ›

Non-Partisan Court Plan Heads for Ballot

Rep. Rory Ellinger, D-University City, opposes the plan and called it “the most radical proposal that we’ve heard all year. We have no problem to solve here. The present system works."

Caterpillars Have Taken to Walking Now

Caterpillars emerge from their tents and are seeking a cocoon location. Then, this fall, they will re-emerge as moths.

Have you seen those spider web-like "baskets"  in tree limbs throughout the St. Louis area? Take a close look at the mostly impenetrable web structure and you'll see Eastern Tent Caterpillars, whose diet consists of leaves on the tree they have built their tents on. In recent days, many of the tent caterpillars have left their cozy abodes and are walking around on driveways and backyard decks and patios, looking for a place to build a cocoon. According to the University of Missouri Extension Service website, the Eastern Tent Caterpillar is a native defoliator that occurs as far west as the Rocky Mountains. The Extension Service website also indicates the preferred tree hosts for the caterpillar are wild cherry, apple and crabapple, but it …

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