The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that cellphones are to be protected from warrantless police searches in the same way an American’s home might be. The ruling beats to the punch part of a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution…
Author Archive for Eli Yokley
Eli Yokley is editor in chief of PoliticMo, and also serves as a political contributor to The Joplin Globe and the St. Louis Business Journal. He can be reached at eli@politicmo.com.
Rob Schaaf: Supreme Court ruling reaffirms need for state measure
by Eli Yokley •
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that cellphones are to be protected from warrantless police searches in the same way an American’s home might be. The ruling beats to the punch part of a proposed amendment to the Missouri Constitution…
Nixon budget restrictions mean state job cuts
by Eli Yokley •
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon said he will eliminate or freeze more than $1.1 billion from the state’s budget beginning July 1, including 260 state jobs. “As governor, it’s my responsibility under the Missouri Constitution to keep the budget in balance…
In Southwest Missouri, church attempts to recruit young men by giving away AR-15
by Eli Yokley •
JOPLIN, Mo. — Some churches give away televisions or vacations. Others sell homemade pies and quilts. And some raffle off semiautomatic rifles. Ignite Church went with the last option. On Father’s Day, June 15, the church at 710 S. Maiden…
All you need to know about the August 5 sales tax measure
by Eli Yokley •
In May, Missouri lawmakers approved a $6 billion measure that would raise sales taxes by three-fourths of a percent to create a fund dedicated to transportation projects from 2015 to 2025. State officials estimate that would mean $6 billion in…
Jason Kander approves ballot questions for August ballot
by Eli Yokley •
— Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander approved the questions for five ballot measures that will be placed before voters on Aug. 5. The language and fiscal notes were certified on Friday, giving county clerks one week to have ballots…
On the trail: Jay Nixon campaigns in southwest Missouri against ‘grab bag of giveaways’
by Eli Yokley •
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Another summer will bring another tax fight between Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon and the Republican-led General Assembly. Last year, Nixon led a successful campaign to sustain his veto of one tax bill that he said would cut…
Nixon vetoes tax breaks, citing future budget concerns
by Eli Yokley •
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed ten bills on Wednesday that he said would harm the state’s coffers and funding for state programs. Nixon’s administration claimed that in all, the various tax breaks – from computer data centers to grapes for the…
Southwest Missouri tanning operators say their policies ahead of new law
by Eli Yokley •
JOPLIN, Mo. – Operators of local tanning salons do not think they will be affected by a new state law that will regulate the ability of minors to use tanning beds. The law, signed last week by Gov. Jay Nixon, requires…
Privacy ballot question pushes new legal ‘frontier’, says law professor
by Eli Yokley •
Smartphone and cloud technology is not going away — it’s doing the opposite. According to the Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project, as of January 2014, 90 percent of American adults owned a cellphone, and nearly two-thirds of…