Quick Hits

• The Suburban Journal did a story last week about a lawsuit filed against McBride & Sons by residents whose homes were built on a public right of way. The story reported that the right of way was vacated in 2006, however, this is in incorrect. The road has actually never been legally vacated, a point which is crucial to the story and which should bring into question O'Fallon's role in this controversy. However, up to this point neither the Journal nor the Post has covered this angle.
• Speaking of Koch Road, I wrote to my State Representative Doug Funderburk, who co-sponsored a bill to make it easier to vacate a public road, regarding his reasons for supporting a change in the law. The bill was added on to SB 22 and appears to be another example of a law that was changed to help out one developer. My email to Funderburk was sent about two months ago and so far he seems to be following the lead of House Speaker Rod Jetton by ignoring requests for an explanation.
• Has anyone noticed how much attention Fox News spends on these home made videos of people fighting? Under the guise of reporting, Fox plays the videos while telling its viewers about this "growing problem." This is just another example, e.g. Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith, of how the mainstream media tries to legitimize its coverage of these type of stories.
• It appears as if Nixon's appointment of an investigative team to look into the Blunt administration's handling of emails has resulted in less coverage of the controversy. Let's hope this is because we are awaiting the results of the investigation rather than a loss of interest in the important discussion of public records, the sunshine law and open government.
• Mizzou's rise to power in the BCS rankings has resulted in a lot of attention to the program. This is great news for the school but along with the accolades come some criticism that Mizzou is not worthy of its lofty ranking. As expected Mizzou fans are in an uproar over the criticism and the ever present "east coast bias." At least now they have to talk about us.
• With the presidential primaries quickly approaching so are the celebrity endorsements. I have yet to meet the person who will admit they are swayed by Oprah Winfrey or Chuck Norriss' thoughts on who should run the country but apparently a lot of people care. Will someone please tell me why?
• A story in the Post-Dispatch reports that 4 levees, at St. Louis, Chesterfield, Festus/Crystal City and Cape Girardeau , were funded by Congress to provide protection from a 500 year flood, however, a representative of the US Army Corps of Engineers says the levees don't even provide protection for a 100 year flood. The story does not indicate why the levees do not meet the 500 year level and whether federally subsidized insurance was based on the 500 year level or 100 year level. I hope these questions are answered before we throw more money into flood plain development.