JEFFERSON CITY - MoDOT's Blue Ribbon Panel says the public has diminished confidence in the state's transportation leadership and significant changes are necessary.

Panel Chairman Jack Magruder says that Missouri roads cannot improve until the state provides enough resources. He says the only way to improve Missouri roads is to increase credibility and integrity of the whole operation.

Magruder also says that public office candidates should not run on a platform targeting MoDOT. He says that candidates add to the public's diminished confidence in MoDOT and this hurts the departments change to receive the necessary resources to make improvments.

JEFFERSON CITY - Not all school districts in Missouri are jumping on the bandwagon to challenge the Foundation Formula.

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JEFFERSON CITY - His planned suit challenging the constitutionality of the state's funding formula is gaining strength as more than 200 school districts have joined Bartlett for the second round. In 1993, he led a group of 89 school districts in a successful suit against the state that led to a reworking of the state's school funding system and the largest tax increase in state history.

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JEFFERSON CITY - In its final report on how to improve Missouri transportation, the state's Blue Ribbon Highway Panel has recommended that improvements to I-70 be financed by charging tolls to finance the interstate.

The panel demured about recommending how much to charge motorists, but panel chairman Jack Magruder says he expects to see tolls used to raise a "substantial" portion of the millions of dollars needed to maintain and upgrade the aging highway.

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JEFFERSON CITY - About 1.4 million Missourians may receive their health insurance from the country's newest and largest managed care provider.

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JEFFERSON CITY - As Missouri's economy becomes increasingly based in the service industry, the state's tax laws lag behind. The Missouri tax code is based on an economy of manufacturing goods. As a result, service-based industries do their business tax-free.

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JEFFERSON CITY - As demand for energy and heating rises and the temperature falls, Missouri Social Services Department and regional Community Action Agencies are working together to bring warmth to low income families.

The state will use funds from the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to pay energy bills for people living near the poverty level. Applications became available Oct. 20 and will last until March 31 unless funds run out before then.

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JEFFERSON CITY - The planned lawsuit is a challenge to the state's system for funding local schools. Superintendents in Boone County are considering joining over 200 Missouri school districts posing the challenge.

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JEFFERSON CITY - The IRS is waiting for over $1 million to be claimed by Missouri taxpayers. The IRS is unable to deliver refund checks to 2,500 Missourians. The checks are for general refund and child tax credits.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Leading politicians say the death of St. Louis County Administrator Buzz Westfall is a great loss for Missouri.

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JEFFERSON CITY - The Public Service Commission will hold a string of public hearings over the next week to seek public input on whether to allow AmerenUE to raise the rates its customers pay for gas by more than $26 million.

The rate increase would add about $16 to the average monthly gas bill. If approved, it would be phased in over the next two years.

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JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri state agencies are not doing a good enough job including businesses owned by women and minorities, a report by the state auditor's office finds.

Missouri is not meeting required percentages for such businesses when it purchases goods and services or hires contractors for public works projects. The requirements were implemented in a 1998 executive order.