By Steve Bell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-813041.mp3
Kansas City, MO –
A Jackson County judge says Kansas City did not violate state law with its new ban on smoking in bars. Judge Richard Standridge ruled that the city has the right to establish laws more restrictive than those already on the state books.Senator Sam Brownback set things in motion for a run for governor of Kansas in 2010 today, appointing a campaign treasurer and filing a necessary form with the secretary of state.As Brownback puts his campaign together, there's speculation that Democrat Dennis McKinney, newly appointed state treasurer will bow out of that office for a gubernatorial run.The Missouri and Kansas Business Conditions Indexes fell for the third-straight month in December as the Mid-America index reaches an all-time low.Missouri's labor director says the state unemployment fund will be looking for a $40 million loan to continue to pay jobless benefits by April.
