MOScout Daily Update: Hyperloop Day - Hoffman in House 96 - Tisby Trial - Drebes Ditches BBerry and more....
Driving the Day: Hyperloop Hoopla
House Speaker Elijah Haahr and members of Missouri’s Special Blue Ribbon Panel on Hyperloop will release the Panel’s final report on Monday, October 28th. The Speaker will present the findings of the Blue Ribbon Panel at three different stops along the proposed Kansas City-Columbia-St. Louis Hyperloop route… The report presents specific steps in establishing Missouri as the global epicenter for research and development of the core Hyperloop technology…
What It Means
This is Haahr’s passion project. He sees a Hyperloop connecting Missouri in a “game-changing” way. But he’s also a realist. And he knows even establishing a research hub here for the new technology could yield a big economic impact.
And
On Twitter, former Greitens staffer Will Scharf questions the three-city itinerary: How is he getting from Columbia to downtown St Louis in an hour and fifteen minutes, unless . . . the hyperloop is actually already fully operational?!?
Rematch in House 96
Erica Hoffman on Facebook last week… “I am running for MO House of Representatives AGAIN in 2020.”
Hoffman was the Democratic candidate last cycle against incumbent Rep. David Gregory. She elicited excitement from Dems because Gregory’s South St. Louis County suburban district was thought ripe for the flipping. The House Victory Committee spent about $20K in independent expenditures to bolster Hoffman’s chances. But on Election Night, Gregory romped to an easy win – 59% to 41%.
Now’s she’s back. Have the past two years of Trump impacted the suburban women of this district to make it close this time?
We’ll see…
MO Beats KS in USDA
Kansas City Business Journal reports that the “USDA appears to have selected a Kansas City office location… The selection also would mean that the Missouri side of the state line won out in the competition over which side of the state line the well-paying jobs USDA would land on. The Port Authority of Kansas City will vote on a measure Monday that would create an Advanced Industrial Manufacturing Zone site at the building's location. That tool was specifically mentioned by Port KC as something the organization had presented to the regional team putting together an incentive package for the USDA…”
MOScouter: The Feds get incentives too, Border War cease-fire notwithstanding...
Tisby Trial
Post Dispatch reports that “William Don Tisaby, the ex-FBI agent indicted on perjury and evidence tampering charges, was given a trial date of March 30, 2020… [He’s] charged with six counts of perjury and one count of evidence tampering, accused of lying during depositions last year during the investigation of former Gov. Eric Greitens…”
Why It Matters
Whisperers say that Greitens is waiting for Tisby – and then his boss Kim Gardner – to go down before claiming “witch hunt” and “total exoneration” and launching a comeback bid.
Follow-Up on Walsh
Last week I mentioned a Washington Post profile of Katie Walsh. See it here. On Missouri politico notes that “Governor Mike Parson's candidate committee is using Convergence Media…”
That’s the company run by her husband, Mike Shields.
Meanwhile in STL County
While saying thanks in the crunch of 280 characters, former St. Louis County Executive Mark Mantovani just can’t seem to leave out the “interim” of Sam Page’s title as County Exec. See the tweet here.
Thanks to Int Cnty Exec Page, & Councilpersons Walton Gray, Clancy, Days, Dunaway for their support in approving me to serve on Board of Electors (Freeholders). Collectively, we have the opportunity to foster a better system for those who will come after us. Let us not waste it.
Help Wanted
Washington University seeks Community Relations Coordinator - Government and Community Relations. “The Community Relations Coordinator is responsible for the implementation of the University’s community relations plan in its surrounding neighborhoods. The desired outcome attached to the community relations plan is that the University is viewed as a good neighbor to its surrounding communities and the relationship between students and permanent residents is mutually respectful. The position reports to the Assistant Vice Chancellor, Community & Local Government Relations and is an integral part of the University’s efforts in its surrounding neighborhoods and with local governmental offices…” See it here.
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Katie Steele Danner.
And
In personal news, I traded in my Blackberry over the weekend, for an iPhone (same number 314-255-5210, call or text anytime). I think this leaves former Sen. Jeff Smith as the only Blackberry user left in Missouri…..