MOScout Daily Update: Stevens to Exit - COVID Retreats - Schmitt Ratioed - More on Carpenters - Small Media Hits and more....
Stevens To Exit Legislature
Rep. Martha Stevens announced that she won’t seek a fourth term. See the announcement here.
“Without a doubt, I plan on continuing my career in advocacy as a social work professional and will take with me all the knowledge, skills, and lessons I have learned in Jefferson City to a new role after I finish my term in December 2022.”
· Stevens represents House 46, a strong Democratic district in Columbia, although it’s impossible to predict what 46 will look like after redistricting.
And
It’s unclear if Stevens already has a job lined up for her post-legislative life. One provision of the “Drebes Dream Ethics bill” would require public officials to disclose any conversations about potential employment opportunities.
COVID Continues Retreat
The ravages of COVID on the hospital system are easing. As of this morning hospitalizations are below 1,000 and there are fewer than 300 ICU patients. At their delta peak, both figures were more than twice as high. Here’s a chart from DSS…
More on Carpenters
Yesterday I wrote of the Carpenters’ PAC (CHIPP) having $1.5 million cash on-hand.
· One MOScouter says, “the majority of pac money still gets spent in MO.”
· Also, he thinks “there is more [revelations] to come. But not necessarily criminal. Just bad practices and spending too much money…”
Schmitt Ratioed
Attorney General Eric Schmitt misfired in an attempt to land a blow in the Columbus Day cultural wars, and found himself mocked by thousands of fellow tweeters. Here’s the ratioed tweet by Schmitt: In 1492 the “consensus” among scientists was that the earth was flat. Christopher Columbus challenged that notion and changed the world forever. #HappyColumbusDay
Sample of comments…
· @Jonssonville: Like, you got the year and that's it
· @madseance: sir, I KNOW you have Google in Missouri
· @joshuagrotheer: Seems there was a child left behind, Bush.
· Even Mayor Tishaura Jones got in the action: Did you get hacked?
Snapchat as Organizing Tool
Axios reports on Snapchat’s new app which pushes young folks into the political arena. See it here.
· Since its launch on Wednesday, nearly 2 million Snapchat users have engaged with a new module on the app that aims to help young people run for office, Snap officials tell Axios.
· Why it matters: The tech company — which claims reach over 90% of the nation's 18-to-34-year-olds — is venturing deeper into the civic engagement space to expand "Snapchat generation" representation in local elected office.
· How it works: Snap is partnering with 10 candidate recruitment organizations, including ones that focus on helping young progressives, conservatives and immigrants to seek elected office.
· In the first partial week, more than 24,000 Snapchat users expressed interest in working with one of those organizations to explore running for local positions, such as a school board or city council.
· Another 46,000 users nominated a friend to run.
· Besides exploring the notion of running, users can input their top issues or their ZIP code to learn about relevant races in their area.
Small Media Landscape
Poynter writes about the death of local papers. See it here. “[S]mall newsrooms around the country, often more than 100 years old, often the only news source in those places, are closing under the weight of the coronavirus. Some report they’re merging with nearby publications. But that “merger” means the end of news dedicated to those communities, the evaporation of institutional knowledge and the loss of local jobs.”
Missouri papers on their deathroll…
North Missourian
City: Gallatin, Missouri
Founded: 1864
Closed: May 26, 2021
Owner: Gallatin Publishing Company
The North Missourian is survived by Tri-County Weekly of Jamesport, the last surviving paper of Daviess County.
The Belle Banner
City: Belle, Missouri
Founded: 1923
Closed: May 6, 2020
Owner: Tri-County Newspapers
The Bland Courier
City: Bland, Missouri
Founded: 1921
Closed: May 6, 2020
Owner: Tri-County Newspapers
Maries County Gazette
City: Vienna, Missouri
Founded: Unknown
Closed: May 6, 2020
Owner: Tri-County Newspapers
· Meanwhile, Missouri Independent reports on local entrepreneurs buying small papers from Gannett. See it here.
· And, the latest Gallup poll shows that trust in the media is deteriorating. See it here. It’s being driven in large part by Republicans plummeting trust. And I wonder if their distrust of mainstream source (NYTimes etc) extends to local hometown papers across rural America.
Ameren Promotes Lyons
Press release: Ameren Corporation announced that its Board of Directors elected Warner Baxter, current chairman, president and chief executive officer, to the position of executive chairman, effective January 1, 2022. Concurrent with these actions, Marty Lyons has been elected president and chief executive officer of Ameren and a member of the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2022.
Lyons joined Ameren in 2001 as vice president and controller. Since then, he has served in several senior leadership roles, including chief financial officer for 10 years, president of Ameren Services and in his current role as president, Ameren Missouri. In all of these roles, and as a member of Ameren's Executive Leadership Team, Lyons has gained extensive strategic, operational, financial, risk management and regulatory experience. He has also been active in several industry organizations, including the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), as well as in several community organizations…
Lobbyists Registrations
Anna Meyer added National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Elizabeth Lauber deleted Eric Kirberg, Kirberg Company.
$5K+ Contributions
Chappell4MO - $24,000 from Darin Chappell.
Birthdays
Happy birthdays to Reps. Rick Francis and Jason Chipman, Alexandria Cypert, Jeff Mazur, Mavis Busiek, and Charles Schlottach.