The GOP-controlled Missouri General Assembly has sent a few controversial bills to Democratic Governor Jay Nixon early enough for any veto to be overridden during the regular session.

They include the rollback on dog breeding regulations in Proposition B, and a bill that makes discrimination a “motivating factor," rather than a “contributing factor” in wrongful termination lawsuits.

The nine-member Illinois State Board of Education has moved to take control of the financially and academically struggling East St. Louis School District 189.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has given the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur $8.3 million to increase the nutritional value of a staple crop in Africa.

The federal judge for Rod Blagojevich's second corruption trial almost immediately refused a request from the former governor's lawyers this morning to delay by several weeks the opening of the proceedings

Mo. Lawmakers Approve Overhauling Prop B

Missouri lawmakers have given final approval to legislation replacing many provisions in a dog-breeding law approved by voters in November. The House approved the legislation 85-71 on Wednesday. It cleared the Senate last month and goes now to Gov. Jay Nixon.

The man who shot and killed a University City cop on Halloween 2008 will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Artificial trans fats might be escorted out of Illinois after House lawmakers passed a bill banning them in restaurants, school vending machines and other venues statewide, according to the Post Dispatch.

The bill, if passed in the Senate, would take effect Jan. 1, 2013.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation restoring federally funded jobless benefits to thousands of Missourians, but cutting aid to people laid off in the future.

Nixon's signature Wednesday means retroactive payments will go out later this week or early next week to about 10,000 people whose eligibility for unemployment benefits ended April 2. It also means that people who lose their jobs on Sunday or later will be eligible for just 20 weeks of state-funded benefits instead of 26.