U.S. Sen. Kit Bond will be in Hannibal at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, to host a roundtable at the Mark Twain Hotel Apartments with local officials, developers, housing advocates and residents. The purpose of the event is to highlight the importance of addressing the shortage of affordable housing to help low income working families during the current economic crisis.

Reflecting his past experience and expertise as a farmer and small businessman, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-9) Friday was named to the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Agriculture.

The Illinois House voted overwhelmingly Friday to impeach Gov. Rod Blagojevich, an unprecedented action that sets up a Senate trial on whether he should be thrown out for abuse of power, including allegations that he tried to sell President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat.

Sen. Kit Bond announced Thursday that he won’t seek re-election in 2010, saying he does not “aspire to become Missouri’s oldest senator.”
Bond, 69, made the announcement Thursday morning at the state Capitol, shortly after Missouri lawmakers convened.

Although only sworn in Tuesday, Ninth District Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer is already bucking the system. Luetkemeyer has sponsored  legislation to stop automatic pay raises for members of Congress.

One of the first items of business awaiting the 111th Congress which convened Tuesday is the nation’s struggling economy.

Changes made to a $700 billion government bailout of the financial industry still weren’t enough to garner the support of Congressman Kenny Hulshof, who for the second time this week voted “no” Friday to the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

The financial problems that Congress is attempting to alleviate do not directly involve local banks in the Hannibal area, according to several bank presidents. This is because local banks are deposit banks, and are a completely different type than the investment banks in New York that are failing.

On a vote of 228-205, the U.S. House on Monday defeated a $700 billion emergency rescue for the nation’s financial system. Prior to the vote, President Bush and congressional leaders of both parties warned of an economic nosedive if the bill was not passed.

The Hannibal Fire Department was called to a porch fire at 301 Sunshine Terrace at 1:56 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18.