The Associated Press

  Missouri House members have given first-round approval to legislation taking aim at synthetic drugs.

The bill would add several specific substances to what is considered synthetic marijuana.

It was endorsed by a voice vote Tuesday and needs a second vote before moving to the Senate.

In recent years, Missouri has tried to keep pace with evolving synthetic drugs and twice has approved legislation targeting them. Sponsoring House member Shawn Rhoads says the current bill is needed to stay ahead in the effort.

  The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday plans to file suit challenging Missouri's treatment of same-sex marriages.

ACLU's Diane Balogh said Tuesday that the suit will be filed in state court in Kansas City, but she would not discuss specifics. News conferences announcing the litigation are planned for Wednesday morning in Kansas City, St. Louis, Jefferson City and Springfield.

It's unclear if the ACLU suit will challenge Missouri's constitutional ban on same-sex marriages or if it would simply seek recognition of gay marriages from other states.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon says "our thoughts and prayers" go to the family of a former University of Missouri swimmer who said she was sexually assaulted and later committed suicide.

Republican House leaders had pledged an investigation after allegations of a hostile workplace were made against the directors of Missouri's agriculture and labor departments, but that now appears unlikely to happen.

  A Missouri House committee is considering legislation to offer additional financial aid to persuade more top students to stay in the state after they graduate.

The legislation would add a forgivable loan of up to five thousand dollars per year to Missouri's Bright Flight scholarship.

A longtime attorney in Gov. Jay Nixon's administration has been chosen as executive director of the Missouri Ethics Commission.

The commission announced Tuesday that James Klahr will begin serving as director Sept. 13.

The Missouri Ethics Commission enforces the state's campaign finance and lobbyist laws. Its director is limited to a six-year term.

A big first for Danica Patrick, but an even bigger second for Jimmie Johnson.

Patrick made history out front at the Daytona 500, only to see five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson reclaim his spot at the top in the end.

Johnson won his second Daytona 500 with a late push on Sunday, grabbing the spotlight from Patrick as she faded on the final lap. Patrick became the first woman in history to lead laps in "The Great American Race" and was running third on the last lap, but slipped to eighth in the late push for position.

If officials in Washington don't reach a deal to avert the "fiscal cliff," Missouri could see a hit to its economy and budget.

A long-sought proposal to extend University of Missouri worker benefits to same-sex domestic partners has been expanded to include committed couples of the opposite sex, as well as other unrelated dependent couples, such as roommates.

The sale of a winning Powerball ticket in northwest Missouri could mean about $10 million in unexpected income tax revenue for the state.

A three-judge panel of the Missouri Court of Appeals is planning to take its work on the road.

A panel of state lawmakers holds a hearing at the University of Central Missouri this week on creation of a funding formula for higher education institutions.

Missouri congressman Todd Akin has amended a decade's worth of federal financial reports to add nearly $130,000 in state pension income that he received over that time.

Missouri has received more than $1.2 million in federal grants for its food safety efforts.

A conservative fundraising group has endorsed Missouri Senate candidate Todd Akin and is pledging to direct $290,000 to the Republican's campaign against Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill.