Politics

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon says he wants to improve government efficiency and pursue efforts dealing with education, economic development and Medicaid.

Nixon said Friday he would like to consolidate regulatory commissions within the Department of Natural Resources and says there should be discussion about lengthening Missouri's school year. He also wants to increase exports and promote tourism, and he called for comprehensive campaign finance and ethics legislation.

In the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut, Missouri lawmakers will have competing gun proposals when they convene next month for the 2013 regular session.  They include one that would require background checks for anyone who buys a firearm at gun shows. 

Regional news coverage from the KBIA Newsroom, including:

• Traffic fatalities up in 2012 according to MoDOT
• Republicans to tackle workers' compensation
• MU researcher awarded National Medal of Science

The Missouri Department of Transportation is reporting a slight increase in traffic fatalities for the year 2012 – that’s expected to be about a 3 percent increase from last year.

Republicans who control the Missouri Legislature plan to make another attempt at revising the state's workers' compensation laws.