(Missourinet) – Despite a slight upward tick in the past week, Missouri’s gas prices are at a 12 year low. 

Shrek 2 was the number-one movie, and the TV show “Lost” debuted on TV the last time the price at the pump was lower than the current $1.94 in the Show-Me state. Mike Wright with AAA Missouri points to two reasons the cost of gas is the least it’s been since 2004.

“First, crude oil prices are low,” Wright said.  “Right now crude is selling for about $39 a barrel.  That has driven down wholesale gasoline prices. And on top of that, we are awash in both crude oil and gasoline in the United States.”

A factor which separates states is fuel taxes, which, according to Wright, helps keep costs down in Missouri.

“We’re a little over ten-cents a gallon less than the national average in terms of the combined state and federal motor fuel taxes,” Wright said.

Wright also said gas prices should stay close to their current level, but will start to drop again after Labor Day when demand decreases.  He said the only exception will be a minor spike at the pump when fuel is converted from summer to winter blends.

Of the five Missouri cities AAA tracks, the most expensive gas is in St. Louis and Kansas City, where it’s two-dollars or more a gallon.  At $1.86, Springfield is the cheapest, followed by St. Joseph at $1.89.

Wright said you don’t have to go too far back to find a tremendous increase in gasoline prices.

“At this same last year, statewide we were paying $2.46,” Wright said. “That’s over fifty-cents a gallon higher than what we’re paying right now.”

(Missourinet) – State Rep. Joe Don McGaugh (R-Carrollton) says he’s running for Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem.

McGaugh represents Carroll, Chariton and Ray counties in the Missouri House, and chairs the House Civil and Criminal Proceedings Committee. He was first elected to the House in 2012 and is finishing his second term. McGaugh says he’s received positive feedback from his GOP colleagues, on his bid to become Speaker Pro Tem.“You know Speaker Pro Tem is a position that is voted on by the entire House, much like the Speaker. If the Speaker cannot act, you’re basically kind of the right-hand man so to speak of the Speaker,” McGaugh says.

“Me being from northwest Missouri in a rural area, when I get to St. Louis and Kansas City and Springfield, it’s good to talk to those folks. Although I may be from a rural area, we share a lot of things in common,” McGaugh says.

McGaugh says he wants to help House Speaker Todd Richardson (R-Poplar Bluff) pass “common sense, conservative legislation” in upcoming years. The Speaker Pro Tem position will be voted on by the GOP Caucus in November, then by the full Missouri House in January. Republicans currently control the chamber 116-45-1.

Despite his conservative voting record, McGaugh notes he works well with Democrats, especially on the Committee he chairs. He says the best legislation you can pass is when you’ve compromised and worked with the other party to get a good piece of legislation.

“And I think if you talk to the Democrats that serve on my Committee, Gina Mitten, Mike Colona (both St. Louis Democratic State Representatives), just to name a few, I think they would tell you that I am someone that can work with them and work to basically accomplish what’s for the greater good of the state of Missouri,” McGaugh says.

McGaugh also praises Speaker Richardson and outgoing Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), who’s seeking a Missouri Senate seat. Hoskins is prohibited from running again for the House because of term limits.

(Missourinet)- A central Missouri man’s been charged with second degree murder of his infant child.

30-year-old Christopher Buxton of Jamestown is accused of inflicting injuries consistent with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol’s Probable Cause Statement obtained from the Moniteau County Circuit Court, medical staff at the University of Missouri hospital say the two-month old baby sustained wounds, including multiple bone fractures, on different occasions.

Buxton was reportedly at home alone with the child last Thursday when he called his wife, saying the infant was unresponsive. After being transported to a hospital, the baby was kept on life support for several days before the support was removed.

The court documents say the child had been taken to a doctor at least one previous time with extensive injuries described as non-accidental.

Text message records between Buxton and his wife indicate he was frustrated having to care for the infant and not being able to contain its crying, according to the probable cause statement.

Charges were filed against Buxton in Moniteau County Wednesday. Buxton is jailed without bond. His arraignment is next Tuesday. Second degree murder carries a penalty maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

(Missourinet) – A new study by the University of Missouri shows students who develop relationships with financial advisers make better decisions about education loans.

After a report last year by the University of Indiana concluded providing information alone changed student borrowing habits, M.U. conducted further research.

Nick Prewett, the school’s financial aid director, says it tracked students to see what happened when they had additional contact with advisers.

“The ones that did (have added contact) asked really great questions” said Prewett.  “Then we saw a slight change in their borrowing behavior. It really came down to that focus on having a relationship with the financial aid office.”

Mizzou’s financial aid office and Truman School of Public Affairs collaborated on the study, which found students made more informed decisions after establishing a personal connection with a financial advisor.

The university is also using federal grant money to help identify financially “at-risk” students, which receive additional information and assistance.  The median student loan debt for M.U. graduates in just over $21,200, while nationally it’s $35,000.

Prewett says if a student leaves school with debt equal to Mizzou’s median rate, it would require monthly payment of $217 over 10 years.  He advises students not to borrow more in student loans that they’re going to make in their first year after college.

(Missourinet) – Republican Jay Ashcroft faces Democrat Robin Smith in the Secretary of State’s race this fall.

Ashcroft clinched the Republican nomination in Tuesday’s primary election by defeating Lee’s Summit State Senator Will Kraus. Smith, a former St. Louis television newscaster, also beat her Democratic opponents.

Ashcroft supports a measure that will ask Missouri voters in November if a photo ID should be required to vote.

“In Missouri, we can very easily implement a photo ID system that still gives every eligible voter the right opportunity to vote, that doesn’t disenfranchise anyone, but makes it harder for people to cheat and that’s exactly what we should want in our elections,” said Ashcroft.

Smith said such restrictions are unconstitutional.

“I will not allow anyone to violate our Missouri constitution with an extremely flawed provision that unlawfully targets and then restricts access to the ballot box for qualified, fragile voters like elderly, veterans, persons with differing abilities, even college aged students, minorities, women and others,” said Smith.

She cites recent state and federal court decisions in Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina and Kansas that ruled similar laws are illegal and a violation of federal law.

“The Secretary of State’s office has enough authority when it comes to local elections, but we didn’t have a Secretary of State that was working with local election authorities to make sure that they had the resources and were equipped and had what they needed to do to pull off a good election,” Ashcroft said.

Ashcroft blames current Secretary of State Jason Kander for St. Louis County’s municipal election problems in April. More than 60 precincts there received incorrect or too few ballots. No election officials were fired in connection with the issues.

He said the county had problems with a military portal and electronic voter registration database, which he says are both handled by the Secretary of State’s office. He says two municipalities also added candidates to the ballot after the required deadline.

Election officials also said there wasn’t enough time between the March presidential primary and the April municipal election to reprogram touch voting machines.

Smith said voters should decide if the Secretary of State needs more authority for local elections.

(Missourinet) – The race for Missouri Governor comes down to a Democrat turned Republican and a Republican turned Democrat. Republican Eric Greitens will take on Democrat Chris Koster in November’s general election.

Republicans John Brunner and former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway conceded Tuesday night. That left Greitens and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder on the Republican ticket. Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, ended the night with a strong lead over Kinder.

This is Greitens’ first run for political office. He has touted being an outsider, saying corruption in Jefferson City must stop.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) can’t seek re-election because of term limits. 

Koster claimed victory early on Tuesday evening, by overwhelmingly defeating Democrats Charles Wheeler, Eric Morrison and Leonard Steinman. Koster, who is Attorney General, says fiscal responsibility, strengthening gun rights and funding rural schools and rural hospitals are some of his priorities if he becomes Governor.

(Missourinet) – Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander (D) has claimed victory in the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. He will face U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R) in November’s general election. Blunt, who is seeking a second term, has overwhelmingly secured enough votes in the primary for his party’s nomination.

Attorney General Chris Koster (D) declared victory early on Tuesday evening in the Democratic race for Governor. Koster will face whoever emerges from the Republican ticket. Navy Seal Eric Greitens and businessman John Brunner have swapped the leading position throughout the evening. Former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder have trailed behind.

In the Lt. Governor’s race, former Missouri Congressman Russ Carnahan of St. Louis has easily taken the nomination, defeating St. Louis state Rep. Tommie Pierson and Winston Apple.