JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Public water systems could be required to notify Missouri customers before eliminating fluoride from drinking water.

The Missouri House gave first-round approval Tuesday to the legislation. It would require notification at least 90 days before a vote to permanently cease fluoridation.

Water systems would need to inform customers, the Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Health and Senior Services.

The measure needs a second affirmative vote before moving to the state Senate.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Officials from Missouri’s public universities are raising concerns about reduced revenues for education as state lawmakers consider an income tax cut.

A statement signed by the governing board presidents of nine state universities cites concerns that legislation could limit the money available for education.

 Although the letter does not specifically mention the proposed income tax cut, the executive director of the Council on Public Higher Education said that is the subject of the concerns.

The Republican-led House could vote as soon as Wednesday on whether to give final approval to a bill that would eventually cut more than $600 million of income taxes for individuals and businesses.

Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon has said the bill could harm education funding. He vetoed a tax cut last year.

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Miley Cyrus is in the hospital and unable to perform her “Bangerz” concert in Kansas City, Mo., as planned.

A spokeswoman for the singer says the 21-year-old canceled her performance Tuesday after she was hospitalized for a severe allergic reaction to antibiotics.

Publicist Meghan Prophet says in a statement that Cyrus is on “medical rest” at her doctors’ advice.

Cyrus said on Twitter that she’s heartbroken to miss the show. She also posted a photo of herself wearing what appears to be a hospital gown.

Tickets for the concert at Sprint Center are being refunded.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri’s unemployment rate increased in March, though the size of payrolls also grew.

The Department of Economic Development reported Tuesday that the jobless rate grew to 6.7 percent from 6.4 percent last month. Employers added a net of 3,500 jobs in March.

Top gainers were the construction and education and health services. Construction jobs grew by 2,000 and education and health services grew by 1,600. On the other hand, the leisure and hospitality sector declined by 1,900 jobs.

Missouri’s civilian labor force of about 3 million people grew by 8,450 during March. The labor force counts people with jobs and those who are on unemployment but looking for work.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.), who serves on the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations and the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following statement marking Tax Day:

“As Americans mark Tax Day today, the Democrats’ election-year agenda continues to threaten taxpayers with more of the same higher taxes, wasteful government spending, and economic uncertainty that has discouraged job creation for far too long in the Obama economy.

“With household income down $3,000 on President Obama’s watch and the labor force participation rate at its lowest level since the Jimmy Carter-era, it’s clear the Democrats’ failed economic policies continue to hurt middle-class families and workers in America.

“Hardworking American taxpayers deserve better from their government, and I’ll keep fighting to cut waste, start spending tax dollars more wisely, and make Washington more accountable to the people we work for.”

Blunt has introduced and co-sponsored a number of measures to make the federal government more accountable to American taxpayers, including:

Taxpayer Right to Know Act: In March, Blunt co-sponsored the bipartisan “Taxpayer Right to Know Act” as part of his efforts to strengthen government accountability. The bill, which was introduced by U.S. Senator Tom Coburn (Okla.) and is co-sponsored by more than 20 additional Senators, increases transparency in Washington by requiring agencies to provide taxpayers with an annual report card for each of its programs.
Regulatory Improvement Act: Blunt and U.S. Senator Angus King (Maine) introduced the “Regulatory Improvement Act,” bipartisan legislation to streamline, consolidate, and repeal onerous and costly government regulations. The bill would direct Congress to create a “Regulatory Improvement Commission,” which would collect broad public input regarding which regulations are outdated, duplicative, or inefficient. To read more, click here.
Citizen Empowerment Act: Blunt introduced the “Citizen Empowerment Act” to restore Americans’ trust in government by expanding provisions that allow individuals to record conversations with executive agency employees. Blunt filed the bill after it was revealed that Internal Revenue Service (IRS) officials admitted to targeting conservative organizations and other Americans. To read more, click here.
Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act: Blunt co-sponsored the “Stop Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act,” which was introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Flake (Ariz.) and Pat Roberts (Kan.) and is co-sponsored by 39 additional Senators. The bill protects the free-speech rights of 501(c)(4) organizations by prohibiting for one year the finalization of a proposed Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulation that would significantly limit the advocacy and educational activities of these groups.
REINS Act: Blunt co-sponsored the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act,” which was introduced by U.S. Senator Rand Paul (Ky.). The REINS Act would require Congress to approve every new major rule proposed by the executive branch, which has an annual economic impact of $100 million or more, before it can be enforced on the American people. To read more, click here.
Government Employee Accountability Act: Blunt introduced the “Government Employee Accountability Act” to give executive agencies the ability to effectively deal with Senior Executive Service (SES) employees, and provide Congress with more oversight.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Spring planting across the nation’s Corn Belt is sputtering because the soil remains too soggy or cold for effective seeding.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says 3 percent of the corn crop is sown. That’s half the pace of last year when one of the wettest springs on record got farmers off to the slowest start in decades.

In Illinois, just 1 percent of this year’s corn has been planted. That’s one-tenth of the average pace of the previous five years. The USDA says farmers in other key corn-producing states are equally idle.

Farmers still are upbeat, saying they still have some time to get the job done. The USDA says corn sowing traditionally begins in mid-April. It’s typically in full swing from April 21 through May 23.

JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – The Missouri Supreme Court has overturned 30 years of precedent with a ruling that gives greater legal protections to injured workers who are fired from their jobs.

In a 5-2 decision, the Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that employees no longer have to prove that workers’ compensation claims were the exclusive factor for their dismissal in order to win lawsuits claiming retaliation.

Instead, the court said employees must show only that workers’ compensation claims were a contributing factor in their subsequent dismissal from their job.

State law does not explicitly set forth a standard of proof in such lawsuits, but the exclusive cause standard had been adopted by the state Supreme Court in 1984. Since then, all of the judges on the Supreme Court have changed.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. (AP) — Merck & Co. says the Food and Drug Administration has approved its new tablet for grass allergies, Grastek, for patients five to 65 years old.

Meant as an alternative to weekly allergy shots, the tablet dissolves under the tongue. Taken daily for a few years, it gradually reduces sensitivity to common grasses, instead of temporarily relieving symptoms including sneezing, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes.

Merck, based in Whitehouse Station, N.J., will market the tablet in North America. Its partner, ALK-Abello, sells it in Europe as Grazas.

Merck said Grastek will be available in U.S. pharmacies in late April. However, it’s best to start taking it three months before grass pollen season begins.

The drug can cause severe allergic reactions and shouldn’t be used by patients with severe asthma.