Wednesday, April 1: Morning's Newz

By Chad Garrison Wed., Apr. 1 2009 at 8:26 AM

Categories: News

The FBI is reportedly investigating members of the Missouri House over so-called "pay-to-play" appointments for committee seats. The specter of the FBI probe prompted legislative General Counsel Don Lograsso to send a memo to all House members this week warning them not to accept "campaign contributions to yourself or others, a job for yourself or others, dinner, travel, tickets to events, etc."

And speaking of FBI inquiries...East St. Louis officials held a public meeting last night to address a federal investigation into the city's liquor licenses and sales. Mayor Alvin Parks Jr. -- who also serves as the city's liquor commissioner -- informed the crowd that he recently placed deputy liquor commissioner Walter Hill on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. In recent weeks, law enforcement and residents have criticized the city's all-night liquor licenses that allow bars and nightclubs to remain open until 6 a.m.

Perhaps it was much ado about nothing. The Memphis contract never arrived. The University of Georgia offer fell by the wayside. And yesterday Mizzou basketball coach Mike Anderson signed a seven-year extension with the university that will keep him at the school through 2016. Financial terms have yet to be revealed.

It's April 1 -- April Fool's Day. Watch out for pranks and that nasty Conficker computer worm that's supposed to be released today. But then, if you have the virus, your computer is probably at the mercy of Russian Viagra salesmen right now and you're not reading this blog.