An Isle of Capri casino proposal for Cape Girardeau would create the most jobs and net the most tax revenue for the state, according to a Missouri Gaming Commission report released Friday.

Isle of Capri is competing with two other proposals, in St. Louis and the Kansas City suburb of Sugar Creek, for the state's last gaming license.

The Gaming Commission said the Cape Girardeau casino is the only proposed center that wouldn't have "cannibalizing effects" on the business of existing casinos in Missouri. The St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas already have multiple casinos.

The commission will choose a priority candidate for the license at its meeting on Wednesday. It doesn't actually award a license until the gaming center opens for business.

For a link to the full economic analysis report, click here.

In a series of events across the state, Gov. Jay Nixon announced there would be another attempt at building a second nuclear power plant in Missouri.

AmerenUE dropped its initial plans for Callaway II near Fulton after legislation stalled in 2009 to let the utility charge rate payers for the costs of borrowing money for building the plant before it began operation.

Repeal of the law requiring the plant be operational before charging ran into opposition from both consumer groups and some industrial organizations. The measure had been approved by Missouri voters in 1976 in response to criticism of the utility for charging ratepayers for the financing costs of building the first nuclear power plant.

AmerenUE said it could not proceed with the current law, approved by Missouri voters, because of the enormous costs of building the plant and dropped its license application efforts

In a written statement, Nixon announced support for allow the utility to charge ratepayers for the costs of seeking an early permit.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis have been preventable since the 1940s, but Missouri children of low income families are less likely to receive the vaccination for the infections compared to other low income children nationwide.

Low income families can apply for federal WIC benefits for nutritional and supplemental service and education.

Of Missouri's 47,000 children with WIC benefits, 72 percent of them are likely to get the DTaP vaccination, 10 percent lower than the national average.

Missouri ranks the third lowest in the nation, followed by Alaska and Nevada.

Vaccination records can be reviewed by WIC agencies, but funding is not provided for the immunizations.

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Republican Tom Schweich has plans for his transition into the auditor's office, but he is keeping them secret for now.

"I do (have plans), but I'm not ready to talk about those yet," Schweich said. "We'll make an announcement once we have everything settled."

Schweich defeated incumbent Democrat Susan Montee for the office in the Nov. 2 mid-term election.

Gov. Jay Nixon honored seven public safety officers for risking their lives. Each year Governor Nixon awards seven Medal's of Valor to someone serving in a public agency as a firefighter, law enforcement officer or emergency personnel.

Among the seven public officers awarded the Medal of Valor was officer Isabella Lovadina, the first woman to receive the award.

Nixon awarded officer Lovadina for her bravery during a home invasion-robbery where she risked her own life and was shot several times in an attempt to save others.

Governor Nixon awards seven Medal of Valors each year to public safety officers for their heroic actions.

The Medal of Valor Review Board recommends officers for the award.

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The office of Gov. Jay Nixon barred three reporters from an invitation-only briefing session by the governor on higher education.

Barred were reporters for KMOX Radio in St. Louis, the Columbia Missourian and KSMU in Springfield.

The governor's communications director said the governor wanted a limited attendance, but she refused a request for an interview on the governor's decision.

Earlier in the day, the governor refused to take questions from statehouse reporters at an awards ceremony. The governor has not had a general, open news conference with statehouse reporters since well before the GOP victories in the November elections.

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Members of the Tax Credit Review Commission voted in favor of a $75 million cap on historical preservation tax credits

Missouri has the highest tax credit cap nationwide, and will remain that way even with a $65 million decrease in the Historic Tax Credit program, which provides tax credits for redevelopment of historic facilites. Because the projects largely are in urban areas, the tax credits have enjoyed strong support from urban legislators and officials -- particularly St. Louis.

One of the commission members, Sen. Matt Bartle, said this is no time to be giving money to refurbish old buildings when money is being taken away from the Missouri education system.

At Wednesday's Tax Credit Review Commission meeting, the proposed number was $90 million, but Bartle suggested an even smaller amount of $75 million dollars.

Bartle's proposal passed in the commission meeting with an 11 to 9 vote.

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected Jefferson City along with four other state capitals to participate in their "Greening America's Capitals Project."

The focus of this project is to environmentally improve Jefferson City.

Melva Fast, assistant to the Jefferson City city administrator, says this project will not only improve the environment but also create jobs. Fast is also the head of the city's special projects and grants unit.

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Two votes to slash Missouri's historic preservation tax credits failed Tuesday in a subcommittee of the state's Tax Credit Review Commission. The subcommittee will make no recommendation to the broader commission, which Gov. Jay Nixon has tasked with figuring out how to make Missouri's system of tax breaks more efficient.

The motions, first to cut historic preservation credits from $140 million to $90 million, then to $100 million, went down in close votes. As of late Tuesday, the overall commission had not made any decisions on the historic preservation credits.

Subcommittee member Tom Reeves, called the discussions "constructive" and denied that there was disappointment his group couldn't make any recommendations. Reeves voted for the cuts.

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The expanded Republican majority picked Medicaid to be the first item reviewed by the Missouri House of Representatives Interim Budget Committee.

Kirksville Republican Representative Rick Stream says for the Department of Social Services to look for the most efficient way to spend Missouri citizen's tax dollars, and he would like the department to look for savings as if it were coming out of their own pocket.

Department of Social Services Deputy Director Brian Kinkade says everyone in their department are taxpayers as well and they also want to see a good and efficient program.

Kinkade also says the representatives need to remember how important these programs are to the people that need them.

Clay County Republican Representative Ryan Silvey says the Budget Committee is looking at cutting a possible $700 million from the budget next year, and he wants to know that services in Missouri are being operated as efficient as possible.

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