LEGISLATIVE FORUM SCHEDULED NEXT WEEK IN CHARLESTON

CHARLESTON -- Members of the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus will visit Charleston next week to share information and discuss issues relevant to area residents.

A panel discussion will be held at 6:30 p.m. June 11 at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Auditorium. Speakers include state Reps. Gracia Backer, D-New Bloomfield; Joe Heckemeyer, D-Sikeston; Mary G. Bland, D-Kansas City; and Paula Carter, D-St. Louis. Also attending the event will be state Sens. Phil Curls Sr., D-Kansas City; and J.B. "Jet" Banks, D-St. Louis.

The event is co-sponsored by the Missouri Legislative Black Caucus and the Mississippi County community churches.

James Robnett, a state official, will lead a discussion on economic development. Jackie McGee, a former state representative from Kansas City who recently returned to her hometown in Hayti, will discuss housing and development of the Boys and Girls Club of Southeast Missouri. McGee is the club's executive director.

Other discussion topics include education, health and mental health, welfare reform and the state budget.

Event organizer Felecia DeMyers said the Black Caucus has often sponsored informational forums in Southeast Missouri to let residents know what bills and issues were passed during the legislative session and answer any questions they might have.

She expects the event to be well attended by residents of Charleston and throughout the Bootheel. More than 100 people attended the forum last year, when the discussion centered around changes in national welfare and the steps the state is and isn't taking to modify those changes locally, she said.

"The agenda hasn't been set for the program yet, but I'm sure there will be great local interest in recent education legislation," said DeMyers. "The legislators just want to make sure they're accessible to people who want to learn more about the issues."