Region briefs 8/21/07

Show Me Center confirms Carrington as first concert

The Show Me Center confirmed its first concert of the venue's 20th anniversary season Monday. Country musician and comedian Rodney Carrington will perform at 8 p.m. Oct. 20. Ticket sales start at 10 a.m. Friday. Carrington's Show Me Center date was posted on the performer's Web site as early as last week, but the venue was unable to confirm the performance until Monday. Carrington's act mixes comedy with music, with comedy-routine lyrics meant for adult audiences. His major label debut was released in 1998, "Hangin' With Rodney." The album sold more than 475,000 copies, according to Carrington's Web site biography, and four more top-10 albums were released within just a few years. His newest album, "King of the Mountains," was released in April and debuted at the top of the comedy charts. Tickets are available at the Show Me Center ticket office, by phone at 651-5000, at all Ticketmaster outlets and at www.showmecenter.biz.

Special session may help create thousands of jobs

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Supporters of an economic development package contend Missouri could miss out on thousands of jobs if lawmakers do not take action in a special session. As the session gets underway, there appears to be a general consensus for a measure that would significantly raise the amount of annual tax credits that can be issued under the Quality Jobs program. That program provides aid to businesses that add jobs paying at least the county average wage and covering at least half their employees' health insurance premiums. Supporters want to raise the program's annual tax credit cap from $12 million to $40 million. Lawmakers also will consider a measure to help speed up the repair of Missouri bridges.

Presidential hopefuls visit Missouri VFW convention

Both Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Sen. John McCain spoke Monday to hundreds of members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which is holding its annual convention in Kansas City. Democratic candidate Barack Obama and former Tennessee senator Fred Thompson were scheduled to speak today. President Bush arrives Wednesday. Clinton, seeking the Democratic nomination for president, praised the work that soldiers have done in Iraq, but described the Iraqi government as "on vacation" as American troops are caught in the middle of a sectarian war. But Republican Sen. John McCain, seeking the GOP nomination, said withdrawing from Iraq would be a historic mistake far worse than previous U.S. missteps in Iraq. The hall where the candidates were speaking can seat 6,000 people, but both Clinton and McCain drew about half that for their late-morning speeches. The crowd was mostly friendly to Clinton and offered polite applause throughout the speech. McCain, a former Vietnam War prisoner of war, received a warmer reception -- and louder applause during his remarks.

-- From staff and wire reports