U.S. Rep. Emerson makes third Cuban trek for trade

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., is headed to Cuba today to promote trade with the United States.

Emerson, of Cape Girardeau, has been a congressional leader in seeking increased trade with Cuba. She wants American producers, particularly farmers in her Southeast Missouri district, to be allowed to sell more food to Cuba.

Congress in 2000 eased the 40-year-old embargo on Cuba by allowing sales of American food, with many restrictions. Cuba has spent at least $138 million on American products since then, Emerson said.

She argues that the embargo hurts U.S. producers more than anyone else.

As part of a bipartisan, eight-member delegation to Cuba, Emerson will be making her third trip to the communist nation. The trip is expected to last five days.

Corrections officials look at plan to lower returns

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- With the state's daily prison population topping 30,000, the Department of Corrections is looking to slow the growth by reducing the number of ex-inmates who return to prison.

The department is seeking proposals for "community supervision centers" -- places where probation or parole violators could be sent as an alternative to putting them back in prison, department spokesman Tim Kniest said Wednesday.

Kniest describes the residential centers as "halfway-in houses," as opposed the traditional halfway houses where people live during the transition from prison back to society.

The new centers would only be for people who have technical probation or parole violations -- not for those arrested for another crime.

"If we are able to better manage that group and cut down on the recidivism rates, then we will better be able to manage the prison population," Kniest said.

Senate leader wants to flush bathroom spending

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- As far as Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder is concerned, the state is about to flush taxpayer money down the toilet.

With the state facing one its worst budget crises in decades, Kinder is questioning the planned $1 million renovation of restrooms near the state Senate chamber in the Capitol.

Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, wrote to Gov. Bob Holden on Feb. 25 about the "rather lavish restroom upgrades when the current facilities have proven adequate, although arguably less than posh."

"Revenues saved from indefinitely postponing these improvements could be redirected to fund more essential services for citizens," Kinder wrote.

Kinder said Wednesday he was upset that he had not heard back from Holden about his concerns.

"He says he's cut everything he can in state government, but here's a million dollars that we can use somewhere else," Kinder said.

--From wire reports