As 2014 draws to a close, 鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� looked back at the biggest local and regional stories of the year.
Topping the list was the August shooting death of Michael Brown by Ferguson police Officer Darren Wilson, and the protests, demonstrations, grand jury announcement, and conversations that have followed. Leadership has repeatedly come under fire regarding Ferguson, at the local, state and national levels.
漏 2024 外网天堂 political reporter Jo Mannies said Gov. Jay Nixon鈥檚 involvement in Ferguson has hurt his political career, but 鈥渨hether or not it鈥檚 hurt it permanently, I don鈥檛 want to say yet,鈥� she told 鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� host Don Marsh on Monday. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen too many cases where politicians seem to have really stepped in it on something, and then a year or two later, they鈥檙e in great shape.鈥�
鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� will review events in Ferguson more in-depth on Wednesday.
Nixon鈥檚 actions have hurt his image as a strong leader loyal to Democratic values but able to work across party lines, Mannies said. Ferguson also pointed out his uneasy relationship with black politicians, and made it clear to the nation that his off-the-cuff speeches are less than eloquent. Nixon 鈥渢hinks while speaking,鈥� Mannies said of his speeches riddled with 鈥渦m鈥漵 and discombobulated thoughts. 鈥淗e鈥檚 not stupid, but it didn鈥檛 make him look good.鈥�
A Missouri House and Senate committee already is preparing to .
Looking ahead, Marshall Griffin, 漏 2024 外网天堂鈥檚 Missouri statehouse reporter, expects the legislature will take up Ferguson-related issues.
鈥淵ou can expect a flood of bills that will address various topics related to police department procedures, weapons use, tear gas use, (and) of course body cameras,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 even one that鈥檚 been proposed by the (chairman) of the legislative black caucus that would bar grand juries, calling the entire grand jury process outdated and flawed.鈥�
But Griffin also said he would be surprised if any of those bills make it through the legislative process.
Ferguson is not just a regional issue. Nationally, it was the , and has prompted conversations about race across the country. But the conversation varies, even in St. Louis, said Shula Neuman, a 漏 2024 外网天堂 editor.
鈥淭he white community has not been talking about it in the same way and with the same sense of urgency that a lot of the African-American community has been discussing it,鈥� she said. 鈥淲ithout that, it鈥檚 going to continue to be an issue moving forward.鈥�
Outside of Ferguson, Griffin said two legislative overrides made news in 2014: 鈥淭he tax cut that was vetoed by Gov. Nixon and was , and secondly the . That override happened during veto session.鈥�
That could continue in 2015, as the House has a clear Republican majority. While Republicans had to rely on a few Democrats to help override bills in 2014, they won鈥檛 have to in 2015, Mannies said.
Some 2014 issues are expected to pop back up in the new year, too, like school transfers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unfinished business,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淔or the first time, a bill actually got passed.鈥� , however, because it would have allowed transfers to private schools, which was seen as a way to allow school vouchers. Griffin said.
Politics took center stage in Illinois as well, as the for the first time since George Ryan was elected in 1999, said Amanda Vinicky, Illinois Public Radio鈥檚 Illinois statehouse bureau chief. Ryan was convicted of federal corruption charges in 2003; so was his successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich. Vinicky said 2015 鈥渃ould be pretty darn big鈥� for Republicans, although Democrats will still be able to get their way, she said. Gov.-elect Bruce Rauner has no Illinois government experience.
In local politics, Democrats retained control of the St. Louis County Council. ; an April vote will fill Stenger鈥檚 seat. But don鈥檛 expect Stenger to dive in to the deep end any time soon, Mannies said. Stenger has already said talk of a St. Louis city-county merger is off the table for awhile.
鈥淗e wants to not step in any sort of major controversy until things are calmed down and he knows who his friends are and who his enemies are going to be on the council,鈥� Mannies said.
Across the nation, same-sex marriage gained support. Three court cases appear to have in 2014, although the state has a 10-year-old constitutional ban against such unions. Counties around St. Louis and Kansas City began issuing same-sex marriage licenses in November. Attorney General Chris Koster has said he will appeal court decisions striking down the state鈥檚 constitutional ban, Mannies said. She also expects it will be an issue in Missouri鈥檚 2016 gubernatorial race.
鈥淪t. Louis on the Air鈥� discusses issues and concerns facing the St. Louis area. The show is produced by and and hosted by veteran journalist . Follow us on Twitter: