Capitol Calling

AP: State banned the wrong type of plastic on rivers

There's still enough beautiful weather around to prompt people to go on river trips. But individuals who go to streams in rural parts of the state might want to keep the Tupperware at home.

AP reporter Chris Blank noted in a Monday analysis that the state banned the wrong type of plastic in rivers. While lawmakers meant to ban Styrofoam cups and coolers, they actually ended up barring the same type of plastic used in Tupperware.

Sen. Delbert Scott, R-Lowry City, heaped blame on federal regulations that inspired the state law.

You can read more about the snafu here. 

Lucky Kansans

It seems like Kansans have luck cornered, especially after the state's foremost university somehow made a BCS game last year.

But one man in the Jayhawk state made Missourians a bit jealous when it was announced that he won the lottery - twice in a year. That's according to an Associated Press article.

Lucky.

Happy Friday

Weird legislative moment of the day...

I'm a little slow on the uptake on this one, but it's too strange not to mention.

Late last month, a rapper named "Hurricane Chris" spoke before the Louisiana House of Representatives. The Shreveport native recorded a hit record called "A Bay Bay" and was honored by the state's lower chamber.

But rather than receive a plaque or award, the artist actually rapped a full song about Halle Berry on the House floor. I'm not a betting man, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say this type of thing probably wouldn't happen in the Missouri House.

What's next? Canadian child actors getting huge record deals? Nah, that won't happen anytime soon.

I'm good enough...

My stepfather sent me this text message today:

Are you going to cover Franken's first 100 days?

The answer is no.

But, it is definitely worth noting that Al Franken has won the long-disputed Minnesota Senate race.

Read more about it here.

Whaaaaaaat?!

Unreal:

This almost makes Blago look tame. But not quite.

Splish Splash

Yeah, it's another slow news day. So enjoy this:

Wet KOMU 8 Live Shot from KOMU News on Vimeo.

Lights Out!

When I got back from lunch today, Columbia Tribune reporter Terry Ganey asked me if I had a flashlight.

At first, I thought he was joking. Then, I walked into the Missouri Capitol Building.

It was darker than the freaking Batcave.

For whatever reason, a transformer disruption interrupted debate during one of the final few days of the legislative session.

While the Senate went into recess, the House kept debating amendments to a gigantic education bill. Since there was no power to fuel computers, House members had to engage in a voice roll call vote.

Considering the Missouri House has 163 members, those types of votes take a long time.

Ultimately, power came back to the Capitol Building shortly after 1 p.m. Debate is set to resume in both chambers shortly.

For those with the uncontrollable urge to see what a dark Missouri Capitol Building looks like, watch this short video.

Spooooky!

Down in Zombieland

File this under the "whaaaaaaat" category:

A photographer for TMZ, the celebrity gossip Web site, said the "White Men Can't Jump" actor chased him through the airport and broke one of his cameras.

[Woody] Harrelson, 47, said yesterday in a tongue-in-cheek statement that he was doing battle with packs of undead like those he confronted in his latest movie, "Zombieland."

"With my daughter at the airport, I was startled by a paparazzo who I quite understandably mistook for a zombie," he said.

Seems like New York Gov. David Paterson has some work to do if he wants to save celebrities from random zombie attacks at airports.

Copy!

GULFPORT, FLORIDA - As my Florida vacation winds down, I thought I'd post this somewhat humorous Web video that came my way. Be warned, the video contains a couple of naughty words:

Hope all is well in the Show Me State. I'll be back in town tomorrow evening.