Seventy-three dogs rescued from a breeder in southwest Missouri today are now in the care of the Humane Society of Missouri in St. Louis. The dogs are the first seized under Missouri's new Canine Cruelty Prevention Act.

Attorney General Chris Koster filed suit against the kennel, owned by Linda Brisco, in June. He calls it a good first step toward changing Missouri's reputation as the "puppy mill capital" of the country.

Koster says the new law, a compromise on the voter initiative known as Proposition B, gives his office more tools to help the dogs.

A new project in north St. Louis aims to lower breast cancer death rates for women of color.

Washington University sociologist Sarah Gehlert says even though nationwide white women are more likely to get breast cancer, black women are about 35 percent more likely to die of the disease.

She says in St. Louis that number is closer to 60 percent.

Missouri now has a law on its books allowing it to join with other states in ignoring requirements of the new federal health care law. But the Missouri statute may never have much of an effect, because it requires Congress to first sign off the creation of the multistate health care compact.

Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday allowed the Missouri legislation to become law without his signature.

As we told you about briefly this morning, Republican Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley has officially announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor.

Tilley, an optometrist from Perryville, has been a State Representative since 2005, and spent four years as Majority Floor Leader before becoming Speaker.  He says his experience as a lawmaker is a big asset, as the Lt. Governor serves as the official head of the Missouri Senate.

For the second time in as many years, Gov. Jay Nixon has signed legislation outlawing the sale of synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of cocaine and marijuana.

The bill signed Thursday by Nixon takes aim at products often marketed as bath salts, incense or spices.

Last year, Nixon signed legislation banning one type of synthetic marijuana called spice cannabinoids, which are sprayed on plants and often sold under the name "K2."

But other forms of synthetic marijuana with different chemical formulas quickly went on the market.

Illinois home foreclosure activity rose 4 percent in June compared to the previous month, but was down 25 percent from one year earlier.

A report released Thursday by Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac shows Illinois with 6,541 homes receiving initial foreclosure filings last month.

Another 1,944 properties were scheduled for auction sale and 2,529 properties were repossessed by banks.

Looking at the first six months of the year, Illinois foreclosure activity fell 29 percent compared to the same period last year.

Updated 2:05 p.m. with comment from Nixon.

Updated 4:19 p.m. with comment from Planned Parenthood and Rep. Tim Jones.

Mo. Gov. Jay Nixon says he will let a controversial measure that puts further restrictions on abortions performed after 20 weeks become law without his signature.

The state already bans late-term abortions unless the life or health of the mother is in danger. That includes mental health.

St. Louis health officials say an 80-year-old woman has died from the heat.

The woman's death was announced Thursday. Her name was not released.

The city Health Department says the woman was found lifeless in her home on Wednesday. No additional information was released.

It was the second heat-related death in St. Louis this year. The other victim died in June.

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East St. Louis is weighing whether to appeal a federal jury's verdict in favor of two former city officials who claimed they were fired because they spoke out about racial discrimination in the city's hiring process.

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that jurors in Benton deliberated about four hours before ruling Wednesday in favor of former police and fire commissioners Della Murphy and Wyatt Frazer.

Tilley officially launches campaign

Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley has formally launched his campaign for lieutenant governor. Tilley says he is starting off with more than $1 million in his campaign account.

Tilley, a Republican from Perryville, officially announced his candidacy Thursday for Missouri's second-ranking executive post. It comes as no surprise, because Tilley had changed his fundraising committee to reflect his bid for lieutenant governor last December.