By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Missouri Governor Bob Holden visited St. Louis Thursday to sign a wide range of bills into law.
Holden signed legislation that directs tobacco settlement money into life sciences research, changes taxes on visiting athletes and authorizes a one-percent sales tax in Jefferson County.
At Harris-Stowe State College, Holden signed a bill that formally recognizes June 19th or "Juneteenth" as "Emancipation Day."
I think it's important that we recognize the cultural diversity of our state and the importance of this event in our history many years ago and remember it on a yearly basis," Holden said.
Holden also approved a three-day sales tax holiday for clothing, school supplies and computers this and next August.