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Morning headlines: Monday, August 22, 2011

Critics are challenging a proposed Mo. ballot measure that seeks to limit interest rates for payday loans.
Flickr/PinkMoose
Critics are challenging a proposed Mo. ballot measure that seeks to limit interest rates for payday loans.

Critics challenge Mo. measure to limit payday loan interest

The proposed ballot measure would cap interest, fees and charges for payday and car title loans at 36 percent per year.

Critics of the proposal filed a lawsuit in the state Capitol's home of Cole County. The suit contends a ballot summary for the proposal is inadequate and unfair and that the cost estimate for the proposal does not address all the possible costs.

Backers of the ballot measure say they plan to start collecting signatures for the initiative petition this week. To get the measure on the 2012 ballot, they must collect signatures from 5 percent of the voters who cast ballots in the 2008 governor's election from six congressional districts.

Special elections to be held Nov. 8

Gov. Jay Nixon has scheduled special elections Nov. 8 to fill four vacancies in the Missouri House. All of the vacancies result from the resignations of incumbent representatives.

In eastern Missouri, elections will be held to replace Sally Faith in the 15th District of St. Charles County, and Jake Zimmerman in the 83rd District from St. Louis County. The special elections will also fill the seats from Kansas City previously held by Jean Peters-Baker in the 39th District and Shalonn "Kiki" Curls in the 41st District.

National Guard intensifies training ahead of Mo. guard deployment to Egypt

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the National Guard is intensifying training in preparation for deployment of 93 Missouri National Guard members next month for a year-long peacekeeping tour in Egypt.

In the past, the deployment might have seemed rather low-key given the long relationship of Egypt as one of the closest U.S. allies in the Arab world. But that changed six months ago when pro-democracy demonstrators ousted longtime Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Meanwhile, there is growing concern in Washington about anti-American sentiment from Egypt.