News Articles

By Brent Engel

It's a fast-growing crime, and Margaret Donnelly wants to stop it.

Donnelly, a state representative from the St. Louis suburb of Richmond Heights, is one of four people seeking the Democratic nomination for Missouri Attorney General. She visited Marion and Ralls counties Monday.

One of Donnelly's priorities if elected would be fighting elder abuse.

"Elderly and disabled people are being taken advantage of by scam artists," said Donnelly, 54. "It's very important we focus on what I think is a vulnerable group."

By Joe Mahr

Acknowledging gaps that can aid felony fugitives, officials from Missouri and
Illinois advocate greater efforts to hunt fugitives, alert police elsewhere and
generate more public tips.

"It is an unacceptable position to be in to have fugitives - particularly on
the more serious offenses, felonies - where they'll able to flee and be free to
commit more additional crimes," said Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Mike
Gibbons, R-Kirkwood. "We definitely need to do better."

The push for change follows a Post-Dispatch investigation published last month
that showed hundreds of thousands of felony fugitives across the country can
flee and avoid arrest. The investigation found cases of fugitives let go by
police who have gone on to rape, rob and kill.

While federal officials and advocacy groups have suggested new laws and more
grants to close some gaps, elected officials from Missouri and Illinois say
there are additional steps each state can take.

MORE HUNTING

The FBI and U.S. Marshals Service oversee task forces that help hunt fugitives,
but they can tackle only a fraction of felony warrants issued by state courts.

State Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, has called for a new unit within the highway patrol to not only hunt all types of fugitives but also to determine a statewide strategy to catch those wanted for crimes.

"I really believe you do best, when you have a statewide problem, to take a coordinated approach," Donnelly said, "and the most likely place for us to get the expertise and the best coordination is in the highway patrol."

 By Brent Martin

 A small restoration, but a restoration nonetheless of a portion of the Medicaid cuts approved by the legislature in 2005 wins approval in the House.

Democrats have harshly criticized Republicans for years for the 2005 cuts. Rep. Margaret Donnelly (D-St. Louis) makes light of the budget turn-around Republicans tout, saying they did it by cutting health care for the poor.

By Virginia Young 

The House wrapped up its work on the state budget tonight with a debate on whether to restore the 2005 cuts Republicans made in health care for the poor.

While Democrats tried several times to reinstate some of the coverage and services, only one attempt succeeded.

That amendment - by Rep. Margaret Donnelly, D-Richmond Heights - allotted $2.2 million for occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy for adults. The funding comes on top of about $370,000 Donnelly secured in the House Budget Committee.

By Alexandra Nicolas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Nothing is ever free.

It's a scam that's increasing as more members of the baby-boomer generation retire. Scam artists will lure the unsuspecting with a free-lunch or -dinner seminar. Using high-pressure techniques, scam artists will tempt victims into phony investments that will cost Missourians hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

House Bill 1488, sponsored by Margaret Donnelly, D-St. Louis, would tack higher penalties to those convicted of committing securities fraud against the elderly or disabled. Those convicted now face the same penalties regardless of the victims' age or status, fines of not more than $1 million and fewer than 10 years in prison. HB 1488 would set minimums of no less than $50,000 and no less than five years in prison for crimes committed against the physically or mentally disabled, or those at least 60 years of age.

Financial scams cost victims thousands

By: Alexandra Nicolas

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A free lunch could cost you your retirement savings.

Luring the unsuspecting with a free lunch or dinner seminar, scam artists, frequently know as "bad actors" use high pressure techniques to swindle Missourians out of hundred of thousands of dollars a year.

Sponsored by Margaret Donnelly (D-St. Louis), House Bill 1488 would elevate the penalties for committing a number of financial crimes against the elderly or disabled.

by Ken Newton

State Rep. Margaret Donnelly's background in social work and family law draws her to the protection of society's most vulnerable, she said in a visit to St. Joseph Wednesday.

Ms. Donnelly, a Democrat from St. Louis, hopes to take her experience to the state attorney general's office.

"Violence against women and children will always be a priority," she said.

By CHRIS WALLER 

With Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon's job up for grabs in November, four candidates have announced they are running for the position.

One of those candidates, Representative Margaret Donnelly, took a trip to Callaway County on Friday.

Donnelly stopped in Fulton to meet with representatives from county government and law enforcement in order to find out what issues are on the minds of Callaway residents.