In the Spotlight

Nixon gives encouragement to law enforcement, athletes involved in Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri

Attorney General Jay Nixon spoke words of encouragement to law enforcement officers and athletes carrying the torch through Jefferson City on May 27 on their way to the 2008 Summer State Games in Springfield, which begin on May 28 and go through May 30. Nixon has long been a supporter of Special Olympics Missouri, and he praised the dedication of the athletes and the law enforcement officers who are carrying the torch for more than 1,000 miles throughout the state on its way to the Games.

Pictured with Nixon in front of the Law Enforcement Memorial on the state Capitol grounds are, from left, athlete Ricky Rost, Officer Richard Hayden of the Jefferson City Police Department, and athlete Derek Sandbothe.

Nearly 200 law enforcement agencies and 2,500 officers volunteer year-round to help the fundraising efforts of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. In 2007, they raised $1 million to support Special Olympics Missouri’s year-round sports training and athletic competition program for over 14,000 athletes across the state.

To view more photos from the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Missouri, click here.

Nixon: "Stirring ceremony touches hearts of all who witness it"

Attorney General Nixon helped honor the memory of fallen Missouri law enforcement officers on May 3 at the annual Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, held next to the Law Enforcement Memorial on the north side of the state Capitol. The names of six Missouri officers who died in the line of duty in 2007 were added to the memorial, along with the names of two officers who gave their lives in years past.

"This ceremony stands as a reminder that in every decade and every generation, there are those who take on the responsibility for the safety of society - quietly and without fanfare, they face danger everyday to protect us," Nixon told the group of law enforcement officers, surviving family members and friends.

Above, officers bow their heads in a moment of prayer during the ceremony.

Nixon says providing alcohol to minors is "unsafe, irresponsible and illegal"

Attorney General Jay Nixon is helping lead an effort to reduce underage drinking in Missouri. Nixon spoke at a news conference in St. Louis on Sept. 12 to help launch "We Don't Serve Teens" Week in Missouri. The week is helping call attention to the problem of teens obtaining alcohol from parents or other adults, particularly as the teens head back to school.

Nixon was joined at the news conference by representatives of The Century Council and of local wholesale beverage distributors. The Century Council is a non-profit organization funded by major alcoholic beverage makers and is a primary sponsor, along with the Federal Trade Commission, of the "We Don't Serve Teens" initiative.

As part of the "We Don't Serve Teens" initiative, the Century Council and the Missouri Broadcasters Association will be distributing public service announcements to discourage adults from supplying teens with alcohol. Displays at retailers selling alcohol also will remind adults of this message.

Nixon is pictured here at the news conference with Todd Epsten, of Major Brands, and George Randall, the owner of Randall's Wine and Spirits, the St. Louis retailer where the news conference was held.

Attorney General Jay Nixon says parents need to make sure teens don't have access to alcohol

Listen to Attorney General Jay Nixon and Olympic soccer star Julie Foudy