In the Spotlight

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.

MOVA honors Nixon for leadership on crime victim issues

The statewide Missouri Victim Assistance (MOVA) network honored Attorney General Nixon for his dedication and support for the rights of crime victims with an award at the annual Buchanan County Crime Victims' Rights Week breakfast in St. Joseph on April 18. MOVA President Shana Morrison presented the award to Nixon; she is pictured with the Attorney General and with Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney Dwight Scroggins.

The award from MOVA salutes the Attorney General "in appreciation of 16 years of being a friend and advocate of protecting the rights of crime victims."

During his tenure as Attorney General, Nixon has been a leader in calling for greater access to courtroom proceedings and increased notification of hearings for victims. Nixon has also been at the forefront in providing important information to Missourians about resources available to crime victims.

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