What they're saying…

Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Missouri newspapers:

March 31

St. Louis Post-Dispatch, on Supreme Court ruling on three-strike rule:

The Missouri Supreme Court ... may have handed get-out-of-jail cards to a lot of habitual drunken drivers.

The Legislature should fix the clumsily crafted, contradictory law that led to the ruling.

On March 4, the state Supreme Court ruled that suspended sentences given by municipal courts don't count toward the three-strikes rule that makes a defendant eligible for a felony conviction and prison.

The court said a state law contradicted itself on the issue. The ruling could release many of the 1,100 Missouri inmates serving time in prison for drunken driving, and it could shorten the sentences of others.

While they're fixing the flaw, legislators should take the opportunity to improve the way the state deals with drunken drivers. A sensible policy wouldn't add more inmates but would aim to change people's dangerous behavior long before they land in prison.

Drunken drivers generally are sent to state-mandated counseling. Those programs have three levels, depending on the severity of the problem. The highest level involves six weeks of outpatient treatment and monitoring.

Because plea bargaining is rampant, some motorists are arrested multiple times for driving drunk, but plead guilty to lesser charges. In Missouri, a third drunken-driving conviction is a felony punishable by prison time.

One possibility involves drunken-driving courts, such as those in St. Charles County. Judges typically dangle a prison sentence over a defendant's head as he goes through a long program of alcohol counseling and monitoring. Drunken-driving courts are patterned after drug courts, which have enjoyed some success in reforming drug addicts.

A prison sentence keeps a dangerous driver off the road for a while, and that's good. But the offender will get out again. ''I've seen a lot of people go to prison and come out, and the first thing they do is get a drink,'' says Sunderman, the counselor.

A far better, cheaper and potentially more effective answer is to treat the alcoholism.

March 30

Southeast Missourian, on helping flood victims:

In all of the gloom and destruction of the flooding and other recent natural disasters, there is one particularly bright spot: all the individuals who pitched in to help those in need just because it was the right thing to do. For the most part these are reluctant heroes who do not seek any special attention. But goodness knows they deserve it.

One example is FedEx driver Jay McMullin, who happened to be on a flooded highway west of Jackson just as a pickup was washed off the edge of the road. McMullin stopped, waded in the rushing water, took the hand of Odell Bunch and helped him to safety. Then McMullin finished his delivery route -- and even helped another driver as well -- with soaked shoes and socks.

Because Southeast Missourian photographer Aaron Eisenhauer was in the right place at the right time, McMullin's efforts were recorded in photos -- photos that soon were being displayed on Web sites around the nation and world and then published in newspapers.

But countless other heroes slogged through rising floodwaters as well. Some helped with sandbags. Some assisted with rescues. Some looked after pets. Some provided food and shelter. And don't forget those who, once the water began to recede, faced the daunting task of cleaning up and salvaging water-soaked mementos from before the floods.

To all of those selfless individuals who responded so admirably in a crisis: Thank you. You have again demonstrated that we are capable of so much good when times are bad.

March 30

Jefferson City News-Tribune, on properly releasing information:

During Sunshine Week ... we extolled the virtues of open government.

A local public entity that embraces that concept is the Jefferson City Public School District.

The school district reported a middle school student faces possible discipline after bringing a pellet gun to school. The student was described as showing off the gun, and school officials said there was no malicious intent. The student was not identified by name, grade or gender.

The district's timely, factual report of the incident was entirely appropriate.

First, the district is realistic. Officials recognize that in addition to positive news about academic and athletic achievements, problems also are going to occur in a system that brings thousands of young people together in a variety of buildings on a daily basis.

Second, the district recognizes that facts vanquish rumors.

Parents and patrons have an overriding interest in safety issues. With nearly everyone in the schools carrying a cell phone, incidents will be relayed, not always accurately, and rumors will flourish.

The district's recitation of the facts provides a necessary accounting and, in this case, assurance that no threat existed.

The district also properly withheld the identity of the student.

Although journalism's W's begin with who, identifying the student would serve no public purpose.

What is important is that the district's no-tolerance policy on weapons was violated, the student faces discipline and no one was placed in jeopardy.

Other public entities can learn from the school district's philosophy.

We all share an interest in communicating timely, important community information.