Missouri state
Sen. Jolie Justus has 5,000 Facebook friends and a lot more constituents in the 10th District who want to communicate with her. That's one reason Justus hosts a coffee gathering at the Oak Street Coffee House (6221 Oak) every Friday when she's in town. (She posts notices on her Facebook page.) But not everyone can take time away from work to sip java with Justus, so once a month, the senator takes soda and water to the offices of MainCor (3215 Main, Suite 200) for a noon brown-bag lunch with as many as 50 citizens — the office doesn't hold more than that — so they may hear the latest news from Jefferson City and have a chance to ask questions. "Most people bring in fast-food lunches," Justus says, "but some people bring in their own packed lunches from home. Some look so good, I've been tempted to ask for a sample.
— Charles Ferruzza
