When an HOA looks at revising its subdivision covenants (sometimes called CCRs, declaration, restrictions, restrictive covenants, master deed, or indenture), the board and its attorney generally find a paragraph toward the end of the covenants that requires that the owners of a majority of lots–or units, for a condominium–must approve the amendment for it to
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Missouri Realtors’ form contract invites trouble
By Harry Styron
When real estate purchase contracts do not contain an accurate legal description of the real estate being purchased, there is a substantial risk that the wrong real estate will be conveyed. This situation is usually not present when the transaction involves platted subdivision lots–though it can be a problem if a portion of the lot…
Missouri’s updated expungement statute asks for gender and race
By Harry Styron
We’d all like to be judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin or our gender, unless there is some special advantage to whatever classification we can claim.
But people are people, and our long history of being unnecessarily concerned about gender and race is deep.
I happened to see one…
Your right to remain silent can be important, regardless of what your spouse says
By Harry Styron
A Missouri appellate court refused to set aside the conviction of murderer, sentenced to life without parole, who claimed that his confession was not voluntary, but coerced by the police.
A part of the opinion contains a transcript of a phone conversation between the accused suspect, after he had been arrested, and his wife, who…
Missouri judges have discretion in creating private road maintenance plans
By Harry Styron
In 2012, the Missouri General Assembly gave circuit court judges the ability to create road maintenance plans over shared private roads under some circumstances, enacting what is now section 228.369 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri. I wrote about the promises of this legislation when it was enacted, pointing out some of its features and…
New library facilities are a huge asset to Christian County
By Harry Styron
I heard some fine music on August 11 at the newly-renovated Ozark branch of the Christian County Library from Kicking Jacksie!
As you can see in the photo, we were in a bright meeting room that is available to the public. The windows overlook the Finley River Park, where a mud-run had just been…
Brooks Blevins’s refreshing new book, A History of the Ozarks, Volume 1, The Old Ozarks
By Harry Styron
Brooks Blevins has given us a fresh and refreshing new look at the early history of the Ozarks in the first volume of A History of the Ozarks, published in July 2018 by the University of Illinois Press. I bought my copy through Amazon.
This history is refreshing because it includes many aspects of…
Are Indians extinct?
By Harry Styron
In this article from Missouri Life, “The Tribes of Missouri, Part 1: When the Osage & Missouria Reigned,” the author Ron Soodalter barely hints that the Osage and Missouria people are living people who maintain relationships with Missouri.
Admittedly, the focus of the article is historical. The Osage Nation has very competent academically-trained historians and archaeologists…
A Grandchild’s view from The Backseat of Two Old Folks’ Car
By Harry Styron
Marshall Hill and his wife Tami and their granddaughter Tinley had a wonderful vacation to the Black Hills and Mount Rushmore. They made this beautiful music video to remember it by:
Libertarian support for federal regulation of dog walkers?
By Harry Styron
Regulation of providers of local services–barbers, real estate brokers, taxi cabs, etc.–is traditionally a function of state and local governments. Not discerning any great effect on interstate commerce (i. e., no significant campaign contributions), the United States Congress has stayed out of this field.
Many economists and politicians, especially those with a libertarian bent, wonder…