On January 27, a U.S. District Court Judge in Missouri ruled against proponents of a local initiative in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. The case is Rexroat v City of Poplar Bluff, eastern district, 1:11cv-224. Missouri law says local initiatives in some kinds of cities need signatures equal to 25% of the last vote cast for Mayor, and that local initiatives in certain other types of cities need 25% of the number of registered voters. The proponents have enough valid signatures under the first standard, but not under the second standard. The judge ruled that Poplar Bluff is the type of city with the more onerous requirement, so the initiative is off the ballot. The subject of the initiative was regulation of cable systems.