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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A former Missouri House speaker whose political career was stymied by an assault conviction and stalled bribery inquiry is back in the state capital as a newspaper owner.

Rod Jetton helped Missouri Republicans cement control of the Legislature as House speaker from 2005 to 2009. He pleaded guilty in 2011 to a reduced misdemeanor assault charge for hitting and choking a woman during sex at her Sikeston home in 2009 and was sentenced to probation.

Jetton was also investigated by a federal grand jury in 2010 over his handling of a 2005 bill regulating sexually oriented businesses, but the panel didn't issue an indictment.

Jetton and a former campaign manager have started The Missouri Times, which covers the Capitol for an audience of lawmakers, lobbyists, legislative staffers and political junkies.