It is being called the largest blackout in U.S. history and though it didn’t spread to the Midwest, companies in Missouri were affected as the lights went out in New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan among others. Among the Missouri companies affected Anheuser Busch which has breweries in Newark, New Jersey and one in Baldwinsville, New York. The Newark brewery, in fact, is the company’s biggest producer of Budweiser at more than 10-Million barrels per year. American Airlines canceled eight flights at Lambert Field in St. Louis on Thursday because of the blackout. Two other flights have been delayed until today.
Attendance Figures Down At State Fair
August 15, 2003 By
State fair officials say the numbers of people attending this year are down from last year’s attendance figures, but they’re still optimistic the number of people going to the fair will at least match last year’s figures. Kim Allen, marketing director for the fair, says about 185,000 people went to the fair in the first five days, down from more than 190,000 a year ago. Daily attendance figures are not being provided this year. Allen hopes big concert draws and good weather this weekend will push total attendance figures near last year’s numbers of 360,000 people.
Governor’s Office Defends Actions In School Withholdings
August 15, 2003 By
Officials from the Lee’s Summit and Liberty School Districts are filing suit against the State over Governor Bob Holden’s withholding of money that had already been appropriated for public schools. Governor’s Spokesman Mary Still says that while the Governor didn’t want to have to withhold, he does have the constitutional right to take that action and doesn’t believe money spent fighting a lawsuit is not money well spent. The Legislature holds its annual veto session next month. Governor Holden has said he’ll also call a special session at that time to have lawmakers consider spending more money on education.
SLU Study Finds Most Don’t Fear Bioterrorism
August 15, 2003 By
A study by researchers at St. Louis University School of Public Health discloses that while many health care professionals believe the risk of bioterrorism in America is high, they don’t believe it will ever strike near their home. Researchers at St. Louis University found that 74-percent of health care professionals surveyed believe the bioterrorism risk is high. Few of those same professionals – 32-percent – believe their own communities are at risk. Researcher Brooke Shadel says too many people believe terrorists will only strike where they have struck before. Shadel worries that if health care professionals believe the risk is low they might not value terrorism training as they should. But Shadel says all communities need to be prepared, because terrorists will attack anywhere in an attempt to make all of us think no where is safe. St. Louis University researchers surveyed more than 1,200 infection control practitioners in all 50 states. Most were nurses.
