The future of an alternative fuel could hold the future for some Missouri farmers. Proponents of biodiesel, the fuel that many times is made from soybean oil, say it is a renewable, non-toxic alternative to fossil-based fuels that are too many times imported from the Middle East. And they want to see more people using it. John Kleiboeker with the Missouri Soybean Association says 30 percent of Missouri soybean farmers are using biodiesel in their equipment. He would like to see that increase to 50 percent next year until finally all farmers are using the soybean-based fuel. But, Kleiboeker admits they would like to see biodiesel in the largest diesel market – over-the-road trucking. He believes it will happen, it just might take some time. Kleiboeker says increased demand could translate into higher prices farmers get for a bushel of soybeans, possibly anywhere from 15 to 85 cents more a bushel.
Population Shift Sees Missourians Moving To South And Southwest Parts Of State
Missouri’s population has shifted over the years and the trend is expected to continue in the near future. Missouri keeps growing, up more than 77,000 people in the first two years of this century to a total population of 5.6-Million. A shift has seen Missourians move away from the core of the state’s two biggest cities – St. Louis and Kansas City. The population favors southern Missouri over northern Missouri. State Demographer Ryan Burson says, in general, people moved to the jobs but not always. The biggest percentage growth still belongs to Christian County, south of Springfield. Webster County, east of Springfield, also had strong growth. Prisons in Charleston and Licking led to strong growth in Mississippi and Texas Counties. Fort Leonard Wood spurred growth in Pulaski County. St. Louis area counties experiencing strong growth include St. Charles, Lincoln and Warren. Around Kansas City Cass, Platte and Clay grew.
Online Sex Offender Registry Could Be Delayed Until Next Summer
A law calling for the state’s sexual offender registry to be posted on the Internet is set to take effect on Thursday, but nobody should expect the site to be up and running until the middle of next year. Captain Tim McGrail, Director of the State Highway Patrol’s Criminal Records and Identification Division, says it will take time and money to have the registry as part of the Patrol’s website. But, he says it will make it easier to keep track of registered offenders. McGrail says it will likely be next July before Missourians will be able to access the information on the Parol’s website. Until then, they’ll have to contact sheriffs on a county by county basis to obtain that information.
