With Election Day less than three weeks away, the sides in the Stem Cell Research Initiative campaign are going all out to hammer home their respective messages. Representatives of the main combatants in this campaign debated the issue at Missourinet studios in Jefferson City. Jaci Winship, Executive Director of Missourians Against Human Cloning – which opposes Amendment 2 – insists the scientific community acknowledges Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer is a form of human cloning. That claim is rejected by Donn Rubin, Executive Director of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures, who points to the wording of the amendment, which states human cloning would be banned in Missouri. Rubin adds failure to protect what is legal under federal law will allow Missouri lawmakers to pass legislation that would chase researchers from the state. Winship rejects that, saying there is no rush to fund into Somatic Stem Cell Research because this research shows no medical promise.
Related web sites:
Missourians Against Human Cloning
Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures
Sides in Stem Cell Research Campaign Debate in Jefferson City
What’s Seasonally Adjusted?
The state’s newest unemployment figures show the seasonally-adjusted rate down a tenth of a point. The September unemployment rate for Missouri, seasonally-adjusted, is down to an even five percent….If it’s not seasonally adjusted, the rate is 4.8 percent, also down a tenth from August. Economic Development analyst Bill Niblack says construction, manufacturing, and professional and business services were up. Government employment was down 57-hundred….because a lot of teachers returned to work in August instead of September…..Retail trade also was down, about 23-hundred. The estimated total non farm payroll employment in September totalled more than two-and-three-quarters million people.(For a better look at “seasonally adjusted,” listen to the audio clip with this story)
Students on the Dollar
This year’s high school freshman might be able to teach their college counterparts a thing or two… at least their new school curriculum can. This marks the first year freshman must take a course in personal finance. The State Board of Education approved the half-credit requirement last year. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s assistant commissioner, Nancy Headrick, says the goal is to give students the skills they need to manage their own finances. The half credit requirement comes as part of an extra 2 full credits tacked on to high school graduation requirements. The required finance course is grouped into four categories: income and taxes, money management, spending and credit, and saving and investing.
Debate on Amendment 2: Stem Cell Research
On November 7th, Missourians will vote on a constitutional initiative that would, in effect, allow Missouri researchers to conduct any stem cell research that is permitted under federal law. The issue has sparked heated discussion throughout the state. One side believes this is the route to curing numerous diseases. The other sees it as a path to human cloning.
Audio of debate (55 min)
Donn Rubin, Chairman of the Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures
The Missouri Coalition for Lifesaving Cures is a broad-based coalition of concerned citizens, patient groups and medical organizations working to protect stem cell research and patient access to stem cell treatments through the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative, to be on the statewide ballot in November 2006. Mr. Rubin also serves as Executive Director of the Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences, an organization comprised of top civic and academic leaders whose mission is to position Missouri as an international center for biomedical and plant sciences research and industry. He was recently appointed by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt to chair the Missouri Technology Corporation. His prior work was in international development, assisting the new democracies of post-communist Eastern Europe reform their legal and health care systems.
Missourians Against Human Cloning
MAHC is “a coalition of individuals and organizations dedicated to promoting ethical science, advancing realistic medical treatments with adult stem cells and opposing the practice of cloning human beings for research purposes.” Representing MAHC in the debate will be Executive Director Jaci Winship. Ms. Winship received her Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Missouri, Columbia. From 2000-2006, she was the vice president of Meeting Resources, Inc. a St. Louis based Meeting Planning and Incentive Travel Company. Prior to 2000, she was the Director of Operations for Lay Renewal Ministries; a portfolio manager for Mercantile Trust and a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch.
Royals Bad Season Not Because Of Coaching
The Royals apparently do not believe their third 100-loss season in four years was a result of insufficient coaching. Team officials confirmed Wednesday they will bring back the entire major-league coaching staff including manager Buddy Bell.
Kansas City did swap the duties of their base coaches. Luis Silverio will move from third to first, switching places with Brian Poldberg who moves from first to third.
