February 12, 2012

Governor signs bill extending jobless benefits

Governor Jay Nixon has signed legislation extending unemployment benefits for Missourians. The additional unemployment money is part of the federal economic stimulus package. House Bill 1075 will provide $65 million for out-of-work Missourians who have gone through their benefits but who have still not found employment.

Under normal circumstances, unemployment benefits would last a total of 59 weeks, provided the claimant has not found a job. But this legislation will extend benefits during times of high unemployment. Missourians will be eligible for up to 13 additional weeks of benefits when the jobless rate exceeds 6.5 percent during the most recent three-month period. In addition, the legislation provides up to seven additional weeks of benefits when the average total unemployment rate exceeds 8 percent during the most recent three-month period.

Missourinet’s Top Tweets

Royals done in by birds.  Chiefs looking for a TE and Chase Daniel doing well in D.C.  The Missourinet is keeping an eye on sports across the state of Missouri. We’re following all the top Twitter sports sites daily to provide you with up to date information.  Follow the Missourinet at twitter.com/missourisports .

— @ missourisports Royals done in by flock of seagulls in 10th as Mark DeRosa "ran…he ran so far away." http://tinyurl.com/nkl98h

— @ ChiefsNFL Chiefs need new tight end: Tony Gonzalez is gone, and that’s not changing. http://kl.am/IHC

— @ 101espn Chase Daniel is catching on with Washington http://tinyurl.com/kvkq3u

— @ ChiefsNFL  Q&A with TODD HALEY – 6/11: OTA #9 TODD HALEY: "We just completed another OTA.   http://kl.am/I5x

— @ showmegames only 35 days until the Show-Me STATE GAMES begin! Sign up for your favorite sport – http://smsg.org/sports.php

All television goes digital today

Today, analog television is history. The Missouri Broadcasters Association says an estimated 30 thousand people in the state — or fewer — probably woke up with no TV signal this morning.

Don Hicks, president and CEO of the Missouri Broadcasters Association, says of the estimated 1.5 million viewers in the state who aren’t cable or dish subscribers, less than 2 percent have likely procrastinated in getting digital ready for today’s signal changeover.

Hicks says stations have staffed up today, expecting a final surge of viewers calling with questions, making a mad dash to be digital ready.

Hicks says the equipment needed to get the digital signal will vary according to location.

Those in rural areas may need to buy a souped up antenna and/or a signal booster to get a signal from towers that are far away. Outside antennas will need further tweaking since the digital signal is more precise than the old analog signal. What it comes down to, he says, is that every person will have to experiment to see what works for them, even if they’re just using rabbit ears.

Hicks says out of the 6 million people in the state, 25 percent of them are "over the air." He estimates about 2 percent are still not ready.

A step-by-step guide on getting that old TV digital ready can be found at dtv.gov .

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Royals loss is for the birds

What do the Cleveland Indians and the 80′s music group Flock of Seagulls have in common?  At one time, they both had one hit wonders.  Shin Soo Choo’s single up the middle hit a seagull in center field and skipped past Royals’ outfielder Coco Crisp to bring in Mark DeRosa from second with the winning run in a 4-3 final in 10 innings.

Kyle Farnsworth gave up a single to DeRosa and then walked Victor Martinez to lead to Choo’s hit.  Crisp said he thought he might have a play at the plate, but as the ball hit the outfield grass, several seagulls who were resting just beyond second base, starting flying out of the way.  As one bird took off, the ball hit it, changed direction and went under the glove of Crisp allowing DeRosa to score easily.

Here’s the video .

That topped off what could have been another win for Zack Greinke who pitched well through seven innings, but ran into trouble in the 8 th as two errors helped the Indians tie the game at three.

Up 3-1, it was DeRosa and Martinez who singled and walked that led to manager Trey Hillman to Greinke and go to the bullpen.  John Bale came on and got Choo to ground to first baseman Billy Butler, who threw for a force out at second base, but shortstop Tony Pena’s return throw got away from Bale covering first base, allowing DeRosa to score. Then, second baseman Alberto Callaspo’s throw home was bad and Choo went to second.  The Royals were charged with two errors on that play.

How often have we seen the Royals shoot themselves in the foot with poor execution?  Hillman then brought in Joakim Soria who gave up a double Jhonny Peralta to score Choo and tie the game. 

Greinke pitched 7.1 innings getting charged with three runs while giving up six hits and three walks while striking out six.  He remains 8-1 with his ERA at 1.72.  He last won on May 26th.

University of Missouri to test for sickle cell

The University of Missouri will now make it mandatory that all student-athletes test for sickle cell.  The policy is being put in place following the 2005 death of 19 year old linebacker Aaron O’Neal who died after a voluntary practice.

Several experts cited the sickle cell trait in O’Neal’s case.  The official cause of death was viral meningitis as ruled on by the Boone County Medical Examiner.  Whether or not sickle cell was a factor is O’Neal’s death has been debated, but nonetheless the University is changing its policy on testing after the school agree to pay $2 million to the O’Neal family.

Missouri starting  testing for sickle cell on a voluntary basis in 2006 with the school picking up the costs.