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Additional jobless benefits going out

June 18, 2009 By

The state has started sending out extended unemployment benefit checks to Missourians who have exhausted their unemployment benefits during the last four months. The state is using 65 million federal stimulus dollars to provide 13 more weeks of unemployment benefits to people who’ve already used up their 59 weeks of state and federal eligibility.

State labor department officials think it could take as much as three weeks to get all of the checks out.

Department spokesman Amy Susan says some people ran out of benefits as far back as February. If they still are not working, they could get a check for 13 weeks ago at once. "For some people, this is the first time they’ve had money in their pockets," she says.

Susan says the list of eligible people is about 11-thousand…and growing. Some people might not be sure if they qualify for the additional payments. Susan’s advice: File. The department will check its records and determine eligibility.

Upload Bob Priddy’s story (:54 mp3)

Filed Under: Human Interest

State Senator Schaefer offers proposal to avoid veto of Ellis Fischel cancer facility funding

June 18, 2009 By

Concerned about the possibility of a veto of $31.2 million for a new Ellis Fischel cancer facility in Columbia, State Senator Kurt Schaefer (R-Columbia) is asking Governor Jay Nixon to consider an alternative proposal for keeping the money in the budget.

Members of the Governor’s staff have been looking over the budget for the 2010 fiscal year and have made no secret of the fact the state is experiencing tough times. Schaefer agrees times are tough, but he has sent the Governor a letter asking that at least some thought be given to a proposal that would borrow funding from other projects – the interoperability radio system which would allow different cities and counties to communicate with one another, and battery plants in Joplin and Jackson County.

"I think we need to spend $111 million on interoperability but we can do that by simply committing 92 million this coming year to it – that would give us 19 million," said Schaefer in an interview with the Missourinet. "And then we’ve got the two battery plants that are getting 25 million apiece. We could take 6 million from each one of those battery plants – for an additional 12 million – that gives us $31-million right there."

Schaefer says using money from these other projects will not jeopardize those efforts because funding can be added to the interoperability system next year and in future years while the battery plants benefit from federal subsidies.

"Everything that I see indicates that if we do that it will not jeopardize the interoperability project or the battery plants," said Schaefer. "But if we don’t do it we are going to lose a $200 million construction project."

Schaefer considers it a $200 million project, saying the $31.2 million from federal stabilization funds is merely the anchor to a much larger project.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Chiefs Training Camp Headed to St. Joseph

June 18, 2009 By

 The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Thursday that the club’s training camp will return to the state of Missouri for the next 10 years, beginning in 2010. The Chiefs and Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri have agreed to the university’s plans for a training facility that will host the club’s training camp on the Missouri Western campus for a minimum of five years.

"We are very excited about bringing training camp back to the state of Missouri," Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt said. "Given the increased year-round interest in the Chiefs, it was important to our family to conduct camp closer to our fans in Mid-America. We appreciate the support of the State of Missouri and Missouri Western State University, and we look forward to expanding our role in the St. Joseph community next summer."

Working with the State of Missouri, the Missouri Development Finance Board and Missouri Western State University, the Chiefs will make a multi-million dollar contribution to support the construction of a new training facility on the Missouri Western campus. This project will include a climate-controlled, 120-yard indoor field, as well as team and position meeting space for the Chiefs and office space for the Chiefs coaching and football operations staff. In addition, two 120-yard, regulation NFL grass fields will be part of the project.

"The Chiefs appreciate the hard work so many individuals have put into this effort," Chiefs President Denny Thum commented. "Specifically, we would like to thank the Office of the Governor and the Missouri Development Finance Board. In addition, there were several key parties from Missouri Western State University who were integral to this process, including Dr. Robert Vartabedian (President), Dirck Clark (Chair, Board of Governors) and Dave Williams (Director of Athletics). We look forward to construction beginning in the immediate future on this project."

The university has assured the Chiefs that the facility will be completed before July 2010 and the university has assumed responsibility for any cost overruns associated with the project. In addition to their investment in this facility at Missouri Western, the Chiefs and the Hunt Family have contributed an additional $50 million towards the ongoing renovation efforts at Arrowhead Stadium and the Truman Sports Complex, further strengthening the franchise’s commitment to the state of Missouri.

Missouri Western will serve as just the fifth training camp site in the 50-year history of the Chiefs franchise. The Chiefs will conduct their training camp in the state of Missouri for the first time in 20 years when they open camp at Missouri Western in 2010. William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri previously served as the Chiefs training camp site from ’63-90.

Founded in ’69, Missouri Western State University has an enrollment of approximately 5,500 students. The Griffons compete at the NCAA Division II level as a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). Spratt Stadium is home to Missouri Western’s football squad, boasting a capacity 6,000 and a synthetic playing surface. St. Joseph, Missouri (pop. 72,000) is located approximately 55 minutes from downtown Kansas City and is only 35 minutes north of Kansas City International Airport.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Authorities cracking down on "shake and bake" meth

June 18, 2009 By

There’s a new meth on the market in Missouri as manufacturers of the illegal drug are coming up with ways to further skirt the law and speed up the "cooking" process.

It’s called "shake and bake" and it’s a new way to make methamphetamine without previously necessary chemicals.

Sgt. Jason Clark, public information officer with the Division of Drug and Crime Control for the Missouri Highway Patrol says the traditional methods used anhydrous ammonia or red phosphorous in what’s called "Nazi Dope" or "Red P," respectively. The shake and bake method surpasses both of those ingredients.

It’s basically where manufacturers mix various chemicals in a plastic bottle and agitate them until they crystallize into meth.

But Clark says the shake and bake method might be the most dangerous yet. Since the chemicals used are so volatile when reacting with each other, water and air, an explosive reaction is extremely likely.

Clark says this method is less efficient than the traditional lab/cooking technique, but has become popular in areas where anhydrous ammonia or red phosphorous are not readily available.

A law passed a few years ago put pseudoephedrine-based cold meds, such as Sudafed — another necessary ingredient — behind the counter. The intention of the law was to crack down on meth manufacturing and limit how much of the over-the-counter drug consumers could buy at one time. But now drug task force members say instead of several hundred pills to make a batch of meth, now it only takes a few grams.

A report that came out recently put Missouri at the top of the national list for the number of meth busts and lab seizures or discoveries, but Clark says despite that, the numbers are coming down.

The Highway Patrol says one can look at the numbers in two ways — that there’s more meth in Missouri than anywhere else, or that authorities here are doing a better job in cracking down on the clandestine industry.

The Highway Patrol says shake and bake meth is just another aspect of an ever-changing industry. While "Mexican Ice" was prevalent for awhile because of its low cost in comparison to locally made meth, that is on the decline.

Like any manufacturing industry, the patrol says, the masterminds behind the process are going to continually become more efficient and speed up the turnaround process.

The patrol asks Missourians to keep and eye on their surroundings and report suspicious activity to the authorities, which might include:

– Frequent visitors at all times of the day or night.

– Activity at the house at odd hours or late at night.

– Occupants appear unemployed, yet seem to have plenty of money and pay bills with cash.

– Occupants are unfriendly, appear secretive about activities.

– Extensive security at the home.

– Blackened windows or curtains that are always down.

– Occupants go outside the house to smoke cigarettes.

– Chemical odors coming from the house, garage, or detached buildings.

– Garbage containing numerous bottles and containers.

– Coffee filters, bed sheets or other material stained from filtering red phosphorus or other chemicals.

– Occupants set their garbage for pick up in another neighbor’s collection area.

– Evidence of chemical or waste dumping, such as burn pits or "dead spots" in the yard.

Jessica Machetta reports [Download/listen MP3]

Filed Under: Crime & Courts Tagged With: , ,

Royals Streak Halted

June 18, 2009 By

The Kansas City Royals winning streak is stopped at four, as the Arizona Diamondbacks topped KC 12-5 in the second of a three game interleague series at Kaufman Stadium.

Royals starter Zack Greinke had one of his worst outings of the year, giving up six runs, four earned, in 6 2/3 innings. Greinke, who lost for the first time this season at home, allowed eight hits and walked two while striking out nine.

Jose Guillen had three hits and drove in four for Kansas City.

The rubber match of the series is tonight with Luke Hochevar getting the call for KC against Dan Haren.

Filed Under: Uncategorized
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