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St. Louis-born actor Norbert Leo Butz has won Broadway’s equivalent of an Oscar for his performance in the musical version of “Catch Me If You Can.” It’s the second time Butz has won a Tony Award for best actor in a musical. He also won a Tony in 2005.
Butz plays FBI agent Carl Hanratty, who chases con man Frank Abegnale Junior in a musical play based on the 2002 movie of the same name. The role in the movie was played by Tom Hanks.
The earth moved about three miles underground this morning about halfway between Sullivan and Potosi. The United States Geological Service rated it as “light” at 4.2, a quake that can be felt in a wide area but not strong enough to cause damage. Later evaluations lowered the quake severity to 3.9. Earthquake program manager Steve Besemer with the State Emergency Management Agency says aftershock are sometimes likely after an earthquake of this magnitude. But he says none has been reported.
The rumble happened about 3:10 a.m. One woman emailed Missourinet affiliate KTUI in Sullivan saying it felt like five seconds of thunder right above her house that shook the windows but caused no damage. Sullivan police have reported the shake was enough to wake up the entire town.
No injuries have been reported.
The USGS says it received scattered reports of the quake being felt as far away as Mobile, Alabama–about 866 km away–as well as New Albany Ohio (736 km from the epicenter), Middleton, Wisconsin (567 km), and Wichita, Kanss (562 km), as well as in various parts of Missouri.
Researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia think they have made a breakthrough in solar technology that could replace conventional solar panels in a decade with a kind of high-tech wallpaper.
The key is something called a nanoantenna, a teeny device that is 1/25 the diameter of a human hair, that collects the energy of heat from the sun or other sources and turns it into electricity. [Read more...]
A proposal cutting drug-using welfare recipients off the state welfare rolls is nearing passage at the capitol.
The goal is to protect children in welfare homes where one or both parents are using drugs. The legislation would cut off Temporary Assistance to Needy Family benefits–TANF, the program is called–while making sure the children continue to get their benefits. The bill that has passed the House says welfare case workers who reasonably suspect a benefit recipient of using drugs can order a test for the five most popular drugs. If the person tests positive or refuses the test, that person’s benefits are in jeopardy. [Read more...]
A plan to bar project labor agreements on any project using public money in Missouri has run into opposition from labor-affiliated state senators.
Project labor agreements are agreements between government entities and successful bidders that set forth condition of employment, including wages, and strike and lockout prohibitions for the length of the project. Union as well as non-union contractors are allowed to bid for that work.
