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Move to Kansas City complete for two USDA research agencies

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The USDA’s Deputy Undersecretary for Research says the transfer of two research agencies to Kansas City is complete and hiring is underway. Scott Hutchins testified at a hearing this morning in Washington, D.C. before the U.S. House Ag subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler

“Be assured that we are committed to both ERS and NIFA and will thrive in their new location and continue their service to U.S. agriculture,” says Hutchins.

He addressed the loss of employees who elected not to move to Kansas City.

“While it’s true that we have lost some excellent talent in both of those agencies, we have every confidence that we’ll be able to replace that,” says Hutchins.

West-central Missouri Republican Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler agreed.

“Being in the Heartland, we are very excited about this move and concur with you that we have the personnel that will be able to fill these positions,” says Hartzler.

He says being close to the agencies’ stakeholders is really important.

“Our farmers and ranchers support it,” says Hartzler. “I represent the University of Missouri and we are co-hosting a jobs fair there with you in November.”

Hutchins says the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture employees who have moved are happy with the region because of lower housing prices and less commute times. Hutchins says the $300 million in cost savings from the move will be reinvested into the agencies. One-third of ERS employees will remain in Washington.

By Julie Harker of Brownfield Ag News

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St. Louis committee unanimously supports police notification about failed gun background checks

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Lewis Reed & Randee Steffan (Photo courtesy of Jill Enders)

A proposed ordinance is moving forward that would require St. Louis gun dealers to report to police any customers who fail background checks. Board Bill 106 passed unanimously out an Aldermanic committee on Tuesday morning. Board of Alderman President Lewis Reed, the bill’s sponsor, says he pleased with the outcome.

“Certainly common sense gun laws can help us here in the city of St. Louis. We see on average of 2,000 shootings a year in the city and over a 180 people will be shot and killed this year and that’s a major issue.” Reed said.

A group from the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action attended the hearing to support the measure. Treasurer Randee Steffen testified during the hearing. She also disputed what critics are saying about this measure not being effective.

Alderman Joseph Vaccaro (Photo courtesy of Jill Enders)

“Yes, criminals will get guns off of the streets, but we’ve also have seen in other states, in Virginia for example, there’s been 5,000 people going in and trying to make illegal purchases, with over 12% of those have been investigated and charges have been brought.” Steffen explained.

No one spoke in opposition to the measure.

All seven committee members also added their names to sponsor the bill. The bill will receive a second reading on Friday.

Reed said he expects the bill to go before the full Board of Aldermen in about three weeks.

By Missourinet contributor Jill Enders

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Reward increased in Missouri animal abuse case involving dog skinned alive

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Reward increased in Missouri animal abuse case involving dog skinned alive

A reward is up to $30,000 for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the person or persons who skinned alive a dog last month in southwest Missouri. The city of Neosho’s reward is $15,000 in addition to the National Humane Society’s $15,000.

Police say the dog had escaped from someone’s home while the pet’s family was on vacation. The canine had to be put down to end its suffering.

By Ty Albright of Missourinet affiliate KZRG in Joplin

Dog survives squabble with bobcat in northern Missouri

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Bobcat photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation

A dog is recovering from getting into a scuffle this week with a bobcat near northern Missouri’s Mexico. According to Audrain County Conservation Agent Norman Steelman, bobcats don’t typically come that close to homes.

Steelman tells Missourinet affiliate KXEO in Mexico that bobcat reports are becoming more common in the area and encourages Missourians to leave them alone if they see one. There are currently no known diseases involving bobcats in Audrain County.

The big cat did not survive. Its remains are being sent to the Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Science Division.

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Missouri soldier wounded by explosive in Afghanistan

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Sgt. Ian Ives (Photo courtesy of Missouri Military Academy’s Facebook page)

A southern Missouri soldier has been injured in Afghanistan. Missourinet affiliate KXEO in Mexico reports Sgt. Ian Ives of Cuba stepped on an improvised explosive device on Saturday. According to the Missouri Military Academy’s Facebook page, Ives will likely lose an arm, part of his face and be partially blind.

While he was being transported to Walter Reed Hospital in Bethesda, Maryland, Ives was detained in Germany for emergency surgery.

Ives is also a 2011 graduate of the Missouri Military Academy in northern Missouri’s Mexico.

By Aimee Higgins of KXEO in Mexico

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Fatality rate on rural American roads is double that of urban roads, Chao tells St. Louis audience

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(This story is written by Missourinet St. Louis contributor Jill Enders)

ST. LOUIS- The U.S. Transportation Secretary traveled to St. Louis on Tuesday to unveil a new initiative aimed at addressing disparities in transportation infrastructure in rural America.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao speaks to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials in St. Louis on October 8, 2019 (Jill Enders photo)

Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao delivered the keynote address at the annual American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials meeting, which is taking place at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel. She emphasizes that the fatality rate on rural America roads is twice that of urban roads.

Chao has announced a new program called the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success initiative, which is known as R.O.U.T.E.S.

“Rural America, which has a disproportionately high rate of fatalities and is historically neglected, needs to have its transportation needs addressed,” Chao tells the audience.

“We will bring together leaders and staff in key infrastructure modes – highways, aviation, transit and railroads, to examine grant programs’ potential to better support the nation’s critical rural transportation infrastructure,” Chao adds.

The main focus of her address was the high rate of traffic fatalities in rural America. Secretary Chao cites numerous transportation safety statistics.

“Rural communities and their transportation networks are vital to our nation. 69 percent of the nation’s lane miles are in rural areas. Two-thirds of rail freight originates in rural areas. But rural transportation infrastructure is challenged by disparities. The disproportionate rate of crash fatalities in rural areas is especially alarming. 19 percent of Americans live in rural areas. Yet, 72 percent of large truck occupant fatalities, 67 percent of pickup occupant fatalities and 58 percent of SUV occupant fatalities occur in rural areas. The fatality rate on rural roads is twice that on urban roads,” Secretary Chao tells the audience.

She’s also announced the formation of a rural transportation infrastructure council to lead this initiative. It will be called the ROUTES Council.

This new internal deliberative body at the Department will identify critical rural transportation concerns and will coordinate efforts among DOT’s different modal administrations. The Council will also create a rural resources handbook and will hold its first meeting in November.

Elaine Chao served as the U.S. Labor Secretary from 2001-2009 under President George W. Bush, and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website notes she is the first Asian-American woman to be appointed to the President’s cabinet in American history.

The U.S. Transportation Department was established by Congress in October 1966.

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FEMA aid approved for 82 counties and St. Louis after this year’s massive flooding

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) granted Missouri’s request to expand its federal major disaster declaration to include assistance for local governments and nonprofit agencies in 14 additional counties and the City of St. Louis. This FEMA approval means help for 82 Missouri counties and the City of St. Louis to reimburse emergency response costs and repairs to roads, bridges, and infrastructure damaged in this year’s massive floods

FEMA’s action means more counties are now designated in the April 29 to July 5 disaster for the Public Assistance Program than in any other disaster in Missouri since the Great Flood of 1993.

The additional counties are Benton, Boone, Callaway, Clay, Cooper, Dunklin, Gasconade, Howard, Lafayette, Lincoln, Pulaski, Scott, St. Charles, and St. Clair.

On August 5, residents in six more counties became eligible for individual assistance: Callaway, Jefferson, Lewis, McDonald, Newton, and Saline. The deadline for homeowners and residents to register for assistance was September 9. Those approved for individual assistance have received more than $7,000,000

Missouri ag group head: “Corn growers on level playing field with Japan deal”

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Mark Scott of Missouri Corn Growers Association

The president of the Missouri Corn Growers Association says a U.S deal with Japan will put corn farmers on a level playing field. Mark Scott was on the recent trip to Japan with the U.S. Meat Export Federation.

“U.S. corn fed beef and pork, that was at a 12% disadvantage. So, it’ll increase meat exports to Japan. In turn, it’ll increase need for corn here,” Scott says.

According to the Missouri Agriculture Department, Japan is the third highest export market, accounting for $209 million. Scott says Japanese people love U.S. pork and beef and especially the marbling in the beef.

“They have big displays of American beef. You know, they’re pushing the American beef product over there,” he says.

Scott says with all the things going on in Washington, D.C., Missouri Corn is concerned about the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement not coming up for a vote.

By Julie Harker of Brownfield Ag News

Sexual assault reports on the rise at Missouri State University

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Missouri State University in Springfield (Photo courtesy of the school)

Missouri State University in southwest Missouri’s Springfield is experiencing an uptick in reports of sexual assault. Since July, there have been five cases compared to nine in 2018.

University officials say they are encouraging students to come forward if something happens. Sexual assault includes a range of accusations from rape to inappropriate touching.

Not all cases have been investigated, but the University title IX coordinator, Jill Patterson, says the number is “alarming.” She adds that in 80 to 90 percent of cases, sexual assault occurs as an abuse of trust, and not from a stranger in the dark.

By Nathaniel Polley of Missourinet affiliate KSGF in Springfield

Missouri county slowly moves toward wind farm regulations

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Buchanan County commissioners in northwest Missouri are working toward enacting regulations for wind energy, which has become a controversial issue for county residents.

Wind Turbines

No wind farm has located in Buchanan County, but some companies have shown interest.

Presiding Commissioner Lee Sawyer sees a need for regulations.

“Here’s what we’re trying to do. As it stands now, we have absolutely no regulations whatsoever for any type of wind energy,” Sawyer says. “So, what we’re trying to do, and we’ve hired an outside firm who does this all over the country, to help us put together an ordinance and regulations for wind energy.”

The commission is working with Kansas City engineering firm Black and Veatch. Sawyer says a draft proposal is modeled on regulations Black and Veatch helped draft in Michigan.

Sawyer says, at present, there are no rules on the books.

“Frankly, any landowner in Buchanan County does not have any protections regarding what would be considered kind of typical or normal regulations for that type of energy,” according to Sawyer.

He says wind farms have created additional tax revenue for some counties.

“We know, in other counties that it has significantly helped out school districts and significantly helped out fire districts and significantly helped out other situations through additional tax revenue,” Sawyer says. “So, we want to keep that into consideration, too, because, in a sense, it creates an economic development boon in some ways.”

Sawyer says the commissioners also know many oppose wind energy, especially the wind turbines and don’t want them going up in the county.

He says the county will hold public hearings before adopting any final regulations of wind farms.

By Brent Martin of Missourinet affiliate KFEQ in St. Joseph

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