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Dixon optimistic about General Motors expansion in Wentzville

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Missouri’s top economic development official is optimistic about a possible $1 billion expansion at the sprawling General Motors (GM) plant in Wentzville.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson makes the Bayer announcement in Jefferson City on July 16, 2019, joined by Bayer’s Lisa Safarian (left), St. Louis County Executive Sam Page (right) and DED Director Rob Dixon (Brian Hauswirth photo)

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon told Capitol reporters in Jefferson City last week that he and his staff have daily conversations with GM.

“Those conversations continue but they have not finalized at this point. We’re very optimistic, but they are ongoing conversations,” Dixon says.

Dixon indicates GM’s decision could be coming soon.

“We think it’s a very positive conversation, we expect them to conclude soon, but they’re still ongoing,” says Dixon.

Legislation aimed at attracting the expansion has been signed by Governor Mike Parson. It would provide $5 million per year in tax credits over ten years to automakers that invest at least $750 million in plant upgrades.

The legislation also includes the Fast Track provision, which allows Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas. Fast Track was a top priority for Parson and Dixon.

GM’s Wentzville plant has about 4,600 employees. The plant produces vehicles such as the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

Bill supporters say plant expansion would ensure that production remains in Wentzville long-term.

Governor Parson says GM has 178 suppliers across Missouri, with the plant supporting more than 12,000 jobs statewide.

Dixon spoke to reporters last week at the Statehouse, after Parson announced that Bayer will be relocating its North American Crop Science Division to Creve Coeur, bringing 500 new jobs there.

Parson tells reporters he expects more positive job announcements in the next 60 to 90 days.

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Gov. Parson presser: This plan benefits all Missouri, not just GM (AUDIO)

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Gov. Mike Parson called a press conference as senators filibustered his workforce training and tax incentive package.  The package is tied to current negotiations with GM over a potential $1 billion expansion of its plant in Wentzville.

Parson and his Economic Development Director Rob Dixon answered media questions:

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Sen. Blunt pushes for more information on federal health care application processing centers

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Missouri’s junior senator says he’s still waiting for answers, even after getting a reply to his inquiry about the workload at centers processing federal healthcare plan applications. Whistleblowers say there are too many employees and not enough work at centers managed by Serco in Wentzville and elsewhere in the country that are supposed to process paper applications to the federal health care system.

Senator Roy Blunt (R) and other lawmakers including Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer (R) sent letters to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asking about the claims. Blunt says after a long delay he finally got a letter in response, that he says was “vague,” and he wants something better.

“I got a non-answer answer,” says Blunt of the letter he received from Marilyn Tavenner, Administrator with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

“Did you really tell them to refresh their computer every ten minutes so it would look like they’re doing something,” Blunt asks of the working conditions at the Serco facilities. “Did you really bring library books and board games to work so that the people that taxpayers were paying would have something to do? Those are pretty simple ‘yes or no’ questions and I’d like some ‘yeses’ or ‘nos’ to those questions.”

The 1.25-billion dollar federal contract includes more than 3,000 employees. A reported 600 of those are at Wentzville.

Three arrested in attack on Montee Ball

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Madison, WI. police have arrested three, 21-year old suspects in the attack of Wentzville, MO. native and Wisconsin Badgers running back Montee Ball. Wendell J. Venerable, Deonte J. Wilson and Robert A. Wilks, have not had formal charges brought up yet, but each  faces battery charges.

Police say the attack may have resulted from a fight at a house party that Ball and several Wisconsin football players attended just a few days prior to Ball’s attack on Aug. 1 and are looking into facts to see if retaliation was a motive. Ball claims that he was not involved in that fight at the house party and detectives have no evidence saying he was involved either.

Ball is hoping to be ready for the start of the season. Ball was attack by the three suspects in downtown Madison shortly after 2 a.m. on Aug. 1. Some of Ball’s friends were walking ahead of him, when Ball was jumped. He suffered a concussion and minor injuries and was released from hospital later that day.

Madison police say Ball was at a fight night before attack

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Montee Ball

Madison, WI. police released new information that shows Wentzville, MO. football star Montee Ball was as a party where a fight broke out, the night before his attack in downtown Madison. According to police, the current starting running back of the Wisconsin Badgers was not involved in that fight, but some members of the Wisconsin football team were.

Madison police released a statement “Although Montee Ball was assaulted on a public street, this incident does not fit the pattern of random violence that we have seen in recent weeks in downtown Madison,” Madison police department chief Noble Wray said Saturday. “Through information developed by detectives, have determined that there was a fight that occurred Friday night (July 27th-28th) which involved UW students, members of the UW football team, and other individuals that were not affiliated with the University of Wisconsin’s Athletics Department. We have also determined that Montee Ball was present at the location of that fight, but we have no information that leads us to believe that he had any involvement in that particular event.

Ball was walking behind two of his friends in downtown Madison, early last Wednesday, when he was attacked by five suspects that he said he did not recognize. One witness said he overheard one of the assailants say, “One down, nine to go.”

Responding to a TMZ.com report that he was involved in a previous fight that provoked the attack, Ball posted on his Twitter account, “The report that I was involved in a fight is totally false.”

Ball will miss part of fall camp with Wisconsin after suffering a head injury and concussion. His coach Bret Bielma said, “My concern right now is for Montee’s health and well-being. Montee has been released from the hospital and is under the care and supervision of our sports medicine staff. We will continue to evaluate him as we approach the start of fall camp this weekend. I do expect Montee to make a full recovery.”

 

Wentzville football star, Montee Ball attacked in Wisconsin (AUDIO)

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Montee Ball

Madison, Wi., police are investigating the early morning assault of Wisconsin Badger football standout, Montee Ball. The senior running back, from Wentzville, Mo., was jumped on a downtown Madison street near the UW campus early Wednesday morning.

“According to witnesses, we had five men who jumped him, knocked him down, kicked him in the head,” said Madison Police Department spokesman Joel DeSpain. “There were witnesses in the area that were able to intervene, and the perpetrators fled.”

Ball suffered head injuries, but Badgers coach Bret Bielema expects Ball, who announced earlier this year that he’d return to play his final season with the Badgers, to make a full recovery, although it’s not clear whether he’ll join the team for the start of fall training camp this weekend.

On his Twitter account, Ball tweeted I appreciate the support and thank you for the concerns.I will be okay! See you guys in September! #WiscONsin

AUDIO Madison Police spokesman Joe DeSpain on the attack (:20)

Wisconsin Radio Network contributed to this story.