JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A task force would be charged with trying to bring the Super Bowl to Kansas City under a resolution passed by the Missouri Senate.
The Senate voted unanimously Thursday to send the measure to the House. If adopted there, the state Department of Economic Development would be asked to form a group to “examine what measures need to be taken” for Kansas City to host the game.
Resolution sponsor Sen. Paul LeVota, of Independence, says Arrowhead Stadium’s $350 million renovation in 2010 would help make it an attractive venue.
The most recent Super Bowl was played in an outdoor stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The 2015 game will be played in Phoenix.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06), House Small Business Committee Chairman, released the following statement on passage of the House Republican Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Resolution:
“A budget is a statement of priorities; it is a fiscal blueprint that is fundamental to our service as elected representatives. People in Missouri’s Sixth District must live within their own budgets, and Washington must do the same.
“I was proud to join with my colleagues today to support a plan that puts our fiscal house in order by agreeing to a responsible, balanced budget and grow the economy. This plan targets wasteful spending, strengthens seniors’ Medicare, and expands opportunity through long-overdue tax reform. Borrowing nearly 40 cents on every dollar and with the federal debt totaling over $17.5 trillion, once again House Republicans chose a path toward long-term fiscal sustainability and solvency, instead of continued deficit, debt, and decline on the backs of middle class families. The budget also makes sure our men and women in uniform have the best resources to protect our national security.
“It was critical that today’s budget repeal Obamacare and clear the way for patient-centered reform; the President’s law is far too flawed to stand as law of the land.
“The House also considered an alternative budget put forward by House liberals. It’s no surprise that this budget again spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much. Further, the President’s irresponsible budget released earlier this year does nothing to control the costs of our nation’s debt – totaling $3.9 trillion annually at a time when our federal government collects roughly $3 trillion in revenues each year. This means more borrowing from countries like China will be required to finance his big government model. If we keep spending money we don’t have, Medicare and Social Security will both go bankrupt under the President’s plan.
“As elected representatives entrusted with a solemn responsibility to tend the nation’s business and secure a more prosperous America now and for the next generation, I applaud this responsible path forward agreed to today.”
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Missouri’s Republican lawmakers are advancing a pair of tax cut proposals for potential debate in the coming weeks.
A House committee on Thursday endorsed legislation already passed by the Senate that would cut income tax rates for individuals and some business owners. That proposal is projected by legislative researchers to reduce state revenues by $620 million annually when fully phased in.
Also Thursday, a Senate committee changed and endorsed a tax cut bill that previously passed the House. The revised plan would cut income taxes only for businesses, not individuals. Its cost is estimated at about half the amount as the other bill.
Committee approval of the bills means they could soon be considered by the full House and Senate.
ROLLA (AP) – University of Missouri curators will learn the results of an outside law firm’s investigation into the school’s handling of a former swimmer’s 2011 suicide at a Friday meeting in Rolla.
The university system hired the Dowd Bennett Law Firm to review the Columbia campus’ actions in connection with the death of 20-year-old Sasha Menu Courey.
University officials say they didn’t learn about her alleged freshman-year rape by several football players until she committed suicide 16 months later. Menu Courey’s family has created a charitable foundation in her name to help raise money for greater awareness of borderline personality disorder.
The school says neither Menu Courey nor her parents sought a police investigation and didn’t respond to a later request for more information. The case has since been referred to Columbia police.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri House has approved legislation expanding a self-defense law against home intruders.
A so-called “castle doctrine” law approved in 2007 gives Missourians a right to defend themselves and their property. The law says that people can use deadly force to stop an intruder in a home or vehicle. There is no duty to retreat if someone enters illegally.
The measure passed by the House with a 110-39 vote on Thursday would extend that right to people on a property with the owner’s consent. Current law applies only to the owner or tenant of a location.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Police say they won’t make any arrests in a suspected burglary involving Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham, in part because of reluctant witnesses who fear retaliation and harassment for bringing a criminal complaint.
Coach Gary Pinkel announced the junior receiver’s indefinite suspension Monday for an unspecified violation of team rules. On Thursday, police said they had closed an investigation that began when an 18-year-old woman said Green-Beckham forced open an apartment door at 2:30 a.m. while trying to see his girlfriend.
The woman, who was visiting friends, said Green-Beckham pushed her down at least four stairs. She and a second witness told police they didn’t want to press charges. A police report shows Green-Beckham’s girlfriend sent 16 text messages to the woman asking her to reconsider pressing charges.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Seven chimpanzees are back inside their enclosure at the Kansas City Zoo after climbing a fallen log to the top of a wall.
Zoo director Randy Wisthoff says visitors were never in danger during the incident Thursday afternoon because the chimps did not reach any public areas. Keepers used food to entice them back into their building.
Wisthoff said a ringleader was the first to climb the fallen tree. A half-dozen others followed, and two or three dropped over the wall into a surrounding enclosure.
The last of the chimps was seen strolling the top of the inner wall for several minutes before heading back inside.
Wisthoff said the chimps won’t be on exhibit Friday while crews inspect trees around their enclosure.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (Mo.) continues his efforts to promote American innovation and boost U.S. manufacturing in an increasingly global economy, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee today passed by voice vote the bipartisan “Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act,” introduced by Blunt and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (Ohio). The bill would strengthen American innovation and position the United States as the global leader in advanced manufacturing by establishing a Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NMI).
“I’m pleased we’ve taken the next step to advance this bipartisan bill which would strengthen American innovation and job creation and position our nation as the global leader in advanced manufacturing by establishing an important network of partnerships in Missouri and across the country,” Blunt said. “I thank Senator Brown for his tireless work to revitalize U.S. manufacturing, and I’ll keep working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass pro-growth policies that encourage innovation and put more Americans back to work.”
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – Republican Catherine Hanaway says she raised more than $300,000 in the first couple of months after announcing her candidacy for Missouri governor in 2016.
Hanaway’s campaign released a summary Thursday of her fundraising figures for the period ending March 31. Quarterly finance reports are due to be filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission next Tuesday.
Hanaway announced her gubernatorial candidacy Feb. 8. She says she raised nearly $308,000 by the end of March and had nearly $302,000 on hand after expenses.
Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon cannot seek re-election because of term limits.
Hanaway was the first Republican to declare her candidacy to succeed Nixon, though State Auditor Tom Schweich also is interested in the governor’s race.
Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster also is preparing to run for governor.
As the lights dimmed and the images flickered on the screen, the movie audience stepped into the lives of young farmers and ranchers as they took on the tasks of running their families’ operations. No wannabe Bogarts or Bacalls, just honest-to-goodness people who work the land.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
The opening scene wasn’t on a sprawling lot somewhere outside of Hollywood. Instead James Moll filmed Farmland on farms and ranches from California to Pennsylvania.
Props included live cattle, hogs, chickens and vegetables, and acres of corn as far as the eye could see. Nothing staged, just everyday events on typical working farms and ranches across the country.
The private screening of Farmland in Kansas City April 1 was a joint effort between the Kansas Farm Food Connection, Agricultural Business Council of Kansas City and U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance.
After the film aired, one movie goer commented on its authenticity.
The film is real, she said. These people brought the audience into their lives and showed them how farmers and ranchers work at a job like everyone else, although it may not be your typical eight to five. In this case, the farmers and ranchers work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Another viewer said Farmland addressed many of the issues consumers and the general public wants to know – the film hit on everything.
It included stories about genetically modified food, organic, natural and traditional farming, no-till farming, a one-woman, first-generation vegetable farmer, multi-generational farms, use of hormones in cattle and hogs and chicken in large-scale facilities.
The farmers and ranchers wanted viewers to know they offer any kind of food the public is looking for, Lynne Hinrichsen, a former urbanite from Detroit who now works in Topeka, said after the showing. They’re giving customers a choice.
“I came away understanding these young producers are similar to the people who make cars where I grew up,” Hinrichsen said. “While auto workers make slightly different products with different designs, ultimately the vehicles they make are used for transportation. Farmers and ranchers provide us with our food. They’re all people.”
Osage County farmer/stockman Raylen Phelon called Farmland an inspirational movie that tells the truth about agriculture with no hype.
“The farmers and ranchers in this movie were just like me when I started out 30 years ago,” Phelon says. “They’re down-to-earth people who shared their hopes, fears and dreams.”
Phelon said the film lets consumers know farmers and ranchers care about the land, the animals, the grain, fruits and vegetables they produce.
“These young farm and ranch families knew what they were talking about and audiences will see this once they see their story,” he said.
In addition to the authenticity of Farmland, movie goers walked out of the theater with a sense of pride about the men, women and children who provide food for people of this state, country and world to eat.
Several viewers expressed the same feelings that coursed through my veins as Farmland unfolded before my eyes and ears:
“These are my people, my roots; this is who I am and where I came from.”
If you would like to have the movie shown in your town, go to www.farmlandfilm.com.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
JEFFERSON CITY (AP) – A task force would be charged with trying to bring the Super Bowl to Kansas City under a resolution passed by the Missouri Senate.
