(AP) — Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster says a hospice company has agreed to turn over nearly $40,000 in donations to send elderly military veterans to Washington.

The attorney general’s office said Kendallwood Hospice Co. will send money held for Honor Flight Network of Kansas City Inc. to the national Honor Flight Office. Koster’s office filed suit earlier this month and announced the settlement Wednesday.

In addition to returning the money, Kendallwood agreed to provide bank statements so the attorney general’s office can verify the donations have been accounted.

Koster says he is pleased the donations can go to help Kansas City veterans as they were intended.

(AP) — The Missouri secretary of state’s office says more than 232,000 children and teens participated in summer reading programs at public libraries this year.

The Missouri State Library coordinates the reading programs. Local libraries determine the duration of their local programs with some starting as early as May and others continuing into September.

Officials plan a science theme for next year’s programs, calling them “Fizz, Boom, Read!” and “Spark a Reaction.” The Missouri State Library is holding workshops in November for school and local library workers involved with the reading programs.

Congressman Sam Graves wrote on Facebook following Wednesday’s vote in the House to fund the government.

“I voted against today’s bill because instead of doing anything to actually restrain spending, all it does is guarantee more borrowing. In fact, this agreement only serves to further kick the can down the road. It does nothing to deal with our out-of-control spending, reduce our tremendous debt, or alleviate the burden of Obamacare on hardworking Missourians. It’s not the kind of solution the American people deserve.”

Food and agricultural experts from around the world gathered in Des Moines, Iowa this week for the 2013 Borlaug Dialogue hosted by the World Food Prize

Foundation, in conjunction with World Food Day. During a Wednesday morning breakfast ceremony, Elanco President Jeff Simmons received the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology 2013 Borlaug CAST Communication Award, recognizing his vision in addressing the challenges of feeding the world’s growing population.
During the program, Simmons previewed his new white paper, “ENOUGH: – The Fight for a Food Secure Tomorrow.” Instead of focusing on the problem, Simmons is focused on the solutions.
He notes that as the world population grows to 9 billion by 2050, the global middle class will more than double in size, reaching nearly 5 billion by 2050. However, the fastest part of that growth will actually occur between now and 2020, meaning billions of people living better lives and demanding access to better diets, specifically meat, milk and eggs.
But when agriculture productivity lags, food gaps appear. Simmons cites the 2013 Global Protein Gap Analysis, conducted for the paper with validation from Informa Economics and Global AgriTrends. Today, on a global average, people have access to about a glass of milk, or dairy equivalent, per day, although the recommended intake is two glasses. And according to the report, by 2020 on our current productivity path, access will fall below one glass of milk each day on average, with more than 500 million falling short of one glass and 4.5 billion falling short of the two glasses a day our bodies really need for growth and cognitive development.
In addition the 2013 Global Protein Gap Analysis, the white paper will outline the results of these research projects:
International Consumer Foods Attitudes Study: 2nd edition Spring 2013.
Food Chain Decisions in a Social World: New Ways to Measure What the Consumer Wants.
Center for Food Integrity 2013 Hunger Solutions Survey.
Simmons says among potential solutions, experts, history and practical global execution prove the following three stand out as the most significant, that can have the most impact and can be acted upon the quickest.
Innovation. The products, practices and genetics that help farmers produce more food more sustainably – innovations that, in many cases, are already available and proven. Experts from scientists to economists say it’s the biggest part of the solution – 70 percent. We must enable innovation more than any time in our history. We must continue to raise the bar on safety, but regulatory bodies that approve innovations must be the ultimate authority. We also can’t allow fringe movements or non-factual information to turn into wrong policies and/or marketplace confusion that ultimately takes away proven solutions.
Choice. Farmers need to be able to choose the right practices for their operations. Consumers need to be able to choose food that fits their price, taste and nutritional needs. And we need regulators and policy makers to make science-based policy choices. Choice must not be taken away without a fact-based, legitimate reason from science-based regulators.
Trade. Trade is the mechanism that allows us to produce food where it’s more economical and sustainable and deliver it to people who need it. Pure economics and the environment prove that food must move from the most to the least productive areas for a food secure tomorrow. Politics need to be reduced while trade needs to increase in parallel with local advances in food production.
Simmons stresses that Food security is solvable. We have a window of opportunity to meet the challenge, he says, and a healthier, more sustainable, more peaceful world is possible.—  John Maday, Managing Editor, Drovers CattleNetwork

Congressional Republicans conceded defeat on Wednesday. The bitter budget fight with President Obama over the new health care law is over for now. Congress voted to end the government shutdown and extend federal borrowing power to avoid a possible financial default.

After the Senate, the House voted to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling. It will finance the government through Jan. 15 and raise the debt limit through Feb. 7.

Senator Clair McCaskill wrote on her Facebook page following Wednesday’s important vote to restore government funding.

“Let’s learn from this and do better. I sincerely hope this bipartisan agreement can be a blueprint for future cooperation and compromise. As we turn the page, I’m anxious to get back to work on the things that really matter to Missouri families-like expanding job opportunities, fixing our roads, and making college more affordable. But we’re only going to achieve those goals through negotiation, compromise, and moderation.” -Claire

Senator Roy Blunt wrote on his Facebook page Wednesday night following the important vote to end the government shutdown.

“The federal government spends too much and borrows too much. Those must be the two main targets after today’s vote and until we get our spending under control. Debate priorities, set priorities, and live within our means; that’s what American families have to do and what our government must do.”

6p.m. Wednesday  Three siblings reported missing from their western Missouri home are safe in Canada, and their noncustodial mother faces a felony charge for taking them.

The children, 11-year-old Tabitha Davis, 14-year-old Jasper Davis, and 15-year-old Jordan Davis, were reported missing Friday by their father, who lives with the children in Harrisonville.

The sheriff’s office says O’Neal hasn’t had known contact with the children for at least three years.

Court records show a Cass County warrant was issued Wednesday for O’Neal, who’s in custody in Canada. It’s unclear when she and the children will return to Missouri.

1 p.m. Wednesday   Authorities in western Missouri say one of three siblings reported missing last week has been seen in Canada with the children’s mother, who doesn’t have legal custody.

The children, 11-year-old Tabitha Davis, 14-year-old Jasper Davis, and 15-year-old Jordan Davis, were reported missing last Friday when their father returned to their home in Harrisonville and discovered they weren’t there.

No details were released on the possible whereabouts of the other two children. No one was taken into custody.

(AP) — Authorities say three siblings missing from their home in northwest Missouri are believed to be with their mother, who does not have custody.

The Cass County sheriff’s office is asking for help in locating 11-year-old Tabitha Davis, 14-year-old Jasper Davis, and 15-year-old Jordan Davis.

The children’s father reported them missing Friday from their home in Harrisonville.

Their mother is 44-year-old Sherri Lynn Davis or Sherri Lynn Oneil, who has no current address. The sheriff’s office says she was last known to be traveling in an RV with Arizona license plates or a black Mercedes SUV with Alaska license plates. She may also be traveling with five German shepherd dogs.

The Missouri Highway Patrol issued an endangered person advisory Saturday for the children.