(AP) — The General Motors Foundation has given eight Kansas City area community organizations a total of $100,000 in grants.

Management and union leaders announced the grants during an event at GM’s Fairfax assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan. The recipients are located in Kansas and Missouri.

The donations will go to the American Cancer Society; Blue River Watershed; Communities in Schools, Kansas; Harvesters Community Food Bank; Kansas City, Kansas School Foundation for Excellence; Heart of America Stand Down; Make-A-Wish Foundation, Kansas; and United Way.

The foundation says it’s providing about $1.6 million in funding this year to about 200 organizations in 45 cities where GM operates plants and employees live and work.

 

(AP) — ConAgra Foods shareholders will gather in Omaha Friday to hear an update on the food maker’s performance.

Shareholders will also vote on several matters, including a proposal to change the maker of Orville Redenbacher, Banquet and other brands counts votes on future shareholder proposals.

The shareholder proposal asks the company to use a simple-majority system when it counts votes and not consider abstentions as votes against an idea.

The other matters shareholders will vote on are routine items such as re-electing directors and approving ConAgra’s auditors.

ConAgra is in the midst of integrating its $5 billion acquisition of Ralcorp. That deal made ConAgra the nation’s largest producer of store-brand products in the nation along with the branded foods it makes.

Garden Fresh Foods, Inc. expanded a recall on specific packages of products because of possible health risks.

Items include the “Market Pantry” and “Archer Farms” products sold at Target stores in Missouri.

While no illness has been reported, the products listed below may be contaminated with an organism that causes serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children and the elderly.

PC Pack/Size   Product       Product Code         Code Date

0 85239 24105 9 16 oz Market Pantry Macaroni Salad 24105 9/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85329 24104 2 16 oz Market Pantry Mustard Potato Salad 24104 9/25/2013 – 10/15/2013
0 85239 24107 3 16 oz Market Pantry American Style Potato Salad 24107 9/28/2013 – 10/15/2013
0 85239 24106 6 15 oz Market Pantry Coleslaw 24106 10/1/2013 – 10/13/2013
0 85239 20119 0 14 oz Market Pantry Italian Style Pasta Salad 201190 9/20/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 85239 24110 3 16 oz Market Pantry Baked Beans 24110 9/29/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85239 24108 0 12 oz. Market Pantry Tuna Salad 24108 9/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85239 24103 5 12 oz. Market Pantry All White Meat Chicken Salad 24103 9/24/2013 – 10/14/2013
0 85239 24109 7 12 oz. Market Pantry Egg Salad 24109 9/26/2013
0 85239 20118 3 16 oz Market Pantry Reduced Fat Macaroni Salad 201183 10/6/2013 – 10/15/2013
0 85329 20016 2 16 oz Market Pantry Reduced Fat Mustard Potato Salad 200162 10/4/2013 – 10/18/2013
0 85239 20115 2 16 oz Market Pantry Reduced Fat American Potato Salad 201152 10/4/2013 – 10/18/2013
0 85239 20117 6 15 oz Market Pantry Reduced Fat Coleslaw 201176 9/30/2013 – 10/18/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 85239 40219 1 16 oz Archer Farms Steakhouse Potato 402191 9/28/2013 – 10/14/2013
0 85239 40218 4 8 oz Archer Farms Steakhouse Potato 402184 09/22/2013 – 10/14/2013
0 85239 99015 5 11 oz Archer Farms Artichoke Spinach Dip 99015 09/26/2013 – 10/20/2013
0 85239 69053 6 18 oz Archer Farms Artichoke Spinach Dip 69053 09/26/2013 – 11/2/2013
0 85239 99019 3 11 oz Archer Farms Smoked Salmon Dip 99019 10/11/2013 – 11/9/2013
0 85239 40210 8 16 oz Archer Farms Rotisserie Chicken Salad 402108 09/27/2013 – 10/11/2013
0 85239 00221 6 6 oz Archer Farms Rotisserie Chicken Salad 002216 09/28/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 85239 99017 9 11 oz Archer Farms Bacon Parmesan Dip 99017 10/12/2013 – 11/8/2013
0 85239 69052 9 11 oz Archer Farms Spinach Dip 99010 10/5/2013 – 10/26/2013
0 85239 69053 6 18 oz Archer Farms Spinach Dip 69052 10/5/2013 – 10/26/2013
0 85239 69048 2 11 oz Archer Farms Feta & Roasted Red Pepper Dip 69048 10/5/2013 – 11/2/2013
0 85239 99014 8 12 oz Archer Farms Vanilla Crème Dip 99014 10/4/2013 – 11/2/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 85239 10125 4 14 oz D’Amico and Sons Chicken Salad with Rosemary 1010254 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85239 10121 6 14 oz D’Amico and Sons Chicken & Dried Cherry Pasta 101216 10/02/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85239 10122 3 6 oz D’Amico and Sons Chicken & Dried Cherry Pasta 101223 10/02/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 85239 10024 0 14 oz D’Amico and Sons Ranch Pasta Salad with Chicken, Spinach & Bacon 100240 9/24/2013
0 85239 10023 3 6 oz D’Amico and Sons Ranch Pasta Salad with Chicken, Spinach & Bacon 100233 9/24/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 06170 2 12 oz Roundy’s Artichoke Spinach Dip 6170 10/7/2013 – 11/3/2013
0 11150 52604 3 12 oz Roundy’s Taco Dip 52604 10/8/2013 – 11/4/2013
0 11150 52603 6 12 oz Roundy’s Dill Dip 52603 10/11/2013 – 11/3/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 14016 2 16 oz Grandpa’s German Potato Salad 4016 9/23/2013 – 10/18/2013
0 11596 14028 5 16 oz Grandpa’s Cole Slaw 4028 9/23/2013 – 10/8/2013
0 11596 14066 7 16 oz Grandpa’s Macaroni Salad 4066 9/23/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 11596 14012 4 16 oz Grandpa’s Deviled Egg Potato Salad 4012 9/24/2013 – 10/3/2013
0 11596 14027 8 16 oz Grandpa’s Potato Salad 4027 9/24/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 11596 14061 2 16 oz Grandpa’s Red Skin Potato Salad 4061 9/24/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 11596 14068 1 16 oz Grandpa’s Steakhouse Potato Salad 4068 9/24/2013 – 10/9/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 06200 6 12 oz Maggie’s White Fruit Dip 6200 9/25/2013 – 10/3/2013
0 11596 06201 3 12 oz Maggie’s Taco Dip 6201 10/8/2013 – 11/4/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 06143 6 15 oz Fresh Salsa Serrano Spicy 6143 9/28/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
7 33147 00007 6 16 oz Finest Traditions Deluxe Potato Salad 38768 9/23/2013 – 10/3/2013
7 33147 10554 2 8 oz Finest Traditions Dill Dip 38988 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 10496 5 12 oz Finest Traditions Ham Salad Spread 388648 09/28/13 – 10/18/2013
7 33147 00025 0 16 oz Finest Traditions Homemade-Style Cole Slaw 38858 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 10540 5 8 oz Finest Traditions Southwest Dip 38996 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 10538 2 8 oz Finest Traditions Spinach Dip 38992 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 00161 5 16 oz Finest Traditions Smoky Baked Beans 38854 9/23/2013 – 9/30/2013
7 33147 00019 9 16 oz Finest Traditions Homestyle Potato Salad 38860 9/25/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 00018 2 16 oz Finest Traditions Macaroni Salad 38856 9/23/2013 – 10/3/2013
7 33147 10556 6 8 oz Finest Traditions Taco Dip 38984 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
7 33147 10487 3 6 x 12 oz Finest Traditions Tuna Salad Spread 38622 10/01/2013 – 10/02/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 06180 1 12 oz Chef’s Kitchen Cucumber Dill Dip 6180 10/18/2013 – 11/3/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 14018 6 16 oz Garden-Fresh Macaroni Salad 4018 9/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 11596 14015 5 16 oz Garden-Fresh American Potato Salad 4015 9/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 11596 06164 1 12 oz Garden Fresh Ham Salad with Sweet Relish 6163 10/03/2013 -10/12-2013
0 11596 14010 0 16 oz Garden-Fresh Mustard Potato Salad 4010 9/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 11596 14022 3 16 oz Garden-Fresh Creamy Cole Slaw 4022 9/25/2013 – 10/9/2013
0 11596 14017 9 16 oz Garden-Fresh German Potato Salad 4017 9/25/2013 – 9/30/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 41497 05837 2 16 oz Weis Creamy Cole Slaw 05837 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05838 9 16 oz Weis Orginal Potato Salad 05383 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05839 6 16 oz Weis Orginal Macaroni Salad 5839 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05841 9 16 oz Weis Potato with Egg Salad 05841 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05844 0 16 oz Weis Amish Macaroni Salad 05844 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05845 7 16 oz Weis Amish Potato Salad 05845 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05848 8 16 oz Weis Red Potato Salad 05848 09/24/2013 – 10/08/2013
0 41497 05849 5 16 oz Weis Old Fashion Cole Slaw 05849 09/24/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 41497 05334 6 8 oz Weis Ham Salad 05334 09/27/2013 – 10/02/2013
0 41497 05345 2 6 x 8 oz Weis Tuna Salad 05345 09/24/2013 – 10/14/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11213 90320 0 16 oz Spartan American Potato Salad 4070 09/24/2013 – 10/02/2013
0 11213 90322 4 16 oz Spartan Cole Slaw 4072 09/23/2013 – 10/08/2013
0 11213 90321 7 16 oz Spartan Macaroni Salad 4073 09/23/2013 – 10/10/2013
0 11213 90319 4 16 oz Spartan Mustard Potato Salad 4071 09/23/2013 – 10/08/2013

UPC Pack/Size Product Product Code Code Date
0 11596 14060 5 16 oz Portillo’s Gourmet Red Skin Potato Salad 4060 9/26/2013 – 10/10/2013

Congressman Sam Graves is not happy that Secretary of State John has signed an arms treaty. Many in Washington believe the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty

(U.N. ATT)undermines constitutional freedoms of American gun owners.

Graves wrote on his facebook page: How ironic that, on the anniversary of the day that Congress passed the Bill of Rights in 1789 and sent it to the states for ratification, Secretary of State John Kerry is at the United Nations signing an Arms Trade Treaty that fails to uphold one of those very rights guaranteed to the American people by the 2nd Amendment. Let’s hope the Senate fails to ratify this flawed treaty.

Just days before new online health insurance markets are set to open, the Obama administration Wednesday released a look at average premiums, saying rates in

most states are lower than earlier projected — and that 95 percent of consumers will have at least two insurers to choose from.

The report comes as part of a stepped-up administration effort to explain and defend the health law as congressional Republicans target it for defunding.

Until Wednesday’s report, little information was available about premium rates in most of the 36 states whose online health insurance marketplaces will be overseen entirely or partially by the federal government because state leaders opted out of running their own.

Data from the report offers the first look at rates coming on the Missouri marketplace.

The analysis released today showed huge variations among states: A family of four making $50,000 in Wyoming, for instance, would pay $1,237 a month on average for a midlevel plan before subsidies, compared to over $700 a month on average in Missouri. After subsidies are added in, however, the cost to both families would be $282 because the amount they pay is linked to their income, not to the cost of coverage.

While experts say premiums vary across the states and even within states, the analysis pegged the national average for an individual at $328 a month for a silver plan, before subsidies are factored in.

That’s less than the average $392 projection drawn from earlier data released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, which will mean savings to families as well as to the federal government for tax credits.

“For millions, these new options will make health insurance work in their budgets,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill has called on the federal government’s top watchdog to assess the effectiveness of taxpayer-funded performance-based bonuses currently being awarded to highly paid Senior Executive Service (SES) employees.

McCaskill, a former Missouri State Auditor, previously introduced bipartisan legislation to stop the awarding of bonuses to SES employees during budget cuts from sequestration. McCaskill’s letter urges the head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), Gene Dodaro to take action after testimony at a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing that raised questions about the Department of Homeland Security’s allocation of bonuses to SES employees.

“There is ample evidence to suggest that performance bonuses have been issued by government departments and agencies to SES employees as a routine matter of course with little regard to actual performance,” said McCaskill, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Financial & Contracting Oversight.

A recent report by McCaskill’s oversight committee showed that the federal government spent more than $340 million on cash bonuses from 2008-2011 for SES employees. Additionally, nearly every member of the SES receives a bonus. In 2011, the federal government gave bonuses to 6,519 members of the SES, approximately 81% of all SES employees. The report is available on her website HERE.

“Most federal agencies lack sufficient, quantifiable metrics with which to determine whether SES employees are deserving of the bonuses that they receive, making oversight of the process difficult,” McCaskill’s letter reads.

McCaskill has also introduced legislation that would cut pay for members of Congress if federal employees are furloughed due to the sequester. McCaskill has been an outspoken advocate of greater accountability in government, having previously taken action to reduce government bonuses for those under active investigation for wrongdoing.