Mid-Missouri

COLUMBIA — The Columbia Farmers Market began construction of one of two new wing additions to its main pavilion, which will bring its total capacity for vendors to 98 stalls.

The Clary-Shy Community Park Phase II Improvements consist of $1.6 million in funding, $1.28 million of which comes from a grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. The remaining $320,000 comes from tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board.

Columbia Farmers Market director Corrina Smith said it’s the next step in growing the farmers market’s role as “an important asset to the community.”

“The completion of the MU Healthcare Pavilion is 30 years, 40 years in the making,” Smith said. “There are so many people have contributed to our success and where we are today, and finally seeing this come to completion is really special for Columbia, for our vendors. We have some vendors that have been selling here since the 80s, and they’re the ones who’ve really seen the transition of the market.”

Smith said once construction of the west wing is completed, the market will temporarily shift its center toward the west to allow for construction of the east wing. She said it will take about six to eight weeks to finish both wings.

“It was always the plan to build this pavilion in phases,” Smith said. “As we raised the money, we were going to construct it.”

Although there won’t be any initial changes, Smith said customers can look at the interactive map each Saturday for updated vendor locations as construction progresses. She also recommended asking market on-site ambassadors for help and following the market’s newsletter for other updates.

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Crews finished building the current pavilion in July 2019. Smith said she and her staff hope to construct a community welcome center as part of further expansion to the agriculture park.

Build This Town is seeking public and private funding for the 11,000 square-feet welcome center that would include a commercial kitchen, offices, an activity room, a resource room and other amenities to “provide a solid foundation for hunger relief and health-focused programming that empowers people across our community to feed their families healthy food.”

The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, a primary partner of the Columbia Farmers Market, operates its primary maintenance farm on the same lot as the farmers market. Smith said she’s proud of the work the organization is doing to educate community members about the benefits of growing personal produce.

“They’re all about teaching people how to feed themselves, how to grow their own food, and so they have some new programming that’s in the works that we’ll be helping out on a local level,” Smith said. 

Smith said the goal of her staff and partner organizations is to ensure that “our farmers are successful” at the market, which in turn provides the community with healthy, nutritious foods.

“We also have plans to, especially once the welcome center is finished and we can actually be working here on-site, to come up with programming on business training and opportunities for producers to help them be successful.”

Smith said she hopes that these programs can help with difficulties in establishing a farming career, as land and equipment acquisitions are large-scale barriers to entry.

Originally Appeared Here

Swift Prepared Foods, a subsidiary of leading global food company JBS USA, has opened its newest facility – Principe Foods, which produces high-quality Italian meats and charcuterie. Company executives were joined by local, regional, and state leaders as they cut the ribbon on their new facility today in Columbia.

“We are excited to welcome Principe Foods to Missouri,” said Governor Mike Parson. “More than 400 companies in the food industry are currently operating in Missouri, and that figure continues to grow thanks to world-class companies like JBS USA and Swift Prepared Foods investing in our state. This facility will provide many new opportunities for the mid-Missouri region, and we look forward to seeing the company succeed for years to come.”

The company invested more than $200 million in the new, 325,000-square-foot Italian meats and a charcuterie production facility. Principe Foods has already created 100 new jobs in the region, with plans to hire 100 to 200 more people over the next year. The company offers extremely competitive wages to attract and retain top talent. Additionally, Principe Foods offers strong benefits and tuition-free community college for team members and their children.

“We are very pleased to celebrate the opening of this state-of-the-art Italian meats facility in Columbia, Missouri,” said Tom Lopez, President of Swift Prepared Foods. “This is the culmination of years of hard work and investment by our team and our partners in Missouri. We are grateful for the support we’ve received up to this point and look forward to the ongoing growth of this facility and the Principe Italia brand.”

Swift Prepared Foods announced plans to build a new facility in Columbia in April 2021 to meet increasing retail and food service demand for Italian meats and charcuterie. The company selected Columbia due to its strategic location, business-friendly environment, and ability to access raw materials and leverage synergies with existing strategic assets.

“Principe Italia’s growth is a testament to our state’s ability to attract investments that create jobs and strengthen communities,” said Maggie Kost, Acting Director of the Department of Economic Development. “This company’s new facility is great news for our state’s central region, its workers, and their families. We’re glad to support Principe Italia as it opens a new location in Columbia and creates more opportunities for Missourians in the area.”

Principe is a part of the Swift Prepared Foods portfolio of products. Swift also recently opened another new facility in Missouri. In May 2021, Swift cut the ribbon on a ready-to-eat, fully-cooked bacon production facility in Moberly.

Swift Prepared Foods’ investments in Missouri are consistent with JBS USA’s long-term strategy to increase its value-added and branded portfolio with innovative, on-trend products. Globally, JBS is a major player in the value-added, Italian meats category with significant production capabilities and recognized brands in Italy, Australia, and Brazil.

The Principe Foods facility is located at 5008 Paris Road in Columbia.

JBS USA is a leading global food company providing diversified, high-quality food products to customers in more than 100 countries on six continents. This includes meat, poultry, and seafood products, a portfolio of recognized brands, and innovative premium foods. Swift Prepared Foods is a consumer packaged goods company and a subsidiary of JBS USA. Principe Italia is part of the Swift Prepared Foods portfolio of products.

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Columbia City council and members of the Water & Light Advisory Board decided to hold off on a formal electric rate proposal at a pre-council work session. The board will take it back up Wednesday to provide city staff with their input.

The proposed rate structure would increase base charges by an average of 6.9 percent.

David Switzer, a member of the Water & Light Advisory Board, said he agreed with the consultant’s raise in electricity rates, which would help meet the city’s revenue goals of covering $8.3 million. Switzer said the board cannot evaluate the assumptions city staff have made about the rates without the use of a measuring tool such as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which the city is working on gathering data from.

“I think our number one priority is meeting the financial obligations of people,” he said. “And so my prior was to defer to the experts and consultants because they know more about this than me.”

Sixth Ward councilperson Betsy Peters said she was on board with the consultant’s rate increase, so long as council works to help lower-income individuals pay their bills with subsidies.

First Ward councilperson Pat Fowler said she received emails from resident concerned that proposed structure would unfairly charge low-income residents. She said she wants to see more data about residential users before she makes a decision on the rate increases.

“I wish that we were looking at the data that shows us where the average residential customers in non-energy-efficient residential units enter into higher kilowatt hours,” Fowler said.

Mayor Barbara Buffaloe said that city staff can propose a rate increase that would take effect in July pending approval from the Water & Light Advisory Board and more data on how this increase would impact lower-income individuals.

“They (council and community members) want to make sure that we have a fair rate,” Buffaloe said.

David Sorrell, director of utilities, said the city is still on track to implement the rate increase by July, despite the outcome of the session.

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Utility Assistance

City staff requested an additional $300,000 as part of the second quarter budget amendments. They announced that the city has $97,329 left in funding for utility assistance.

Sorrell said in his presentation that there is not enough funding to provide assistance through the fiscal year.

Buffaloe said there was a program a few years ago that evaluated the energy efficiency of individual residences. She said this might be a good way to measure how much assistance is needed for residents.

Transmission Improvements

Relocating and raising the Hinkson substation out of a flood plain was among the improvements discussed at the meeting.

MU recently decided they wanted to use city transmission lines. The lines as they are now are not sufficient to support that request, Sorrell said.

Council also provided input on an agreement with energy company Ameren to provide a second transmission line into the substation that would allow for MU to use city lines without running the risk of shutting off lights for other residents.

Buffaloe said city staff should speak with Ameren about the additional transmission line, but should also think about future plans should that line be implemented.

“We would at least like some answers to investigating the tie with Ameren,” Buffaloe said.

Originally Appeared Here

Situated in the midwestern region of the US, Missouri is home to scenic wonders, big city life, and plenty of music and entertainment. When visiting the state, prepare for a cruise down the historic Route 66, dance to jazz and blues music, and revel in the surrounding beauty. The landlocked state of Missouri, bordered by Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas to the south, and Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska to the west, boasts some of the most charming beaches and rivers. There are plenty of spots that are perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and family fun all across the state.

Branson

Chapel of the Ozarks in Branson, Missouri. Image credit Donna Chance Hall via Shutterstock. 

Branson is one of the best small towns for a weekend escape. It is home to many popular tourist attractions, including the Titanic Museum. Shaped like the Titanic itself, the museum offers a one-hour, self-guided tour where visitors can experience what it was like on the 1912 voyage. Marvel Cave is another one of the most interesting stops, which sits beneath the Silver Dollar City Theme Park. Spend a morning enjoying the rides and treats of the park. When the weather heats up in the afternoon, cool off by exploring the intricate caves below.

Another exciting attraction is dining at Dolly Parton’s Stampede Dinner. For film enthusiasts, “Beyond the Lens” offers a unique experience that showcases pop culture phenomena. To cap the weekend off, finish with a relaxing day at Moonshine beach at Table Rock Lake. The lake boasts a scenic view, picnic areas, and volleyball courts.

Rolla

Aerial view of Rolla, Missouri. Image credit Jacob Boomsma via Shutterstock. 

Situated between St. Louis and Springfield along the I-44, Rolla has a rich history, Broadway talent, and many recreational activities. Family fun opportunities include bowling, escape rooms, and roller skating rinks. Be sure to check out Ozark Actors Theatre and Missouri S&T’s Leach Theatre for some in-person entertainment.

Discover a unique history of train engines and railroads at the Frisco 1501 Engine. Delve into the Civil War at Historic Phelps County Courthouse, or learn about minerals, rocks, fossils, and more at Edward L. Clark Museum.

The town also offers plenty of outdoor adventures, including Audubon Trails ideal for hiking, biking, and running. Ber Juan Park, and Oak Meadow Country Club are also other great options. Enjoy a relaxing day at Fugitive Beach, where one can swim, play on one of the world’s largest water slides, or check out the various cliff jumps!

St. Louis

St. Louis landscape at dusk. Image credit f11photo via Shutterstock. 

Home to the beautiful 630-foot Gateway Arch is one of Missouri’s most popular landmarks. The arch honors Lewis & Clark’s exploration in St. Louis and sits on the Mississippi River’s west bank. Brimming with attractions and a bustling arts and culture scene, St. Louis offers endless opportunities for fun. Music buffs will want to listen to some music and discover the history of the blues scene at the National Blues Museum. A scenic drive along the infamous Route 66 is a must! Following that, attend the Anheuser-Busch St. Louis Brewery and Tour Center and grab a cold one!

Bask in the great outdoors while checking out the many public parks, endless trails, and flowing waterways. Enjoy kayaking, beach volleyball, and picnicking at Creve Coeur Lake, a relaxing beach spot just outside of St. Louis. Furthermore, Forest Park is another popular spot, home to skating rinks, golf courses, pavilions, and more.

Jackson

Little Blue River flooded in Jackson County. Image credit Jon Kraft via Shutterstock. 

Jackson is a small town with plenty of charm, ideal for a relaxing getaway from the hustle and bustle of city life. The historic old town is chockful of locally-owned boutiques, restaurants, and art galleries. No matter the time of year, Jackson hosts events year-round. Be sure to visit Oliver House for a taste of the town’s history, as well as Burfordville Covered Bridge, one of the oldest covered bridges in Missouri.

The Trail of Tears State Park, a memorial for the Cherokee Native Americans who died here, offers scenic views of the Mississippi River. After reflecting, enjoy the beach at Lake Boutin, with calm waters and plenty of sand for castle-building. Picnicking, swimming, and camping are all popular activities in the area.

Columbia

Columbia, Missouri cityscape. Image credit Sean Pavone via Shutterstock. 

Situated in central Missouri, Columbia sits midway between St. Louis and Kansas City. There are endless things to see and places to wander, whether indulging in history or enjoying the scenery.

Visit Rock Bridge Memorial State Park for scenic hiking trails and cave systems. For those not keen on caves, hit up Shelter Gardens, for a variety of trees, shrubs, flowers, and even a waterfall. Finger Lakes State Park is also nearby, with a sandy beach ideal for swimming and other water activities.

There are plenty of restaurants and entertainment venues to visit, including G&D Steakhouse and The Blue Note. Columbia is home to the University of Missouri, generating plenty of nightlife for a fun weekend with friends. There is also a live local theater, an orchestra, and many museums for art lovers.

Warsaw

Drake Harbor and Recreation Area in Warsaw, Missouri. Image credit Wspin via Shutterstock.

Located between two of Missouri’s largest lakes, Truman Reservoir and Lake of the Ozarks, Warsaw is a popular spot for outdoor adventurists. Fishing, camping, and hiking are all popular activities in the area. Pay a visit to the public beach at Harry S. Truman State Park, surrounded by picturesque forests and bluffs an ideal spot for family fun.

The riverfront trails offer scenic views and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities. There is also a farmer’s market, which offers fresh fruit after a busy day hiking, biking, or canoeing. There is also a Sweet Tooth Fudge Factory, a delectable spot for a treat at the end of a vacation!

Winona

Klepzig Mill in Winona Missouri. Image credit Russell_Images via Shutterstock. 

Winona is a very small town, though it is a hub with vast outdoor activities. Visitors can canoe and fish along Current River, enjoy a unique and picturesque experience at Eagle Falls Ranch Zipline Adventures or take a dip in relaxing hot springs at Alley Spring Grist Mill Historic Site or Blue Spring.

Within Winona, rocks that are more than 1.5 billion years old surround the beautiful Rocky Falls Beach. The beach is part of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, boasting a more private swimming area amid the mountainous area. Extend a visit by camping nearby or at one of the many riverside resorts and motels.

Whether visiting the Ozark Mountains or delving into the rich history of music and culture of Missouri, there are activities that cater to all interests. Missouri’s most charming beach towns are ideal for a calm and tranquil trip. Spend all day by the water or pay a visit to some of the unique attractions each town offers!

Originally Appeared Here

JEFFERSON CITY — Gov. Mike Parson’s push to widen traffic-clogged sections of Interstate 70 remains on track as members of the Missouri House are poised to begin debate on a key piece of the state budget.

House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, R-Carthage, unveiled the latest list of brick-and-mortar projects Tuesday, including $15 million for a pharmaceutical center in St. Louis, $3 million for Kirkwood’s community center, $1 million for Powell Symphony Hall — and $859 million to upgrade the interstate near Wentzville, Columbia and Kansas City.

Earlier versions had taken some of that amount for projects on Interstate 44, but in the latest spending blueprint, those also are funded at about $48 million.

All told, the construction spending outlined in the plan amounts to $2.8 billion.

The state is currently sitting on a surplus estimated at about $5 billion. And new revenue figures show the state could add another $1 billion in unspent tax receipts before the end of the fiscal year, giving budget writers even more of a cushion heading into the final weeks of the legislative session.

Under Parson’s plan, crews would add lanes to I-70 through Boone County in central Missouri and extend the sections with three lanes west of St. Louis and east of Kansas City.

The widening of those perpetually busy segments is a cheaper alternative than the estimated $2.7 billion it would cost to widen the entire stretch across the state from four lanes to six lanes.

Smith acknowledged that the widening projects will not be completed in one year and said that could open the door to an influx of federal funding to help defray the costs.

“Hopefully over the course of some years we can pick up some federal assistance,” Smith said.

Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, who is the ranking minority member of the budget committee, said he believes the funding for I-70 is part of a negotiating point between the House and the Senate.

He said the Senate is likely to add additional projects to the construction list using some of the surplus that has built up in the state treasury.

If that is the case, he said House Democrats likely will push their colleagues in the upper chamber to add more local projects.

“I’d love to see some investment in public transit as well,” Merideth said, pointing to a north-south MetroLink line under discussion in the region.

While the Missouri Department of Transportation will see an influx of dollars for the interstate project, the agency will not be selling its historic headquarters adjacent to the Capitol for $44 million.

Smith said he axed the building purchase because there is not a plan for the building if MoDOT moves out.

“We should have a coherent plan,” Smith said.

Another road project included in the proposal is a $6.6 million earmark to upgrade Missouri Route 370 and Salt River Road in St. Peters.

The plan also proposes $15 million in matching funds for a pharmaceutical manufacturing innovation center in St. Louis and $7.5 million to build a psychiatric hospital for children in St. Louis County.

St. Charles County could receive $7 million in matching funds to upgrade the emergency dispatch call and phone system.

Kirkwood will receive $3 million to help improve the city’s community center.

The plan also includes $1 million in matching funds to renovate Powell Symphony Hall in St. Louis.

The legislation is House Bill 19.

The Culver House, the 19th-century home in the footprint of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s $100 million expansion, is demolished Tuesday afternoon, July 19, 2022. Preservationists hoped to move the vacant 1880s Queen Anne at a cost cited by the symphony as $2.4 to $3.2 million, but no one stepped forward to pay the relocation cost. Video by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com

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Originally Appeared Here

Central Missouri Community Action hosted a Data Walk on Thursday, allowing people from across Callaway County an opportunity to provide input to what issues need addressed in the community.

The Data Walk was held in place of the April CRN meeting. The event was held at the Callaway Electric Cooperative. This was the fourth of eight Data Walks across the eight counties CMCA serves.

It serves Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Cole, Cooper, Howard, Moniteau and Osage counties.

The mission of CMCA is to “build relationships to empower people, strengthen resilience and improve quality of life for all members of the community,” according to the group’s website.

Darin Pries, CMCA executive director, said Thursday’s event was the largest turnout at any of the Data Walks so far.

This was the first Data Walk hosted in the county.

The purpose of the Data Walk is to help CMCA determine that the data it utilizes reflects the “priorities of the communities we serve,” Pries said.

The information CMCA receives from the Data Walks is critical, he said. The data will test the assumptions people have about what is going on.

“We don’t want to just plan our programs based on a wing and a prayer and gut instinct, we want to use the data to guide that. Really having these types of conversations is going to be critical,” Pries said.

Participants of the Data Walk went around the room and looked at various types of data showing statistics about Callaway County in a variety of categories.

The categories included housing, employment, income, education, health and nutrition, and social.

Melody Vieth, director of research and data, said the goal was to look at the data and determine the top priorities that the community would like addressed.

The data for the employment category compared Callaway’s labor force participation rate to the overall rate for Missouri. As of 2021, the county had a 59 percent labor force participation rate while the state had a rate of 64 percent.

One set of data at the Data Walk was focused on education. The data showed that the high school graduation rate for the county was 89 percent. Of the students who graduated in 2022, 34 percent went to a four year college, 20 percent went to a two year college, two percent went to a post-secondary technical institution, 28 percent went directly to employment and four percent entered the military.

After participants were given time to look at the data and write down their thoughts, they discussed with others and then shared their findings with the whole group through a facilitated discussion.

Each person was given a discussion guide with three questions for each category. The questions were how are we doing, are different groups of people doing equally well and what data stands out to you the most?

The Data Walk wrapped up with the participants voting on what the top priorities for the community should be.

Housing and employment were voted as the most significant community needs, Veith said.

Vieth said that the next step after the Data Walk is to develop an action plan to “align existing efforts and implement additional strategies to address these issues.”

Originally Appeared Here

JEFFERSON CITY − Jefferson City’s Parks and Recreational Department is currently in the process of renovating the skate park at Washington Park. The renovation for the skate park just started about a week ago Friday.

Todd Spalding, director of JC Parks, Recreation and Forestry, said these renovations, which will cost up to $200,000, are past due. 

“It’s quite a few years old,” he said. “And so when I got here seven years ago, that was identified as something that was going to need to be improved in the near future, because of its aging and shape.”

The project was approved by the Jefferson City Parks and Recreation Commission. 

“The commission approved the funding of this with two contracts; one with Staat Tuckpointing and one with American Ramp Company,” Spalding said.

The renovation includes repairs to the old standing skate park while also adding brand new features from American Ramp Company. According to JC Parks, some of the new obstacles to expect are a half pipe, quarter pipe, bank ramp, pyramid corner and grind box. 

American Ramp Company, a Joplin-based construction company, was called to take a look at the aged skate park and share their recommendations for improvements. 

“They’re the leader, actually in the world for skatepark equipment, and they actually did the equipment originally 20 plus years ago,” Spalding said. “So I had them the owner of the company come up, along with a professional skater on staff, and she skated the course.”

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Recommendations from American Ramp Company were applied to fit JC Parks’ budget. 

“Some pieces can be repaired. Some of them can’t,” Spalding said. “We took some of the pieces out that couldn’t be repaired. We purchased new pieces that would go along with our current pieces.”

Gabriel Zimmerer, an avid skater, said he’s been coming to the park since he was 8 years old. He is now 19 and said he’s happy with the renovations taking place at the skate park. 

“I’d say like, the last couple of times that I’ve come, I have hurt myself quite a bit, running into cracks and things of that sort or dropping in on a ramp, or I get caught and then I’ll end up falling forward and falling straight on my face,” Zimmerer said. 

But not everyone is happy with the renovations and took to JC Park’s Facebook page to share their opinion.

“I appreciate all the work that’s goin on, and I love using this park because that’s all we had but this is really just a big Band-Aid big waste of money,” one commenter said. “This park will never be ‘newer’ but it still will have no progression. This is def[inetely] a slap in the face. Don’t get me wrong I’ll still use it but we can do better JC.” 

Zimmerer says this renovation isn’t just for people to enjoy now. 

“That’s for like, the next generation to come, not just for me now. I know, in a couple years, I’m going to be hurting and not wanting to skate as much, but this new generation that’s coming in, they really need the skate park,” he said. 

Jefferson City Parks and Recreation hopes to have the new features installed in May. 

Originally Appeared Here

CONTACT:   

Laura Strimple, (402) 580-9495  

John Gage, (531) 510-8529  

    

Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri Partner for Application to Create Clean Hydrogen Hub

   

LINCOLN, NE – In partnership with the states of Iowa and Missouri, Governor Pillen announced that Nebraska has submitted a grant application with the U.S. Department of Energy for funding to establish the Mid-Continent Clean Hydrogen Hub (MCH2) in the tri-state region.  

 

The hub, created through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the three states, makes a regional partnership around their hydrogen industries and allows them to apply for federal funds. The MOU commits the three states to support MCH2 for funding under the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 

 

“This partnership will help grow Nebraska and the Midwest’s economy by opening the pathway for billions of dollars of new investment into our community and hundreds of new, good-paying jobs,” said Governor Pillen. “This hydrogen hub once again shows Nebraska’s commitment to renewable energy and our leadership in improving our country’s energy security.” 

 

“Together we have an opportunity to open new markets for agriculture while strengthening our commitment to American-made renewable energy,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “As the regions’ leading states, we understand the power of coming together to create innovative solutions that grow our economies for the future.” 

 

“Missouri and the Midwest enjoy a diverse energy portfolio that will only be strengthened by this clean hydrogen hub partnership,” said Governor Mike Parson. “This partnership looks to the future and the collective strength of our economies by bolstering reliable renewable energy sources and promoting energy security all while supporting opportunities for Missouri farmers and ranchers, business investment, and good-paying jobs across the region.” 

 

As the agreement indicates, the three participating states are well-situated and uniquely qualified to host a Hydrogen Hub. In addition, they share agricultural and energy assets that are complimentary and will ultimately achieve the collective and individual state goals of clean energy production.   

   

The partnership aims to do the following:  

 

• Drive economic growth and development for each of the participating states and the region.    
• Incorporate the latest science, research, and technology for the cost-effective production, transportation, storage, and use of clean hydrogen.    
• Ensure protections for and the participation of frontline and disadvantaged communities, including safeguards around public health, safety, and labor.    
• Develop a pathway for workforce development and training.    
• Provide for information exchange and collaborative research, including engagement with research and educational institutions, to maximize economic opportunities, monitor emissions and MCH2 performance, and thoughtfully plan expansion of MCH2 and the use of hydrogen technology over time.   
• Address pipeline safety, leak minimization, and pathways for new pipeline construction. 
• Proactively evaluate and address the potential impacts of hydrogen production on water use and seeks opportunities to use water that is currently used for or generated by other industrial or power generation purposes.   
• Engage key stakeholders, including end-users in the agricultural, industrial, buildings, aviation, power generation, and transportation sectors.   
• Address the air quality impacts of hydrogen production, transportation, storage, use, and combustion, including emissions of nitrogen oxides.   
• Identify current and possible State resources, incentives, policies, and plans that can be leveraged in support of a flourishing and competitive hydrogen economy among the participating States.   
• Respect the unique needs and policy approaches of each participating State.   

 

The full memorandum of understanding can be found here.

Originally Appeared Here

Rick Mihalevich, the president of the Friends of the Missouri Rock Island Trail, has been struggling to get the Rock Island Trail completed for years.

The prospect of a completed trail, a proposed 144-mile ribbon from Kansas City through Mid-Missouri, waned after Missouri Office of Administration Budget Director Dan Haug testified in a hearing there wasn’t enough room in the 2023 budget to fund the trail.

Haug said he didn’t “see a clear path forward” for the trail, but Mihalevich, a former Jefferson City councilman, remained hopeful the trail could continue.

“I’m not giving up on this year’s session to have money,” Mihalevich said. “That’s just flow-through money, it’s not even money out of our general fund. It’s not over ‘til they make a finalized state budget. Having said that, I think it’s extremely hard for the Missouri General Assembly to ignore Missourians — and the towns along the trail — on their want and need for economic development and outdoor recreation activities.”

If completed, Rep. Bruce Sassman, R-Bland, said the trail could form a 430-mile loop with the Katy Trail, which could be a major boost to the “agritourism” industry in Missouri.

“The loop trail would be unlike anything else in the country,” Sassman said to the News Tribune. Mihalevich agreed, saying it could completely change how the country views Missouri and connect towns across the state like Jefferson City, Eugene and Eldon.

“We’re not just talking about a loop, we’re talking about a world-class loop,” Mihalevich said. “The sky is the limit, we were on the cusp of building something like no other state. Yet we seem to always want to put Missouri at the 30th or 25th in some sort of ranking. We have an opportunity to be the first and the best, but we choose mediocrity and short-sightedness and individuals over (all) Missourians.”

Sassman also said overlooking the trail will be a a major missed opportunity to revitalize rural communities and make Missouri a destination for recreation and outdoor activities.

“You know, there are people who are just opposed to this — state ownership of land — or opposed to state parks. (Some people) have been opposed to national parks since the very beginning. There are people who felt like we didn’t need the Grand Canyon,” he continued.

In previous years, Gov. Mike Parson was vocal about his support for the trail, he mentioned it in his 2022 State of the State address, asking for $69.3 million in the budget. The House approved $70 million for the trail in its budget proposal last year.

While that money made it onto the approved House budget, it failed to make it through the Senate in 2022.

Parson recently told the News Tribune he hadn’t heard any updates about the trail this session and that its future with state lawmakers remains to be seen.

“I haven’t talked about it,” he said. “I just really haven’t. I mean, we’ve got a lot going on working on the infrastructure and workforce development pieces, I just haven’t heard much about it this year.”

Despite the fact that Haug said there wasn’t enough money, Sassman — a vocal advocate for the trail — said he was still hopeful for other opportunities for the trail to continue during this session.

“The only thing that could happen is that there could be an amendment on the floor,” Sassman said to the News Tribune. “They could amend the budget to include some funding for the Rock Island Trail. It will be interesting to see whether or not the House is still supportive and it would be interesting to see whether or not there’s a majority of voices in the House that support the development of a state park.”

Mike Sutherland, deputy director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, said earlier this year that the department had received $2.7 million in grants to help continue the project.

In February, an eight-year-long lawsuit on the behalf of some landowners along the Rock Island corridor was settled. The Federal Appeals Court in Washington ruled the landowners were entitled to compensation, which would be paid for by the federal government.

The settlement did not rule that the state had to return any land back to its owners from before the Rock Island railway and the compensation paid to the landowners named in the suit would not affect the trail or its funding.

When asked if he thought Parson backpedaled on his support for the trail, Sassman said he was unhappy that the governor wasn’t as vocal with his support this year.

“I’m just kind of disappointed that the governor didn’t add something, but he didn’t think there was a pathway,” Sassman said.

Originally Appeared Here

MU, Helias Catholic High School and Westminster College have experienced the recent rise of artificial intelligence firsthand.

JEFFERSON CITY – MU, Helias Catholic High School and Westminster College have experienced the recent rise of artificial intelligence firsthand. Faculty at MU and Helias say they have even had students use AI technology like ChatGPT for assignments.

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is a technology that gives computers the ability to see, understand and translate spoken and written language, analyze data, make recommendations and more.

AI generators, which are similar to search engines, have been on the rise in the last year. ChatGPT is a popular AI generator that launched in November 2022.

Anyone can access the ChatGPT AI generator for free by signing up using their email. Users can type in a question, and the AI generator will give a response. This technology advancement concerns some educators because they say it can interfere with academic honesty.

Spencer Allen is the principal at Helias Catholic High School in Jefferson City and said there have been a few incidents of students using ChatGPT in the classroom. One teacher was walking around the classroom assisting students when he saw the ChatGPT tab open on one student’s computer.

While there is an online program that allows teachers to plug in students’ work to see if it has been plagiarized, Allen said those tools and paper checkers are not an effective response.

“This tool (AI) is just going to get better and better, and those checkers are going to get less effective,” Allen said. “This is a lesson on how we should be teaching writing,” Allen said.

Allen said because this new technology is accessible to kids, teachers and faculty should discuss these programs with students.

“We’re preparing to continue the conversation on our end by talking with the students about the ethical ways to use this powerful tool,” Allen said. “A way that can make their life easier but not in ways that could jeopardize their opportunities to become better people by engaging in the work that is a part of our program.”

Allen said the English department at Helias plans to talk more about this issue and the use of AI in the classroom, and that it is important to educate students about both the benefits and consequences of using AI.

“We need to know how to use these tools in an ethical way,” Allen said. “A way that makes our lives easier so we free up our time to do things that are meaningful, but there are wrong ways to use the tools. It’s wrong not just because they go against rules, but because they are cheat us to become better people on the other end of it.”

Allen said they will continue to use their current discipline procedures of when someone copies or plagiarizes to deal with students who might use ChatGPT in an unethical way.

“Yes we could assign a zero for an assignment. Yes there could be disciplinary consequences especially if there are repeated offenses,” Allen said.

Allen hopes that with a proactive approach, they can limit the harmful use of ChatGPT but is concerned that AI will create future issues.

“Artificial intelligence that is as sophisticated as this is, is also threatening the post-secondary goals of our young people,” Allen said.

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Helias is not the only school in mid-Missouri that has students using AI.

Ben Trachtenberg is the director of MU’s Office of Academic Integrity. He said that while asking a computer a question is not new, ChatGTP is fairly new and AI provides a different quality of work.

“It’s now good enough that occasionally it can do an assignment that otherwise we would expect a human to do,” Trachtenberg said.

Faculty at MU have complained that students are using AI generators.

“I have gotten emails from faculty all over campus saying, ‘What are we going to do about it,’” Trachtenberg said.

Trachtenberg said this new technology will change the way teachers create assignments.

“I think people who teach writing for a living are going to design their assignments a little differently so we are not asking students to spend a ton of time on something that a bot can do in 30 seconds,” Trachtenberg said.

Trachtenberg said faculty needs to educate students about the proper usage of AI, but students need to use their best judgment.

“It is useful for students to think: ‘Would I admit to doing this? If I had to tell the professor that I was doing this, would she allow it?’ If the answer is no, you should not be doing it, and you can get in trouble,” Trachtenberg said.

MU faculty will meet in April to further discuss AI policies.

AI is also a rising topic at Westminster College in Fulton.

Mary Majerus is the director of teaching and learning for faculty at Westminster. Majerus said faculty plans to have a conversation in the following weeks to discuss how to address this new tool.

“As we have this new gift of fire, how will we use it in courses, what is acceptable, what is not acceptable and [for everyone] just be informed on what the expectations are,” Majerus said.

Majerus said professors should pose different types of questions that students cannot answer using AI.

“How do we as faculty, knowing that these shortcuts exist, think about posing tasks, posing critical thinking and problem solving and original kinds of thought questions, rather than just skimming the surface of student knowledge on what they could easily find on the internet?” Majerus said.

Originally Appeared Here