Author: Shawn Kober

Statement on Protecting National Parks while Providing the American People Continued Access during the Lapse of Appropriations, attributable to P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, National Park Service:

Statement on Protecting National Parks while Providing the American People Continued Access during the Lapse of Appropriations, attributable to P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, National Park Service:

Posted by | Jan 14, 2019 | , |

“During the lapse of appropriations, the men and women of the National Park Service who have remained on duty have gone to incredible lengths to keep America’s iconic national parks as accessible as possible to the American public. Thanks to the strong relationships that many national parks have built with partners across the country, a number of states, private concession companies, and park nonprofit groups have stepped up to provide over two million dollars’ worth of donations and in-kind services to help over forty parks  continue to provide key services for visitors. “As the lapse in appropriations continues, it...

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MDC foresters say southeast Missouri fall color is crawling in

MDC foresters say southeast Missouri fall color is crawling in

Posted by | Oct 25, 2018 | , |

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Autumn color is still at a crawl this week, despite the cooler temperatures, according to Jennifer Behnken, a Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) community forester. Autumn color in southeast Missouri is highly affected by the variable weather, which has changed swiftly from hot to cold, she said. Sometimes trees turn their fall leaves into yellow, red, and purple foliage in a steady progression from late September through October. Peak colors often appear in the third or fourth week of October. But this year, color change has been erratic. Not unlike recent weeks where October started...

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Governor Parson Signs Drug Treatment Court Legislation in Greene County and Clay County

Governor Parson Signs Drug Treatment Court Legislation in Greene County and Clay County

Posted by | Oct 25, 2018 | |

On Wednesday, October 24, Missouri Governor Mike Parson signed into law House Bill 2 in Springfield at the Greene County Historic Courthouse and in Clay County at James S. Rooney Justice Center in Liberty. Passed during a special legislative session called by the Governor in September, HB 2 is legislation related to drug treatment courts. It will place all treatment courts under one regulatory umbrella and allow jurisdictions that do not have a treatment court to transfer a defendant to a jurisdiction that does. The state commission that oversees treatment courts will also be expanded by two members. The...

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Missouri HyperLoop Study Released, as CEO Virgin Mogul Richard Branson steps down.

Missouri HyperLoop Study Released, as CEO Virgin Mogul Richard Branson steps down.

Posted by | Oct 23, 2018 | , , |

Richard Branson has reportedly stepped down from the chairman role of Virgin Hyperloop One. In a statement, cited by Reuters, Branson said the company would require more time than he could devote to the company: At this stage in the company’s evolution, I feel it needs a more hands-on Chair, who can focus on the business and these opportunities. It will be difficult for me to fulfill that commitment as I already devote significant time to my philanthropic ventures and the many business within the Virgin Group. A coalition of Missouri business leaders and government agencies joined with the Los Angeles-based...

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