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Spotlight on St. Louis Area Neighborhood Activities - Updated May 28, 2010

Gov. Nixon Signs Bills to Benefit Missouri Veterans and Families

Governor Jay Nixon addressed the veterans and their families in the lunch room of the St. Louis Veterans home, located at 10600 Lewis & Clark Blvd., before officially signing several bills which will benefit Missouri veterans.

After signing several bills which benefit Missouri veterans and their families, Governor Jay Nixon took time to visit with many veterans in the lunch room.

Gov. Nixon Signs Bills to Benefit Missouri Veterans and Families
by Bob Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 28, 2010 - Gov. Jay Nixon visited the St. Louis Veterans Home on the eve of Memorial Day weekend to ceremonially sign several bills to benefit Missouri veterans and their families, as well as active military members.

Among the benefits contained in the new laws are easier access to voting for deployed military personnel; the establishment of a set preference for disabled veterans in state contracts; expanded eligibility for scholarships for dependents of veterans; and greater funding for a trust fund that helps state veterans homes and cemeteries and other veterans causes. Two of the bills signed by the Governor today also reinstate a program under the Missouri National Guard to help at-risk youth.

"Generation after generation, Missourians in the military have answered the call of service to the nation and helped protect our freedom," said Gov. Nixon. "I am proud to honor the brave and selfless service of these men and women by signing these bills that recognize their service and extend well-deserved benefits to them, including making it easier for active military members to vote when they are deployed."

The Governor signed four bills during ceremonies today at the veterans homes. The bills included:

House Bill 1524 provides a set preference for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans when bidding on contracts with the state or its political subdivisions. The current law provides a preference but does not specify what that preference is. The bill also streamlines the process for providing help from the Missouri Military Family Relief Fund.

HB1524 also requires the Secretary of State to establish procedures so that deployed military members and other overseas voters can electronically request and receive voter registration applications and absentee ballots.

The bill also authorizes the Governor to present several differentservice medals, ribbons and citations for those in the Missouri National Guard who have served with distinction during federal deployments or statesof emergency.
House Bill 1893 increases funding for the Veterans Commission Capital Improvement Trust Fund (VCCITF) by directing a percentage of funds received from gaming to the VCCITF. Those funds may be used for capital costs at veterans homes and cemeteries, transfers to the Veterans Homes Funds, matching funds for veterans service officer programs, and expenses incurred by the Missouri Veterans Commissions in issuing medals.
House Bill 2147 expands the A+ Schools Program by allowing a child of a retired member of the military to qualify if that retired member relocates to Missouri within one year of retirement, and if the student meets the other program requirements. The A+ Program provides reimbursement for tuition, books and fees for a qualifying student who attends any two year public community college or any vocational or technical school, public or private. A similar provision is contained in HB1524.
House Bill 2262 authorizes the Missouri National Guard to establish the Missouri Youth Challenge Academy, which would be 75 percent-funded by the federal government. The program, which has been used successfully in 28 other states, will focus on building life skills for high school dropouts so they can obtain their GED. The bill creates the Missouri Youth Challenge Foundation Fund so that the Missouri National Guard Association can accept private contributions to raise the 25 percent match. The program had previously operated in Missouri from 1999 to 2002, graduating some 800 at-risk youth. A similar provision establishing the program is contained in HB1524.

"The outstanding men and women of the Missouri National Guard, our active duty service members, and our veterans have established a proud legacy of bravery, sacrifice and service," said Gov. Nixon. "They have made Missouri and our nation stronger, and have served as role models for generations. I am honored to sign these bills recognizing the debt we all owe to those who serve."

Wendy Gordon portrayed Mary Meachum as part of the reenactment of the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing.

Grace Hill Celebrates the Historic Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 23, 2010 - Several hundred families gathered Saturday afternoon, May 22, at the approximate site of 1855 Mississippi Crossing to participate in 8th Annual Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration.

The event took place on the St. Louis Riverfront Bike Trail at Missouri's only nationally recognized Underground Railroad Site, located at 28 E. Prairie, north of Laclede's Landing.

With temperatures in the nineties, nearly everyone sought shelter under large tents to watch a fully costumed reenactment of the events of May 21, 1855 - when a party of nine enslaved Africans crossed the Mississippi river to Illinois in an attempt to make a daring 'flight to freedom'. The exodus was 'conducted' by Mary Meechum, a free woman of color and widow of John Berry Meachum, the famous abolitionist.

The event, featuring music, food, and art exhibits, was sponsored by Grace Hill Settlement House, AmeriCorps, The National Black Tourism Network, and The Confluence Greenway.

The site encompasses roughly 11 acres on the riverside of the St. Louis floodwall, which features a colorful mural illustrating the crossing. Grace Hill Settlement House is in the midst of developing the Mary Meachum Underground Railroad site into a national tourist destination and an important source of cultural pride to benefit North St. Louis communities. For more information, call 314-584-6900.

Archived St. Louis Community News and Information:

Kingdom House Receives Funding for Youth Programs

Home Farming Movement Creates Community Farm in St. Louis Neighborhood

Arson Can Threaten Health and Vitality of Neighborhoods and Communities

St. Louis Cardinals to Host Green Week

St. Louis City Partners with Boeing for 2010 Open Streets

Walk Run 'n Roll for People of All Abilities

Missouri's Second Show-Me Green Sales Tax Holiday

It's Not too Late to Fill Out and Turn in Your 2010 Census Form

Walmart Foundation Funds Meals On Wheels

Foreclosure-Relief Business Finally Shut Down

Hibernian Parade Puts Spotlight on St. Louis' Irish American Community

Aldermen to Hold Final Public Hearing for Input on Potential Elimination of Earnings Tax

St. Louis City Announces New Procedure to Protect Unattended Property, Keep Parks Clean

Hardee's 10th Annual Rise and Shine for Heat Raises More Than $85,000

Life Skills Receives $20,000 Grant from Verizon

Gateway to College National Network Expands Programs

41st St. Louis Observation Honors Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

City of St. Louis and County Donors Give Big Boost to Heat-Up St. Louis

Anheuser-Busch Employees Donate $225,000 to Three Local Charities

St. Louis Receives Award for Municipal Excellence from the National League of Cities

H1N1 Flu Vaccine Now Available to Everyone

AmerenUE Launches '$100 for 100' Program in Missouri

"Hope Is Moving In" Program Opens at Clay Elementary School

AmerenUE Helps Police See Crime from a Different Point of View

Carondelet Park Rec Plex Opens with Parade and Ribbon Cutting

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