How To Reach Us:
St. Louis Front Page
P.O. Box 1354
St. Louis, MO 63188
Voice: 314-771-0200
Fax: 314-771-0300
To submit news, contact:
editor@slfp.com
To advertise, contact:
advertising@slfp.com
|
|
|
ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Thursday, January 19, 2006
|
Ribbon-Cutting at Old Post Office
Webster University hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, January 19, at the historic Old Post Office, located at 815 Olive Street. Richard S. Meyers, President, Webster University provided an overview of it's expanded downtown state-of-the-art learning facility. The 33,000 square feet of space will include 15 classrooms, 3 computer labs, one conference room and an administrative site.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony featured remarks by Jim Cloar, President & CEO, Downtown St. Louis Partnership and Barbara Geisman, Executive Director for Development, City of St. Louis. Also participating in the ceremony: Ed Glotzbach, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Elizabeth Russell, Director, Old Post Office Campus.
Webster University presently has 583 students enrolled at the restored architectural landmark and will be celebrating its 32nd year of commitment to the downtown business community. Work continues on the $35 million renovation project by developer DESCO Group and DFC Group, Inc., and architect Trivers Associates.
|
Blunt Charts Positive Course for Missouri's Future
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), January 15, 2006 - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to public education in his second State of the State address proposing $167 million in new funding for public schools and $17.1 million for colleges and universities.
"It is clear that the positive changes we have implemented have put our state on a better course," Blunt said in a statement. "Our economy is growing, more Missourians are working, and our responsible budget actions are enabling us to strengthen our commitment to education, improve access to health care, and protect our most vulnerable citizens.
"I am pleased to once again present a balanced budget, without job-killing tax increases, that lives within the taxpayers' means and to support essential legislation that builds on the successful foundation we established last year. I look forward to working with the General Assembly in the months ahead to enact my responsible vision for continued growth and opportunity."
In addition to proposing a strengthened commitment to education, which includes full funding of the new school foundation formula he enacted last year, Blunt also called on lawmakers to place his Our Students First initiative on the November ballot to give Missouri voters the opportunity to determine how much of their hard-earned money is spent in classrooms.
Through responsible budgeting and the enactment of true litigation reform, balance to our state's workers' compensation system and his Quality Jobs initiative, Blunt successfully led the state from a $1.1 billion budget deficit to a surplus in just one year.
These actions have empowered lawmakers to support the governor's other calls this evening including $2.9 million for residential treatment programs, $1 million for youth smoking prevention and cessation efforts and $700,000 to build new community health centers.
Blunt renewed his call to implement a Missouri version of "Jessica's Law" that would put first-time child sex offenders behind bars for 25 years and subject them to electronic monitoring for the rest of their lives.
To continue the stimulation of a surging state economy that has created more than 28,000 new jobs since Blunt took office, the governor challenged the Missouri Department of Transportation to complete its Smooth Roads Initiative one year ahead of schedule. Blunt's proposed budget will direct $382 million from Amendment 3 bonds to road and bridge projects plus an additional $405 million to further improve our state's long neglected transportation infrastructure.
Blunt is also seeking $38.5 million to expand Missouri's involvement in life sciences research, a 10 percent ethanol fuel standard and improved laws governing eminent domain that protect the rights of responsible private property owners.
Nixon Cracks Down on Home Repair Fraud
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), January 15, 2006 - Lawsuits have been filed against Affordable Roofing and its former owners, John Boggs and Michael Ellis; and against Thermal Exteriors and it owners, Steven and Dianne Ernst, to recover restitution for dozens of consumers.
"Homeowners paid thousands of dollars to have work done on their houses, only to have it performed in a shoddy manner or to have the work never completed," Nixon says. "These home remodelers are bad apples who need to pay back every penny to consumers who were ripped off."
The Affordable Roofing suit, filed in St. Louis County Circuit Court on Jan. 12, alleges that owners Boggs and Ellis required consumers to sign a written contract for services and materials and required an initial deposit for the home repair work. The defendants then allegedly either failed to perform the contracted services or did so in an inferior manner. Consumers were defrauded out of $3,000 to $4,000 on average, with one homeowner losing more than $15,000.
Boggs and Ellis also did not provide, or refused to provide, refunds for their consumers. Consumers who attempted to contact Boggs and Ellis were unable to because the defendants kept changing phone numbers and business addresses. Ellis now lives in Seymour, Ind., and Boggs lives in Louisville, Ky.
Nixon is seeking a permanent injunction against the defendants in both cases that prohibits the companies from continuing to engage in such unlawful business practices. The lawsuits also require the defendants to pay full restitution to all consumers from whom they received payment; requires the defendants to pay a civil penalty of $1,000 per violation and 10 percent of the total restitution ordered against them to the state; and requires the defendants to pay all court and investigative and prosecution costs of the case.
Nixon emphasized the following commonsense rules Missourians should remember before hiring a contractor:
Get several written estimates from local firms.
Ask for references and call them.
Get all guarantees in writing.
Don't pay more than one-third of the total price for a down payment.
Consumers who believe they have been victims of home repair fraud may call the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222.
|
STL-News is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group as a special feature of the Saint Louis Front Page for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Saint Louis area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com
All rights reserved world wide
© 1996 - 2008 Moore Design Group .
|
|
Click here for
AD Rates
Archived St. Louis News:
|
|
