Continued near-record oil prices and the approach of the summer driving season are fueling growth in gasoline prices in St. Louis.
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'Drive Clean and Green Across Missouri' Kicks Off in St. Louis
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 4, 2005 - A caravan of hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles will be making its way through the state as part of "Drive Clean and Green Across Missouri," an event sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Energy Center, St. Louis Regional Clean Cities and Kansas City Clean Cities coalitions.
Designed to introduce Missourians to the latest in high-efficiency hybrid vehicles and alternative fuel vehicles including flexible-fuel vehicles, "Drive Clean and Green Across Missouri" will kick off April 5 at the St. Louis Science Center and wrap up April 8 at the Discovery Center in Kansas City.
The project was chosen for funding by the U.S. Department of Energy over several other proposals submitted nationwide. Stops across Missouri will include St. Louis, Wentzville, Columbia, Jefferson City, Rolla, Lebanon, Springfield, Warrensburg, and Kansas City.
The goal of the caravan is to educate Missouri citizens and students on the benefits of fuel economy and use of renewable and alternative fuels in terms of saving money, reducing oil imports, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generating more efficient technologies. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) combine the internal combustion engine of a conventional vehicle with the battery and electric motor of an electric vehicle. Alternative fuels featured will include ethanol, biodiesel, natural gas, and propane.
Among the vehicles included in the caravan is the hybrid Ford Escape, which is built at the company's Kansas City plant. Other vehicles expected for the drive include:
- Hybrids - Chevrolet Silverado, Toyota Prius and Honda Insight.
- Alternative Fuel Vehicles - biodiesel Jeep Liberty, compressed natural gas bi-fuel Chevrolet Silverado, propane bi-fuel Ford 150 series truck and 85-percent ethanol (E-85) Chevrolet Avalanche, E-85 Ford Taurus, E-85 Dodge Ram and E-85 Ford Explorer.
Several sponsoring organizations, including the National Biodiesel Board, the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition, Missouri Soybean Association, Missouri Corn Growers Association, Laclede Gas, Missouri Propane Gas Association, various organizations associated with alternative fuels, and various automobile manufacturers will participate in the drive. We will provide information on hybrid and alternative fuel technologies, efficient driving techniques, ridesharing, transportation alternatives and information from the Environmental Protection Agency on green vehicles.
Pope John Paul II, waved from the Popemobile to thousands of people cheering along Lindell Blvd during the motorcade to the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis in January 1999. See coverage of the Papal Visit on the St. Louis Front Page - Special Edition. SLFP.com file photo >>>
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St. Louis Remembers Papal Visit of Pope John Paul II
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire), April 3, 2005 - Sister Carol Keehan, DC, chairperson of the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA), issued the following statement on the death of His Holiness John Paul II.
"The more than 800,000 women and men who serve the Catholic health ministry in the United States join with our sisters and brothers around the world in mourning the death of Pope John Paul II," stated Sister Keehan.
"As the third longest-serving pope in Church history, Pope John Paul will be remembered as a man of peace, integrity, and prayer. He was also a tireless champion of the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death and the dignity of every human being. As he said in Africa in 1980, during one of his more than 120 foreign trips, "I speak in the name of those who have no voice." Though his voice is now silent, we continue to be inspired by his legacy of love and concern for the neediest, especially the youth of the world.
And we will not forget the honor he bestowed on our ministry during his September 1987 travels in the United States. Speaking to members of the Catholic Health Association of the United States during a visit to Phoenix, the pope said, "Your health care ministry pioneered and developed by congregations of women religious and by congregations of brothers, is one of the most vital apostolates of the ecclesial community and one of the most significant services which the Catholic Church offers to society in the name of Jesus Christ."
We offer our prayerful condolences to the pope's closest advisors and confidants, and to all his church family. Even as we mourn his passing, we commit ourselves to the ideals which he so eloquently expressed in life."
The St. Louis-based Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA) is the national leadership organization of the Catholic health ministry, engaged in the strategic directions of mission, ethics, and advocacy. CHA's more than 2,000 members form the nation's largest group of not-for-profit health care sponsors, systems, facilities, health plans, and related organizations.
Personal Income Rises in Missouri
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 1, 2005 - Missouri's personal income rose by 4.5 percent last year to over $176 billion, according to a recent U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, but economic development officials say state incomes could increase at a greater rate under the Missouri Quality Jobs Act proposed by Gov. Matt Blunt.
Missourian's incomes grew at a stronger pace than the 3.3 percent increase of 2003. The Show-Me State ranked 20th nationally in personal income and had the third highest total personal income when compared to surrounding states, with only Illinois ($437 billion) and Tennessee ($177 billion) ranking higher. However, Missouri continued to lag behind the nation as a whole, which saw personal income grow by 5.7 percent last year.
"These newest figures are encouraging but there is more work to be done," said Greg Steinhoff, director of the Department of Economic Development. "The governor's legislative proposal would not only attract companies to Missouri but would also require wages that would boost personal income across the state."
Under the Quality Jobs Act currently pending the Legislature, companies that create jobs that pay at least the county average wage would receive withholding tax incentives designed to attract business to Missouri. Blunt, who took office in January of this year, has made Quality Jobs part of his goal of creating a hospitable environment for business in order to create high-paying, high-quality, family-supporting jobs.
"Missouri is in competition with 49 others states and many other countries for jobs and the governor's Quality Jobs proposal is one way in which we can compete while at the same time attracting jobs that will improve workers' incomes,'' Steinhoff said. ``Higher paying jobs mean that workers will be able to better provide for their families and therefore strengthen the state's overall economic picture."
On a per capita basis, income in Missouri increased 3.9 percent to an average of $30,608, while national personal income grew by 4.7 percent for an average of $32,937. While the state's annual per capita income increase in 2004 was the largest in three years, Missouri ranked 46th among states for per capita income growth last year.
No MOre Trash! Bash to run throughout April
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 1, 2005 - What started as a week-long effort to beautify Missouri highways and streams has evolved into a month-long event involving hundreds of groups and thousands of citizens.
The Missouri departments of Conservation and Transportation launched No MOre Trash! in 2002 in cooperation with the Missouri Litter-Prevention Advisory Board. Their goal was to focus public attention on the problem of litter.
Besides offering promotional materials to help citizens and civic groups start grassroots efforts, the campaign ran ads on cable television networks statewide. To motivate young Missourians, the agencies sponsored an anti-litter video production contest and published winning entries on the No MOre Trash! Web site.
Apparently the campaign has worked. During last year's one-week event volunteers collected 13,500 bags of trash and truckloads of used rubber tires and other items too big to bag.
This massive cleanup was the work of Stream Teams, Conservation Department staff, Adopt A Highway and Boy Scout groups, Department of Transportation crews, Missouri Division of Corrections workers and other volunteers. To encourage similar efforts on an even larger scale this year, sponsors decided to hold a month-long No MOre Trash! Bash.
"Imagine tens of thousands of bags of trash," said Ginny Wallace, No MOre Trash! coordinator for the Conservation Department. "That represents hundreds of miles of clean, attractive rivers and highways across the state. It is a huge contribution to quality of life, not to mention making us a more attractive tourist destination, which benefits the state's economy."
To learn more about what is available to support local No MOre Trash! programs and about the video contest, visit the No MOre Trash! Web site, www.nomoretrash.org or contact Ginny Wallace, 573/522-4115.
Grants to Help Outdoor Recreation Projects
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), April 1, 2005 - The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has released gratns as part of a federal program that can be used by local city, county and state governments and school districts to acquire, develop and renovate outdoor recreation projects.
The State Inter-Agency Council for Outdoor Recreation made the award recommendations for 22 Missouri communities with the highest score based on meeting the recreational needs of the communities, planning goals and unique or specific attributes. More than $1.7 million in federal grants were made available through the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Park Service and all projects required a 55 percent match.
"It is good that we can provide funds to help our cities, counties, and school districts provide these valuable facilities to the public. These recreation facilities help build stronger individuals and communities," Gov. Blunt said in an announcement.
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