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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, May 7, 2006
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An unidentified bicyclist rides the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), Sunday morning, May 7, along Broadway at Russell in Soulard where gas prices have dropped significantly three weeks before the Memorial Day Weekend.
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Tourism Brings $3.8 Billion to St. Louis Economy Despite High Gas Prices
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 7, 2006 - The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that summer gasoline and diesel fuel prices in 2006 will average about $2.62 per gallon and that parts of the U.S. may see prices as high as $3 for a limited period.
The average retail price for regular gasoline was $2.65 per gallon in
Missouri, up 11 percent from last month and 28 percent higher than this
time last year. Missouri's average remained below the Midwest ($2.75) and
U.S. ($2.78) average retail prices on April 17.
Even with the high price of gasoline, the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission (CVC) anticipates St. Louis will continue to be a popular tourist destination.
CVC will host "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town", Thursday, May 18, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in downtown St. Louis at Kiener Plaza. Representatives from more tha 40 St. Louis Attractions will be on hand to help visitors and residents plan a St. Louis adventure.
"St. Louis enjoys great popularity as a tourism destination and the $3.8 billion local economic boom generated in direct spending by visitors," said Donna Andrews, CBC public relations manager. According to Andrews, the free event also provides a forum for the CVC to encourage local residents to view their hometown as a place to live, work and play.
Eminent Domain Bill Passes Missouri General Assembly
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 7, 2006 - Missouri Govenor Matt Blunt commended the Missouri General Assembly today for passing a tough bill to prevent abuse of eminent domain laws, one of his top legislative priorities for the year.
"This legislation achieves my twin goals of protecting the rights of responsible property owners and the rights of local communities to remove damaged or neglected properties," Blunt said. "I thank the General Assembly for acting so quickly on my recommendations to protect Missourians from abuse of eminent domain laws when no clear public interest exists."
The final bill sent to Blunt's desk contains 16 of the 18 recommendations his Eminent Domain Task Force recommended. Blunt formed the task force by executive order in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London issued last year. The court ruled against homeowners in Connecticut who sought protection from having their homes taken by a private developer for a commercial project.
Blunt's task force held several open meetings gathering public testimony from all interested parties on this issue.
The eminent domain bill:
- Rejects the findings of the U. S. Supreme Court in Kelo v. New London and prohibits the use of eminent domain solely for economic development purposes
- Prohibits the blighting of farmland for eminent domain purposes
- Contains early notice provisions to property owners whenever condemning authorities are considering the use of eminent domain
- Requires condemning authorities to provide property owners a "landowners bill of rights" to educate property owners on the eminent domain process
- Requires condemning authorities to negotiate in good faith and provides penalties when they fail to do so
- Expands "just compensation" to include additional factors beyond fair market value, such as heritage value and homestead taking.
- Requires condemning authorities to pay relocation costs to persons who are displaced by eminent domain
- Requires a condemning authority to determine blight on a parcel by parcel basis rather than on an area basis
- Reforms the process of acquiring easements to give property owners increased protections
- Creates an office of ombudsman in state government who can assist citizens by providing free consultations and information on the eminent domain process
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