'You Drink & Drive, You Lose' Campaign Targets Labor Day Weekend Drivers
KANSAS CITY, (BUSINESS WIRE) August 26, 2004 - For many Americans, the Labor Day Holiday signals the last blast of summer fun: picnics, swimming, cookouts and final road trips. Unfortunately it also signals one of the most dangerous times to be on America's roadways.
During the 3-day Labor Day Holiday in 2003, there were 505 fatalities nationwide; 51% of which were alcohol-related. In the Heartland the statistics are even more alarming. Over Labor Day Weekend, in Kansas alcohol was a factor in 87% of the fatal crashes; in Missouri 52%; Iowa 73% and in Nebraska 67% of the fatal crashes were alcohol-related.
That's why law enforcement will be out in increased numbers throughout the Heartland and across the United States during the nationwide You Drink and Drive. You Lose. Crackdown from August 27 - September 12, 2004. Officers will be strictly enforcing all traffic laws, including those related to drunk driving. Motorists can expect the use of checkpoints and roving patrols in addition to standard enforcement methods.
This national crackdown is the first since all 50 States and the District of Columbia enacted .08 Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) laws for impaired driving. Uniform BAC laws strengthen the hand of law enforcement to arrest and prosecute dangerous drunk drivers to the fullest extent of the law. Additionally this is the first crackdown to take place during the Labor Day period to target the increased numbers of drunk drivers on the roads during the Holidays.
"Our message is simple and to the point," said Romell Cooks, Regional Administrator for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Central Region. "You Drink and Drive. You Lose. Checkpoints, roving patrols and undercover officers will be out in force. So if you choose to drive while you are impaired you should expect to get caught. Furthermore, if you refuse a sobriety test you can lose your license on the spot and have your car impounded."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 17,013 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in 2003. This represents 40% of the 43,220 people killed in all traffic crashes. Cooks advises everyone to drive sober or to get a designated driver.
Statewide Ethanol Fuel Plan Offered for Missouri
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire) August 26, 2004 - Matt Blunt, candidate for Governor and Missouri's current Secretary of State, has announced his plan to implement a statewide auto fuel program utilizing 10 percent ethanol blended with gasoline during his first term if elected.
In a statement, Gary Marshall, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA), called the plan "innovative and forward thinking" and pledges the commitment of MCGA leaders to see the plan implemented as it will help the environment, lower fuel costs and boost Missouri's economy all by using ethanol made from corn.
Marshall said the plan is a win-win-win, for the environment, consumers and farmers. "Ethanol, produced from Missouri corn in farmer-owned ethanol production plants, is the right solution at the right time. Higher fuel prices are ravaging the wallets of average Missouri citizens - ethanol is the solution, providing additional liquidity to the market and reducing our dependence on foreign oil, which is nearing a record $50 per barrel due to terrorism and the volatility in Iraq and the Middle East.
Ethanol is viewed as a renewable fuel solution that could decrease harmful automobile emissions and ensure compliance with federal clean air law for Missouri's two largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City.
"Missouri's farmers and rural areas are challenged with job losses, a declining tax base, variable prices for their production, and weather conditions - ethanol is the solution, providing an opportunity for Missouri farmers to create a homegrown product from their corn in farmer-owned ethanol plants which helps mitigate the inherent risks with farming and provides important jobs and economic development for our rural areas," stated Marshall.
Marshall believes the impacts of the proposal will be far reaching. "Matt Blunt's plan will allow Missouri's existing farmer-owned ethanol industry to expand, and could mean as many as two to three new plants in the future. Missouri's farmer-owned ethanol plants are processing 8 percent of Missouri's annual corn production, and in the future we could turn well over one-fourth of our annual corn crop into ethanol.
"That will mean: $300 million in new infrastructure to process and add value to our corn, and our farmers have already made about half that investment. The industry will also provide over 10,000 new jobs, and an additional $100+ million in local, county, state and federal tax revenues to help fund education, healthcare, and new roads, as well as over $1 billion in additional annual economic activity," stated Marshall.
Anheuser-Busch Donates $100,000 to American Red Cross and The Salvation Army
ST. LOUIS, (PRNewswire) August 22, 2004 - In response to Hurricane Charley, which has caused billions of dollars in damage across the state of Florida, the Anheuser-Busch Foundation is donating $100,000 to hurricane relief efforts in the state.
The donation includes $50,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to The Salvation Army. In addition to the donation, Anheuser-Busch has shipped a total of 21,100 cases of canned drinking water to emergency agencies to provide support for their relief efforts.
"In times of crisis, it has been a longstanding company tradition to come to the aid of our local communities and to assist those organizations that will help those victims get back on their feet," said Patrick Stokes, president and chief executive officer, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. "We keep the hurricane victims and survivors in our thoughts. We can do no less than answer the call to help those who have been affected by this hurricane," Stokes added.
Since last Friday evening, Anheuser-Busch has donated more than a half-million cans of drinking water to aid the victims and rescue workers in areas affected by Hurricane Charley. The American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, the State of Florida Emergency Operations Center and other disaster relief groups continue to distribute the canned water, with the assistance of local Anheuser-Busch wholesalers.
The drinking water was canned at the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Cartersville, Georgia and Metal Container Corporation in Rome, Georgia, a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch Companies, supplied the cans. Various trucking companies assisted in delivering the water.
"In response to the devastation wrought by Hurricane Charley, the American Red Cross mobilized a massive relief effort that includes providing emergency food, water and shelter to tens of thousands of people impacted by the storm," says Skip Seitz, senior vice president of growth and integrated development of the American Red Cross. "The Red Cross is committed to meeting needs of disaster victims in the weeks and months ahead as they begin their recovery. Donations from generous corporations like Anheuser-Busch are critical to that ongoing relief effort."
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of this disaster and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org/
Vote for Change Tour Tries to Make a Difference
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com) August 22, 2004 - A multi-city, multi-artist tour that will include approximately 38 shows in 32 cities in 12 states over the course of 12 days aims to get people to the polls on November 2nd to vote for a change.
The Vote for Change tour came about as part of an informal conversation among a handful of artists on how they could make a difference in this year's elections and beyond. This idea has resulted in a first-of-its-kind endeavor where Vote for Change participating artists will focus their energies on the states where the elections are expected to be the closest. All Vote for Change artists are donating their time and talent in support of the tour.
The tour features Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, REM, Bright Eyes, Pearl Jam, Death Cab For Cutie, Dave Matthews Band, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, Jurassic 5, My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Keb' Mo', Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson, Crosby Stills & Nash, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, John Mellancamp, and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
The Vote for Change tour will be presented by MoveOn PAC, with all concert proceeds benefiting the work of America Coming Together (ACT).
If fans purchase tickets to the Vote for Change Tour, they are making a federal political contribution to America Coming Together ("ACT"). ACT is not authorized by any candidate, candidate's committee or party committee. To comply with federal campaign laws, fans will be asked to provide or verify certain information:
- You must be at least 18 years of age to purchase tickets;
- You must be a US citizen or resident alien;
- You must purchase tickets using your own credit card;
- You can't purchase tickets on behalf of a corporation, labor organization, federal contractor or national bank;
- When you buy tickets, you will be asked to provide your name, address, e-mail address, occupation and employer;
- You cannot make a contribution in excess of $5,000 to ACT's federal account. If your contribution, together with others you have made, causes you to exceed federal contribution limits, your contribution will be placed in ACT's nonfederal account.
- Contributions to ACT are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Pearl Jam/Death Cab for Cutie are scheduled to make an appearance in St. Louis
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