It's Not Too Late to Vaccinate
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com) December 7, 2003 - As flu season gets underway, with outbreaks already occurring in many states, including Texas, Colorado, and Florida, now is the time to see your doctor or pharmacist to get vaccinated.
"The winter months are not too late to get vaccinated against the flu," advised Jim King, M.D., Professor of Pediatrics and Director of Vaccine Studies at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "Flu vaccination is important not only to help prevent the sickness caused by influenza, but also to help stop the spread of the virus within a community. Because the flu has already hit several states in the U.S., everyone, including healthy people, should be vaccinated now for influenza if they haven't already. In fact, early indications show that it could be a severe flu season."
Schnucks has announced that several stores in the St. Louis metropolitan area will be offering flu shots on Friday, December 12 and Saturday, December 13 to individuals nine years of age and older for $19. (Individuals under 18 will need parental consent).
Vaccinations will be available at Schnucks Pharmacies on Friday, December 12, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Belleville West; Cross Keys; Mid-Rivers; Richardson Crossing and Chesterfield.
Vaccinations will be available at Schnucks Pharmacies on Saturday, December 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Edwardsville; Hampton Village; Des Peres; Wildwood; Collinsville; Concord Village and Richmond Center.
Maxim Healthcare Services, Inc. will administer the shots on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information, call Schnucks at 314-994-9900.
Mayor Slay Announces Additional FAA Funding for Lambert
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com) December 7, 2003 - Mayor Francis Slay has announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has informed Airport Director Leonard Griggs that significant additional Federal assistance will be made available to Lambert Airport. This additional funding will assist Lambert in completing the construction of the W-1W runway and dealing with other financial challenges resulting from the cut back by American Airlines.
This FAA funding consists of a $50 million commitment of future awards and a $10 million advance of the $140 million awarded in 1999 for Lambert's new runway. It also includes another $25 million, subject to the availability of funds. Specifically:
- A $50 million amendment to the 1999 "Letter of Intent" (LOI). The $50 million amendment will be paid out over the next 7 years and will allow the airport to secure the necessary financing to complete the runway construction.
- In addition, the FAA has indicated that, subject to the availability of funds, it would consider providing up to $15 million over the next three years for noise mitigation. Also the FAA expects to continue its ongoing support of St. Louis' noise compatibility program. Based on historic levels, the airport anticipates receiving another $10 million over the next two years. These additional noise funds will allow the airport to meets its obligations to purchase the remaining homes and businesses in the buyout program.
- Finally, the FAA made available in August 2003 $10 million in discretionary funding from the last year of the existing LOI to further assist the airport in its current funds management challenge. This $10 million brings the total FAA funds anticipated to $85 million since American announced their reduction in traffic in June 2003.
In reacting to the announcement, Mayor Slay continued, "We are very grateful to the FAA for this dramatic showing of support for our expansion program. It is further evidence that the FAA takes seriously its role in assisting Cities willing to accept the challenge of expanding their infrastructure and striving to assure their economic future. I am assured by the Airport's financial advisors that this additional Federal assistance will enable us to complete the airport expansion program and assist us in keeping the airport competitive as we continue to work toward expanding air service."
St. Louis to Host Athens 2004 International Olympic Torch Relay
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com) December 7, 2003 - As the first American city to host the Olympic Games, St. Louis will be part of the first ever International Olympic Torch Relay, on June 17, 2004.
The Olympic flame will be carried approximately 30 miles through the St. Louis region while on its worldwide path to Athens and the Summer Games of the 28th Olympiad. The relay day in St. Louis will culminate on Art Hill in Forest Park where a grand evening celebration will take place to mark the centennial of the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis
St. Louis is one of only four U.S. cities on the global route. "For St. Louis to be included in this class of cities is something that is really special," stated Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission. "Our status as an Olympic host city is something that we take for granted."
In addition to the Torch Relay, St. Louis will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1904 Games by hosting the U.S. Olympic Women's Marathon Trials April 3 and the U.S. Olympic Diving Trials June 9 - 13. The St. Louis Sports Commission is spearheading an effort to produce a Centennial Celebration for June 17, the night of the Torch Relay. Businesses and individuals interested in helping to fund the Celebration are encouraged to call the Sports Commission at 314-992-0683.
Retailers Welcome Signing of Fair Credit Reporting Act
WASHINGTON, D.C., (SLFP.com) December 7, 2003 - The National Retail Federation welcomed the signing of Fair Credit Reporting Act legislation by President Bush on Friday, saying the measure will preserve easy access to credit for American consumers.
"This legislation preserves American consumers' ability to purchase what they need when they need it," NRF President and CEO Tracy Mullin said in an announcement. "Without this bill, credit would have become harder to obtain, interest rates would have gone up and routine services like instant credit and immediate discounts would have become difficult if not impossible to offer. Retailers' ability to help consumers fight identity theft also could have been hampered. Congress struck the proper balance between all the competing interests that were involved and gave President Bush a strong pro-consumer/pro-economy bill to sign into law."
"Without extension of uniform national standards under FCRA, retailers and the customers we serve could have been subject to a confusing patchwork of new state laws, rules and regulations," Mullin said.
"The current uniform national standards allow retailers and lending institutions to get a complete and accurate picture of a person's credit history. Without uniform standards, it would be difficult to judge with any confidence the credit worthiness of each individual customer, slowing the credit approval process and leading to higher lending costs. A more fragmented approval process for credit would have adversely impacted consumers and, as a consequence, retail sales -- ultimately costing jobs and harming the economy as a whole."
"This bill also confronts the problem of identity theft," remarked President Bush at the signing of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. "A growing number of Americans are victimized by criminals who assume their identities and cause havoc in their financial affairs. With this legislation, the federal government is protecting our citizens by taking the offensive against identity theft."
This law will help prevent identity theft before it occurs, by requiring merchants to delete all but the last five digits of a credit card number on store receipts. Many restaurants and merchants have already adopted this practice. All will now do so," stated President Bush.
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