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News forecast graphic, courtesy AccuWeather.com
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Memorial Day Weekend Heat Wave
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 24, 2012 - Break out the fans and air conditioners and get the pools ready as Mother Nature has a stretch of hot, humid weather just in time for the Memorial Day weekend for portions of the Midwest and East.
As cool air with gust winds sweep over the Southwest and snow falls over the high country in the Rockies, building heat over the southern Plains is forecast to surge northeastward later this week.
While the pattern is only likely to last several days, it will feature the highest actual temperatures and AccuWeather.com RealFeel® temperatures of the season so far.
Early-season warmth will evolve into a several-day stretch of 90-degree temperatures and high humidity with the core over the Ohio Valley states Friday into the Memorial Day weekend.
RealFeel temperatures will top 100 degrees and could reach 105 degrees for a few hours each day from St. Louis, Mo., to Cincinnati, Memphis and Nashville.
AAA projects 34.8 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Memorial Day holiday weekend, an increase of 1.2 percent - or 500,000 travelers - from the 34.3 million people who traveled one year ago.
Highway travelers are reminded to make sure their vehicle is ready to handle hot weather conditions. It is best to check tire pressure levels after the vehicle has been parked overnight. Only add radiator fluid to the reserve reservoir. Never take the radiator cap off of a hot engine.
Driving at excessive speed with or without properly inflated tires during hot weather can exceed the threshold of what the tire is designed to handle and could lead to a dangerous blowout.
Ameren Warns Against Utility Account Payment Scam
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 20, 2012 - Ameren officials have issued a statement that a scam is impacting Ameren customers in Illinois and Missouri in an effort to illegally obtain their Social Security numbers.
The Better Business Bureau reports this scam has affected utility customers in several states. According to reports, the scam claims President Barack Obama is applying payments or credits of up to $1,500 to the customer's utility bill. This is false. The scam calls for customers to make a payment "today" by using a bank routing number supplied by the scammers, and the number appearing on the back of their Social Security cards as the bank account number. The bank routing number is fraudulent and cannot be used to pay a utility bill.
According to reports, scammers have visited customers in person, posted fliers and used social media and texting to send this false message.
"We have identified customer accounts that may have been scammed by these identity thieves and are notifying them." said Carole Hunt, assistant treasurer, Ameren Services. "We carefully guard our customers' account information and always advise them to use Ameren-authorized payment methods."
If an Ameren customer has recently made a transaction as described, they may call Customer Service in Illinois at 800.755.5000, or, Missouri at 800.552.7583.
Ameren offers these tips against scammers:
Never give your credit card, debit card, Social Security, ATM, checking or saving account numbers to anyone who comes to your home, calls or sends an email requesting this information.
If a caller claims to be an Ameren representative and asks for immediate payment over the phone or requests other personal information, hang up and call 800.755.5000 in Illinois or, 800.552.7583 in Missouri.
Never allow anyone into your home who wants to check your electrical wiring, natural gas pipes or appliances unless you have scheduled an appointment or have reported a natural gas leak and the person has proper identification.
Photo identification is carried by every Ameren employee and includes name, employee number and an official Ameren logo.
Click It or Ticket Day and Night Campaign Launched
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 20, 2012 - The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety is joining with state and local law enforcement May 21-June 3 in the national "Click It or Ticket" enforcement campaign to crack down on buckling up. Missourians will be reminded to buckle up through state and national advertisements.
"A zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance with the seat belt law will be observed by troopers throughout this operation, as it is throughout the year, to raise seat belt awareness and compliance," said Colonel Ron Replogle, Superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "Every time you get into a vehicle you are at risk of being involved in a traffic crash. Give yourself and your loved ones a chance to survive, buckle up."
In 2011 there were 784 people killed in traffic crashes on Missouri's roadways. Of the 613 vehicle drivers and passengers killed, 69% were not wearing seat belts.
"Many drivers take the attitude that 'it will never happen to me,' especially teens, but fatal crashes happen every day to all types of people," said Leanna Depue, chair of the coalition's executive committee. "We want to make sure everyone is buckled up - day and night."
Home Prices & Sales Trend Higher, Recovery Continues
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 20, 2012 - The national median home price rose for the third straight month in April, indicating that a housing recovery is strengthening in 2012. In the 53 metropolitan areas surveyed by the RE/MAX National Housing Report, median home prices were 3.2% higher than March and a solid 5.9% higher than April 2011.
After 18 consecutive months of year-over-year price declines, February was the first month home prices experienced an increase. Now, March and April have followed suit creating a positive trend. The market continues to show strength with home sales 4.1% higher than April 2011. April becomes the 10th month sales have pushed higher than the same month a year earlier. Inventory, Months Supply and Days on Market are all trending lower. With current levels of sales and inventory, an expected up-tick in foreclosure properties could be absorbed if they come to market over a reasonable time frame.
The Median Sales Price of homes sold in April was $161,000. This price is 3.2% higher than the March median price and 5.9% higher than the median price seen a year ago. April is the third consecutive month in the last 21 months to experience a year-over-year increase. The April RE/MAX National Housing Report of 53 metro areas revealed that 43 metro areas saw price increases over last year, 12 posted double digit gains including: Phoenix, AZ +25.4%, Detroit, MI +25.4%, Miami, FL +24.0%, Denver, CO +15.0%, Omaha, NE 14.9%, and Tampa, FL +14.7%.
The average Days on Market for all homes sales in the month of April was 96, a significant drop from the 101 days seen in March and also lower than the 98 average seen in April 2011. In a market with a dwindling inventory and increased sales, Days on Market is expected to fall.
"It's encouraging to see several improving economic and housing indicators, which are pointing to a continuing real estate recovery," said Margaret Kelly, CEO of RE/MAX, LLC. "While home prices are still low and interest rates remain at historically low levels, it's likely that many more potential homebuyers will leave the sidelines and jump into this market."
Monsanto Makes $50 Million Commitment To African Agricultural Development
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), May 20, 2012 - Monsanto Company's Chairman, President and CEO Hugh Grant has announced the company's support of the New Vision for Agriculture Initiative, the Grow Africa Partnership and the G8's New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition through a $50 million commitment over the next ten years to support sustained Africa agricultural development and growth.
The announcement was made as part of a full-day symposium, Advancing Food and Nutrition Security at the 2012 G8 Summit, hosted by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
During the event, G8 and African leaders, businesses, international organizations and civil society groups are convening to discuss new activities to advance food and nutrition security and agricultural development in Africa.
"I'm delighted to be here taking part in this conversation as I believe public and private sector commitment is necessary and able to support a transformation in African agriculture," Grant said. "As a company committed to improving lives through agriculture, we stand ready to work together with African leaders to turn their ideas into action with the sense of urgency and scale needed to deliver local solutions to meet our global challenges."
As part of its commitment to support food and nutrition security and agricultural development in Africa, Monsanto will seek increased collaboration among farmers, private industry, governments and civil society groups that can fuel the development of innovations to increase productivity while also strengthening the complete African agricultural value chain.
"There is no single group or simple solution that can solve the food issues facing a growing population," Grant added. "Rather, through the partnership and cooperation of many, we can deliver improvements that can drive food security, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity in Africa and beyond."
Part of Monsanto's commitment will go to its continued support of Tanzania's Kilimo Kwanza (Agriculture First) initiative focused on developing a vibrant agricultural sector that will benefit farmers in the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania. The initiative seeks to improve food and nutrition security, reduce rural poverty and ensure environmental sustainability.
In partnership with the Tanzanian government, Monsanto will take a holistic approach, making commitments to key investments and partnerships that are aligned with Tanzania's agricultural priorities and that span the maize and vegetable agricultural value chains.
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