Carthage-based Fortune 500 company Leggett & Platt declared a quarterly dividend of 16 cents per share today, according to a company press release. The dividend is a 6.7 percent increase over last year's third quarter dividend of 15 cents per share. It will be paid Oct. 14 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 15.
The news release noted that the company's dividends have increased annually for 34 straight years. "Leggett knows of only one Fortune 500 company with a longer string of consecutive annual increases and a higher compound growth rate," the release said.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Liberty buys California newspaper
Liberty Group Publishing, owner of The Carthage Press, Neosho Daily News, The Big Nickel and The Post in this area, and more than 300 publications overall, added another to its stable today, announcing the purchase of The Daily Independent of Ridgecrest, Calif., from Swift Newspapers, according to Associated Press.
Liberty Co-President and former Neosho Daily News Publisher Randy Cope is quoted in the article as saying, "We see a bright future for this community and for its newspaper. We are excited about working with The Daily Independent and will continue to build upon the strength and quality of this newspaper."
Liberty Co-President and former Neosho Daily News Publisher Randy Cope is quoted in the article as saying, "We see a bright future for this community and for its newspaper. We are excited about working with The Daily Independent and will continue to build upon the strength and quality of this newspaper."
Nexstar CEO presents different view
Not surprisingly, Nexstar Broadcasting CEO Perry Sook did not claim to be either "desperate" or "nuts" Tuesday during a news conference over second quarter results. Those words were used by Cable One CEO Tom Might Tuesday to describe the Nexstar stance in the battle over retransmission rights.
According to TV Business Report, Sook said there was nothing new to report, except that ad sales in the markets including for KSNF and KODE in Joplin and KOLR and KSFX in Springfield, are becoming more normal all the time. Sook said that while Nexstar is getting nowhere with Cable One and Cox Communications, it is having "constructive conversations" with other cable owners as contracts are scheduled to expire in other markets at the end of 2005. He made it clear that Nexstar will "insist on cash compensation" for retransmission rights.
According to TV Business Report, Sook said there was nothing new to report, except that ad sales in the markets including for KSNF and KODE in Joplin and KOLR and KSFX in Springfield, are becoming more normal all the time. Sook said that while Nexstar is getting nowhere with Cable One and Cox Communications, it is having "constructive conversations" with other cable owners as contracts are scheduled to expire in other markets at the end of 2005. He made it clear that Nexstar will "insist on cash compensation" for retransmission rights.
Race shaping up for Taylor seat
A reader tells me that a race may be shaping up to succeed the late Larry Gene Taylor, R-Shell Knob, as 29th District state senator.
Reportedly, former State Representative Nolan McNeill, a Democrat, is planning to run for the Democratic nomination. The Joplin Globe reported Tuesday that Sen. Taylor's widow, Gay Taylor, is going to run for the Republican nomination.
The 29th District includes McDonald and Barry counties.
Reportedly, former State Representative Nolan McNeill, a Democrat, is planning to run for the Democratic nomination. The Joplin Globe reported Tuesday that Sen. Taylor's widow, Gay Taylor, is going to run for the Republican nomination.
The 29th District includes McDonald and Barry counties.
Blunt asks for drought assessments
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt asked the Missouri Farm Service Agency today to do damage drought damage assessment reports for eight counties, including Barton, Jasper, McDonald, and Newton in southwest Missouri.
According to a news release from the governor's office, the report will "detail the extent of the damage, which could make agriculture producers eligible for federal financial assistance."
According to a news release from the governor's office, the report will "detail the extent of the damage, which could make agriculture producers eligible for federal financial assistance."
Richard logs another lobbyist gift
State Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, added to his lobbyist gift list even though the General Assembly has not been in session for more than two months.
In his disclosure form filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Richard showed $165 in entertainment from Patrick Keenan Bly, lobbyist for SBC Missouri. That brings Richard's total for 2005 to $1,636.47, one of the top 10 in the House.
In his disclosure form filed today with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Richard showed $165 in entertainment from Patrick Keenan Bly, lobbyist for SBC Missouri. That brings Richard's total for 2005 to $1,636.47, one of the top 10 in the House.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Door being opened for educational vouchers
With all of this talk about eminent domain and higher education, and other items topping the Missouri General Assembly's list for the 2006 session, it appears that Governor Matt Blunt is opening the door for educational vouchers.
KSDK-TV in St. Louis just posted an article on its website that says the governor is supporting an education tax credit and scholarship plan for low-income students. The program would call for tax credits to be provided to businesses or individuals who donate to the scholarship fund. Students would then be allowed to attend the school of their choice...whether that school is public or private.
This move should surprise no one, considering the amount of money that pro-voucher groups have been contributing to Missouri politicians, some of whom have been placed in key roles on the House and Senate education committees.
An Associated Press article on the subject quotes the governor as saying, "This is not a voucher, or a tuition tax credit. It's a tax credit to contributors to the scholarship fund."
KSDK-TV in St. Louis just posted an article on its website that says the governor is supporting an education tax credit and scholarship plan for low-income students. The program would call for tax credits to be provided to businesses or individuals who donate to the scholarship fund. Students would then be allowed to attend the school of their choice...whether that school is public or private.
This move should surprise no one, considering the amount of money that pro-voucher groups have been contributing to Missouri politicians, some of whom have been placed in key roles on the House and Senate education committees.
An Associated Press article on the subject quotes the governor as saying, "This is not a voucher, or a tuition tax credit. It's a tax credit to contributors to the scholarship fund."
Tribune columnist rips Blunt
Columbia Tribune columnist Tony Messenger wrote a particularly savage column attacking Governor Matt Blunt for refusal to allow wheelchair-bound advocates to attend one of his speeches.
You can read the column at:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Aug/20050802Feat003.asp
You can read the column at:
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2005/Aug/20050802Feat003.asp
Widow to run for Taylor's senate seat
The Joplin Globe reports in its Tuesday edition that Gay Taylor, wife of the late Sen. Larry Gene Taylor, R-Shell Knob, will run for the Republican nomination to succeed her husband. The Republican and Democratic committees for the 29th Senate District will choose candidates who will meet in the November election.
The winner will serve the remaining three years of Sen. Taylor's term.
The winner will serve the remaining three years of Sen. Taylor's term.
Liberal News covering Lamar
Monday, I offered a critique of the Saturday Lamar Democrat, noting its lack of Lamar stories.
The Thursday, July 28, Liberal News, the other Barton County newspaper, had far more coverage of Lamar and the county on page one than its more celebrated competitor, even though much of the page was, of course, devoted to Liberal news.
The Liberal News is a newspaper buried in the 1950s. Nary a photo appears on the first page, but it is jam packed with local items, including everything from Liberal school enrollment, to class reunions, to school supply lists, and benefits for families in need.
The Lamar coverage included an article, sent in from MU, about the upgrading of the weather station in Lamar, and the report on the last meeting of the Barton County Historical Society. I will grant you, no one is going to mistake this for weeklies like the Webb City Sentinel or the Lawrence County Record in Mount Vernon, but it does have a good idea of what the word "local" means.
On a critical note, however, the meat and potatoes news, government, business, and records are not featured in the News, and at four pages, it seems more or less just to be in existence to run legal advertising. It's difficult for a small newspaper to survive with such a limited advertising base. It seems like it was about 1987 when the Washington Post featured Liberal in its weekly magazine as one of three "dying" cities that it profiled.
***
All right. Forget what I just said. While I was at the Liberal News office today, I took out a subscription and picked up the last few weeks of the newspaper. I now notice that the Barton County Historical Society meeting that ran on page one on July 28, was what the people in TV call an encore presentation...the same story ran on page one July 21.
The Thursday, July 28, Liberal News, the other Barton County newspaper, had far more coverage of Lamar and the county on page one than its more celebrated competitor, even though much of the page was, of course, devoted to Liberal news.
The Liberal News is a newspaper buried in the 1950s. Nary a photo appears on the first page, but it is jam packed with local items, including everything from Liberal school enrollment, to class reunions, to school supply lists, and benefits for families in need.
The Lamar coverage included an article, sent in from MU, about the upgrading of the weather station in Lamar, and the report on the last meeting of the Barton County Historical Society. I will grant you, no one is going to mistake this for weeklies like the Webb City Sentinel or the Lawrence County Record in Mount Vernon, but it does have a good idea of what the word "local" means.
On a critical note, however, the meat and potatoes news, government, business, and records are not featured in the News, and at four pages, it seems more or less just to be in existence to run legal advertising. It's difficult for a small newspaper to survive with such a limited advertising base. It seems like it was about 1987 when the Washington Post featured Liberal in its weekly magazine as one of three "dying" cities that it profiled.
***
All right. Forget what I just said. While I was at the Liberal News office today, I took out a subscription and picked up the last few weeks of the newspaper. I now notice that the Barton County Historical Society meeting that ran on page one on July 28, was what the people in TV call an encore presentation...the same story ran on page one July 21.
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