Steelman makes a valid point

Today's Springfield News-Leader examines the latest version of Governor Matt Blunt's get-rich-quick theme for Missouri four-year colleges and universities. Instead of selling off MOHELA, the state is now looking at selling off the student loans and using the proceeds to fund building projects.
State Treasurer Sarah Steelman makes a statement that is well worth considering. "The unique thing about this windfall, it's a one-time windfall to the state. We have to make sure we're using the money appropriately. Buildings don't do us any good if students can't afford to go."
It's a shame there hasn't been a Sarah Steelman around to look after the students during these past few decades when colleges and universities have continued putting up one building after another while student costs skyrocketed.

More use of documents would have helped landfill article

Joplin Globe reporter Susan Redden's article on the proposed opening of the Southwest Regional Landfill in Jasper County could have used more documentation.
The story of Advantage Waste's efforts to gain state approval to open the facility is one that benefits greatly from the use of documents from various state and federal agencies as I showed earlier this month in two posts on the subject.
I pointed out that the timing of Advantage's push was somewhat suspicious and noted, as Ms. Redden did, the lawsuit filed by Allied Waste against Advantage in U. S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.
Using loan and incorporation documents from the Missouri secretary of state's office, as well as filings with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission, the Turner Report showed stronger connections than originally indicated between Allied Waste and Advantage owner Craig H. Post.
Post's company, as I pointed out, did not exist until after a federal court ordered Allied Waste to divest itself of Springfield trash routes and the Southwest Regional Landfill as part of an an antitrust action filed after Allied agreed to buy BFI. Post confirmed that to Ms. Redden, but said it was approved by the Department of Justice. That may very well be so, but I would love to hear that from someone with the Department of Justice, especially since an Allied filing with the SEC last year indicates the company still owns the company that is now CHP Environmental, also owned by Post and his father, and also still lists the Southwest Regional Landfill as one of its possessions.
Documents do not always tell the entire truth, but when the environment is at stake, it pays to take every possible precaution before taking such a momentous step as permitting a company to own and operate a landfill.
Links to the earlier Turner Report posts on this subject are listed below:
Documents cloud Advantage Waste issue
Timing of Jasper County landfill push is suspicious

Drug testing of all students being explored

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a staunch opponent of drug testing students. Many school districts in this area, including my employer, the Joplin R-8 School District, have drug testing policies in place for students who participate in extracurricular activities.
I am extremely sympathetic with school officials' desire to do something about the growing drug problem in our society, though I am skeptical that this method will work, and will I have big problems with violating someone's privacy without probable cause.
It appears that some schools are looking toward testing all students, not just the ones who in sports, clubs, drama, or other outside activities. The issue was explored today in an Associated Press article.

Indiana blog reports Zerbini circus is back in Fort Wayne

Indiana Parley, an informational blog about that state, was kind enough to link to The Turner Report's post earlier this week about lawsuits targeting the Webb City-based Tarzan Zerbini circus.
According to Indiana Parley, the circus returned to Fort Wayne, Ind., this week, the site where one of its workers was trampled to death by elephants one year ago.

Post story details Boehner victory

It was just a few short days ago that Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt was claiming he had enough votes to win the majority leader post. An article in Friday's Washington Post details the story of how Blunt's political rise has at least been temporarily derailed by John Boehner of Ohio.

New York Times analyzes Blunt loss

A news analysis in today's New York Times examines yesterday's rejection of Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt by House Republicans.

Blunt can't be beat

In this AP story, featured on the Springfield News-Leader website, a Missouri State University professor says it doesn't matter if Seventh District Congressman Roy Blunt ends up embroiled in the ongoing lobbyist scandal in Washington, he still can't be beat.
The story also indicates state officials are rapidly moving to amend their earlier remarks about how much Blunt becoming Majority Leader would help Missouri. It appears now that he lost, it won't make much of a difference at all.

Globe looking for someone to take charge of sports coverage

The Joplin Globe is advertising for an executive sports editor. The following advertisement is featured on www.journalismjobs.com:

"The Joplin Globe, a daily newspaper in the beautiful Gateway to the
Ozarks, is looking for an executive sports editor. We need someone
passionate about the fans, parents, issues and personalities of the
local sports world. The successful candidate will be able to
demonstrate highly evolved design skills and a track record of helping
good sports reporters be great. Please contact Editor Edgar Simpson
with a resume and three samples of your best work at
esimpson@joplinglobe.com, or 117 E. Fourth St., Joplin, Mo., 64801.

Chart story examines Joplin newspaper battle

This week's Chart, the newspaper published at Missouri Southern State University, features an examination of the newspaper battle in Joplin, including interviews with editors of the Joplin Globe, Joplin Daily and Joplin/Tri-State Business Journal.

Kix 102.5 hangs on top spot

Country music continues to rule Joplin area radio, according to the Fall 2005 Arbitron ratings. KIXQ remained the top station with a 12.9 share, up slightly from 12.8 in the Spring Book. It was quite a bit down from the 18.3 it recorded in Fall 2004 however.
The Zimmer station was joined by sister station KSYN, Kissin' 92, which remained solidly in the number two position, its share growing from 7.0 to 7.4. It too, though, is down from the 8.3 recorded one year ago. KSYN plays contemporary hits.
The number three and four stations remained the same with KKOW-FM, an American Media Investments station ranked third at 6.7 up slightly from 6.4 in the spring and more than double the 3.3 recorded in fall 2004.
KKOW ruined an attempt by Zimmer to grab the top three slots to itself. Zimmer's Big Dog, KXDG improved from fourth to a tie for third at 6.7, the same as it registered a year ago.
In the next two slots were the big gainers in the fall book. Placing fifth at 6.1 was KBTN-FM, 99.7, with its classic country format up from 5.2 in the spring. Zimmer's adult contemporary station KJMK, 93.9, placed sixth jumping all the way from 3.5 to 4.9.
The rest of the rankings:
7. KCAR, 104.3, an oldies station owned by FFD Holdings, at 4.3, up from 3.5 and eighth place in the spring. KCAR obviously benefited from becoming the only Joplin oldies station.
8. Rock 105.3's alternative music dropped from sixth at 5.2 to 4.3. KJML is owned by FFD Holdings.
9. KMOQ, 107.1, owned by FFD plummeted from a fifth place 5.8 to 4.3.
10. Tenth place Lite Mix 95.1, KMXL, owned by Ron Peterson of Carthage increased its audience from 3.3 to 3.5. KMXL was in a three-way tie for eighth in the spring.
11. KQYX, News Talk 1450, was the top AM station in the market at 2.5, up from 2.3 in the spring, but a far cry from its shocking 6.7 of a year ago.
12. KWXD, 103.5 didn't move much, 2.3 to 2.5, after switching from oldies to country.
13. KDMO, 1490 AM, owned by Ron Peterson, Carthage, was the number two AM station with its adult standards format, but dropped from 2.9 to 1.8.
13. Clear Channel's KIGL-FM, 93.3 the Eagle out of Fayetteville, Ark., dropped from 2.3 to 1.8.
15. The former Lamar radio station KHST (for Harry S Truman) keeps changing rock formats but stayed at 1.2.
16. Country oldies at KAMO-FM, 94.3 from Rogers, Ark came from out of nowhere to record a 0.6 ranking.
16. KBTN-AM, 1420, Neosho, owned by FFD Holdings, also came from no showing at all in the spring to 0.6.
16. Rounding out the rankings, also at 0.6 the same as in the spring, but far below the 1.7 of a year ago is one-time area broadcasting titan, KKOW-AM of Pittsburg, which has now shifted to a classic country format.