Eli Yokley, Virginia Young named to Washington Post's Fix list of top reporters

University of Missouri student Eli Yokley, Webb City, was recognized by the Washington Post's Political Fix column today as one of the top political reporters in Missouri.

Yokley, who has been best known for his PoliticMo website and will be returning to that site after a covering the legislature for Missouri Times, was named along with Virginia Young of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

In his introduction to the article, Fix columnist Chris Cillizza writes the following:

In every state, there is at least one — and often many more than one — great political reporters, the one person that EVERY politico in the state reads.

The reporters were chosen by Fix readers.

Rep. Clay offers message to Class of 2013

In his latest newsletter, First District Congressman Lacy Clay offers a message to newly-minted graduates.)

Today’s message is especially for all the graduates of the Class of 2013.

I hope you remember your graduation day well, because your world will never be the same.

The future that you will dare to build is only limited by the size and scope of your dreams.

Life is about to test you as never before.

Your generation will be asked to protect our nation against all manner of threats.

You will be challenged to close the huge disparities in healthcare, education, jobs, housing and economic empowerment that still persist in this country.

You will become the owners of a new America that is more diverse, more complicated and more connected to the rest of the world.

And with all of that…you are also the first generation of young Americans who will be asked to make the promises enshrined in the constitution finally ring true for every citizen…regardless of who they are, where they came from, what they believe, or who they love.

That is a test of real equality that you must not fail.

I am challenging you to become more than just the best in your chosen profession.

I’m also asking you to excel as fully engaged citizens.

That is absolutely vital to your own success, and to the success of our nation.

Active citizenship compels you to register to vote on your eighteen birthday.

Active citizenship causes us to respond with comfort, strength and support when disaster strikes our neighbors.

And it is active citizenship from young people like you that we need to help make America as good as the people who live here.

I want to ask you to do two hard tasks, to participate and to persevere.

Class of 2013,

If you participate, you have the power to make sure that our democracy lives up to its promises.

And that will require you to take the higher road and the harder path.

But I promise you that the long journey will be worth it.

The fundamental choice which I am asking you to make is exactly the same challenge that President Kennedy laid out in his inaugural address.

It’s the same idea that Dr. King spoke of when he asked young Americans to embrace “The fierce urgency of now!”

And that brings me to the second hard task I will ask of you, I’m asking you to persevere.

Because achieving your dreams will not be easy.

You will fall down.

You will fail.

You will encounter many naysayers along the way.

But if you get up and keep going, you will emerge stronger, and even more determined to become the amazing people you are destined to be.

Perseverance is not only required to achieve your personal goals.

It is absolutely essential to building the kind of country you and your future children deserve to live in.

I’m talking about an America that offers equality under the law for every person.

I’m talking about an America that confronts climate change and makes renewable energy a reality.

I’m talking about an America that fully embraces healthcare for all.

Not just as a new law…but as a human right.

That’s what I expect of you.

And if we stand together…all of that is achievable.

Because in America…great things are always possible.

So when you face hardship,

When you are confronted with the worst of life, remember what Dr. King said…

“We shall overcome, because the arc of the moral universe is long…but it bends towards justice.”

That was true when he said it in 1963…and it’s still true today.

I have no doubt that when your turn comes to make a difference…

You will participate, you will persevere…and you will achieve great things.

Congratulations to all of you!

DESE makes practice Common Core standardized tests available

(The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education continues its public relations drive for Common Core standards with this offer to try out the new tests. While I plan to look them over, it won't be too long before schools trying to game the system will have their own practice tests and even practice tests for those practice tests. It is a plan that does not work, but you will never convince some administrators of that. Meanwhile, the test companies are making a mint.)

Schools across Missouri can now participate in practice tests to help them prepare for new statewide assessment testing set to begin during the 2014-2015 school year.

The practice tests will allow teachers, parents and students to try out the new online Smarter Balanced assessment system. Sample test questions were made available to the public Wednesday at <http://www.smarterbalanced.org/pilot-test/>.  

 The Smarter Balanced tests, for students in grades 3-11, will assess learning in English language arts and mathematics. The new assessments will replace the state's current MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) tests in English and math.

 The practice tests are being released nearly two years before the new assessment system is implemented.

"The practice tests give schools and families an opportunity to become familiar with the new assessments," said Chris L. Nicastro, commissioner of education. 

"The Smarter Balanced assessments will help educators better determine students' progress toward gaining the knowledge and skills they need for college and a career." 

 Preparing students for college, other postsecondary training and a career is one of the primary goals of the Top 10 by 20 initiative, which calls for Missouri to rank among the top 10 performing states in education by the year 2020.

 The Smarter Balanced assessment system will measure student achievement based on the Common Core State Standards, adopted by the State Board of Education in 2010. The new assessments will include multiple choice questions, constructed response questions and performance tasks that measure achievement and guide instruction.

The release of the practice tests follows the first large-scale pilot test of the new assessment system. More than 5,000 schools across the country, including more than 360 schools in Missouri, participated in the pilot test from February through May. 

The new assessment system was developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, a group of 24 states, including Missouri. As a member of the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, Missouri played a key role in guiding the assessment system, and Missouri educators are helping develop and review test questions. 

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium will continue to collaborate with state education officials and teachers to fine-tune the new assessment system through the summer of 2014.

More information about the Smarter Balanced assessments can be found at <http://www.smarterbalanced.org/>. For additional information about the Common Core State Standards, visit <http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/Common_Core.html>. 

Speaker Tim Jones brings tour to Joplin

Video of Joplin Tornado two-year anniversary observance

Severe thunderstorm warning for Joplin, Jasper County until 3 p.m.

(From the National Weather Service)

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SPRINGFIELD HAS ISSUED A

* SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR...
  SOUTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTY IN SOUTHEAST KANSAS...
  WESTERN JASPER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MISSOURI...

* UNTIL 300 PM CDT

* AT 214 PM CDT...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WAS LOCATED NEAR BAXTER
  SPRINGS...AND MOVING NORTHEAST AT 35 MPH.

  HAZARD...QUARTER SIZE HAIL AND 60 MPH WIND GUSTS.

  SOURCE...RADAR INDICATED.

  IMPACT...HAIL DAMAGE TO VEHICLES AND CROPS IS EXPECTED. EXPECT WIND
           DAMAGE TO ROOFS...SIDING AND TREES.

* LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE...
  AIRPORT DRIVE...ALBA...ASBURY...ATLAS...BAXTER SPRINGS...BROOKLYN
  HEIGHTS...CARL JUNCTION...CARTERVILLE...DUENWEG...DUQUESNE...
  GALENA...IRON GATES...JOPLIN...LAKESIDE...LOWELL...NECK CITY...
  NEUTRAL...OAKLAND PARK...ORONOGO...PURCELL...RIVERTON...TREECE...
  WACO AND WEBB CITY.

INTERSTATE 44 BETWEEN MILE MARKERS 0 AND 14 WILL ALSO BE IMPACTED BY
THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTH
CHEROKEE COUNTY FOR A SEPARATE STORM.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

FOR YOUR PROTECTION MOVE TO AN INTERIOR ROOM ON THE LOWEST FLOOR OF A
BUILDING.

&&

A TORNADO WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT THURSDAY EVENING
FOR SOUTHERN MISSOURI.

McCaskill: I will work to rid our military of sex offenders

(From Sen. Claire McCaskill)

More than thirty years ago, I spent a significant amount of time in a Kansas City courtroom prosecuting sexual assault cases-at a point in time when far less attention was paid to providing justice for survivors. I had no idea that so many years later we'd be dealing with many of the same issues in our nation's military.

Last week, I joined with several of my colleagues in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to announce new legislation we are sponsoring to combat sexual assault in our nation's armed forces. We put partisan politics aside to address this critical issue. Our legislation, introduced in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, sends a message to our military leadership that we're unified on this very important issue.

The crucial reforms we propose will protect and support victims, ensure swift and fair prosecution of those committing these terrible crimes, and prevent commanders from overturning a jury verdict.

The bill I introduced along with my colleagues Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and my fellow Missouri Senator Roy Blunt-as well as U.S. Representatives Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.)-contains reforms to better address sexual assault prosecutions and aid survivors including provisions that:

• Remove a commander's ability to overturn the findings of a court-martial in most cases

• Require a commander to provide written justification for any modifications made to a sentence, and require that they receive input from survivors before making any decision on clemency proceedings

• Require that a person found guilty of an offense of rape, sexual assault, forcible sodomy, or an attempt to commit any of those offenses receive a punishment that includes, at a minimum, a dismissal or dishonorable discharge

• Eliminate the five-year statute of limitations on Trial by Courts-Martial for sexual assault and sexual assault of a child.

This issue has garnered widespread support in Congress, and multiple important proposals. As we move forward, we'll look at all the ideas put forth, and put together the strongest reforms that garner the support of Congress and our military leaders.

Over the past several months, I've focused on bringing perpetrators to justice, and ridding our honorable military of these criminals. I'll continue fighting until survivors get the justice they deserve.

Neosho Tornado Info online

Hopefully, it will be quite some time before this service is needed, but it is nice to know that it is available and is in good hands.

(From University of Missouri Extension)

Should Neosho ever be hit by a tornado, one source for rescue and recovery information is already on Facebook: Neosho Tornado Info.

 

The template used for the Neosho page was developed by community volunteers Rebecca and Genevieve Williams who set up Joplin Tornado Info when Joplin was hit in 2011. Then after the Joplin experience, Branson Tornado Info was set up by David Burton, a civic communication specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

 

“I put the Branson page together just in case and then two months later we were using it in the Branson recovery,” said Burton. “That experience is causing other communities to think ahead.”

 

Individuals can be proactive and “like” Neosho Tornado Info now. Wes Franklin, spokesperson for the City of Neosho, said he is excited about this opportunity and pleased with the assistance he has received from the Williams and MU Extension.

 

“I think getting the Neosho page in place now is a great, proactive concept,” said Franklin. “Should a major weather event occur, Neosho residents will have a central online place to go to for information and to ask questions. By setting it up now, residents will hopefully already be aware of it.”

 

The page will also serve to make citizens aware of some of the other proactive steps the city and other local agencies are taking to prepare for a major storm event. The City of Neosho is already using a mass text message system to alert and inform residents of weather events. Citizens may sign up for the text alerts by going to the city website, neoshomo.org. The city has also recently established an internal text messaging system to coordinate with city employees in case of a major emergency.

 

Newton County Emergency Management has recently begun compiling a database of private safe rooms and residential storm shelters in Neosho and Newton County in order to better locate survivors following a natural disaster. Information about how to be placed on the list is one of the many things to be featured on the Neosho Tornado Info page.

 

Williams agrees that Neosho is to be commended for thinking ahead.

 

“Neosho is raising the bar for social media preparedness by getting a page and the infrastructure for it in place before something bad happens. The Joplin Tornado Info model and the guidelines outlined in the social media guide are being used to establish and build the online recovery community in advance of it being needed and launch the page,” said Williams.

 

University of Missouri Extension’s popular publication, “The Use of Social Media for Disaster Recovery” provided the framework for getting the Neosho Tornado Info page in place. The publication is available online for free download online at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene. That publication outlines the things learned with the Joplin and Branson pages.

 

Since being posted online in March of 2012, the guide has been downloaded and printed over 15,000 times, used at FEMA trainings, and even distributed by Texas Governor Rick Perry to county emergency management personnel in Texas.

 

The guide has been profiled in national media and called “informative and useful” to anyone interested disaster recovery or creating a successful social media presence.

 

The free guide is written by Rebecca Williams and Genevieve Williams, creators of Joplin Tornado Info on Facebook, and David Burton, civic communication specialist for University of Missouri Extension and creator of Branson Tornado Info on Facebook.

 

The updated 32-page guide draws from experience with Joplin Tornado Info (47,000 followers) as well as the things learned when implemented with Branson Tornado Info (17,000 followers).

Hazardous weather outlook for Joplin area

(From the National Weather Service)

BOURBON-CRAWFORD-CHEROKEE-BENTON-MORGAN-MILLER-MARIES-VERNON-
ST. CLAIR-HICKORY-CAMDEN-PULASKI-PHELPS-BARTON-CEDAR-POLK-DALLAS-
LACLEDE-TEXAS-DENT-JASPER-DADE-GREENE-WEBSTER-WRIGHT-NEWTON-
LAWRENCE-CHRISTIAN-DOUGLAS-HOWELL-SHANNON-MCDONALD-BARRY-STONE-
TANEY-OZARK-OREGON-
1204 PM CDT THU MAY 30 2013

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF THE MISSOURI
OZARKS AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS.

.DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT.

WEATHER HAZARDS EXPECTED...

  ELEVATED TORNADO RISK.
  ELEVATED HAIL RISK.
  ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM WIND DAMAGE RISK.
  SIGNIFICANT FLOODING RISK.
  SIGNIFICANT LIGHTNING RISK.

DISCUSSION...

 ROBUST THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON OVER
 THE MISSOURI OZARKS. LARGE HAIL UP TO THE SIZE OF GOLF
 BALLS...DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH...AND TORNADOES
 WILL BE POSSIBLE.

 ADDITIONAL STORMS WILL APPROACH SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND WESTERN
 MISSOURI LATER THIS EVENING. SOME OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME
 SEVERE AS WELL.

 FLOODING AND FLASH FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE OUTLOOK
 AREA TODAY. EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS WILL BE ESPECIALLY
 SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLASH FLOODING...SINCE THIS REGION HAS ALREADY
 EXPERIENCED TWO TO THREE INCHES OF WIDESPREAD RAINFALL.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY.

 SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE POSSIBLE FROM LATE
 FRIDAY AFTERNOON INTO FRIDAY NIGHT ALONG AND AHEAD OF A SLOW
 MOVING COLD FRONT. ALL MODES OF SEVERE WEATHER WILL BE POSSIBLE
 ACROSS THE OUTLOOK AREA. IN ADDITION...WIDESPREAD HEAVY RAINFALL
 IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE ENTIRE OUTLOOK AREA FRIDAY NIGHT.

 WIDESPREAD SIGNIFICANT FLOODING IS EXPECTED TO UNFOLD ACROSS
 EXTREME SOUTHEAST KANSAS AND MUCH OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS. STORM
 TOTAL RAINFALL FROM TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY WILL AVERAGE
 BETWEEN TWO AND FIVE INCHES...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS AROUND
 SIX INCHES POSSIBLE. AS A RESULT...A FLASH FLOOD WATCH IS IN
 EFFECT THROUGH 7 AM SATURDAY MORNING.

 SOUTH WINDS WILL GUST TO 30 MPH AT TIMES FRIDAY ACROSS EXTREME
 SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS AND PORTIONS OF SOUTHWESTERN MISSOURI.

Tornado watch for Joplin area until 9 p.m.

(From the National Weather Service)

TORNADO WATCH OUTLINE UPDATE FOR WT 253
NWS STORM PREDICTION CENTER NORMAN OK
125 PM CDT THU MAY 30 2013

TORNADO WATCH 253 IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 900 PM CDT FOR THE
 FOLLOWING LOCATIONS

    MISSOURI COUNTIES INCLUDED ARE

BARRY                BARTON              BENTON
CAMDEN               CEDAR               CHARITON
CHRISTIAN            COOPER              DADE
DALLAS               DENT                DOUGLAS
GREENE               HENRY               HICKORY
HOWARD               HOWELL              JASPER
JOHNSON              LACLEDE             LAWRENCE
MACON                MARIES              MCDONALD
MILLER               MORGAN              NEWTON
OREGON               OZARK               PETTIS
PHELPS               POLK                PULASKI
RANDOLPH             SALINE              SHANNON
ST. CLAIR            STONE               TANEY
TEXAS                VERNON              WEBSTER
WRIGHT
$$