Qulin News

Archive for the ‘State’ Category

Council will advise and work with national defense, homeland security officials on matters related to National Guard, civil support missions

Jefferson City – Gov. Jay Nixon was selected on Thursday (Feb. 4) by President Barack Obama to serve on the Council of Governors, a bipartisan group established last month by an executive order from the President. The purpose of the Council is to advise and work closely with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the White House Homeland Security Council, and other national defense and security officials on matters related to the National Guard and homeland defense.

“Close cooperation and communication between the federal government and the states are vital if we are to make the most effective use of state resources on matters of national defense and homeland security,” Gov. Nixon said. “Having personally seen the accomplishments of the Missouri National Guard both here in Missouri and in Afghanistan, my focus on this Council will be to ensure that we continue to use our Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to the best effect possible on these fronts.” Read the rest of this entry »

Gov. Nixon outlines strategies to create jobs, position Missouri for long-term growth during second State of the State Address

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. – Gov. Jay Nixon delivered his second State of the State Address this evening to a joint session of the Missouri General Assembly.  During the speech, the Governor outlined strategies to address the state’s urgent economic issues, while also laying a solid foundation for long-term economic growth.

“Our most pressing economic challenges – creating jobs, seizing opportunities for growth, and balancing the budget – are too important to be sidetracked by partisan bickering. That would betray the trust put in us by the people,” Gov. Nixon said during the address.  “We also need to take the long view, and be wise stewards of the blessings that make Missouri so special: our families, our communities, and our God-given natural resources.  In everything we do this year, we must put our differences aside and put Missouri first.” Read the rest of this entry »

Attorney General Koster warns Missouri seniors of “grandparent scam”

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster today issued a Consumer Alert warning Missouri seniors of a scam aimed at swindling grandparents out of their savings.

Koster said the scammers will place a phone call to unsuspecting seniors posing as their grandchild, saying he has been in an accident, is in jail-most often for drunk driving-or that the grandchild is in some other kind of trouble. He said the caller often says that the grandchild is in Canada and asks the grandparent to wire money there via Western Union. Koster said one worried Missouri grandparent wired more than $20,000 after receiving a call from her “grandson” saying that he had been arrested for DWI in Canada and needed her to send money.

Koster said that consumer complaint reports his office has received indicate that the callers have an uncanny amount of personal information about the family, often knowing the grandparent and grandchild’s name.

“The fact that these scammers take advantage of a grandparent’s love for their grandchildren by placing these alarming and frightening calls to con them out of thousands of dollars is simply unconscionable,” Koster said. “I urge anyone receiving such a call to check with family members to confirm the call is a hoax. I also urge individuals to report the call to the Attorney General’s Consumer Hotline at 1-800-392-8222.”

Attorney General Koster says Neosho man convicted for prevailing wage violations, placed on contractor debarment list

Jefferson City, Mo. - Attorney General Chris Koster today announced a Neosho man has been sentenced to fourteen days in jail and placed on Missouri’s contractor debarment list for one year after being found guilty of violating Missouri’s prevailing wage law.

Koster said being on the debarment list means Michael B. Robin and any company he owns cannot contract directly or indirectly with any public body for the construction of any public works for that period of time. This is the first time in state history that the Attorney General’s office has placed a prevailing wage violator on the statewide debarment list. Read the rest of this entry »

 SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Gov. Jay Nixon today launched Training for Tomorrow, a $12 million initiative to educate Missourians in high-tech fields and get them working in growing industries.  These grants will help Missouri community colleges create or expand training programs to serve additional students.

The Governor announced Training for Tomorrow during visits to Ozarks Technical Community College in Springfield and Moberly Area Community College. Read the rest of this entry »

Have you heard the news? Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and State Auditor Susan Montee are being sued by the Missouri Roundtable for Life. According to the allegations, The two illegally reworded several initiative partitions and provided improper cost estimates. You can read more at Kansas City Star’s Prime Buzz.

Gov. Nixon announces initiative to expand Share the Harvest, help families in need across Missouri

ASHLAND, Mo. – Share the Harvest, a public-private partnership that provides meat to families in need across Missouri, expects to increase its annual collection of venison by more than 75 percent over the next three years, using economic incentives awarded today by Gov. Jay Nixon.

“As Missourians of all ages head to the woods for opening weekend of firearms deer season, I encourage folks to contribute venison to Share the Harvest,” Gov. Nixon said, who will hunt in Clark County, Mo., on opening weekend.  “Sharing the harvest is a great way to enjoy a time-honored Missouri tradition while also fulfilling a critical need for fresh, healthy meat in food banks across Missouri.  By donating a deer to Share the Harvest, Missourians are literally putting food on the table for families in need during the holiday season.” Read the rest of this entry »

Attorney General Koster announces settlement of class action suit against Silver State — Missouri victims have $2.9 million debt forgiven

Jefferson City, Mo. – Attorney General Chris Koster today announced that Missouri and 11 other states have obtained a settlement with a private student loan provider, resolving an 18-month multistate investigation. Student Loan Xpress will forgive a total of $112.7 million in debt for students who obtained non-government guaranteed educational loans to attend a now-bankrupt helicopter training school, Silver State Helicopters, LLC. Read the rest of this entry »

by Timahoe (Fired Up! Missouri)

The Associated Press has an analysis piece this afternoon focusing on Peter Kinder’s failure to wean his bike race from taxpayer funding and how his fundraising failure places its return in doubt.

As Cynthia Davis once said, however, “hunger can be a powerful motivator.”  And if nothing else, Kinder is hungry for European-style bike racing.  But is he so hungry to make the ultimate political sacrifice for his race?

If so, watch for Kinder to deliver a version of this speech at tonight’s taxpayer funded TOM Closing Gala: 

“With European sons leaving our roads, with My Bicycle Race’s future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world’s hopes for the future of novelty, European-style bicycle racing in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office – the Chairmanship of the Tour of Missouri.”

“Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your Lt. Governor. But let men everywhere know, however, that a strong and a confident and a vigilant Tour of Missouri stands ready to ride again; and stands ready tonight to defend an honored cause, whatever the price, whatever the burden, whatever the sacrifice that duty may require.”