Features

by Dan Cassidy It’s exciting to talk about an issue where the stars seem to have aligned, momentum is building and there is genuine optimism among rural Missourians. Imagine an issue where government is a player but success will be achieved only if the private sector sees themselves as partners. Missouri Congressman Jason Smith recently

Bradford pear and its cousins may spread more than springtime beauty as these popular ornamental trees escape and become pests. University of Missouri plant scientist Reid Smeda and graduate student Matt Terry study the movement of Bradford and other types of Callery pear from rural areas to the suburbs. Cultivars of Callery pear include Bradford,

A bipartisan fix to military law from U.S. Senators Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Joni Ernst of Iowa to better guard against “revenge porn” by making such conduct a standard offense across the military—following the Marines United scandal earlier this year—is set to become law as part of the annual defense bill. The sweeping legislation

Missouri Press Association Hosts Fifth Annual It Can Wait Editorial Contest; Open to Middle School and High School Students For the fifth year in a row, the Missouri Press Association (MPA), local Missouri newspapers and AT&T are joining together to host an It Can Wait editorial contest to raise awareness about the dangers of smartphone-related

Kristen Beatty’s 78-year-old father, Ray, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s about 10 years ago. Since then, he has developed a sense of paranoia, insomnia and the delusion that people are stealing from him. Though Beatty and her brother constantly reassure their father to allay his fears, the daily struggle can take its toll. Beatty’s mother, Sue,

Chances are you know someone who has had a stroke. An estimated 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Despite how common strokes are, there are a lot of widely believed misconceptions. Unfortunately, not knowing the facts can put a person at

For most of us, buckling up when driving or staying on the sidewalk while we’re out for a stroll are automatic safety habits. But did you know there is another real – and potentially life-threatening – hazard to drivers and pedestrians? It’s the danger we don’t often consider: driving or walking near train tracks. Federal

Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) announced Friday her introduction of theVeterans Health Administration Recruitment, Hiring and Retention (REHIRE) Act of 2017, which empowers local Veteran Hospitals to recruit, hire and retain doctors and nurses to meet the growing shortage facing VA facilities. Sadly, VA hospitals around the nation are struggling to recruit and retain nurses and

Cash rent rates dropped overall in many Missouri counties, according to a Sept. 8 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Rates for cropland and pastureland dropped overall from the previous year, said University of Missouri Extension agriculture business specialist Joe Koenen. Koenen leads sessions on Missouri farm leases to educate landowners and tenants on

If you plan to plant a new tree in your yard or field, now is the time to do it according to Patrick Byers, a horticulture specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “Fall tends to be a better time of year to plant trees because the soil is warm enough to support root growth. There