Features

Everyone knows it is important to save for retirement in order to build a nest egg and enjoy the “golden years.” So why is it that state and local governments many times act irresponsibly when it comes to saving for the future of public employees? Government pensions are the way in which state and local

At the airport, you take a moment to thank a solider in uniform who is returning home. On Veterans Day, you hold up a sign at your town’s parade to let those who have served know how much you care. Throughout the year, whenever you encounter veterans or someone currently serving in the armed forces,

Where words fail, the creative arts have the ability to speak. Art therapy is an empowering technique that allows for self-discovery and has the power to produce insight and expression in a non-threatening way. That is why the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) encourages creative arts as a therapeutic, and often lifesaving, tool

Nominations are being accepted for the January election of the Vernon County University of Missouri Extension Council members, according to Council Chairman Leslie Carroll-Bartlett.  The Extension council meets monthly and supports the activities of the local Extension Center. Council members are elected or appointed to two-year terms and may not serve more than two consecutive

Many spring flowerbeds awaken with the vibrant colors of tulips. Once a valuable currency, tulip has a history as vibrant as its petals. Plant tulip bulbs in October, said University of Missouri Extension horticulturist David Trinklein. Look for plump bulbs free of gray discoloration, an indicator of disease. Spade soil to a depth of about

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that many of the 1.7 million farms that enrolled in either the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs will receive safety-net payments due to market downturns during the 2015 crop year. “This fall, USDA will be making more than $7 billion in payments under

For years, scientists have studied how stem cells might be used to treat many diseases, including osteoporosis. One consistent challenge has been observing and monitoring the process through which stem cells transform. Now, using an established scientific method, University of Missouri researchers are able to watch how human fat cells transform into bone tissue cells;

Each year, millions of people in the U.S. have an irregular heartbeat, also known as an arrhythmia, according to the American Heart Association.  Heart arrhythmias are common and can be harmless. However, certain arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), may produce pooling and clotting of the blood which can then travel to other parts of

Virtually everyone struggles with a lack of self-confidence at some point in their lives and it’s perfectly normal to feel unsure of yourself in certain situations. However, if you find a lack of confidence is holding you back from fully enjoying your personal life, or achieving your professional goals, it may be time to take

The right tools and techniques can make gardening after 50 golden, says University of Missouri Extension horticulture specialist Todd Lorenz. Gardening after 50 should not be “trowel and error,” he says. Lorenz and Missouri AgrAbility Program state director Karen Funkenbusch suggest ways gardeners can use ergonomics to prevent muscle and joint pain. Ergonomics is the