Sherman A1
Sherman A1's JournalIn Rural Missouri, Interpreters Are Key To Refugee Health Care
At a pediatric clinic in Kirksville, Mo., a young boy is waiting in an exam room to be vaccinated. A nurse explains the shots to his mother, and Lisette Chibanvunya translates.
Chibanvunya is one of two Congolese interpreters hired by the Northeast Health Council to help the clinic care for refugees and immigrants from central Africa.
She first came to town to study at Truman State University in 2013.
Chibanvunya says, "When I came I faced discrimination, because they didn’t have a lot of black people." But now, she says, "They start accepting people because they finally understand that people kind of decided to make it home."
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/rural-missouri-interpreters-are-key-refugee-health-care
After Deadly Explosion At Lake City Munitions Plant, The Business Of War Proves Costly
Two years after an explosion at a crucial Army factory that is the country’s largest producer of small-caliber ammunition, the underlying cause of Lawrence Bass Jr.’s death remains unclear.
Bass, a longtime employee, followed explosives-handling procedures later deemed to be poorly written. He worked for a defense contractor anxious to slash costs on a government contract it had underbid.
The ammunition plant run by that contractor suffers from a worker safety record far worse than its peers. The facility on the outskirts of Independence, Missouri, is “still making ammunition the old-fashioned way,” according to the Congressional testimony of a three-star general.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ruled the April 11, 2017, explosion at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant was accidental, but subsequent investigations found a series of safety concerns that may have caused the blast.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/after-deadly-explosion-lake-city-munitions-plant-business-war-proves-costly
After Deadly Explosion At Lake City Munitions Plant, The Business Of War Proves Costly
Two years after an explosion at a crucial Army factory that is the country’s largest producer of small-caliber ammunition, the underlying cause of Lawrence Bass Jr.’s death remains unclear.
Bass, a longtime employee, followed explosives-handling procedures later deemed to be poorly written. He worked for a defense contractor anxious to slash costs on a government contract it had underbid.
The ammunition plant run by that contractor suffers from a worker safety record far worse than its peers. The facility on the outskirts of Independence, Missouri, is “still making ammunition the old-fashioned way,” according to the Congressional testimony of a three-star general.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) ruled the April 11, 2017, explosion at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant was accidental, but subsequent investigations found a series of safety concerns that may have caused the blast.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/after-deadly-explosion-lake-city-munitions-plant-business-war-proves-costly
St. Louis Lands US Gymnastics Team Trials For 2020 Olympics
The three-day event will be held at the Enterprise Center starting June 25. This will be the first time the city will host trials for both men’s and women’s gymnastics.
The trials will determine which athletes will represent the United States in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The U.S. Olympic gymnastics team will be announced at the event.
“As an organization dedicated to raising the profile and impact of St. Louis’ Olympic affiliation, the Sports Commission is honored to host the nation’s top gymnasts on their last stop before the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” said Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, in a statement. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to work with USA Gymnastics once again, and we look forward to partnering with our colleagues at Enterprise Center and our local gymnastics community to deliver an exceptional event next summer.”
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-lands-us-gymnastics-team-trials-2020-olympics
St. Louis Lands US Gymnastics Team Trials For 2020 Olympics
St. Louis will host the 2020 United States Olympic team trials for gymnastics.
The three-day event will be held at the Enterprise Center starting June 25. This will be the first time the city will host trials for both men’s and women’s gymnastics.
The trials will determine which athletes will represent the United States in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The U.S. Olympic gymnastics team will be announced at the event.
“As an organization dedicated to raising the profile and impact of St. Louis’ Olympic affiliation, the Sports Commission is honored to host the nation’s top gymnasts on their last stop before the Olympic Games in Tokyo,” said Frank Viverito, president of the St. Louis Sports Commission, in a statement. “We’re grateful to have the opportunity to work with USA Gymnastics once again, and we look forward to partnering with our colleagues at Enterprise Center and our local gymnastics community to deliver an exceptional event next summer.”
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/st-louis-lands-us-gymnastics-team-trials-2020-olympics
Missouri House backs landowners fighting Grain Belt line
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri House has passed legislation that could block the developers of one of the nation's largest wind energy projects from using eminent domain to string a high-voltage power line across the Midwest.
The vote Thursday by the House targets a $2.3 billion project that would carry electricity 780 miles from Kansas windmills across Missouri and Illinois before hooking into a power grid in Indiana serving eastern states. Plans call for the line to go through Randolph and Chariton counties.
The project won approval last month from Missouri utility regulators. That decision could allow developers to use condemnation to acquire easement rights from landowners unwilling to sell.
The bill blocking that now goes to the Missouri Senate.
https://www.abc17news.com/news/missouri-house-backs-landowners-fighting-grain-belt-line/1070307277
Mayor: Organic dairy exceeds hiring commitment
BOONE COUNTY, Mo. - An organic dairy plant in northeast Columbia held its grand opening Wednesday with Gov. Mike Parson and city leaders in attendance.
Aurora Organic Dairy broke ground at its site off Waco Road in May 2017 and promised to bring at least 80 jobs in its first year. On Wednesday, company CEO Scott McGinty said the plant now employs 102 people.
"They've already exceeded their commitment to hire over 100 people and I think they could be double that in the next 24 to 30 months," Columbia Mayor Brian Treece said. "More importantly, they had promised to make sure that 10 percent of its workforce matched the demographic of Columbia and that's more like 30 percent right now."
McGinty said there is plenty of room for expansion if the time comes.
https://www.abc17news.com/news/mayor-organic-dairy-exceeds-hiring-commitment/1069886182
Flooded Farmers In Missouri Want Federal Disaster Assistance Like Nebraska and Iowa
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is expected to make a federal disaster declaration this week, which can’t come too soon for farmers and others needing assistance after devastating floods.
A large area of northwestern Missouri near the state lines of Nebraska and Iowa is still underwater following the flooding caused by a “bomb cyclone” that hit in mid-March.
Most of Richard Oswald’s farm along the Missouri River bottoms near Langdon is underwater. He watched while his neighbors in Nebraska and Iowa, just a few miles away, have received help.
In Nebraska, Gov. Pete Ricketts got expedited federal aid for the estimated $1.4 billion in losses. In Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that President Trump declared a disaster area and promised federal aid to help repair an estimated $1.6 billion in damages.
https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/flooded-farmers-missouri-want-federal-disaster-assistance-nebraska-and-iowa
Stop & Shop and more than 30,000 of its employees reach tentative contract agreement
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stop-shop-strike-ends-supermarket-workers-company-reach-tentative-contract-agreement-today-2019-04-21/Stop & Shop announced Sunday evening that the corporation has reached "fair new tentative agreements with UFCW Locals 328, 371, 1445, and 1459," ending the workers' strike, CBS Boston reports. More than 30,000 employees have been on strike since April 11.
According to Stop & Shop, the three-year agreement included "increased pay for all associates; continued excellent health coverage for eligible associates; and ongoing defined benefit pension benefits for all eligible associates."
The agreement will now need to be ratified by the unions.
"Our associates' top priority will be restocking our stores so we can return to taking care of our customers and communities and providing them with the service they deserve," the store said Sunday.
Lincoln University makes first use of safety app after weekend shooting
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A Jefferson City shooting that left a Lincoln University student charged with murder and another man dead prompted the first use of a smartphone app meant to convey safety information to students.
Jefferson City police say Lincoln student Marquis D. Avant, 22, was involved in the shooting that happened at a party less than a mile from the LU campus early Saturday.
The crime occured less than a week after Lincoln starting using the Rave Guardian application.
LU spokeswoman Misty Young said the LU police department and the Jefferson City Police Department were notified through the app of social media activity that described several incidents of implied retaliation for the weekend shooting and multiple threats involving weapons against students.
https://www.abc17news.com/news/lincoln-university-makes-first-use-of-rave-safety-system-after-weekend-shooting/1070219013
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