Missouri

April 2, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt tonight urged Missourians who were impacted by flooding last week to be prepared as more flooding is expected.

“The National Weather Service indicates several more inches of rain will fall across the state impacting areas impacted by the recent flooding,” Gov. Blunt said.

Coast Guard members assisting with Missouri flood relief: Photo by Coast Guard News (CC)    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today announced 16 additional counties will now be able to receive Federal Disaster Assistance, which will help individual citizens and businesses recover from the March flooding.

“I appreciate the quick response to our request for this assistance,” Gov. Blunt said. “Many homes were damaged or destroyed in these devastating floods. Now, Missouri families and Missouri businesses can register for this financial assistance to recover their personal and business losses.”    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today issued two State of Emergency Executive Orders for violent storms and severe weather including high winds, hail, tornadoes, flash flooding, and flooding currently affecting a large portion of the state.

The first executive order activates the State Emergency Operations Center, allowing state agency resources to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency response.

Members of a Coast Guard Disaster Area Response Team rescue victims from their flooded home in Eureka, Mo., March 20, 2008.: (Photo: CC Petty Officer 3rd Class Jaclyn Young)    » read more »

April 1, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today commended the House of Representatives for their work on legislation he called for to protect Missouri families from fraudulent mortgage practices.

“Homeownership is one of the greatest opportunities for personal wealth and savings, but unscrupulous mortgage lenders are turning the dream of homeownership into a nightmare for some Missouri families,” Gov. Blunt said. “I commend the House for taking action to protect Missouri homeowners from deceitful lending practices.”

The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Pearce, creates civil and criminal penalties for mortgage fraud and further enhances consumer knowledge about the mortgage process. The legislation:    » read more »

March 31, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and officials within the Department of Public of Safety warned Missourians today about the potential hazards associated as more flooding is expected today.

“As Missouri families continue dealing with the effects of recent flooding, I encourage them to take extra precautions to keep themselves and their property safe,” Gov. Blunt said.

Flooding on the Missouri River: (file photo)    » read more »

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, MARCH 31, 2008 -- An emergency responder from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources was called to the scene of the intentional dumping of an estimated 500 gallons of ethanol in Howell County north of Willow Springs Saturday.

The department's Environmental Emergency Response section was contacted Saturday afternoon by the Missouri State Highway Patrol concerning the dumping of ethanol into a road ditch on Highway 60 two miles north of Willow Springs just south of the Texas County line. The highway patrol reported that trooper pulled up to the truck as the driver, who was concerned that his truck was overweight, was in the process of pumping the ethanol into the ditch.    » read more »

March 26, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of four soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

They died March 24 in Baghdad, Iraq, from wounds suffered when their vehicle encountered an improvised explosive on March 23.

They were assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

Killed were:

Pvt. George Delgado, 21, of Palmdale, California.

Staff Sgt. Christopher M. Hake, 26, of Enid, Oklahoma.

Pfc. Andrew J. Habsieger, 22, of Festus, Missouri.

Spc. Jose A. Rubio Hernandez, 24, of Mission, Texas.

Source: DoD

March 28, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt today said state emergency responders are monitoring the weather closely as more rain is anticipated in Missouri. Gov. Blunt said state resources are readily available to assist Missouri families in the event that more flooding occurs in the next few days.

“Missouri has already seen the destruction caused by severe flooding, and forecasts show the possibility of significant rainfall in the coming days,” Gov. Blunt said. “We will be monitoring the weather closely and are prepared to assist should further needs arise. Our emergency responders have done a magnificent job in assisting Missourians who were impacted by the flood and they are ready to meet any new challenges that Mother Nature presents them.”    » read more »

March 28, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon today distributed $153,344 in technology grants to 49 organizations throughout Missouri to help them link seniors and low-income residents with free or low-cost prescription drugs. The grants will help organizations obtain the necessary computer software, hardware and training to connect Missourians with almost 200 drug distribution programs offered by pharmaceutical companies.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — Nearly 10 people die each week in Missouri because they don’t have health insurance, says a new report by Families USA, the national organization for health care consumers.

The Families USA report, the first-ever state-specific report of this type, is based on a groundbreaking national study by the Institute of Medicine, which in 2002 forged the direct link between a lack of health coverage and deaths from health-related causes.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- The President today declared a major disaster exists in the State of Missouri and ordered Federal aid to supplement State and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms and flooding beginning on March 17, 2008, and continuing.    » read more »

March 19, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Governor Matt Blunt this morning outlined actions the state has taken to protect Missourians impacted by severe and dangerous flooding.

“Missourians should know that we are doing everything within our power to provide state resources to communities in need,” Gov. Blunt said. “I commend the local emergency managers who are diligently working to combat rising flood waters and to save lives and property.”

Gov. Blunt yesterday activated the State Emergency Operations Center, the State Emergency Management Agency, and the Missouri National Guard and mobilized state agencies to provide resources and assistance. Activities underway include:    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri Governor Matt Blunt signed two State of Emergency Executive Orders for the severe weather and flooding that has struck Missouri.

The executive orders activate the State Emergency Operations Center allowing state agency resources to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency response, and activate the Missouri National Guard to assist with protective action.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says his office is getting consumer complaints about a familiar scam during tax time - con artists claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service, asking for personal information.    » read more »

March 18, 2008 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon was joined by 17 other states and the District of Columbia today in filing a lawsuit against pharmaceutical companies Abbott Laboratories and Fournier. The lawsuit alleges that the companies conspired to violate antitrust laws in delaying the availability of a cheaper, generic version of the cholesterol drug TriCor. TriCor accounted for over one billion dollars in sales for Abbott one year ago.    » read more »