http://www.joplinglobe.com en-us Copyright CNHI All Rights Reserved. 5 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_310164849.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_310164849.html A California, Mo., conservation official has been picked to lead the Missouri Conservation Department.The Conservation Commission announced Friday that Bob Ziehmer will take over the state agency on Jan. 15. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234949.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234949.html WILDWOOD, Mo. — In the 1970s, Russell Bliss used his own land in west St. Louis County as a dumping ground for dioxin and other pollutants. Now, three decades later, there is concern that despite millions of dollars spent on cleanup, the pollutants are resurfacing. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:48:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234857.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234857.html TOPEKA, Kan. — A group of economists and policy-makers slashed Kansas tax collection estimates Thursday by $235 million, reflecting signs of continued weakness in the state economy. The new forecast for the remainder of the state’s 2010 fiscal year through next June 30 means Kansas government will have 4.2 percent fewer tax dollars to finance services, including public education, than previously estimated in April. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:47:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234759.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_309234759.html OKLAHOMA CITY — A legislative task force recommended Thursday that Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation agency be privatized, but it was divided on how to achieve that. Following months of study, the Task Force on the Privatization of CompSource Oklahoma drafted a list of recommendations for the future of the agency that include mutualizing it, meaning it would be owned by its policyholders, or selling it outright. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:40:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308234038.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308234038.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Officials examining how Missouri handles drunken driving cases agreed Wednesday that record keeping must improve to ensure drunken drivers get the right punishment and are less likely to repeat. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:39:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308233957.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308233957.html TRIBUNE, Kan. — Surveying undulating grasslands that disappear into the western Kansas horizon, retired farmer Joe Govert pointed out parcel after parcel no longer enrolled in a federal program that pays property owners not to farm environmentally sensitive land. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:38:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308233911.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308233911.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Hundreds of seniors waved empty paper plates Wednesday to protest cutbacks in nutrition programs for the elderly that could eliminate thousands of meals for some of Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:06:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000628.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000628.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — State public defenders who contend that excessive caseloads compromise their ability to represent their clients urged the Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday to allow them to reject requests to represent some defendants. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:05:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000539.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000539.html TOPEKA, Kan. — With hundreds of new jobs at stake, Kansas officials are keeping an eye on the competition for an Air Force contract to build a new refueling plane. Chicago-based Boeing Co., which has a plant in Wichita, is competing with Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman Corp. and Airbus parent European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. for the $35 billion contract to build new air refuelers and replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of 179 tankers. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:04:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000430.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_308000430.html OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite plunging state revenues, the Oklahoma State Regents on Tuesday asked the state Legislature for a $27.5 million increase over last year’s budget and another $35.8 million to make up for this year’s budget cuts. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:08:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_307010822.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_307010822.html eliminated ID cards that tracked how much money people were betting. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:57:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_307005746.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_307005746.html OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Transportation Commission on Monday approved grading for the most expensive road project in state history — replacing a dilapidated section of Interstate 40 through downtown Oklahoma City. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:28:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_306102423.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_306102423.html Jennifer Cunningham takes her joy from family, her passion from horses and her strength from her faith.But she takes her creed from a favorite children’s film. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:36:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_302003705.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_302003705.html JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday cut an additional $204 million from Missouri’s budget and eliminated nearly 700 jobs in attempt to offset a continued decline in state tax revenues. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:36:00 +0000 http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_302003627.html http://www.joplinglobe.com/statenews/local_story_302003627.html TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas’ governor said Wednesday that he’s prepared to make additional spending cuts this year to keep the state’s budget balanced, and key legislators predicted he’ll be forced to further trim aid to public schools.