Report: 10 states face looming budget disasters

Nov 12, 2009, 6:09 AM

JUDY LIN Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP)--In Arizona, the budget has grown so gloomy that lawmakers are considering mortgaging Capitol buildings. In Michigan, state officials dealing with the nation's highest unemployment rate are slashing spending on schools and health care.

Video store manager operates at 'fast forward'

Nov 18, 2009, 12:23 PM

Story by KISHA HENRY, Photos by CHRIS EVERSOLE

Matt Hohensee, a new manager at Family Video in Warrensburg, is originally from Wisconsin but took the job here after realizing he didn't want to sit behind a desk for the rest of his life.

WARRENSBURG, Mo.--Since the end of June, Family Video has been under new management here, and the crew at the 218 E. Culton St. store thinks Matt Hohensee, 25, has been just the person for the job.

St. Joseph aims to lure shoppers with $10K prize

Nov 19, 2009, 6:20 AM

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP)--With many shoppers planning to scale back this holiday season, businesses in St. Joseph are giving people a reason to spend their dollars locally--a chance to win $10,000.

Centerview farm produces beef, milk, eggs the old-fashioned way

Nov 18, 2009, 3:10 PM

Story by TERRAH BAKER, Photos by ANGELAROSE GIGLIO


CENTERVIEW, Mo.--“Look how beautiful it is out there. See how the reds come out in those ones when the sun hits them. Just beautiful! It’s getting more and more beautiful every minute.”

Art Ozias of Breezy Hill Farms was right. The scene was beautiful. From his kitchen window that spanned the length of the wall, you could see the pasture, which covers Ozias’ land, and the cows, about 20 visible, grazing in the pasture, hides reflecting their red and gray colors, while the shades from hovering clouds moved swiftly across the land.

Warrensburg remains at the cutting edge, thanks to Ray and Pat Cook

Nov 18, 2009, 2:07 PM

Story by TERRAH BAKER, Photos by MELISSA ROSCHER


WARRENSBURG, Mo.--An age of technology and innovation has caused many businesses once thought an integral part of society to fade away into the not-so-distant memory of older generations.

Small firms scrapping, scaling back health plans

Nov 18, 2009, 9:00 AM

By DAVID A. LIEB

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Faced with high health insurance costs, a North Carolina brokerage passed the buck on to its employees, a Texas public relations firm switched from group insurance to stipends, and a Missouri travel agency let its workers walk away instead paying for insurance.

Job prospects drawing students to ag schools

Nov 17, 2009, 9:04 AM

By DAVID MERCER

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) -- Tristesse Jones will probably never drive a tractor or guide a combine through rows of soybeans at harvest time.

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