Tornado Updates

Gov. Jay Nixon Tours Tornado Damage in Hazelwood

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon toured the damage done by a tornado that ripped through Hazelwood Wednesday night.

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon toured a stretch of neighborhood along Lynn Haven Lane—the area most affected by a tornado that swept through Hazelwood—on Thursday afternoon and said the state stands ready to help local first-responders repair and, eventually, rebuild the city.  "Homes were destroyed and lives were changed forever," Nixon said after seeing the damage first-hand. "The community is united and the law enforcement is doing a great job and we are going to get this neighborhood—and all these neighborhoods—back to normal," he said. Nixon said residents should expect an added police presence in the coming days and weeks in order to ensure those displaced by the tornado—and their belongings—remain safe. Nixon, who estimated that more than …

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Gov. Nixon Signs Bills to Protect Foster Children

The governor signed a bill to extend and expand a program allowing tax credits for residential youth treatment agencies, along with adding benefits for foster parents.

Gov. Jay Nixon on Wednesday signed into law three measures to help foster children and their parents and to support youth resident care providers. Here are the bills that were signed into law:   "That tax credit program was set to expire this year, and this bill extends the credit another three years," Nixon said. "There are foster parents who have special needs children and who are licensed to care for their children, and it's literally a full time job," Nixon said. "We want them to be able to purchase the same health coverage as our state employees have." "A lot of times, these kids move and change school districts and what counted for graduation credit in one school may not in another, and that sets the kids back," Nixon said. The bills…

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Gov. Nixon Appoints Hazelwood Woman to State Board

Hazelwood resident Kelly Floyd will serve on the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board.

Not everyone can say a state governor appointed them to a board or commission, but Hazelwood resident Kelly Floyd surely can. Gov. Jay Nixon announced appointments to eight boards and commissions last week. Floyd was appointed to the Missouri State Foster Care and Adoption Board. Also appointed to the board are: Dean Aye, Beverly Dawn Caruso, Suzette Forbis, Melinda Nicholson, Eric Pilson, Janet E. Richardson, and Derek E. Williams. The board is establishes procedures to review Children’s Division policies. It also provide written opinions and recommendations to change the division; provides draft policy suggestions for improvements in foster care or adoption practices; and provides content for in-service training the Children’s Division …

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From the Senator's Desk

2012 Legislative Session Wrap Up

Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal's column.

Sometimes a legislative session is noteworthy because of bills that were sent to the governor that improve the lives of Missouri citizens or make our state a better place to live and work. Sometimes a legislative session is noteworthy because of what did NOT pass, and I think the 2012 session falls into the latter category.  When the session got underway in January, we were told making Missouri a “right-to-work” state and eliminating the prevailing wage laws were key to creating jobs and improving the state’s economy. The truth is that both proposals would result in lower wages for Missouri workers, which would do nothing to boost the state economy since workers would have less to spend and the state would collect less tax revenue. …

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Hazelwood Election 2012

Gov. Nixon Endorses Clay in 1st District Race

Endorsements are piling up for both candidates for the district, which includes the City of Hazelwood.

Rep. William Lacy Clay scored a major endorsement Tuesday. The head of Missouri's Democratic Party said he's rooting for Clay. That's right, Gov. Jay Nixon issued a press release in support of Clay, who faces a primary fight from fellow incumbent Democrat Rep. Russ Carnahan. "For over 25 years, Lacy Clay has been a powerful voice for working families and a tireless advocate for the people of St. Louis," Nixon said. "He’s the right man to continue serving the people of the First Congressional District, and I fully support his re-election." St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley backed Clay almost immediately after Carnahan got into the 1st District contest. He also received the support of the local AFL-…

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Social Media Suit: Teachers Awarded Injunction to Halt Facebook Law, Gov Asking For Repeal

The Missouri State Teachers Association was awarded an injunction to stop a new Missouri social networking law from taking effect Sunday. Meanwhile, Gov. Nixon is asking for repeals to the current law.

The Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) just learned it was awarded an injunction to stop a new Missouri social networking law from taking effect Sunday. "We just found out about two minutes ago. We're wrapping our heads around it, but this is a good resolution at this point," Todd Fuller, MSTA director of communications told Town and Country-Manchester Patch. Patch previously reported that the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) is suing the state over a new Missouri social network law that prevents students and teachers from having conversations that cannot be accessed by school administrators and parents. This also means they cannot be friends on Facebook. (Read Previous Story: Parkway Teacher Says New Facebook Law Goes …

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Five Things: Resources for Hazelwood's "Snowpocalypse 2011"

Here are numbers and resources in case Hazelwood faces a snow and ice emergency.

With snow and ice advancing on Metro St. Louis, the City of Hazelwood could find itself in the thick of it all. The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Hazelwood, with an expected total accumulation of snow and ice between seven and 10 inches. Monday afternoon Gov. Jay Nixon called out 600 National Guard Troops in advance of the winter storm, which he said, "is predicted to cause treacherous road conditions and possibly widespread power outages.”  Here is a list of important contacts and places you can turn to in case of emergency: Should your power go out here are some area hotels that, as of publish time have available rooms. These organizations are working with government and community agencies to provide …

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Hazelwood, St. Louis County Plan for Winter Storm

Officials prepare the city as another winter storm grips the area, which some say may be as bad or worse than the '06 ice storm.

With Governor Jay Nixon declaring Missouri in a state of emergency and calling in the Missouri National Guard, more than 200 in the St. Louis area alone, and the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, Hazelwood residents should prepare for the worst from Mother Nature in the upcoming days. “Whatever you get, it’s going to be in a large amount,” said Jim Kramper of the National Weather Service. “We’re fairly confident this is a big storm.” Declaring a state of emergency allows state agencies to assist local jurisdictions with their emergency preparation and response to this winter storm, which is anticipated to bring a half-inch to an inch of freezing rain and ice, topped by about a foot of snow. As this perfect winter storm bears down …

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Government steps in to help MO nursing shortage

$3 million earmarked to help educate new nurses.

Nearly everyone can remember a nurse who helped them feel better at some time in their lives. Maybe it was the school nurse who gave you a lozenge when you had a sore throat, a caring nurse from your doctor's office or one who took care of you when you spent time in a hospital. Nurses are patient advocates, often the first to detect an emergency or health condition that needs a doctor's attention. Nurses are a major and essential part of our health care system, and yet there is a significant shortage of nurses in our country. In February '04, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the nursing field topped the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth between '02 and '12. In '09, there were 100,000 unfilled …

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