Bass Pro Shops is looking foward to a big Christmas despite the current economic climate.

Having added more than 1,500 jobs at its 52 retail operations nationwide, Bass Pro feels it is making an investment into the tradition of Christmas for families. Founder Johhny Morris said,
“Christmas is a magical time of year for all of us. We want to invite our customers to bring the…[more]

Proposition C, on Missouri ballots Tuesday, will give voters an opportunity to decide whether certain electric utilities in the state will be mandated to produce a portion of their power from renewable energy sources.

Specifically, a “yes” vote on the measure will amend current Missouri law to require investor owned electric utilities to either generate or purchase a percentage of electricity from renewables like solar, wind, biomass, ethanol…[more]

Responding to recent debate reports, Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers provided more information regarding the agency’s hiring of outside attorneys and the tension between the Attorney General’s Office and the department.

“I want to make you aware of how this relationship developed and explain some background on key issues, including the Boonville Bridge, the Taum Sauk reservoir breach and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations,” Childers said…[more]

Think of Tim Smith as Wikipedia for conservation. Whether you are buffaloed by beavers, baffled by bureaucracy or just need to vent, he is your man.

Smith, a 22-year employee of the Missouri Department of Conservation, assumed duties as the agency’s ombudsman Oct. 16. He replaced Ken Drenon, who held the job from its inception in 1998 until his retirement Oct. 15.[more]

Students at Frederick Douglass High School in Columbia are learning about the Missouri River and its history through a series of field trips and activities developed by their teachers in collaboration with researchers from the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources.

Funded by a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the Corps of Discovery project enhances classroom learning through field trips, service-learning projects and interactions…[more]

An economic impact analysis conducted by IFM Sports and funded by the state shows that Tour of Missouri spectators spent around $30 million during the race.

The study also pointed out that over half of that amount was spent by non-residents of the state, and about a third was spent by Missouri residents who did not live close to the race route. Further, the report indicated that 66,000…[more]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has selected ASW Associates, Inc., of Lincoln, Neb., to remove and dispose of lead-contaminated residential soil in Madison County, Mo. The company has extensive experience working on lead sites in Region 7, most recently on the Omaha Lead Site, the country’s largest residential lead site.

This fixed-rate contract was competed as a small business set-aside and consists of a base year and two…[more]

(NewsUSA) - When Rose Blondin, 19, chose her vacation destination last year, she opted for hiking boots and T-shirts rather than bikinis and shades. Blondin, a sophomore at Boston’s Emmanuel College, decided to spend her time working on a trail project with American Hiking Society (AHS) in the Smokey Mountains.

“I learned so much about the environment when I went on hikes with the park ranger,” said Blondin.…[more]

Therapists and counselors have used equine-assisted therapy to help people with learning, physical and behavioral problems. Now it’s being used to help cancer survivors cope with the challenges and fears they face after treatment.

“It’s thought that horses can reflect the emotions of the patient,” said Marci Jennings, University of Missouri Extension equine instructor. “If a person is stressed, the horse can read and reflect that emotion back.…[more]

Final figures for the Amtrak fiscal year show more people are opting for Amtrak trains twice daily between Kansas City and St. Louis, with ridership rising by more than 30 percent to total 151,690 for the 12 months ending Sept. 30.

Amtrak operates Trains 311, 313, 314 and 316 under a contract with the Missouri Department of Transportation and with the support of the Missouri Rail Passenger Advisory…[more]