Morning headlines: Thursday, September 13, 2012
New report: "vast improvements" at John Cochran VA Medical CenterA new government report says the John Cochran VA Medical Center in St. Louis has made "vast improvements" after an earlier report noted...
View ArticleNew initiative aims to bring greater attention to Mississippi River issues
Mayors from 19 cities and towns are in St. Louis this week to launch a new initiative aimed at bringing greater attention to issues affecting the Mississippi River.A total of 41 mayors, so far, have...
View ArticleLawmakers: Mississippi River Locks 'Desperate' For Repair
Federal lawmakers from several states along the Mississippi River are pressing to modernize the waterway's locks-and-dams system, which they say desperately needs repair.Sens. Dick Durbin and Mark Kirk...
View ArticleNixon: Keep Water On Rivers Flowing, Economy With It
Updated 12:29 p.m.Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon and the barge industry are imploring the federal government to keep water flowing on the Missouri and Mississippi rivers or face potential "economic...
View ArticleArmy Corps Moving Forward With Plans To Reduce Flow On Missouri River
Businesses that work and ship on the Mississippi River are seeking a presidential declaration keep water flowing out of reservoirs on the Missouri River.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closes dams in...
View ArticleWater Fight: Drought, Farming, Fracking And The Midwest's Tense Shipping...
Politicians across the Midwest are continuing to press the President to declare a state of emergency on the Mississippi River to allow barge traffic to keep flowing.Every year roughly $180 billion...
View ArticleUpstream States Lay Claim To Water Bound For Mississippi
Lawmakers in states up upstream on the Missouri River are bracing for a fight if any action is taken to reopen dams on the Missouri River.Northern states say their need for water is just as important...
View ArticleCorps Of Engineers Decides Against Releasing More Water For Mississippi
A top Army Corps of Engineers official says she believes the low Mississippi River will remain open to shipping, partly justifying the agency's decision to not release more water from the Missouri...
View ArticleNational Weather Service Forecast Calling For Ongoing Problems With River
An updated Mississippi River forecast is predicting that low-water levels will likely linger throughout the winter. The forecast exacerbates concerns that shipping may be impacted along a key stretch...
View ArticleCorps Increasing Flow From Ill. Reservoir To Aid Shippers
The Army Corps of Engineers has started releasing more water from Carlyle Lake in Illinois to help keep barges moving along the Mississippi River.Army Corps of Engineers Spokesman Mike Peterson says...
View ArticleIllinois Leaders Meet In Alton To Discuss Mississippi Drought
Illinois politicians and business leaders met in Alton on Monday to discuss ongoing efforts to keep shipping open on the drought-stricken Mississippi River.The meeting coincides with work by the U.S....
View ArticleMore Water For Missouri River - But What About The Mississippi Situation?
Updated 2:10 p.m. with information about excavation and blasting.Updated at 4:45 p.m. to include comments from Jody Farhat of the Corps of Engineers.The amount of water flowing into the lower Missouri...
View ArticleMississippi Levels Drop, Barge Traffic Could Halt Mid-January
Updated 3:13 p.m. Dec. 28The Mississippi River's water level is dropping again and barge industry trade groups warn that river commerce could essentially come to a halt by mid-January.The U.S. Army...
View ArticleDrought Concerns Remain For Barge Industry
The barge industry again raised concerns Wednesday about the impact low water levels on the Mississippi River will have on shipping.According to a new report from American Waterways Operators, low...
View ArticleArmy Corps Tamps Down Barge Worries On Mississippi
Updated at 2:20 pm with comments from Gov. Jay Nixon.Federal officials say they're confident that they'll be able to keep a crucial stretch of the drought-starved Mississippi River open to barge...
View ArticleDurbin, Enyart Say River Will Stay Open For Business
The worst drought in decades has slowly eviscerated the mighty Mississippi River. Monday morning both U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and freshly sworn in U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart (D-Belleville) got a...
View ArticleFlood Warnings Pop Up Along The Mississippi
No major problems are expected but several Mississippi River towns in Missouri are under flood warnings.
View ArticleEnyart, Durbin Push Bills To Aid Shipping Industry
A pair of bills related to transportation on the inland waterways was introduced in the US House and Senate on Thursday.Illinois Congressman Bill Enyart introduced his first piece of legislation since...
View ArticleMayors Rally In DC On Behalf Of Mississippi River
Mayors from more than a dozen cities and towns along the Mississippi River rallied Thursday in the nation’s capital for more federal attention for the waterway.The mayors, members of the Mississippi...
View ArticleVessel Strike Caused Barges To Break Loose, Then Sink Near Cape Girardeau
The U.S. Coast Guard has reported that 13 coal barges became dislodged from their tow vessel near Cape Girardeau on Sunday morning, three of which partially sank into the Mississippi. So, what...
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