A major water resources bill approved Wednesday by the U.S. Senate calls for more public-private partnerships in river and harbor infrastructure, speeding up environmental reviews and studying ways to maintain Mississippi River navigation during severe droughts and floods.
A bevy of river-town mayors, a clutch of lawmakers, and representatives of groups ranging from environmentalists to the barge industry gathered at a Capitol Hill briefing Thursday to outline an ambitious plan for the Mississippi River basin.
As Congress moves forward on legislation that aims to spur more development of the nation’s water resources, mayors -- including St. Louis Mayor Slay -- are urging Congress to make sure the Mississippi River region gets its share. Senators from Missouri and Illinois are pursuing different initiatives.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt placed a temporary “hold” Monday on the nomination of the top Environmental Protection Agency official until there is progress on an impact statement for a controversial levee proposal in Missouri’s Bootheel. Environmental groups cried foul.
With federal funds shrinking but river commerce rising, Illinois lawmakers want to jump-start major infrastructure projects – such as rebuilding key locks and dams on the Mississippi River – by allowing public-private partnerships. Another bill would give the Army Corps more leeway to maintain navigation during droughts, floods.
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart told reporters that “steady progress” is underway to make the Mississippi River navigable, adding there are “no threats to close down commerce” on the waterway. Low levels on the river have raised concerns for months that barge traffic will be hindered.
As water is diverted for the "fracking" process in North Dakota, the industry wants to use more water from the upper Missouri River's biggest reservoir. Environmentalist criticize that consumption and question whether it could impact navigation.
The Army Corps of Engineers now says expedited dredging, blasting and other steps – combined with more favorable rain forecasts – are now likely to guarantee a deep enough channel to sustain barge traffic on the middle Mississippi River (from St. Louis to Cairo, Ill.).
After last week’s costly backup in river barge traffic above St. Louis caused by emergency repairs at the Chain of Rocks lock, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers is pushing to modernize the aging system of locks and dams on the upper Mississippi River.
The Interior Department's designation of the 121-mile Mississippi River water trail from Saverton to St. Louis as part of a national water trail network makes the trail for kayakers and canoeists eligible for National Park Service help.
national water trails · Fracking · Mississippi River flood control
Dick Durbin · Claire McCaskill · Roy Blunt · Mark Kirk · Roy Blunt · Ken Salazar · Caroline Pufalt · William Enyart · Bill Enyart · Francis Slay
Missouri River · Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway · St. John's bayou · Grafton
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Meeting in St. Louis next week, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious will have its first opportunity as an assembled group to consider what to do after the Vatican issued a mandate for change this spring. It calls on the conference to reorganize and more strictly observe church teachings.
When a family of four goes to the St. Louis Zoo, they can be forgiven for not knowing it will cost them $60, $72 if they park. If they can't pay, the alternative is to tell the kids they can't do what kids do at the zoo.
Missouri House Speaker Steve Tilley gave reporters less than a half-hour’s notice today when he announced that conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh’s sculptured bust will be formally installed in the Capitol at 1 p.m.
The world seems eager to learn more about Pope Francis, so learning that he admires St. Philippine Duchesne and her spiritual daughters — Argentinean nuns who have been under Francis' spiritual direction as they live among the poor — adds to understanding.
The celebration in Sikeston will reunite residents of the community which was destroyed in May 2011 when the Army Corps of Engineers opened the Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway to alleviate flooding on the Mississippi. Residents are still hoping for a FEMA buyout so they can relocate their village.
The Newman Money Museum at Washington University has a quirky pseudo-robot Ben Franklin in the basement that is essentially a TV screen projected into a plastic shell head.
The Beacon's Mary Delach Leonard and Rob Koenig extensively covered flooding in 2011 in Missouri. Now this coverage is compiled in an iBook. Read the stories.
"Lost Egypt," at the St. Louis Science Center, combines real images shot in Egypt with art and artifacts as well as interactive and family-friendly features and explanations of the science used to uncover the ancient world. The exhibit will run through Sept. 2.
Opera is for snobs. Country music is for rednecks. Everybody loves Chuck Berry now that he's been around for a few decades, but what about Nelly? Why can't we simply respond to what's before us without dragging preconceptions and prejudices into play?
Organizers aren't trying to replace the rib fest, but music lovers will be able to find tangy sustenance as they listen to such greats as Mavis Staples (pictured), Big George Brock, Trombone Shorty, Kim Massie and Marquise Knox take the stage.
Donna Korando is the Beacon's arts and features editor. You can contact her at dkorando@stlbeacon.org.
Developers on the south side come in all shapes and sizes, with ambitions that vary from single buildings to entire city blocks. In the first of a two-part story, Jason Deem talks about building community.
Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.
Twenty winners will split a million dollars and a wide array of professional services after this year's Arch Grants competition. Victors will also see one-on-one business mentoring in their prize package. The diverse group includes everything from biotech concerns to fashion enterprises.
Innovation and entrepreneurial activity are on the rise in St. Louis, especially in bioscience, technology and alternative energy. The Beacon's InnovationSTL section focuses on the people who are part of this wave, what they're doing and how this is shaping our future. To many St. Louisans, this wave is not yet visible. InnovationSTL aims to change that. We welcome you to share your knowledge, learn more about this vibrant trend and discuss its impact.
The Academy of Science-St. Louis hosts tours of EarthDance, an organic farm, and the Monsanto Agronomics and Breeding Facility May 21-22. The workshop is meant to prompt discussion and answer questions about these two competing philosophies of food production.
Speaking to reporters at Monsanto, Howard Buffett warned that future generations would foot the bill for irresponsible soil use. He urged leaders to address thorny issues such as malnutrition and environmental destruction.
Vernon Bowman's challenge to Monsanto Co.'s patent on its Roundup Ready soybean seeds was billed as a David vs. Goliath contest. Goliath won and won big. The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that an Indiana soybean farmer had violated Monsanto's patent on its genetically engineered soybean seeds.
Sally Altman is the Beacon's Health and Science editor. You can contact her at saltman@stlbeacon.org.
Opera is for snobs. Country music is for rednecks. Everybody loves Chuck Berry now that he's been around for a few decades, but what about Nelly? Why can't we simply respond to what's before us without dragging preconceptions and prejudices into play?
You have to know your audience: McDonald's regulars don't need free-range chicken or a certain breed of beef; a second-chance high school needs personally motivated students as opposed to people ordered to attend and low-income Democrats by and large don't want a cigarette tax.
Last week, Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura sacrificed his crown as the King of America. He faced an individual decision to play against the best in the nation or the best on the planet. Find out what happened at that world-level tournament.
Donna Korando is the Beacon's Voices editor. You can contact her and submit opinion pieces for possible publication at dkorando@stlbeacon.org.