Five of the six states with the lowest unemployment rates in the United States are in the Midwest, have Republican governors and almost no restrictions to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Governors say their decisions not to impose tighter restrictions are paying off with fewer business closings and more hiring reflected in strong jobless numbers. But economists say it's not that simple. While businesses struggling during the pandemic may benefit when governors choose not to require masks or limit indoor gatherings, other factors may play an even bigger role in producing such low unemployment rates. And those same rules…
Author: Cecil Larson
City leaders in Storm Lake, a rural community of 11,000 in northwest Iowa, are asking residents not to wash their cars or water their yards and gardens during the hottest time of the day. The city has also cut back on watering public recreation areas such as ball fields and golf courses. These are extremely unusual steps in a situation that is usually full of water and even prone to flooding. But rain in Iowa, along with the rest of the Midwest Corn Belt states, has been mysteriously absent this spring, plunging the region into drought. “It's something new that…
The St. Louis marks the midpoint of the NHRA Championship countdown, and what happens this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway could very well prove to be decisive in the final outcome of the season. looking back, Steve Torrens, driving his CAPCO Contractors Top Fuel dragster, gave himself a chance to compete in last season's championship chase by winning the St. Louis. The defending event champion enters this year's Midwest Nationals performance sitting No. 2 in the standings, some 63 points behind the incoming points leader Doug Kalitta. Just last weekend in Charlotte Kalitta took the points lead, and he…
Ballet Midwest plans to keep audiences riveted Friday through Sunday with two ballets at the Topeka Performing Arts Center.A story of love, betrayal and redemption, “Giselle” will literally give audiences the willies.The Wilis are a group of female ghosts who haunt the lovers who betrayed them, forcing the men to dance to their deaths. Hence the term “giving someone the willies”.Sydney Frantz and Alexandria Brant, both teachers at the studio, will share the role of Giselle, who tries to save Albrecht, the lover who broke her.Albrecht is played by Drew Huskey, who is also Brad's fiance.Children will take part in…
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But Mr. Trump also won over millions of voters who once flocked to President Obama's promise of hope and change, and who on Tuesday saw in Mr. Trump the best chance to soften the most painful blows of globalization and trade, to fight especially interests, and to be heard and protected. 12% of Mr Trump's supporters approved of Mr Obama, according to exit polls.Mrs. Clinton won by a wider margin than Mr. Obama among affluent whites, particularly those living in the Democratic Party's prosperous coastal strongholds: Washington and Boston, Seattle and New York. In Manhattan, where Mr. Trump lives and…
For many years, cannabis cultivation was an underground process in Missouri, cultivated only by those daring enough to break the law in hopes of producing quality medicine. Today, Missourians can grow medical marijuana, not only in their homes but also for large legal grow operations in huge facilities with thousands of feet of plants. The scale of these jobs compared to a typical home development is drastically different. Cannabis industry grow rooms are high tech and feature large amounts of automation. Not only does one need to know the plant-related biological processes necessary to perform the job, but also the…
For years, Michigan was a national laughing stock as bad news stalked the state like the villain in a bad '80s horror movie. There was the recession of a state of the early years, thanks to the bruised auto industry that nearly collapsed during the ensuing Great Depression, and two partial state government shutdowns. Then came the Republicans pushing Right to Work a decade ago in an attempt to reverse Michigan's economic fortunes (but actually soften wealthy donors), despite strong protests by more than 10,000 union members on the Capitol lawn that made international news. And then there was the…
In the middle of an urban farm, hidden behind houses and tall greenery, sit seven piles of food waste each in different stages of composting.Brooke Salvaggio and Daniel Heryer take a scoop from one of the piles of what they call “black gold” and hold it up to their noses to inhale.”It just smells like very rich soil, and when we put our fields in it becomes very rich soil,” Heryer said. Not all their neighbors agree about the smell. While Salvaggio said compost improves their farm's yields, Urbavoreneighbors complained to officials that it was a nuisance.The city of Kansas…
It is not only the milking systems that have been renewed in recent years. Farmers also use feed pushers, mechanical scrapers and ventilation systems to facilitate daily operations. Feeders serve both cows and farmers, said Marcia Endres, Ph.D., a professor of animal science at the University of Minnesota. “A feed pusher is like a giant Roomba and pushes the feed closer to the cows,” Endres said. “Cows are usually fed once, maybe twice a day, but as they start to eat, their food gets further and further away from them. Feeders help cows access feed and in turn produce more…