Capital Hands-on with Body Walk

Body Walk, a hands on learning experience for Missouri students grades K-4 was displayed in the Capital Rotunda on Tuesday.

A program of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Body Walk is a traveling educational program for Missouri school children and operates solely from funds donated to the Council.

From its inception in 1995 through Dec. 1, 2004, Body Walk had been experienced by: 377,763 Missouri students grades K to 4; 47,503 teachers, parents, and volunteers supporting the event; and 1,466 Missouri schools.

Arkansas and Kansas have replicated Body Walk in their states. Body Walk was recently featured at a health conference in Chicago.

Homeland security undergoing review

Gov. Blunt is directing state agencies and department heads to submit a report by March 31 identifying areas such funds have been spent or where they are needed.

Blunt cited a U.S. congressional report specifically identifying Missouri’s purchase of 13,000 chemical and biological warfare suits as a wasteful use of Homeland Security funds.

At issue is Missouri’s use of only $20 million of a $125 million federal homeland security grants in 2003 and 2004.

“It is disturbing to know that funds our first responders and law enforcement agencies need for training, equipment and anti-terrorism planning efforts have not been spent for the last two years,” Blunt said.

Young Missourians may get insurance

Senate Bill 203, sponsored by Sen. Pat Doughtery (D-St. Louis) was presented Wednesday morning to a Senate committee.

This bill would include Missourians ages 18 to 25 in the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan for the purpose of covering medical expenses.

Any insurance agent or broker licensed to sell accident and health insurance in Missouri would be authorized to sell coverage under the plan to young adults.

Senators Dougherty, Graham, Coleman, Wilson, Green, Days, Bray and Callahan introduced this legislation.

SBC to pay state, honor No Call List

Southwestern Bell Telephone, the largest certified local exchange carrier in Missouri, became the fourth major telephone corporation to agree to not call the 1.7 million homes on the state No Call list.

Attorney General Jay Nixon alleged the telephone company violated the federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act by making repeat telemarketing calls to consumers who had specifically asked the company to not call again.

SBC admitted in the court-approved assurance of voluntary compliance that it had violated the law at least 100 times in making telemarketing calls.

Under the agreement, SBC will obtain a copy of the Missouri No Call list as it becomes updated four times a year, and must refrain from calling those on the list. SBC also will pay the state of Missouri $150,000 as part of the resolution of the lawsuit.

Missouri residents not yet on the no Call list can register to have their numbers included. Consumers may register by going online or calling toll free 1-866-662-2551.