A daily digest of headlines from KCUR.
- Missouri State Of The State Address: More Cuts For Higher Education
- City Manager Recommends Cuts to Fire Department
- Court Strikes Down Redistricting Maps
- EPA Gives KU Hospital Recycling Award
- Arts Advocates Say Proposed Arts Funding Not Enough
Missouri State Of The State Address: More Cuts For Higher Education
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon delivered his State of the State address last night. Much of the speech gave the broad strokes for his budget plan. Nixon’s budget for next year contains more than $500 million in cuts, including $192 million in reductions to Medicaid, a $106 million cut to Higher Education, restructuring $41 million worth of debt and other cuts. Find out more here.
City Manager Recommends Cuts to Fire Department
The proposed budget for Kansas City, Missouri, would again see cuts. This time the fire department and street and park maintenance would bear the brunt. City Manager Troy Schulte is recommending eliminating 105 positions in the fire department, citing a 60 percent drop in calls over the past decade. Read more about the budget in the Kansas City Star.
Court Strikes Down Redistricting Maps
The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down new state Senate districts and ordered a further legal review of new U.S. House districts. The rulings Tuesday add fresh uncertainty for the 2012 election year, just weeks before candidates are to begin filing for office. Read more here.
EPA Gives KU Hospital Recycling Award
Recycling efforts at KU hospital have cut down the amount of waste it sends to local landfills by more than a half million pounds. The two-year decline has caught the attention of the Environmental Protection Agency, which recently awarded the hospital a national achievement award for waste reduction. Find out the details here.
Arts Advocates Say Proposed Arts Funding Not Enough
Kansas Governor Sam Brownbackhas proposed restoring some state funding for the arts. Some arts advocates say that’s a step in the right direction but doesn’t go far enough. The governor’s budget would provide $200,000 for arts and film programs. To get grants, programs would have to show how they’ll increase economic development.