MDC encourages public to leave wildlife wild

JEFFERSON CITY — The spring season brings blooms, sunny skies, warmer temperatures and a variety of newborn animals. Young wildlife can pull on our heartstrings as they look to be abandoned, …

Gasconade County R-1 School District students in the special services program and students and staff assisting them parade Friday morning on their home football field to help open the 15th annual Special Olympics track and field meet they were hosting for 17 area school districts.

Special Olympics track and field at Hermann marks 15th year

Hermann High School’s special services program on Friday hosted 17 school districts for their 15th Special Olympics track and field events and young athlete activities at Bearcat Memorial …

Owensville aldermen approve SRO agreement

Mayor Kevin McFadden received authorization from the Owensville Board of Aldermen on Monday to execute an agreement with the Gasconade County R-2 (GCR-2) School District for the Owensville Police …

R-2 teachers, students staff receive awards, recognition

“We are very fortunate as a district,” Superintendent Dr. Jeri Kay Hardy said on April 15 regarding nominations for three of the Gasconade County R-2 School District’s teachers who …

R-2 Special Olympics athletes make their entrance at Hermann

Gasconade County R-2 School District’s special services program had about 35 students participating Friday in the 15th Special Olympics track and field program hosted by the Gasconade County …

Green Living & the Environment

La Niña is coming, raising the chances of a dangerous Atlantic hurricane season – an atmospheric scientist explains this climate phenomenon

One of the big contributors to the record-breaking global temperatures over the past year – El Niño – is nearly gone, and its opposite, La Niña, is on the way. Whether that’s a relief or not depends in part on where you live. …

Why US offshore wind power is struggling – the good, the bad and the opportunity

America’s first large-scale offshore wind farms began sending power to the Northeast in early 2024, but a wave of wind farm project cancellations and rising costs have left many people with doubts about the industry’s future in the U.S. ...

Houston area’s flood problems offer lessons for cities trying to adapt to a changing climate

Scenes from the Houston area looked like the aftermath of a hurricane in early May after a series of powerful storms flooded highways and neighborhoods and sent rivers over their banks north of the city. …

Defend your flock: 4 tips for backyard bird owners

(BPT) - Raising backyard chickens has become increasingly popular, and an estimated 10.6 million U.S. households — from city dwellers to rural residents — own poultry. However, many of …

5 simple ways to save 'green' by going green at home

(BPT) - With rising energy costs and an increasing awareness of homeowners' environmental impact, creating a greener home isn't just a trend — it's a responsible choice for both your wallet and …

Lawn and beyond: The powerful benefits of natural turfgrass

(BPT) - Healthy, natural turfgrass is more than just a pleasing addition to your yard and home’s curb appeal. Natural turfgrass is among the most resilient plant materials and provides many …

Why can’t we throw all our trash into a volcano and burn it up?

It’s true that lava is hot enough to burn up some of our trash. When Kilauea erupted on the Big island of Hawaii in 2018, the lava flows were hotter than 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 Celsius). That’s hotter than the surface of the planet Venus, and hot enough to melt many rocks. …

Transform Your Home and the Planet: Mercury Insurance Offers Eco-Friendly Home Solutions This Earth Month

(BPT) - In these economically and environmentally challenging times, the cost of running a home is rising just as swiftly as interest rates. The costs associated with maintaining our homes are …

4 ways the latest tech can boost your spring home projects

(BPT) - Spring is all about renewal — whether that means cleaning and organizing your house, or making improvements that enhance your home's efficiency and security. Thanks to the latest …

Environment matters

How bird flu virus fragments get into milk sold in stores, and what the spread of H5N1 in cows means for the dairy industry and milk drinkers

The discovery of fragments of avian flu virus in about 20% of milk samples from stores in initial testing across the U.S. suggests that the H5N1 virus may be more widespread in U.S. dairy cattle than previously realized. …

During the 2024 eclipse, biologists like us want to find out how birds will respond to darkness in the middle of the day

The total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, coincides with an exciting time for wild birds. Local birds are singing for mates and fighting for territories as they gear up for their once-a-year chance to breed. …

America’s green manufacturing boom, from EV batteries to solar panel production, isn’t powered by renewable energy − yet

Renewable energy provides about 20% of U.S. electricity. AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez Panasonic’s new US$4 billion battery factory in De Soto, Kansas, is designed to be a model of sustainability …

Who are today’s climate activists? Dispelling 3 big myths for Earth Month

Climate rallies, like this one in New York City in 2022, draw activists of all ages. AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe As Earth Month 2024 gets underway, climate activists around the world are planning …

Female mosquitoes rely on one another to choose the best breeding sites − and with the arrival of spring, they’re already on the hunt

Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, one of the most common species in the U.S., love everything about humans. They love our body heat and odors, which enable them to find us. They love to feed on our blood to make their eggs mature. …

100% Grass-Fed Organic Dairy Benefits Consumers, Environment, Cows and Family Farms

(Family Features) While the difference between dairy alternatives such as oat, almond and other nut milks is easier to decipher, choosing between organic dairy varieties can be more difficult.

When Allergy Season Knows No Season: The Climate Change Connection

(BPT) - By Jad Daley, President and CEO of American ForestsClimate change is reshaping our world in unexpected ways, including the worsening of seasonal allergies. This was confirmed by a 2019 study …

Lifestyle features

Practical Presents: Father's Day gift ideas for hard-to-buy-for dads

(Family Features) Shopping for your dad on Father's Day each year can be a challenge. However, focusing on the things he enjoys such as music, exercising or hobbies like woodworking or metalworking can send you down the right path.

Governments are scrambling to control AI

Artificial intelligence has lawmakers concerned. Verbit analyzed news and government reports to see what laws are being passed to regulate AI.

Why Indianapolis 500 winners drink milk and the history of other race-day traditions

The Indianapolis 500 is known for its quirky traditions. Stacker compiled five of them, sourcing from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and various outlets.

In the interest of profits, female student-athletes get left behind more than 50 years after Title IX

Using data from the Department of Education, Bold.org investigated ongoing disparities in treatment for collegiate female sports more than 50 years after Title IX.

Schools were just supposed to block porn. Instead they sabotaged homework and censored suicide prevention sites

The Markup reports on how students are speaking out against internet censorship in their schools.