Show-Me State Times

O’Loughlin Family Champions Center Earns LEED Certification

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 22, 2024

The O’Loughlin Family Champions Center at Saint Louis University has achieved LEED Silver Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), making it a recognized green building. According to Dustin Montgomery, Assistant Director of Construction Services, "It’s important we design/construct with sustainability in mind." He emphasized the significance of LEED within higher education for keeping students healthy and educating them on the importance of Environmental Stewardship.The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program, established by the...

Chad Higgins Named Chief Engagement Officer and Vice Chancellor for Extension and Engagement

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 22, 2024

University of Missouri President Mun Choi has announced the appointment of Chad Higgins as the new chief engagement officer for the UM System and vice chancellor for extension and engagement for MU, effective March 1, 2024. Higgins, who has been serving in an interim capacity since January 2023, was praised by UM Board of Curators Chair Robin Wenneker, stating, "Over the course of our national search, it became clear Chad was the right person for the role."Higgins, who previously served as associate vice chancellor, has a wealth of experience in academia and program...

SLU Provides KTVI-TV, Area Organizations With Local Weather Data for Detailed Forecasts

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 22, 2024

Saint Louis University (SLU) has been playing a crucial role in providing local weather data to various organizations for more detailed forecasts. Bob Pasken, Ph.D., associate professor of meteorology at SLU, emphasized the importance of having accurate and local weather information, stating, “I want information that's local to the Saint Louis metro area. To get this, we have weather stations that we’ve built in areas across the state, where thunderstorms may happen, where heavy rain and high winds may happen. And then we collect that data, input it into SLU’s weather...

St. Louis County Man Sentenced for Trying to Bribe Postal Workers

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 22, 2024

A man from St. Louis County has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for attempting to bribe postal workers in exchange for keys to mail collection boxes. Dwaundre K. Valley, 21, of Bridgeton, pleaded guilty to bribery of a public official after offering postal carriers money for access to the boxes.Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Clow highlighted the seriousness of Valley's actions, stating that they undermine the public's sense of security and confidence in the postal service. Clow pointed out that such crimes contribute to the rise in mail theft, which is often used...

Carjacker of Pizza Delivery Driver in St. Louis Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 22, 2024

U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Thursday sentenced a man who carjacked a pizza delivery driver and crashed the stolen vehicle after a police chase to 11 years in prison.According to reports, on July 29, 2022, Jacoby Watts and others carjacked a Domino's Pizza delivery driver in St. Louis, Missouri. A juvenile pointed a gun at the delivery driver and Watts drove the carjacked 2019 Dodge Charger away. Police later tracked the vehicle to East St. Louis. Watts fled, leading police on a chase that ended back in St. Louis when Watts crashed into other vehicles, injuring...

VA provides 2,238 home loans in Missouri totaling $626.8 million in Q4 2023

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

The U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs (VA) issued 2,238 home loans totaling $626.8 million in Missouri during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year 2023, according to the Veterans' Affairs Home Loans Index.

### Siemens Healthineers Interns Enhancing Health Care in Mid-Missouri

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

Several University of Missouri students had the opportunity to intern with Siemens Healthineers last year, working on solutions to current health care challenges as part of a Value Partnership. Whitney Stuckenschneider, director of operations for Siemens Healthineers, highlighted the interns' involvement in various aspects of the medical technology industry, stating, "Interns worked with industry professionals to plan and coordinate governance meetings and learn business tactics and practical skills, such as the process of manufacturing medical equipment and servicing...

Missouri Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Recording Child Sexual Abuse

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

U.S. District Judge Matthew T. Schelp sentenced Matthew A. Prewett, 43, of Kennett, in Dunklin County, to 20 years in prison for his heinous crimes. Prewett engaged in sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl and recorded his actions on video, as well as recorded other children in the shower, ranging from ages 12 to 17.The investigation into Prewett began after the victim's mother discovered sexually suggestive text messages from him on her daughter's phone. Prewett pleaded guilty in November to a felony charge of sexual exploitation of a minor.Assistant U.S. Attorney...

UM System Provides Free Emergency Training

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

The University of Missouri System Office of Emergency Management is offering free emergency training sessions at MU for students, faculty, staff, and the public. One of the programs being offered is the "You Are the Help Until Help Arrives" course, also known as "Until Help Arrives." According to the University of Missouri System Office of Emergency Management, the program aims to educate attendees about five simple steps that can be taken immediately following an emergency to provide first-aid care and help save someone's life until first responders arrive. This two-hour...

Missouri Man Admits Selling Fentanyl to Drug Overdose Victim

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

A man from Jackson, Missouri, Dylan C. McMikle, 22, has pleaded guilty to selling fentanyl to a 25-year-old Sikeston man who later died of a drug overdose. According to McMikle's plea agreement, the victim snorted several lines of powdered fentanyl provided by McMikle and purchased an additional capsule containing fentanyl before his death on the evening of Dec. 16, 2022.Following the victim's tragic passing, investigators discovered incriminating messages between the victim and McMikle regarding fentanyl. A search of McMikle's home yielded a small baggie of fentanyl...

Missouri Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison After Fleeing to Asia During Child Pornography Investigation

By Show-Me State Times | Feb 21, 2024

A Missouri man, Dominic J. Pavia, 42, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by U.S. District Judge John A. Ross after fleeing to Asia during a child pornography investigation. Pavia pleaded guilty to one count of possession of child pornography in November. He admitted that an investigation in December 2010 by the Saint Louis County Police Department's Special Investigations Unit uncovered child sexual abuse material on a computer he was using.According to court documents, Pavia, a law school student at the time, was arrested during a court-approved search on April...