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Kansas City News Today Kansas City Front Page is a weekly news publication, with daily updates, spotlighting attractions, events, business and hospitality in Kansas City. |
KANSAS CITY NEWS TODAY - Monday, January 14, 2008
KANSAS CITY, (SLFP.com), January 14, 2008 - The vision for Ford's truck team was clear: Redesign America's favorite truck inside and out to give customers unrivaled capability, unprecedented choice and a host of smart, game-changing features. The result is the new 2009 Ford F-150, the new benchmark in the full-size pickup segment from the industry's truck leader -- which has built more than 33 million F-Series pickups since 1948. In a statement during the unveiling at the Detroit International Auto Show, Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas, said "The Ford F-150 is an American icon. Ford is the truck leader, and F-150 customers expect and demand the best truck on the market. The Ford truck team adopted a holistic, 360-degree approach to revamping the new 2009 F-150 -- from its segment-first features to the tough new exterior highlighted by a dramatic three-bar grille and more spacious, flexible and refined interior, to the unparalleled choice of cab styles and trim levels -- including a new Platinum series that redefines truck luxury. The improvements are just as dramatic beneath the sheet metal. A new high-strength, lighter-weight chassis is the backbone that allows this tough truck to deliver more horsepower, better fuel economy and safety, and additional towing and payload capacity. "Our team not only met those expectations, they exceeded them with the new 2009 F-150," Fields added. "With Ford's product-led transformation in full swing, the new F-150 could not have come at a better time -- for Ford and for our customers." In all, more than 1,000 Ford engineers, designers, researchers and others worked together to develop the new 2009 F-150. The team drew inspiration by listening to Ford's large customer base. "Before we started working on the new truck, we continued the conversation with people who use these trucks every day for work and play," said Matt O'Leary, chief engineer of the 2009 F-150. "We went to their ranches, their job sites and their homes, making sure we crafted features that would improve their ownership experiences and, really, their lives." The results will be clear to customers when the new 2009 F-150 rolls off assembly lines at Ford's Dearborn (Mich.) Truck Plant and Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. -- and as the new F-150 goes on sale in dealer showrooms this fall. Budget Leaders Announce State Revenue Estimates KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 14, 2008 - Gov. Matt Blunt, Sen. Gary Nodler and Rep. Allen Icet have reached an agreement on the amount of revenue the state is estimated to collect to support its Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 budget. The agreed estimate will be used to define the state's spending priorities for the coming year. "Our success in turning a $1.1 billion deficit my administration inherited into three surpluses in a row without raising taxes is getting results," Gov. Blunt said. "Missourians can be proud that their elected leaders have worked to craft a budget they can afford by reducing spending while also increasing funding for education, supporting health care for low income Missourians, cutting taxes for Missouri families." "As someone who spent his first and second years in the General Assembly experiencing back-to-back revenue deficits from the previous administration it is encouraging and refreshing to have consistent and sound revenue growth," said Senate Appropriations Chair Gary Nodler. "We understand that this money comes from the taxpayers. Missouri's economy is strong because of the changes we have made and we have a responsibility to be wise stewards of the taxpayer's money," said House Budget Chair Allen Icet. Gov. Blunt, Senate Appropriations Chair Gary Nodler and House Budget Chair Allen Icet agreed that the state's general revenue fund should take in more than $7.956 billion, a net growth of 3.1 percent for FY 2008, which ends June 30, 2008 and $8.229 billion for FY 2009, which begins July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2009, an increase of 3.4 percent. The estimates announced and agreed on by the executive and legislative branches allow the governor and legislative leaders to focus on setting budget priorities. The estimates show the continued unity that began three years ago among Gov. Blunt and legislative leaders to create a responsible budget that reflects Missourians' priorities. The estimates are supported by job growth in the tens of thousands since January 2005, increases in personal income over the past year and continued increases in wages and salaries.The figures reflect that economic growth has exceeded expectations over the last two fiscal years and account for legislative changes including tax cuts and job-creating incentives, current and anticipated economic conditions, as well as the redirection of general revenue collections to the Missouri Department of Transportation as a result of the voter approved Constitutional Amendment 3 in 2004. In addition the estimates account for ongoing national and international economic indicators. Missouri is again on track to set export records, supported by the global trade situation.However, risks include a further slowdown in housing and vehicle manufacturing, and slower consumer spending as a result of higher energy prices and tighter credit conditions. Gov. Blunt will announce his budget and legislative priorities in his annual State of the State address scheduled for Tuesday, January 15, at 7 p.m. The House and Senate Budget Committees will consider the governor's recommendations and approve related budget bills in the coming months. Additional $6.8 Million Proposed for Missouri Arts Council KANSAS CITY, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 14, 2008 - Gov. Blunt is recommending an additional $6.8 million increase for the Arts Council, which would nearly double the state's current funding level for the arts. If approved, the governor will have increased funding for the arts every year he has served as governor. Additionally, Gov. Blunt will recommend a $4.5 million increase for the other Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers tax cultural partners, including the Humanities Council, Public Broadcasting, Historic Preservation, and State Library Networking. "The arts play a significant and vital role in education, economic development, and the community," Gov. Blunt said. "Art enriches the lives of all Missourians, and I am recommending a nearly $7 million funding increase for the Missouri Arts Council to support this important part of our state's culture." Gov. Blunt will recommend $14.6 million total to support the Missouri Arts Council in his Fiscal Year 09 Budget, a significant $6.8 million increase over the previous year's funding and more than 20 times the Fiscal Year 06 amount. If approved, the governor's budget will include a total increase of $11.3 million for all cultural partners in the Non-Resident Athletes and Entertainers tax. Gov. Blunt created the position of Missouri Poet Laureate to help promote the arts in Missouri and to encourage Missourians to learn more about the many cultural opportunities available in the state. This week the governor appointed Walter Bargen as the state's first-ever Missouri Poet Laureate.
By Betty Moore, SLFP.com LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL, (SLFP.com), January 13, 2008 - The much anticipated 15th annual Walt Disney World Marathon was even more magical this year as the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training® (TNT) kicked off the first of many sporting programs celebrating twenty years of fundraising for blood cancer research and patient services. The program provides training to run or walk marathons and half marathons or participate in triathlons and century (100-mile) bike rides.
Following a sports expo and Pasta Party, team members met with their coaches to prepare for the races, while family members headed off to the theme parks or swimming pools. Pyrotechnics signaled the start of the half marathon early Saturday morning under balmy skies. Music was everywhere, provided by live bands that filled the air with many beats and sounds to help keep the pace for fast walking, running and laughing over a flat course that wound through Epcot Center, the Magic Kingdom and Disney MGM Studios. Along the way, the participants were greeted by Walt Disney characters, cheered on by thousands of families, friends, volunteers, coaches and mentors who provided water and other essentials. At the finish line, team members were met with big hugs from their kids and friends. With the exception of a slight mixup at the finish of the half marathon when a pallet of medals could not be found, the smiles and congratulations was more than enough to make the months of training and sacrifice worth the effort. Twenty years ago, a group of athletes from the New York area hired a coach and trained for the New York City Marathon while raising money for blood cancer research. Since that first team crossed the finish line, more than 340,000 TNT participants have raised more than $800 million for blood cancer research and patient services. The Kansas City Chapter, Mid-America's TNT, which raised over $94,000, sent 25 participants, along with an assistant coach and several staff members. The first sporting event of 2008 at Walt Disney World, raised over $5.6 million, setting a benchmark for TNT's goal on reaching the $1 billion mark by the end of their 20th anniversary celebration year. National sponsors for the Walt Disney World Marathon included Runner's World, NIKE, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Seagate, PowerBar and American Airlines. For more information on TNT, visit www.teamintraining.org   The Kansas City Front Page is owned and maintained by the Moore Design Group for the sole purpose of disseminating news and information about the Metropolitan Kansas City area. Text or graphics may not be copied, rewritten or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission. For more information, contact editor@slfp.com All rights reserved world wide © 2007 - 2008 Moore Design Group. |
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