Department of Transportation Hiring Winter Workers

Hot Missouri summers eventually give way to cold Missouri winters. When the snow starts falling, travelers in the Show-Me State depend on the Missouri Department of Transportation to keep the highways cleared. MoDOT, in turn, relies on a dedicated team of Winter Weather Warriors who can take on whatever the season delivers to keep Missouri moving.

Right now, MoDOT has several full-time maintenance and emergency maintenance equipment operator positions open throughout the state. Salaries start at $17.55 per hour, depending on level of experience and area of operation. This position is also eligible for an additional $3 to $6 per hour when working winter/emergency operations activities.

“It’s not just a winter job,” said Natalie Roark, MoDOT’s maintenance director. “Opportunities for year-round employment include mowing, striping and other maintenance functions to keep Missouri roads safe for all who travel on them.”

Full-time maintenance employment requirements:

·         18 years old.

·         High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.

·         Valid Driver's License.

·         Passing grade on the written portion of the commercial driver's license (CDL) exam prior to hire date.

·         Passing grade on the driving portion of the CDL exam with tanker endorsement, no air brake restrictions (Class B), within 60 days after being hired.

·         Successful completion of a work simulation examination and a medical-physical examination.

·         Pre-employment drug test and criminal background check (a misdemeanor or felony conviction is not an automatic restriction to employment).

Emergency Maintenance Equipment Operator requirements:

·         18 years old.

·         Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class A or B with no air brake restrictions.

·         Pre-employment drug test and criminal background check (a misdemeanor or felony conviction is not an automatic restriction to employment). 

Full-time maintenance employees receive full training and a long list of other benefits including retirement, paid leave, medical, vision and dental insurance; and a culturally diverse workplace that is dedicated to safety and personal development.

 “This is a great opportunity to start a new career with MoDOT,” Roark said. “We’re looking for service-oriented professionals who are interested in a career where they can make a difference in the lives everyone who travels in our state.”

To learn more about this opportunity, or to apply online, go to www.modot.org/careers.

Editorial -- Group of 50 Begs for War With Iran

While Joe Biden continues to play nuclear chicken with Russia and escalate the conflict there, and Nancy Pelosi grandstands for war with China over Taiwan, a third group of people, 50 congresspeople led by Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), is clamoring for war with Iran.

In 2018, President Donald Trump tore up the Iran Deal, one of the signature achievements of the Obama Administration, and three times brought us to the brink of war. In 2020, Joe Biden ran on a platform of returning to that deal, which he has been dragging his feet on ever since. For anyone who thinks that our belief that the US is sleepwalking into a four front war with Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea is far-fetched, Mr. Gottheimer’s letter is an eye opener. 

His logic is that Iran and paramilitary allies like the Revolutionary Guard are state sponsors of terrorism and thus can’t be trusted. But assuming that he is correct, that makes it all the more important that we have a verifiable agreement in place to ensure that Iran can never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon. 

And even if Iran is supportive of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, it is not in Russia’s interest to have a nuclear armed neighbor to its south. Russia started two wars, in Afghanistan in 1979 and in Ukraine this year, based on their belief that nuclear missiles were about to be stationed on their border five minutes from Moscow. If Iran suddenly fell to a coup and a new government was hostile to Moscow, the same thing would happen. There has been plenty of unrest in Iran in recent years, so this scenario is not far fetched.

The occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan have drained the US treasury of trillions of dollars in reserves that could have been used to build roads and bridges, fund schools, and create energy independence from the likes of Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran. Given that Iran is three times the population, the cost of prosecuting such a war, even if the US were not already on the brink of war with Russia and China, would be astronomical. How does Mr. Gottheimer and his gang of 50 propose to pay for such a war? He won’t say, let alone what sacrifices we should be expected to make in the event that war breaks out between the US and Iran.

Editorial -- More About Classified Documents

Pam Martens, who publishes a blog that normally focuses on the misdeeds of Wall Street, herself handled classified documents and focused on former President Trump’s stash of top secret documents at Mar-a-Lago on September 1st. The name of her blog is, “Wall Street on Parade.  As part of the FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago, they showed a photo showing numerous top secret documents found during the raid that they submitted to the court. 

Martens wrote about the reaction of people who served in the military and who reacted on Twitter:

“Again, as a Veteran, w/a former top level security clearance, seeing TOP SECRET,SECRET, NOFORN, HCS, SI, documents laying on a closet floor, it is clear to me: Trump needs to be arrested NOW!”

“I had a TS/SCI clearance for 19 years and this photo absolutely sets me off. This is absolutely insane.”

“I had a security clearance when I was active duty. I was always so careful with what I talked about, with ensuring proper storage of documents because I cared about national security, even if my part was tiny. The thought of highest level secret docs being seen by ?? I’m livid!”

There were hundreds of other tweets like this.

She notes that in order to access classified documents, you have to pass multiple background checks. When you handle documents, if one paragraph in any manual is classified, then the whole manual becomes classified. A single typo in certain manuals can be grounds for immediate termination. 

When you first work in government, one of the first things you are told is that protecting national security is everybody’s business. Last week, we talked about some of the worst Presidents in US history. I would add someone else – Lyndon Johnson, who took classified documents related to his successor, Richard Nixon, when he left the White House. He created the precedent for Hillary Clinton to store classified emails on her computer. She, in turn, created the precedent for Donald Trump. 

Both Clinton and Trump are unfit for office. When she ran for the White House in 2016, we were told that she had already been vetted, and that there was no need to worry about things coming out about her. She was catastrophically wrong, and during the campaign, there was one thing after another about her. The same was true for Donald Trump. His taking of classified documents is just par for the course.

FDA Authorizes Omicron Booster Vaccines Against Coronavirus

On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. The bivalent vaccines, which we will also refer to as “updated boosters,” contain two messenger RNA (mRNA) components of SARS-CoV-2 virus, one of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and the other one in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. 

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 18 years of age and older. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent, is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals 12 years of age and older. 

The monovalent COVID-19 vaccines that are authorized or approved by the FDA and have been administered to millions of people in the United States since December 2020 contain a component from the original strain of SARS-CoV-2. 

What you need to know:

The authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant. 

The BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant are currently causing most cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and are predicted to circulate this fall and winter. In June, the agency’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee voted overwhelmingly to include an omicron component in COVID-19 booster vaccines.

For each bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, the FDA based its decision on the totality of available evidence, including extensive safety and effectiveness data for each of the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, safety and immunogenicity data obtained from a clinical study of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA from omicron variant BA.1 lineage that is similar to each of the vaccines being authorized, and nonclinical data obtained using a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained mRNA of the original strain and mRNA in common between the BA.4 and BA.5 lineages of the omicron variant.

Based on the data supporting each of these authorizations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines are expected to provide increased protection against the currently circulating omicron variant. Individuals who receive a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine may experience side effects commonly reported by individuals who receive authorized or approved monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.

With today’s authorization, the monovalent mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are not authorized as booster doses for individuals 12 years of age and older.

The agency will work quickly to evaluate future data and submissions to support authorization of bivalent COVID-19 boosters for additional age groups as we receive them.

Who is eligible to receive a single booster dose and when:

Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine. 

Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.

“The COVID-19 vaccines, including boosters, continue to save countless lives and prevent the most serious outcomes (hospitalization and death) of COVID-19,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. “As we head into fall and begin to spend more time indoors, we strongly encourage anyone who is eligible to consider receiving a booster dose with a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent contain mRNA from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The mRNA in these vaccines is a specific piece of genetic material that instructs cells in the body to make the distinctive “spike” protein of the original virus strain and the omicron variant lineages BA.4 and BA.5. The spike proteins of BA.4 and BA.5 are identical. 

“The FDA has been planning for the possibility that the composition of the COVID-19 vaccines would need to be modified to address circulating variants. We sought input from our outside experts on the inclusion of an omicron component in COVID-19 boosters to provide better protection against COVID-19. We have worked closely with the vaccine manufacturers to ensure the development of these updated boosters was done safely and efficiently. The FDA has extensive experience with strain changes for annual influenza vaccines. We are confident in the evidence supporting these authorizations,” said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. “The public can be assured that a great deal of care has been taken by the FDA to ensure that these bivalent COVID-19 vaccines meet our rigorous safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality standards for emergency use authorization.”

For each of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines authorized Wednesday, the FDA evaluated immunogenicity and safety data from a clinical study of a booster dose of a bivalent COVID-19 vaccine that contained a component of the original strain of SARS-CoV-2 and a component of omicron lineage BA.1. The FDA considers such data as relevant and supportive of vaccines containing a component of the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages. Furthermore, data pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of the current mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, which have been administered to millions of people, including during the omicron waves of COVID-19, contributed to the agency’s evaluation.

Data Supporting the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 individuals 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two-dose primary series and one booster dose of monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) at least 3 months after the first booster dose. After 28 days, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine.

The safety of a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 18 years of age and older is supported by safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine. 

The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process.

The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 800 participants 18 years of age and older who had previously received a two dose primary series and one booster dose of the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, and then at least 3 months later, received a second booster dose with either the monovalent Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1). 

Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, chills, swelling of the lymph nodes in the same arm of the injection, nausea/vomiting and fever. 

Data Supporting the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent Authorization

To evaluate the effectiveness of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older, the FDA analyzed immune response data among approximately 600 adults greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series and one booster dose with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. These participants received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) 4.7 to 13.1 months after the first booster dose. After one month, the immune response against BA.1 of the participants who received the bivalent vaccine was better than the immune response of those who had received the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

The safety of a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent for individuals 12 years of age and older is based on safety data from a clinical study which evaluated a booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1), safety data from clinical trials which evaluated primary and booster vaccination with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and postmarketing safety data with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. 

The safety data accrued with the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) and with the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine are relevant to Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 Vaccine, Bivalent because these vaccines are manufactured using the same process. 

The clinical study that evaluated the safety of a booster dose of the bivalent vaccine (original and omicron BA.1) included approximately 600 participants greater than 55 years of age who had previously received a 2-dose primary series, one booster dose of the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, and then 4.7 to 13.1 months later, received a second booster dose of either the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Pfizer-BioNTech’s investigational bivalent COVID-19 vaccine (original and omicron BA.1). Among the study participants who received the bivalent vaccine, the most commonly reported side effects included pain, redness and swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, chills, joint pain, and fever. 

The fact sheets for both bivalent COVID-19 vaccines for recipients and caregivers and for healthcare providers include information about the potential side effects, as well as the risks of myocarditis and pericarditis. 

With Wednesday’s authorization, the FDA has also revised the EUA of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to remove the use of the monovalent Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines for booster administration for individuals 18 years of age and older and 12 years of age and older, respectively. These monovalent vaccines continue to be authorized for use for administration of a primary series for individuals 6 months of age and older as described in the letters of authorization. At this time, the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine remains authorized for administration of a single booster dose for individuals 5 through 11 years of age at least five months after completing a primary series of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.

The amendments to the EUAs were issued to Moderna TX Inc. and Pfizer Inc.

University Extension -- The Sunflower's Story

The sunflower’s story begins with a tale of unrequited love.

According to Greek mythology, the water nymph Clytie fell in love with the god of the sun, Apollo, who dazzled the earth as he drove his golden chariot across the sky each day. When he rejected Clytie’s affection, it nearly drove her mad. She spent days without food or water as she searched the heavens and waited for Apollo to appear.

“In the end, she was transformed into a sunflower, a plant which turns its face toward the sun as it moves across the sky each day,” said University of Missouri horticulturist David Trinklein.

Young sunflowers actually search the heavens for light for photosynthesis in a process called heliotropism, Trinklein said. The sunflower’s internal (circadian) clock acts on growth hormones that cause cells on different sides of the plant’s stems to enlarge or contract. Older sunflowers mainly face east, warming themselves early in the day to attract pollinators.

This tough, carefree flower will bring smiles to the faces of even novice gardeners and children, Trinklein said. Its head of tightly packed clusters of small, tubular disc florets produce seeds. The surrounding ray florets, often incorrectly referred to as petals, attract pollinators.

Native Americans grew sunflowers for their edible, nutrient-rich seeds. Sunflowers made their way to Europe in the early 16th century. Russians soon developed a thriving sunflower oil industry. American farmers produce nearly 3 billion pounds of sunflower seeds yearly.

Recently, sunflower has been the subject of breeding efforts aimed at making it a more attractive garden flower and cut flower. This has resulted in the introduction of a number of new varieties which are shorter and more free-flowering.

“A good example is the variety ‘Soraya,’ the first sunflower to win the coveted All-American Selection designation,” Trinklein said. It produces four to six eye-catching blooms per stem on plants that reach a mature height of about 5 feet.

Another recent AAS winner is “Suntastic,” a dwarf sunflower that, unlike other varieties, produces new flowers all summer long, he said.

Trinklein shared several other facts about these beacons of summer:

• Not all sunflowers are created equal. Single-stem sunflowers do best in high-density plantings and produce consistently on tall stems. Plant throughout the season for continuous blooms. Branching varieties produce flowers on multiple shorter stems that bloom all season.

• In 1987, Vincent van Gogh’s “Still Life: Vase With Fifteen Sunflowers” sold to an anonymous buyer for $39.9 million, a record at the time.

• Harvest cut flowers early in the morning before plants become heat-stressed. For fun, immerse cut stems in vases and add food coloring.

• Not all sunflowers are pollinating. Breeders have created pollenless varieties that enjoy a longer blooming season. Check seed packages for classification.

• Choose a full-sun location for planting. The sunflower’s deep taproot prefers a well-drained, loose garden loam. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch deep and space 6 inches apart. Thin to 24 inches when established.

• Sunflowers contain a compound that is toxic to neighboring species.

Highway Fatalities Down in Missouri

Fatal vehicle crashes on Missouri roadways have decreased from the same time in 2021. The Missouri Department of Transportation urges motorists to continue to be vigilant in reducing deaths and injuries as summer draws to a close.

“Eleven people died and 458 were injured in Missouri traffic crashes during the 2021 Labor Day holiday weekend,” said MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna. “As we round out the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, let’s see if we can achieve zero fatalities for the 2022 Labor Day weekend.”

With favorable weather forecasts, more motorists could be taking to Missouri roads to enjoy the last three-day weekend of the summer. MoDOT asks motorists to do their part and not let down their guard in this crucial period. Buckle up, put down the phone, obey posted speed limits, and never drive impaired.

The Labor Day weekend wraps up the nationwide Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Hundreds of officers across Missouri are participating in this year’s campaign, which aims to prevent impaired driving by saturating the state’s roadways with officers on the lookout for impaired drivers.

In addition to watching for impaired drivers, state troopers and local law enforcement agencies will be patrolling Missouri’s roadways and enforcing speed-limit, seat belt and aggressive-driving laws, as well as being available to assist motorists.

The Missouri Department of Transportation will limit road construction on Labor Day weekend to accommodate expected increased holiday travel. 

Work on most maintenance and construction projects that would impact traffic will be suspended at noon Friday, Sept. 2 and resume at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6. Travelers should always be alert to sudden closures due to emergency situations like crashes and always slow down and move over for emergency responders.

More information can be found on MoDOT's interactive traveler information map at www.traveler.modot.org/map or by calling 1-888-ASK-MODOT (275-6636). 

September is College Savings Month

Missouri State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick Thursday recognized September as College Savings Month. Sponsored by the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN), College Savings Month seeks to promote the importance of saving for higher education using a 529 account.

“Data demonstrates that having an education savings account makes it more likely a child will attend a higher education institution. Data also shows that education influences socioeconomic mobility,” Treasurer Fitzpatrick said. “As Treasurer, I have worked to lower accounts fees and to make MOST, Missouri’s 529 Education Plan as versatile as possible. Regardless of what higher education looks like for you—college, trade school, an apprenticeship—being financially prepared is necessary to avoid burdensome debt down the road.”

Administered by the Treasurer’s Office, MOST, Missouri’s 529 Education Plan, is a tax-advantaged savings plan for education expenses. Money in MOST accounts can be used to pay for K-12 tuition and apprenticeships, trade, college, and graduate school tuition and expenses, and up to $10,000 of student loan repayment. Contributions are eligible for state tax deductions and assets in MOST 529 accounts grow tax-free.

Missourians can visit Treasurer Fitzpatrick’s Financial Literacy Portal for information about saving for higher education and paying for higher education, as well as games and activities focused on financial literacy for children and high school students. Information for adults and recent college graduates about understanding credit, budgeting, and retirement is also available on the portal. The Financial Literacy Portal can be accessed at https://treasurer.mo.gov/financial-literacy/.

According to CSPN, Americans have more than $450 billion saved in 529 accounts.

More information about MOST 529 can be found missourimost.org.