Missouri
Missouri State’s Meyer Library becomes new home of David Harrison’s written collection
More than 40 boxes full of letters, unfinished manuscripts and dust jackets were packed tightly in the back of Thomas Peters’ van last week as he drove back to Springfield from Warrensburg. The collection of materials belonged to Springfield native and Missouri Poet Laurate David Harrison and will soon be accessible at Missouri State University’s Meyer Duane G. Library.
Peters, dean of Missouri State’s Library Services, made the two-hour drive to Warrensburg last week because up until that point, Harrison’s collection has been stored within the University of Central Missouri’s James C. Kirkpatrick Library. Recently, Harrison decided it was time to bring the collection home.
For 35 years, Harrison participated in Central Missouri University’s Children’s Literature Festival, a multi-day event that recognizes authors and illustrators from across the country. This year, the festival celebrates its 55th anniversary. As one of the festival’s most frequent attendees, Harrison was asked if he would be interested in donating his works — both finished and incomplete — to the James C. Kirkpatrick Library.
For years, Harrison collected letters, draft scribbles and other pieces of written work, piling the paperwork under his desk at home, then transferring the pile — once it got tall enough — to a box in his basement. Once a few boxes were full, he’d send them on their way to Warrensburg.
But more recently, Harrison has been donating his written materials to Meyer Library. The author no longer attends the Children’s Literature Festival and doesn’t have strong connections at Central Missouri University like he used to. A request from Peters, who expressed interested in Harrison’s collection, proved to be the final push he needed to make the move.
To have all of his work in Springfield, his hometown, is “delightful,” Harrison said. He is hopeful that students and members of the community will find use in the collection, whether it be for academic research or learning more about the behind-the-scenes of writing and publishing books.
More: Poetry from Daily Life: A billboard — and a missed, best breakfast — birth a poem
Peters, who expressed that the library is “really excited” to have Harrison’s collection, said the materials will survive much longer at the library than they would if they were kept in a “dusty attic.” Moreover, he’s glad to know that the materials will not make their way into landfills, as historical artifacts often do.
When and where will Harrison’s collection be accessible?
Peters told the News-Leader that he transferred about 42 boxes from Warrensburg to Springfield, full of Harrison’s collection. This amount of material will take a while to process. Specifically, library staff will need to establish a finding aid, which will help folks search through the collection, and transfer the materials to acid-neutral containers. Some parts of the collection, like photographs, will be digitized.
The collection, which does not have an official title yet, will be housed within Meyer Library’s Special Collections and Archives, located on the third floor of the library. Peters said he imagines the collection will become accessible in 2025.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@gannett.com.
Missouri
Campaign to legalize sports betting in Missouri gets help from mascots to haul voter signatures
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s professional sports teams on Thursday turned in more than 340,000 voter signatures to put a ballot proposal to legalize sports betting before voters this November.
The campaign had help from Cardinals’ mascot Fredbird, Royals’ Sluggerrr and St. Louis Blues’ mascot Louie. The oversized bird, lion and blue bear waved enthusiastically as they hauled boxes filled with voter signatures to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office in Jefferson City.
Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft now must validate the voter signatures before the proposal officially makes it on the ballot. The campaign needs roughly 180,000 signatures to qualify.
A total of 38 states and the District of Columbia now allow some form sports betting, including 30 states and the nation’s capital that allow online wagering.
The Missouri initiative is an attempt to sidestep the Senate, where bills to allow sports betting have repeatedly stalled. Missouri is one of just a dozen states where sports wagering remains illegal more than five years after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for states to adopt it.
Teams in the coalition include the St. Louis Cardinals, St. Louis Blues, Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and the Kansas City Current and St. Louis City soccer teams.
The proposed constitutional amendment would allow each of Missouri’s 13 casinos and six professional sports teams to offer onsite and mobile sports betting. Teams would control onsite betting and advertising within 400 yards of their stadiums and arenas. The initiative also would allow two mobile sports betting operators to be licensed directly by the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Under the initiative, at least $5 million annually in licensing fees and taxes would go toward problem gambling programs, with remaining tax revenues going toward elementary, secondary and higher education. If approved by voters, state regulators would have to launch sports betting no later than Dec. 1, 2025.
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com
Copyright 2024 KY3. All rights reserved.
Missouri
Petitioners turning in signatures Thursday to get sports betting on the Missouri ballot – ABC17NEWS
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Missouri petitioners will be turning in signatures to the Secretary of State’s office Thursday afternoon in an effort to get sports betting on the November ballot.
The petitions have been led by Missouri’s six professional sports franchises. Team representatives will be at the Secretary of State’s office today to speak, along with representatives from Winning for Missouri Education.
Winning for Missouri Education is backing the initiative petition drive to legalize sports betting in the state to help fund public education.
Data from GeoComply shows the desire for sports betting is strong and growing in Missouri. During Super Bowl weekend, more than 431,000 bets were blocked in Missouri from people trying to access sportsbooks in other states.
The location detection software said this is a 51% increase from the 2023 Super Bowl.
Of those blocked bets, 48% were attempting to access Kansas sportsbooks and 37% were attempting to do the same in Illinois.
After petitions to legalize sports betting in Missouri are turned in Thursday, the Secretary of State’s office will have to certify the signatures. The petition needs signatures from 5% of legal voters in six-of-eight voting districts to get on a statewide ballot.
Once on the ballot, questions need a simple majority to pass.
The Missouri Legislature has tried for years to pass a sports betting bill. Although it has previously passed the Missouri House of Representatives, the Senate has not come to an agreement.
If passed by voters, the petitions would make it legal for Missourians to place bets on professional and college teams through casinos or platforms like Draft Kings and FanDuel. Fans could also place prop bets.
Initiative petition signatures are due to the Secretary of State’s office on Sunday. Other petitioners are also turning in signatures to get their questions on the November ballot.
This comes as lawmakers are trying to pass initiative petition reform, which would make it harder for voters to get their questions on the ballot.
Check back for updates.
Missouri
QUESTION OF THE DAY: Should Missouri employers be required to provide paid leave? – ABC17NEWS
The campaign to get mandatory paid leave and a higher minimum wage in Missouri took a step forward Wednesday.
Organizers turned in signatures to get the issue on the November ballot. The amendment would establish a $15 minimum wage and require employers to provide sick leave that can also be used for caregiving.
The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office now has to review the signatures and make a decision on certifying the petition.
Do you think employers should be required to provide paid leave? Vote in the poll.
ABC 17 News is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation.
Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here
If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here.
Did Anyone Else Witness This Tesla Possibly Driving Itself Along the Grass in Portland, Maine?
:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/adn/XSLYRNEZWZRG37IEXGKGDB34FQ.jpg)
Maryland officials release a timeline and cost estimate for rebuilding Baltimore bridge
Michigan State football: Illinois transfer Andrew Dennis becomes a Spartan after all
Massachusetts Level 2 sex offender convicted of raping girls sentenced for child pornography
Central Minnesota man, 21, dies in ATV crash
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Alabama lawmakers advance bill letting inmates speak at parole hearings
UN, EU, US urge Georgia to halt ‘foreign agents’ bill as protests grow
Some Florida boaters seen on video dumping trash into ocean have been identified, officials say
Trump slams 'radical left lunatics' creating chaos on college campuses nationwide
In the upcoming European elections, peace and security matter the most
-
News1 week agoLarry Webb’s deathbed confession solves 2000 cold case murder of Susan and Natasha Carter, 10, whose remains were found hours after he died
-
Education1 week agoVideo: Dozens of Yale Students Arrested as Campus Protests Spread
-
World1 week agoHaiti Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns, transitional council takes power
-
News1 week agoFirst cargo ship passes through new channel since Baltimore bridge collapse
-
World1 week agoUS secretly sent long-range ATACMS weapons to Ukraine
-
World1 week agoSpanish PM Pedro Sanchez suspends public duties to 'reflect'
-
News1 week agoAmerican Airlines passenger alleges discrimination over use of first-class restroom
-
World1 week agoAsia bears biggest climate-change brunt amid extreme weather: WMO