Overheard

Young Architects Forum is sponsoring a design competition focused on recycling bins. Dubbed “GRN:BOX,” the competition brings together ideas from architects, designers or anyone else interested for the right to possibly manufacture recycling bins for downtown Springfield. Design entries are due by 3 p.m. July 30. The entries will be displayed downtown during the Aug. 3 First Friday Art Walk, and a panel of judges will pick finalists. Finalists will build prototypes of their designs to be displayed at the Sept. 7 First Friday Art Walk. The winner will be announced at the Oct. 3 First Friday Art Walk, with prize money going to the top three. For more information, e-mail yafspringfield@hotmail.com.

AOL Settlement

America Online, one of the country’s largest Internet service providers, will offer refunds to more than 150 Missouri consumers and reimburse the state $45,000 in a settlement reached with Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon. The attorney general’s office received nearly 200 complaints about AOL practices, and more than 150 consumers may be eligible for refunds. The settlement resolves complaints about the difficulty and confusion consumers encountered in attempting to cancel their paid AOL services. AOL consumers had been given only limited options to cancel their accounts, causing a majority to attempt to cancel by directly calling AOL. AOL customer service representatives received incentives for retaining customers, resulting in consumer complaints that cancellation was extremely difficult, if not impossible. The agreement requires AOL to make refunds to consumers who have complained of unauthorized charges for service, and AOL also will adopt an ongoing process of refunding consumers for unauthorized charges. AOL will cover the state’s costs in this matter.

Forbes Says

Missouri moved up six spots to No. 16 in Forbes’ annual ranking of the best states for doing business. The special report, released July 11, positions Missouri ahead of Nebraska and behind Georgia. Missouri’s gross state product is $199 billion, a 2.3 percent increase during the last five years. In specific categories, Missouri ranked highest in regulatory environment (No. 8), business costs (No. 14), quality of life (No. 17) and labor (No. 20). Low scores were in growth prospects (No. 37) and economic climate (No. 44). Virginia maintained its top spot in the report.

JQH Arena Selling Fast

Missouri State University officials say basketball season-ticket sales for JQH Arena are exceeding expectations. Officials say more than 1,400 season-ticket orders have been received for both men’s and women’s basketball. The $67 million JQH Arena is under construction (see profile on page 40) and is slated to open for the 2008-09 basketball season. The facility, adjacent to Hammons Student Center on the MSU campus, will have 11,000 seats, a hall of fame, souvenir store and ticket office.

Season tickets went on sale June 11, following a presale for Bear Fund members. To date, there have been 381 requests for men’s basketball Premium One seats, which include $5,000 courtside seats. Also, the university has received 102 requests for women’s basketball Premium One seats, which include $3,000 courtside seats. Ticket information is available at the JQH Web site, www.missouristate.edu/arena.[[In-content Ad]]