Overheard

Springfield businessman Joe Jenkins is sharing his interest of foreign countries with Missouri State University students. Jenkins, who owns Jenkins Diesel Power, has pledged $25,000 to help fund students’ studies abroad. An anonymous donor also is giving MSU $25,000 to establish the Grace Gardner Endowed Scholarship for Study Away. “I have had the opportunity to travel abroad,” Jenkins says. “It is a life-changing experience that I believe Missouri State students need to have.” Under MSU’s matching program for endowed scholarships, $2,250 in annual support will be made available to students beginning this fall.

Tasty traffic jam

Don’t get stuck. That’s the message on jars of berry jam issued by Missouri Department of Transportation as highway construction season moves into full swing. The clever marketing piece arrived at SBJ offices last week, telling drivers to “avoid traffic jams” because they “can be sticky.” To “preserve” your sanity while driving through more work zones than ever this year, MoDOT offers tips at www.modot.org/workzones. For more on MoDOT’s 2006 highway improvements plan, see page 27.

Bottom feeder

Missouri’s legal climate is climbing, but conditions remain near the bottom of the barrel, according to the U.S. Chamber’s ranking of the country’s best legal climates. Missouri moved five spots to No. 35, moving it out of the chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform’s 10 Worst States List. Gov. Matt Blunt and the Missouri Chamber called the ranking a result of comprehensive litigation reform, which included new limits on joint and several liability, restrictions on venue shopping, and new limits on punitive and noneconomic damages. Blunt’s office says the reform is attracting new investments by Chrysler, General Motors and Express Scripts. “The best thing a state can do to attract business is to have a fair legal system,” U.S. Chamber CEO Tom Donohue says in the news release about the study.

Slice of Nice

Half of the ticket sales to Ozark’s Jamboree in Branson during select days in April will go to The Kitchen Inc., a Springfield homeless shelter. The show dates at Nova Theatre, 1840 W. Highway 76 in the Appletree Mall, are April 6–8 and 13–15. The two-hour variety shows begin at 10 a.m. and feature music from country performer Bill Jordan and others. Tickets are $6. For more information, call the box office at (877)-446-6824.

What Readers Think

SBJ Poll – How many Springfield Cardinals tickets do you plan to buy this year?

Fewer than last year: 26%

Same as last year: 47%

More than last year: 27%

Go to sbj.net/poll to cast a vote and to view a list of archived polls.