Topic: University of Missouri

Plutonium found in soil near Fukushima plant

Plutonium has been found in low quantities in the soil around the stricken Fukushima nuclear power plant as public dissatisfaction with officials continues to percolate.

Australopithecus afarensis bone could change story of human evolution

Australopithecus afarensis, an ancient human ancestor who lived around 3 million years ago, spent most of its time walking, instead of climbing trees like chimps.

Severe weather from Chicago to Boston as monster storm arrives

Severe weather, in the form of snow, is headed for St. Louis, Kansas City, Chicago, and Milwaukee. A monster storm could dump up to two-feet of snow and drifts piled up to 10 feet.

Thousands of Haitians riot in capital over election results

A former first lady and government protege will face off in January. Many observers question 'inconsistencies' in the Haiti election results.

Haiti election results could open spigot to billions in aid

With foreign governments and donors hesitant to send funds to President René Préval's administration, a Haiti election was necessary if the country wanted to tap into into billions of dollars in aid.

Global leadership: Voters launch a power surge of women

Brazil's President-elect Dilma Rousseff is the latest in a power surge of women in global leadership positions.

Tuition at public colleges jumps 8 percent, College Board reports

Tuition at four-year public universities rose again this year, outpacing inflation, according to a report released Thursday by The College Board. Federal aid to states and students softens the bite.

Juan Williams fired: pitfalls of the 'insta-opinion' age

Journalists like Juan Williams, fired Wednesday, are laboring under increasing demands to share their personality and opinion while at the same time abiding by traditional ethics rules.

Free speech: Westboro church Supreme Court case tests First Amendment

A Supreme Court case challenging the Westboro Baptist Church anti-gay protests will test the limits of free speech, with First Amendment implications for other forms of expression such as Quran burning and racist demonstrations.

Poverty rate paradox: Poverty rises, but FBI crime rate falls

Poverty rate rose in 2009, but the FBI's new crime numbers show another big decline, especially in violent crime. The ties between poverty and crime may not be so obvious after all.

Historic day in Austrian economics

The University of Missouri now offers a PhD-level seminar in Austrian economics.

US crime rate is down: six key reasons

The crime rate fell last year across America, across all categories. Here, criminologists cite the key factors, which include better policing.

Can a terror prison spark a boom?

US Officials say a prison for ‘Gitmo’ detainees will boost rural Thomson, Ill. Don’t count on it.

Targeting guns to reduce violent crime

A new law enforcement strategy takes hold under the radar of the gun control debate: Targeting guns and their users is seen as surest way to reduce violent crime

Why can't US pig farmers profit from the pork revolution?

Beef and chicken sales are down, but pork sales are up 3.1 percent as Americans chomp ‘pig wings’ and turbaconducken. But overzealous breeding and a drop in international demand means farmers are losing $25 on each animal.

The Monitor's View: On Veterans Day, student vets deserve backup

Hundreds of thousands of veterans are taking advantage of the new GI Bill. They need the support of the VA and educators.

Fossil upends theories about evolution of human ancestors

'Ardi', a 4.4 million year old hominid in Ethiopia, is less ape-like than scientists expected. That could mean long-accepted models of the common ancestor between humans and apes are wrong.

Photojournalism enters a golden age

As the importance of real-time news and images rise, photojournalism is gaining greater cultural currency.

From our files: An interview with Walter Cronkite

The Monitor spoke with the CBS anchorman, who died Friday, in a 1973 series of interviews with the three networks' broadcast journalists.

Mushrooms: Shiitakes, oysters, and lion's manes on logs

Across the country, mushroom cultivation is experiencing 'another Renaissance.'

Opinion: Sotomayor would have to make value judgments

'Follow the law!' does not answer questions on gay marriage, abortion, and life imprisonment for juveniles.

When careers need reinvention

Innovative collaborations between schools, workforce developers, and industry are helping to educate adult workers for the new jobs communities need.

Native grasses an explosive idea for cleaning contaminated soil

Classic review: The People's Tycoon

Henry Ford was the very image of the America of his day: idealistic and far too self-assured.

Tax Day, 2009: The day the mainstream media died?

In the past, major media outlets have given antigovernment 'tea party' protests – like the ones held today – short shrift. Critics say it is because they are out of touch with America.