In the Spotlight

Attorney General Nixon swears in two new Taum Sauk boards

Attorney General Jay Nixon was in Lesterville on March 14 to swear in the newly appointed board members of the Taum Sauk Fund and the Reynolds County Educational Enrichment Fund. Both funds were created as part of the historic $179 million settlement Nixon obtained last November with Ameren Corp. to resolve the state's claims from the 2005 collapse of the Taum Sauk Reservoir.

The nine-member board of the Taum Sauk Fund will use $7 million from the settlement to promote tourism and economic development in the areas affected by the reservoir failure. The nine-member board of the Reynolds County Educational Enrichment Fund will use $3 million from the settlement to promote educational opportunities in Reynolds County. At left, Attorney General Nixon swears in the new board members.

Milan school district benefits from Nixon agreement with Smithfield Foods

Representatives of Smithfield Foods on Jan. 14 presented Milan C-2 School District with a $75,000 check that was a result of an agreement with Attorney General Jay Nixon last year. Nixon reached an agreement with Smithfield, the world's largest hog producer, in his review of Smithfield's acquisition of the largest hog producer in Missouri, Premium Standard Farms. The Attorney General's Office reviewed the transaction for compliance with state anti-trust and anti-competition laws.

Nixon said the agreement would help ensure that advances made by his office under settlements with PSF to protect the economy and the environment would remain in place. Under the agreement, Smithfield/PSF worked with the Attorney General's Office to identify appropriate community programs to be funded one or both of the companies.

In addition to the money for the local school district and the assurance of continued environmental protection and progress, Nixon said the agreement also has helped protect jobs in north-central Missouri, preserved contracts with Missouri farmers, and established $250,000 in scholarships for agricultural and veterinary students at the University of Missouri.

Dennis Treacy, Vice President for Environmental and Corporate Affairs at Smithfield Foods presents the check to Superintendent Bill Lewis of the Milan C-2 School District. Consumer Education Coordinator Travis Ford (left) represented Attorney General Nixon at the ceremony. (Photo courtesy of Smithfield Foods)