From the AP: Federal officials hunted for the source of a 16-state salmonella outbreak linked to three types of raw tomatoes, while the list of supermarkets and restaurants yanking those varieties from shelves and menus grew.

McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, Burger King, Kroger, Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie and Taco Bell were among the companies that voluntarily withdrew red plum, red Roma or round red tomatoes unless they were grown in certain states and countries.

In addition, officials at the Los Angeles Unified School District — the nation’s second largest — said Monday they have “indefinitely suspended” serving uncooked tomatoes.

UPDATE: Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Katie Smith announced today that Missouri grown tomatoes has been placed on the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) “safe to eat” list this evening. Local Missouri farmers have not been adversely affected by the recent outbreak of salmonella in raw red tomatoes that has caused some restaurants and grocery stores to pull tomatoes from their menus and shelves in recent days.

“Missouri consumers can continue to enjoy fresh tomatoes at local farmers’ markets and fresh pick locations across the state,” said Director Smith. “Some stores across Missouri are voluntarily removing tomatoes from certain sources and locations to be safe. Consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes have come from should contact the retail location for the point of origin.”

According to FDA, consumers who are unsure of where the tomatoes are from that they have in their home are encouraged to contact the store or place of purchase for that information. FDA also recommends if consumers are unable to determine the source of the tomatoes, they should not be eaten. Restaurants, grocery stores and food service operators have been advised by FDA not to offer the sale of service raw red plum, Roma or red tomatoes and products made from these types of tomatoes unless they are from one of the states listed on the FDA Web site as “not been associated with the outbreak.”

For more information regarding the salmonella outbreak in tomatoes, visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/tomatoes.html.

It’s through the first round, State Senator Jeff Smith’s (D-St. Louis) measure that would increase access to early childhood programs at licensed child care facilities.

Smith’s legislation creating the Missouri Preschool Plus Grant Program, a pilot program within the Missouri Preschool Project, has gotten through its first hurdle on its way to become law.

This measure would benefit some of the state’s most stressed schools, said Smith’s office.

“These are critical years in a child’s life,” said Sen. Smith in a recent press release. “More neurological development occurs by the age of 4 than in the rest of a person’s life – and impoverished children are at great risk of not receiving the early brain stimulation that can never be recaptured. This bill will help our most vulnerable kids whose families could not otherwise access early childhood education.

Senate Bill 726 would create a five-star rating system, helping parents pick a child care center. About 1,250 children whose family income falls below 130 percent of the poverty level and live in school districts not accredited by the state Board of Education.

Districts that would benefit include St. Louis Public Schools in St. Louis City and Riverview Gardens and Wellston in St. Louis County.

The measure would also help the Wyaconda district in northeast Missouri.

The grant program, if created, would target children who are one to two years from starting kindergarten. It would be administered by Department of Elementary and Secondary Education along with the Coordinating Board of Early Childhood.

Children of active duty military parents would be given preference and at least 50 percent of the enrollment must be offered through non-sectarian community-based organizations.

Also, all learning centers participating in the program must adhere to current early childhood standards and must keep records of short-term and long-term data to measure the project’s success.

The grants will be available for three years and are renewable.

Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D-St. Louis) today blasted House Republicans as they once again failed to join with the Democratic majority to override President Bush’s veto of the expanded State Children’s Health Insurance Program. The effort failed by just 15 votes.

“Today, President Bush and House Republicans stood between 3.8 million additional children who would be covered by SCHIP and the health care they need.,” said Congressman Clay. “Over 56,000 children of hardworking Missouri families will remain uninsured because the President and the Republican minority continue to refuse to cover them. That is indefensible, especially when the economy is teetering on the brink of a recession. One of the most irresponsible things we could do is to leave millions of children uninsured as their parents struggle with foreclosures, layoffs, and higher prices for gas, utilities and groceries. As a parent, I want every child in this country to grow up healthy, with insurance coverage that helps keep them well. There is no excuse for sustaining this veto, and we continue the struggle to cover every child in this nation.”

The legislation vetoed by the President provided a $35 billion expansion of the SCHIP program which would have provided health care coverage to 10 million American children. The existing SCHIP program was extended last December until March 2009. But without this legislation, 3.8 million additional low-income children of working families will not be covered under the program. In addition, state budget shortfalls and administrative rules from President Bush put children who are covered now in jeopardy of losing health care.

State Senator Harry Kennedy (D-St. Louis) has been named to the Joint Committee on MO HealthNet.

From the press release:

Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons (R-Kirkwood) recently appointed Sen. Kennedy to this bipartisan, bicameral committee to oversee the new state healthcare program adopted by the General Assembly last year.

The Joint Committee on MO HealthNet will study the resources needed to continue improvements to the MO HealthNet program, which replaces the state Medicaid system. The committee was established in Senate Bill 577, approved by the General Assembly in 2007, as part of a wide-ranging effort to improve the delivery of healthcare services to the citizens of Missouri.

“There are a lot of good things included in SB 577 to meet the healthcare needs of Missourians who struggle to maintain healthy lives,” Sen. Kennedy said. “I want to make sure the state continues to provide the resources necessary to improve and expand MO HealthNet so that all citizens can receive quality healthcare. There are still too many Missourians who must choose between putting food on the table or getting the healthcare they need.”

“MO HealthNet is a start in addressing some of the problems in our healthcare system, but we can’t rest on our laurels and say we’ve fixed those problems by passing SB 577,” said Kennedy.

“We’ll have to continue to make changes to the system to ensure that all Missourians have access to quality healthcare services. I’m glad I’ll be in a position to recommend some of those needed improvements as a member of the Joint Committee on MO HealthNet.”

Three organizations – Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Community Health-in-Partnership Services and Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club – are teaming up to offer free flu shots to anyone over six months old.

The shots will be given this Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Herbert Hoover Boys and GIrls Club at 2901 N. Grand.

Anyone under nine years old who gets the shot will need to visit a doctor next month to receive a follow-up vaccination.