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Atwill says COU’s new terminal project highlights bipartisanship; predicts economic boost

October 21, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri Governor Mike Parson (center), Columbia Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, Columbia city manager De’Carlon Seewood and other dignitaries cut the ribbon on the $23-million new terminal at Columbia Regional Airport (COU) on October 19, 2022 (photo courtesy of the city of Columbia’s Facebook page)

Boone County’s outgoing presiding commissioner predicts Columbia Regional Airport’s (COU) $23-million new terminal will boost economic development in Columbia and mid-Missouri.

Dan Atwill tells 939 the Eagle that the project was needed, adding that the old terminal is outdated.

“We’re going to see more businesses interested in Columbia because of the appearance of the terminal and the impression that is given when people (travelers) first arrive,” Atwill says.

The aging current terminal was built in 1968.

Atwill, a Democrat, joined GOP Governor Mike Parson on the stage for this week’s ribbon-cutting ceremony. They’ve worked together on other key projects as well, including the massive new $240-million I-70 Rocheport bridge.

Supporters of Columbia Regional’s new terminal predict it will boost Columbia’s position as a health care hub. UM System President Dr. Mun Choi says about 10,000 isotopes made at the MU Research Reactor in Columbia are shipped out each week at COU.

Those numbers have grabbed presiding commissioner Atwill’s attention.

“I’ve heard other stories from Mun Choi about the importance of shipping these nuclear medicines that he mentioned all across the country. And that all happens from here,” says Atwill.

The new terminal is also expected to help Columbia’s $221-million Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building, which U.S. Senator Blunt describes as a regional hub of lifesaving research. State Sen. Greg Razer (D-Kansas City), a Mizzou graduate, has told 939 the Eagle that NextGen has the capability of curing cancer, Alzheimer’s and dementia. The COU terminal and NextGen have both been bipartisan issues.

The first flight at COU’s new terminal is Wednesday.

Missouri’s Blunt hopeful about cure for Alzheimer’s; thankful for NIH building designation

October 17, 2022 By Brian Hauswirth

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) speaks at the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) dedication ceremony for the Roy Blunt Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Building on September 22, 2022 (file photo courtesy of Senator Blunt’s Flickr page)

Missouri’s retiring senator has helped secure seven straight funding increases for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has more than quintupled the amount of funding available for Alzheimer’s research.

The issue has been a top priority for U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R), who tells “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” that the research number is now what Alzheimer’s groups have advocated for about a decade.

“We’ve increased it from $600-million a year to a little over $3-billion a year,” Blunt tells listeners.

Senator Blunt, the ranking Republican on the U.S. Senate Subcommittee for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, says research is essential to discovering new treatments and a cure to end Alzheimer’s. He says Missouri’s universities and colleges are playing a key role.

“Randy Bateman and his team at Washington University have come up with a blood test that FDA has given some early important approvals on that would indicate early whether you had the likelihood of Alzheimer’s being a problem for you in the future,” Senator Blunt says.

Dr. Bateman specializes in neurology and adult neurology. Senator Blunt has also predicted that Mizzou’s NextGen Precision Health building in Columbia, which is named for him, will cement Missouri’s place as a leader in biomedical research. NextGen supporters say the Mizzou facility has the capability of curing cancer and dementia.

Senator Blunt tells listeners that he’s honored that NIH has dedicated the Roy Blunt Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias building in Washington. The dedication ceremony was held in September.

You can hear the full “Wake Up Mid-Missouri’ interview with Senator Blunt here.

Columbia’s mayor predicts Columbia’s NextGen will boost economic development in region

October 25, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

The chairman of the UM Board of Curators describes the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building in Columbia as the most ambitious research initiative in the university’s history. Board Chairman Darryl Chatman attended the facility’s recent grand opening, along with Columbia Mayor Brian Treece. “In addition to the lifesaving cures, this $240-million Precision health care …

NextGen supporters hopeful new Columbia facility can cure cancer, dementia

October 20, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Hundreds of people turned out on a sunny Tuesday in Columbia, to celebrate the grand opening of the $221-million Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building. The 265-thousand square foot facility will be a regional hub of lifesaving research. State Sen. Greg Razer (D-Kansas City), a Mizzou graduate, tells 939 the Eagle that NextGen has the …