News

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reporting that reserves of corn have hit their lowest level in over 15 years.

The high demand for corn could put upward pressure on food prices in 2011.

The USDA says demand for corn in the ethanol industry is up 50 million bushels after record-high production in December and January.

That has left the United States with the lowest surplus of corn since 1996.

Updated 4:48 p.m. Feb. 9, 2011:

KSDK-TV reports that the injuries sustained were broken ribs and that Arch officials say the man was pinned between the tram and the structure of the Arch.

The Arch was closed for about an hour before it reopened.

Earlier Story:

The Illinois workers' compensation arbitrator assigned to the case of a state trooper involved in a fatal crash sought to keep a public hearing in the case secret.

That's according to emails obtained by the Belleville News-Democrat.

Jennifer Teague emailed her court reporter that parties planned to hold the hearing "on the sly with no press."

The date, time and place of the public hearing were changed with no notification.

• The state of Missouri has carried out its first execution in nearly two years. Early this morning, 47-year-old Martin Link was put to death for the 1991 kidnapping, rape and murder of 11-year-old Elissa Self-Braun. Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman Chris Cline says Link died by lethal injection shortly after midnight at the state prison in Bonne Terre. On Monday, Gov.

Representatives of AT&T Missouri are downplaying rumors that customers will defect to Verizon when that company starts selling the iPhone on Thursday.

Among other improvements AT&T says that it's invested over $1.7 billion in its St. Louis wireless network.

Nancy Garvey is Vice President and General Manager for AT&T mobility.