$1.3 million ATM Solutions money restolen
The $6.6 million robbery of ATM Solutions in St. Louis in 2010 is believed to be the largest heist ever in St. Louis. It turns out the robbers themselves were victimized, too - at least $1.3 million was re-stolen.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reportsthat information about the re-stolen money came out Wednesday during a federal court hearing, when three women who were not part of the actual robbery pleaded guilty to peripheral roles in the crime. During the hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom Mehan said a woman was entrusted to help hide at least $2 million of the money. But it was later determined that at least $1.3 million of that money went missing.
Fourteen people have now been accused of the robbery, its planning or its aftermath.
Durbin: Expired subsidy helped establish ethanol market
The 30-year old federal subsidy for ethanol was allowed by Congress to expire Sunday, a move that will result with rising prices at the gas pump. But Illinois U-S Senator Dick Durbin says the subsidy helped establish a market for ethanol, and help it stand up to oil companies. He says the focus now should be on those wealthy oil corporations. The Democrat says the mere notion that the country gives favorable tax treatment to them is 'indefensible'.
"If we are going to look honestly at our energy future, we cannot continue to subsidize oil companies for example that are doing quite well when it comes to profitability," said Durbin. "What we should be encouraging are renewable and sustainable fuels through a tax code that encourages development and research in those fields."
Durbin says the federal deficit made it hard to sustain the subsidy, but believes ethanol programs will grow in acceptance in the years ahead.
According to researchers, breast cancer survivors who meditate report better mental health
Researchers at the University of Missouri say breast cancer survivors who meditate report improved mental health. A Sinclair School of Nursing research team examined how mindfulness-based stress reduction affected the emotional well-being of breast cancer survivors.
The technique incorporates meditation and yoga to enhance physical awareness. The researchers found that participants in an eight- to 10-week mindfulness program had lower blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates after learning the techniques.
The cancer survivors also reported mood improvements. The study was published in the Western Journal of Nursing Research.