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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - University of Missouri workers throughout the four-campus system will soon be able to receive domestic partner benefits.

The university's Board of Curators voted unanimously last week to expand health insurance coverage and other benefits to same-sex couples. The expansion also extends to a broader group known as "sponsored adult dependents," which includes unmarried heterosexual couples who live together.

The expanded benefits begin in 2014 and come after years of lobbying efforts by system employees.

 

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - University of Missouri curators are planning their search for a new chancellor for the Columbia campus to succeed the retiring Brady Deaton.

The governing board met behind closed doors Friday morning, two days after Deaton announced he will retire in November after nearly a decade as chancellor.

He will be executive director of a new research center bearing the name of the chancellor and his wife: the Brady and Ann Deaton Institute for University Leadership in International Development.

The 70-year-old Deaton is a former Peace Corps volunteer and agricultural economist who leads a presidential panel on global development.

University system president Tim Wolfe and curators' chairman Wayne Goode planned to discuss the search for Deaton's replacement later Friday.

 

Mizzou is looking for a new Chancellor. Brady Deaton announced he will leave the position effective November 15.

Deaton became chancellor in 2004 and will continue to serve as chancellor emeritus. The school has not named a successor.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Some University of Missouri students preparing to return to the family farm are analyzing their own family finances for firsthand lessons in the economics of modern agriculture.

Agricultural economist Kevin Moore intentionally focuses on data in his "Returning to the Farm" class. Instead of working with combines or learning the proper chemical mixes of common fertilizers, Moore's students create business plans using their family's financial information.

The statistical approach could lead to a disheartening conclusion: The family farm may not survive another generation.

But the data-driven emphasis allows others the sort of systematic, long-term planning that their parents and grandparents could only approximate by scratching out financial estimates on a yellowed legal pad.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Not so long ago, leaving college dorm life for an off-campus apartment in Columbia meant a slight upgrade in niceties — with the bigger prize of greater independence and more freedom from prying parents.

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Now, students at the University of Missouri are flocking to high-end downtown apartment complexes that boast granite countertops, enormous flat-screen TVs and an ample taste of the good life with such amenities as rooftop swimming pools and on-site tanning salons.

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The desirous downtown destinations are forcing city leaders to confront thornier questions about parking, noise and historical preservation. Downtown development is a prominent issue in the city's mayoral race. It comes soon after a St. Louis developer backed away from plans to tear down the historic Niedermeyer building and replace it with more student high-rises.

After winning the A-10 tournament 62-56 over VCU Sunday, the Saint Louis University Billikens are the #4 seed in the Midwest for the NCAA tournament. They'll take on #13 New Mexico State on Thursday.

The Missouri Tigers also got a ticket to the big dance. Mizzou is the ninth seed in the Midwest. They'll face the No. 8 seed Colorado State on Thursday.

If Mizzou and SLU make it through the first two rounds of the tournament, they would face each other in the Elite 8.

After an up and down season, the Fighting Illini made it into the tournament with a No. 7 seed and will face No. 10 seed Colorado in the Eastern Region on Friday.

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - Laurence Bowers had 24 points and 11 rebounds in his final home game, contributing to a rough evening for old coach Mike Anderson's first appearance as a visitor and helping Missouri finish unbeaten at home with a 93-63 rout over Arkansas on Tuesday night.

Fellow senior Jabari Brown helped finish off the Razorbacks early with 13 of his 23 points in a dominant first half with the Tigers (22-8-11-6 SEC) leading 48-22. The third senior, Alex Oriakhi, had 10 points and eight rebounds and topped 1,000 career rebounds.

BJ Young had 27 points for Arkansas (18-12, 9-8), which shot just 31 percent in the first half while going 1 for 15 from 3-point range. The Razorbacks surrendered a season high in points.

Missouri finished 17-0 at home for its second unbeaten slate in five years. The Tigers shot 58 percent in the first half and 57 percent the rest of the way.

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) - Fabyon Harris had 17 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 12 seconds left, to help Texas A&M to a 70-68 victory over No. 21 Missouri on Thursday night.

The loss dropped the Tigers (16-6, 5-4 Southeastern Conference) to 0-5 in true road games. They have won three games at neutral sites this season.

Laurence Bowers was wide open when he hit a 3-pointer to give Missouri its first lead of the game, 68-67, with 53 seconds left.

Harris turned it over on Texas A&M's next possession, but Phil Pressey gave it right back with a turnover to set up the winning score for A&M (14-8, 4-5).

Ray Turner blocked a shot by Keion Bell with 2 seconds left to secure the win.

Alex Oriakhi led the Tigers with 15 points.