Jim Jackson, Ph.D., was named Outstanding Academic Advisor during the 50th commencement ceremonies recently at Missouri Southern State University.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Much of the national focus in the Stock Market of late has been the rising price of a barrel of crude, which topped out June 16 at nearly $140 per barrel, and is driving the cost of goods and services off the scale in virtually every section of industry across the country.

Similarly, national and local newspaper publishers are feeling the crunch big time from falling advertising revenues, rising cost of printing paper, increased cost of finished product delivery, and growing competition from the electronic superhighway – the Internet.

This week, the Journal examines the impact of these financial hardships on one large publishing magnate that owns several publications in the region.

JOPLIN, Mo. — Twice as many Joplin employers feel they are about to hire more staff in the third quarter of 2008 than the nationwide average. Manpower's recent survey of 14,000 employers in 460 markets included Joplin – where 61 percent of companies interviewed said they were expanding, versus the 26 percent national average.

Journal Reporter Robert L. Roach explores the local employment markets and the impact on those markets from the increased road traffic through the area in this week's Special Report.