Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe AUDIT FINDS FLAWS IN MISSOURI FOSTER CARE An independent audit shows Missouri often falls short of its mandate to fully investigate foster parents and check on children in foster care. Advertisement The report shows many workers fail to make the necessary follow-up criminal background checks on foster parents involved in the state program. Such checks are required by state statutes every two years. More than a dozen recommendations are made in the audit, which came after a thorough review of more than 280 children in foster care and the records of some 88 foster parents. The state panel found five Missouri children died from abuse or neglect while in foster care during the past few years. Two-thirds of the regularly scheduled meetings between foster parents and social service workers were canceled or not held as required. CELL TOWER COMPANY TO SELL OFF MASTS Advertisement One of the nation's biggest owners of towers used by cellular phone companies is selling off some of its holdings. SBA Communications, a buyer and builder of communications towers, says it is cutting a growing debt load. The Miami Herald says SBA, based in Boa Raton, will sell more than one-fifth of the towers it currently owns or leases but has not yet decided the exact number that will go on the auction block. It is estimated SBA will sell between 680 and 800 of its masts, generating a possible $203 million. Many of its towers are currently leased to Sprint and Nextel. The company, in a prepared statement, noted the towers are in good shape and in good locations. The sale is part of a game plan put together in the wake of last quarter's financial statement that showed a rising tide of red ink at SBA. POPULAR GOLF TOURNEY GETS NEW NAME Officials at the National Golf Club of Kansas City say they are renaming a popular yearly tournament held at that facility. The Kansas City Star reports the Bayer Advantage Invitational Golf Tournament will now be known as the Bayer Advantage Celebrity Pro-Am Tournament. The event is sponsored by the Bayer's Animal Health Division. Advertisement Course officials told local media that among the celebrities recently signed for this year's event are actors John O'Hurley and Kevin Sorbo. Additionally, female pro golfer Suzy Whaley -- who recently gained international attention by qualifying for a PGA event -- will participate. The new additions to the roster join the following personalities who already had signed on for the event: Rush Limbaugh, Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish, Dan Quayle, Marty Schottenheimer, George Brett and Roy Williams. For more information check out bayeradvantagecelebrityproam.com on the Internet. CAMRY STILL THIEVES' FAVORITE The 1989 Toyota Camry remained the favorite of car thieves for the sixth straight year, according to CCC Information Services Inc., a Chicago-based insurance industry tracker that compiles an annual list of most-stolen vehicles. The 1989 Camry was the most stolen vehicle for the fourth time in five years. The 1991 Camry was No. 2 followed by the 1990 Camry, the 2000 Honda Civic and 1994 Accord. The report said theft of classic muscle cars decreased, with the once highly prized Chevrolet Camaro falling from 16th to 36th place on the most-stolen list. Advertisement Thefts of full-sized cars also declined while minivans and sport-utility vehicles showed a 10 percent increase but still didn't crack the top 25.
