Retail Sales Associate

Lincoln University chartered as home of Scouting America Explorer Post 6265. Office of Communications and Marketing Young Hall 820 Chestnut Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 July 31st, 2026 Lincoln University of Missouri is expanding career exploration opportunities for local youth through Explorer Post 6265, a new partnership with Scouting America and area public safety agencies focused on public safety and emergency management careers. Lincoln University of Missouri is expanding opportunities for local high school students to explore careers in public safety and emergency management through a new partnership with Scouting America and area public safety agencies. The university has officially been chartered as the sponsoring organization for Scouting America's Explorer Post 6265, providing youth ages 14-21 with hands-on learning experiences, mentorship and career exploration in law enforcement, fire service, emergency medical services and emergency management. The Explorer Post is the result of a collaborative effort among Lincoln University, local public safety agencies and Scouting America. Initial approval for the program was granted by the Jefferson City Council last fall, and following completion of the chartering process, Scouting America has officially issued the charter for Explorer Post 6265. The program is designed to connect youth ages 14-21 with hands-on learning experiences and career exploration in public safety fields, including fire service, emergency medical services and law enforcement. Through partnerships with local agencies, participants will have opportunities to gain practical experience while learning about careers in public service. "Explorer Post 6265 carries forward Lincoln University's legacy of service by creating opportunities for students to explore careers that make a difference in their communities," said Darius Watson, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Professional Studies and Assistant Provost for Workforce Development. For Lincoln University, the Explorer Post strengthens partnerships with area public safety agencies while creating a direct pathway for recruiting local high school students into the university's expanding security sciences and emergency management initiatives. The program's career-focused approach aligns with Lincoln University's continued efforts to expand emergency services education, training and certification opportunities, including the Law Enforcement Training Academy (LULETA) and the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certificate program. University News

Scouting America drops diversity initiatives from event after pressure from the Pentagon. July 30, 2026 at 12:16 pm Updated July 30, 2026 at 12:22 pm The Associated Press DALLAS (AP) - One of Scouting America's biggest gatherings has eliminated dedicated spaces for gay youth, women and scouts of color as the organization faces pressure from the Pentagon to pull back diversity efforts. The changes at the National Jamboree, which ends Friday, reflect shifts made by Scouting America since the organization became a target of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over what he calls "woke" policies. Some scouts who had planned to attend the event in West Virginia said they backed out because Scouting America scrapped the inclusion initiatives it previously celebrated. Hegseth threatened to end the Pentagon's century-old partnership with Scouting America if it did not make changes including refocusing away from diversity initiatives. The organization, previously known as Boy Scouts of America, rebranded in 2024 to emphasize inclusion and the growing number of girls in the scouting ranks. "Scouting fundamentally is a safe place for young people to have fun," said Samuel J. Aronson, an assistant scoutmaster who has organized inclusive events at previous national events. "In the absence of these spaces, we're denying all that, both the safety and the fun, to thousands of young people." Thousands attend the National Jamboree. This year, about 15,000 scouts, leaders and volunteers from across the country are attending the 10-day event in the mountains of West Virginia. In addition to activities including mountain biking and kayaking, the gathering hosts leadership programs and educational sessions. Advertising A Scouting America spokesperson said the organization remains "fully committed to welcoming and serving all youth," but did not address questions about the changes to the jamboree. The Pentagon made a deal with Scouting America in February but the two sides have given conflicting accounts of that agreement. This month, a gay rights activist obtained the memo outlining the agreement from the Defense Department after filing a lawsuit, arguing that clarity was of public importance. The six-page document spells out ways the Pentagon will monitor compliance, including that officials from each organization would have "periodic touchpoints and meet" as needed. It was obtained by James Dale, who was expelled from the Boy Scouts in the early 1990s for being gay and later sued over discrimination. He equated the Pentagon's tactics to the actions of a bully. "They basically have their thumb on the organization, threatening them under constant pressure," Dale said. Deal preserves ties between Scouting America and Pentagon. The scouts and the military have long held close ties; The military provides logistical support for the jamboree and some scout troops meet on or near bases. Asked about the implementation and monitoring of the deal, a Pentagon spokesperson referred to previous comments by Hegseth. Advertising In February, Hegseth posted a video that said his department would "vigorously review" changes made by Scouting America and would cease the military's longtime support of the organization if it failed to comply by late August. Some scouts disappointed by changes to inclusion efforts. John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old college student and Eagle Scout, has been disheartened by the agreement. He joined the scout ranks in first grade and said he had been looking forward to staffing the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts at this year's Jamboree. Segebarth, who is gay and was elected by peers as a national officer for scouts in 2024, said the removal of inclusive spaces is a sharp reversal for Scouting America. National scouting events in recent years included community spaces for girls, scouts of color, LGBTQ+ scouts and persons with disabilities, according to Aronson. "Scouting's kind of walking back on its values that they told me they believed in," said Segebarth who, along with Aronson, decided not to attend the jamboree this year. It was at a community tent that Layla Grace found the first place where she could talk openly about being a transgender female. Now a 21-year-old assistant scoutmaster, Grace had also planned to staff the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts in West Virginia this year. When the spaces were canceled, Grace said she almost didn't go to the jamboree but decided she wanted to be there to help those in need. She wound up volunteering at an area dedicated to addressing issues that include mental health, food security and education. Advertising And she's trying to fill the gap left by the removal of inclusive areas. "I am wearing so many rainbows on me, my right hand has my nails painted in the lesbian flag and my left hand has my nails painted in the transgender flag," she said. "I am being as loud as I can to do my best to hopefully make up for the lack of community spaces." Associated Press reporter Ben Finley contributed to this report from Washington. JAMIE STENGLE. See more Seattle Times content on Google The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. Rather, Seattle Cricket focus on discussions related to local stories by its own staff. You can read more about its community policies here.

'Catholic Scouting America' rebrand clarifies faith-based mission for new generation. The National Catholic Committee on Scouting announced in June that it has adopted a new public name, Catholic Scouting America, according to a July 24 statement. The organization said the change is intended to clarify and strengthen its century-long commitment to faith, family, and adventure through values-based lessons grounded in the Catholic faith. Catholic Scouting America partners with Scouting America - formerly known as Boy Scouts of America until May 2024 - allowing boys and girls in Catholic Scouting access to activities and programs established over generations. As of 2024, there were 130,888 active Catholic Scouts and leaders across 194 U.S. dioceses and eparchies with a Catholic Committee on Scouting. Service projects by these groups provided an estimated value of $52 million in aid. Scouts are able to participate in religious activities and earn emblems such as Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei for Cub Scouts, Ad Altare Dei for Roman Catholic Scouts, Light is Life for Eastern rite Catholics, and Pope Pius XII. In 2024 alone, 4,575 religious emblems were awarded. Bill Guglielmi, national chairman of Catholic Scouting America, said, "We changed our 'doing business name' to Catholic Scouting America because we have found through research that the National Catholic Committee on Scouting name is unclear." He added, "When parents look up the National Catholic Committee on Scouting...they get confused. 'What are you really doing? What is your mission?'" Guglielmi said the new name aligns more closely with their mission and reduces confusion among those unfamiliar with their work. Guglielmi also addressed how the organization interacts with its national partner: "We are advisers to Scouting America. I sit on the international and the national Religious Relationships Committee. Any decision or any discussion of duty to God or reverence in a Scout Oath or in Scout Law...our advisory bureau...takes part in - so we keep them on target there." He highlighted ongoing evangelization efforts including a recent novena involving over 35,000 participants nationwide. Reflecting on why youth should join the group today, Guglielmi said, "American youth today are yearning for something - that is not tied to the internet; not tied to social media; that has an outdoor component; that is led by people who are dedicated...and who have undergone necessary background checks." He noted data from Georgetown University indicating that around one-third of new priests had scouting experience - a point he described as important for supporting young people's vocational discernment.