Month: November 2024

Both directions of I-44 between the 163 and 169 mile markers in Pulaski County closed Wednesday morning due to flooding from the Big Piney River.

MoDOT says the closure was expected to last several hours.

The Doolittle Fire Protection District posted on its Facebook page the only way for westbound traffic to get into Pulaski County is to take Highway D at Jerome to Highway 28.

MoDOT says to avoid the closures, drivers going eastbound from the Springfield area should take Highway 65 to 60 all the way to Highway 63.

Westbound drivers in Rolla headed to Springfield were urged to exit the interstate at the Highway 63 exit, then take 63 to Highway 60 and then onto 65 in Springfield.

As of Wednesday morning, MoDOT says more than 100 roads across the state are closed due to flooding.

Check out road closures throughout the state here with the MoDOT Traveler Information Map.

It was an up-and-down night for Missouri constitutional amendments, as proposal such as legalized sports betting and the ban of ranked choice voting passed, while others like the potential Lake of the Ozarks casino failed this cycle.

The most overwhelming passage came from Amendment 7, which prohibits ranked choice voting, as well as the possibility of non-citizens voting. It passed with close to a million more “YES” votes than “NO”s.

Amendment 2, which legalizes sports betting, was a narrow battle for much of the night, but passed with a narrow margin. With sports betting legalized in the state, 10% of all revenue will be taxed at the state level.

While not a constitutional amendment, Proposition A was passed with flying colors, as the state’s minimum wage will now see a steady increase, and will require most employers across Missouri to offer paid sick-leave.

On the other side, Missouri Amendment 5, which would have approved a casino location near Lake of the Ozarks, failed to pass with over 52% of Missourians voting against.

Amendment 6, which would have authorized a state policy on court fees to aid in funding retirement funds and pensions for sheriffs, prosecutors, and other law enforcement officers statewide, failed to pass as well.

The Laclede County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a shooting incident Sunday night in Lebanon.

Court documents have charged 53-year-old John Hillard of Springfield is charged with unlawful use of a weapon.

Deputies responded to a report of shots being fired on Penner Lane and found shots had been fired into an apartment where four people were inside.

A 21-year-old woman was taken to a hospital for injuries.

Deputies later stopped a car driven by Hillard and arrested him.

He told investigators two other people fired the shots.

Investigators say Hillard was on parole from Arkansas and not supposed to be in Missouri.

In local issues on Election Day, with under 60 percent of the votes cast, Springfield voters passed a three fourths cent sales tax and John Russell was elected Commissioner for District 2.

Mansfield said no to a law enforcement tax. Voters in Monett voted to prohibit a roundabout to be built on Highway 37.

Dade County voters chose to freeze property taxes for seniors and prohibit recreational marijuana dispensaries.

Stone, Polk, and Webster County also voted to freeze property taxes for seniors.

Douglas and Polk County passed a use tax. In the City of Morrisville, Proposition 1 passed but Proposition 2 failed.

Also in Stone County, a property tax for Indian Point went down in defeat.

The National Weather Service in Springfield says a tornado touched down Monday night in Stone County.

The Weather Service says an E-F-0 tornado touched down a mile northwest of Elsey.

The tornado had 77 mile per hour winds.

It was 50 yards wide and a path on 1-point 5 miles.

In congressional and senate races, Josh Hawley won reelection to the Senate over Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce.

Both Eric Burlison and Mark Alford were reelected to congress.

Andrew Bailey was reelected to the office of Missouri Attorney General.

Vivek Malek was reelected Missouri State Treasurer.

Dave Wasinger was elected Lt. Governor and Denny Hoskins was elected Secretary of State.    

Amendment 3, which will put the constitutional right to abortion into Missouri law, is now projecting to pass.

The hotly-debated amendment will ensure that the right to abortion remains in the state, and replace a ban that had previously been put into place several years ago.

Missouri became the first state in the U.S. with an abortion ban shortly after Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2022.

The new amendment will allow for the right to an abortion, under any circumstance, up until the point of fetal liability.

Current Missouri law has a near total ban on abortion, with the only exception being if a woman’s life was in immediate danger.

This news comes as states like Florida voted down amendments and provisions to restore abortion rights in other conservative-stronghold states across America.