A weed with a strange name and a dreaded reputation will be added to the state’s noxious weed list if a bill passing the House becomes law. The House has overwhelmingly approved adding Kudzu to the official state weed “hit list”. That, despite objections from some that the bill imposes work on local governments without helping them offset the cost. Representative Charlie Ballard of Marshfield raised the point with the sponsor during House debate. Kudzu has become a horrid pest in the southern part of the United States, growing so out of control it has been known to tear down trees. It currently has a small hold on 17 southern Missouri counties.
