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What bills did the Missouri Legislature pass this year? See the list of top proposals.

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The Missouri Legislature’s regular session has come to a close and so has the hustle and bustle over the past five months in Jefferson City. Lawmakers passed 102 pieces of legislation this session and the fate of the proposals lies in the hands of Republican Governor Mike Parson.

Missouri House does the annual toss of the papers to celebrate the end of the 2019 legislative session (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

Here is a list of the top measures passed this session:

House Bill 192 would reduce the number of offenders being locked up in local jails and state prisons. The proposal would scrap mandatory minimum sentences for some nonviolent crimes and require the Missouri parole board to evaluate those currently serving mandatory minimums to decide if they should be released. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Bruce DeGroot, R-Chesterfield, would block people from getting thrown back in jail for not paying for their previous jail bills.

Senate Bill 391 would ban Missouri counties from enforcing stricter local health regulations than the state for large animal feed lots. Sen. Mike Bernskoetter, R-Jefferson City, sponsored the measure for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, otherwise known as CAFOs. The proposal would bar counties from limiting where CAFOs can be built and adopting tougher environmental regulations.

After shutting down Senate work for 26 hours this week, the Missouri Senate Conservative Caucus budged and let the chamber pass Senate Bill 68 – legislation largely inspired by General Motors. The compromise reached on the incentive package championed by fellow Republican Governor Mike Parson and Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, is meant to woo GM for a potential expansion in Wentzville. The plan would give $50 million in tax credits to automakers that invest at least $750 million in plant improvements. It would also provide tax credits earlier in a business expansion and financial aid for people seeking high demand jobs.

House Bill 126 would ban doctors from giving women abortions if they are eight weeks into their pregnancy. Physicians who violate the ban would face 5 to 15 years in prison. The proposal, sponsored by Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, would also prohibit physicians from providing an abortion if the baby would have Down syndrome and abortions sought because of the sex or race of the child. It does not have exemptions for victims of human trafficking, rape or incest. The measure would also require both parents to be told if a minor child wants an abortion.

On the final day of the session, the House passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 14, which is designed to pay for the repairs of 215 Missouri bridges. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, lets the Highways and Transportation Commission issue $301 million in bonds and pay the total amount back within seven years. The proposal would use about $50 million in general state revenue annually for seven years with an additional $35 million for a cost-share program for local infrastructure upgrades. The loan will amount to about $22.6 million in interest. Under the plan, the state would only be allowed to issue the bonds if Missouri gets a federal infrastructure grant.

Senate Bill 7 would shut down lawsuits with out-of-state defendants from filing court cases in St. Louis. The measure, sponsored by Sen. Ed Emery, R-Lamar, would also add restrictions on plaintiffs who attempt to join together in the same court case.

Senate Bill 1 would expand some nonviolent offenses to a list of possible crimes that could be erased from a person’s criminal record. Sen. Kiki Curls, D-Kansas City, is the sponsor of the legislation that would add property damage, fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, and stealing to the list crimes that could be deleted.

House Bill 499 aims to keep struggling state license offices open. The measure, sponsored by Rep. Aaron Griesheimer, R-Washington, would boost fees by about $2.50 to $3, depending on the type of service. The fee increases would be for vehicle licenses, operators’ licenses and vehicle title transfers, which have not been raised since 1999. The 174 license offices employ about 1,700 Missourians.

Senate Bill 336 would fix a loophole in state law that allows in-home daycare providers to care for four children but watch an unlimited number of relatives. Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur, has championed the legislation for 10 years. “Nathan’s Law” would limit the number of children to six with no more than three can be under the age of 2. Violators would face a misdemeanor and potential fines.

The Missouri Legislature has given its stamp of approval to a $29.7 billion state budget for the fiscal year beginning in July. The financial outline includes:

*$50 million in general revenue for a $301 million bond for bridge repairs and another $35 million for a cost-share program with local municipalities to fund road repairs.

*A 3% pay raise for state employees and another 1% salary boost for Department of Corrections workers

*$3.55 billion to fully fund the formula used to finance Missouri’s K-12 public schools – an increase of about $60 million from the current state budget year.

*$108 million to fund K-12 public school bus transportation costs – a $5 million increase from the current fiscal year.

*Core funding increased for all of Missouri’s public universities by $1 million with some, including Missouri State University, receiving as much as a $10 million boost. State Technical College received a $500,000 core increase and $500,000 for deferred maintenance.

*Prevents undocumented immigrants from receiving in-state college tuition

*$5 million for alternatives to jail program for pre-trail electronic ankle bracelets

*$5 million for rural broadband grants

*$8 million in flood recovery aid

*1.5% rate increases to Medicaid providers

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Missouri House expected to debate abortion bill on Friday

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The Missouri House Majority Leader’s office says the heartbeat abortion bill that has attracted national media attention is not expected to be debated in the House until Friday.

Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr speaks to Capitol reporters on February 27, 2019 in Jefferson City, as State Reps. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Adam Schnelting and Nick Schroer look on (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The office of House Majority Leader Rob Vescovo, R-Arnold, tells Missourinet debate is expected tomorrow.

Missouri’s 2019 legislative session ends tomorrow evening at 6, under the state Constitution.

The Missouri Senate voted early this morning to approve a bill that would ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected. The Senate vote came after about 15 hours of filibustering and negotiations.

The bill includes exceptions for medical emergencies, but not for rape or incest cases.

The Senate debate became heated at times, with State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, making a serious allegation about trafficking of fetal tissue.

“They removed the ban on fetal tissue trafficking. Right now, I’ve become very convinced for a number of reasons, that there is active trafficking of aborted fetal tissue from the abortion clinic on Forest Park Avenue in St. Louis to Washington University School of Medicine,” Onder said.

State Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Couer, disputes Onder’s claim.

“It’s already illegal and it’s simply untrue. It’s disappointing to hear the Senator speak that way,” Schupp says.

The House approved HB 126 in February by a 117-39 vote, with three Democratic lawmakers voting for the bill. They were State Reps. Steve Butz, D-St. Louis, Joe Runions, D-Grandview, and Rory Rowland, D-Independence.

The legislation, which is sponsored in the House by State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, would prohibit selective abortions due to sex, race or diagnosis of Down Syndrome.

Opponents include State Rep. Deb Lavander, D-Kirkwood, who has said that lawmakers should be focusing instead on Missouri’s high maternal mortality rate.

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Missouri House approves second GM Wentzville bill; overnight Senate filibuster continues

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The Missouri House voted Monday afternoon in Jefferson City to approve a second piece of legislation aimed at attracting a $1 billion expansion at the General Motors plant in Wentzville, and one also aimed at ending a Senate filibuster.

State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 13, 2019 in Jefferson City (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The House voted 114-31 to approve legislation from State Rep. Nick Schroer, R-O’Fallon, which does not include the Fast Track provision. Fast Track is a top priority of Governor Mike Parson (R), which allows Missourians to receive advanced training in high-demand areas.

“We did discuss including a provision in here which would ultimately not allow the tax credits to go into effect if the company fails to retain 90 percent of the amount of employees employed on the date of the execution,” Schroer says.

Removing Fast Track is aimed at attracting support from State Sens. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, and Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring. Neither senator want Fast Track attached to the GM bill.

Schroer, who also voted for the first bill on Thursday, tells House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, the second bill is aimed at giving the Senate another option.

“You know it’s something that I think, not only your (the Wiemann legislative) district, my district, but I think everybody in the state will benefit if not only GM invests $1 billion, but we have programs out there such as the underlying bill,” says Schroer.

The underlying bill Representative Schroer refers to is sponsored by State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau. It would also allow the state Department of Economic Development (DED) to require a qualified business to repay benefits if the business fails to maintain the new or retained jobs, within five years of receiving approval of benefits.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann addresses House colleagues about GM on May 13, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Schroer and Pro Tem Wiemann’s revised GM version includes $50 million in tax credits for General Motors.

Schroer says the bill is an incentive package for anyone willing to invest in Missouri.

“Have them come talk to the Department of Economic Development, and I can guarantee you that they’re going to try to work something out. If you’re willing to invest $1 billion in our state, we’ll try to see what we can do to compete against these other states to ensure that’s here in the Show-Me,” Schroer says.

Meantime, a filibuster continues on this Tuesday morning in the Missouri Senate, after the House approved the second version, one that supporters hoped would prevent a filibuster.

Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, says GM supports the original version that was approved Thursday evening by the House by a 92-51 vote.

That version included a package that would give $5 million per year in tax credits over ten years to automakers that invest at least $750 million in plant upgrades, and would provide tax credits earlier in a business expansion. That version also includes Fast Track.

Pro Tem Schatz has refused to accept the second version, telling KMIZ Television in a Capitol hallway that “the Senate is not taking options at this point. We’re just not. No, we’re not taking options. We have the governor’s priorities (first version) and we’re not taking options at this point.”

DED Director Rob Dixon tweeted this weekend that he met with GM on April 25, and that the company asked for workforce and infrastructure support, and asked DED to advance the full legislative package, including Fast Track and what’s known as “Deal Closing.”

Dixon’s weekend tweets also note that no decision has been made by GM, and that Missouri can secure the long-term viability of the plant with the full legislation. Dixon also says the governor’s proposal benefits industries in all corners of Missouri.

Both House versions are aimed at landing the $1 billion expansion in Wentzville, one of Missouri’s fastest-growing cities.

The GM plant in Wentzville has about 4,600 employees.

According to documents provided by Governor Parson’s office, the upgrades to the plant would not immediately create new jobs but would ensure that production remains in Wentzville long-term. The documents also say GM has 178 suppliers across Missouri, with the broader impact of the plant supporting more than 12,200 jobs statewide.

The plant produces vehicles such as the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

The 2019 legislative session ends on May 17.

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Missouri Senate deadlocks on governor’s General Motors bill

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The state Senate went into total stall mode Monday afternoon to block an incentives package for General Motors from making it to the floor. During this final week of the legislative session, the delay tactics have sidelined many other bills awaiting action.

Governor Mike Parson addresses firefighters during the Missouri State Firefighters Day in Jefferson City on March 6, 2019 (file photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI}

Members of Governor Mike Parson’s own party who live near the GM plant in Wentzville do not see eye to eye with him about legislation aimed at a potential expansion there. The six-member Conservative Caucus led the way with Sen. Bill Eigel, R-Weldon Spring, encouraging his fellow Republicans to find compromise on the $50 million tax credit bill. He’s not crazy about providing tax credits earlier in a business expansion and financial aid for people pursuing high demand jobs.

“In conversations directly with General Motors, in conversations that some of my colleagues have had, that neither of those provisions are necessary for us to put our best foot forward when it comes to the possible expansion in Wentzville. I want to make sure that we’re not passing anything that I philosophically have a lot of problems with that aren’t actually required to get this through,” says Eigel.

During floor debate, Lake St. Louis Sen. Bob Onder says he would support $50 million in tax credits, but not the other two components. Senate President Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, says GM wants the whole package – not just the $50 million. Onder does not buy Schatz’s remark. He says he talked to local officials in the Wentzville area.

State Senator Bob Onder

“They told me that it’s not as black and white as the governor has been making it. The governor has been making it sound like the GM deal doesn’t happen unless his whole Christmas tree package is approved,” says Onder. “It’s clear that that’s not the case.”

Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Springfield, questions what GM has a problem with.

“I’m still kind of waiting to hear what is the hang-up,” asks Burlison. “If we are at a place where we have a bill that meets the needs of General Motors and the outlier issues are the issues that have controversy and have had controversy for months, then what is it that we really care about? Do we really care about getting this issue resolved, getting this bill done for GM? Is that the real care? Or, it makes you wonder has the real desire all along been these outlier issues? Maybe the tail is wagging the dog – I don’t know.”

The Conservative Caucus had a glimmer of hope when the Missouri House took the unprecedented move of passing a scaled-down version of the package with $50 million in tax credits. Missouri Senate Republican leadership didn’t budge and refused to accept the alternative bill – sending the chamber back into a standoff.

The Conservative Caucus does not appear to be growing tired.

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) speaks to Capitol reporters on February 21, 2019 (photo courtesy of Senate Communications)

“We’re not in a place yet where we can say that there’s a path forward but we’re taking a look at that,” says Eigel. “It’s kind of a take it or leave it choice right now and right now we’re leaving it.”

Senate Democrats are sitting back and watching Republicans squabble in hopes of other controversial measures not passing.

Under the Missouri Constitution, the Legislature must adjourn its regular session by 6 p.m. on Friday.

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Missouri’s national spelling bee whiz kids prepare to take national stage

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Seventeen Missouri students are among 565 spellers in America preparing to be in the national spotlight for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 92nd annual competition will be May 26 through the 31 in National Harbor, Maryland.

Last year, Missouri had 15 spellers compete in the contest. Karthik Nemmani of McKinney, Texas, won last year’s bee by correctly spelling the word “koinonia.”

This year’s kids come from every region of the state, ages 11 to 14.

Meet Missouri’s national spelling bee whiz kids

Missouri State Representative Roeber still recovering from vehicle crash

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The Missouri House Speaker says a state lawmaker who was seriously injured in a March head-on collision will need to learn to walk again.

State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, speaks on the Missouri House floor on May 12, 2017 (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

Speaker Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, tells Missourinet that State Rep. Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, continues to recover. Roeber is no longer at MU Health Care in Columbia.

“Representative Roeber is now back in the Kansas City area, she continues to receive treatment but at least my understanding is her need for surgeries are done,” Haahr says.

The March collision happened on Highway 50 in west-central Missouri’s Syracuse. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says Roeber crossed the center line on Highway 50 and struck a second vehicle.

Roeber, who was first elected to the House in 2014, chairs the House Elementary and Secondary Education Committee. She will not return to the Capitol this session, which ends Friday at 6 p.m.

Meantime, legislation that would allow charter schools to expand to Missouri cities and charter counties with a population larger than 30,000 is finished for the year.

Chairwoman Roeber is the House sponsor. Her bill is House bill 581. 

House Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, R-O’Fallon, tells Missourinet the bill was removed from the House calendar because of the amount of time it sat in the calendar and was not brought up for debate.

Speaker Haahr told Missourinet recently the bill already faced an uncertain future with Roeber out. He noted that charter school legislation would have probably have had come through the Senate first, where it’s already been filibustered.

“If not, we always have next year to work on that issue,” says Haahr.

Proponents of charter school expansion legislation include the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the organization Excellence in Education in Action. Supporters say school choices benefit all in society and that expansion will give more children an opportunity to attend schools that meet their needs.

Bill opponents include the Missouri School Boards Association and the Missouri State Teachers Association. Opponents say removing students from public education impacts the overall district and that the fiscal impact of charter school expansion will hurt public school funding and programs.

Under current law, charter schools are only allowed in St. Louis, Kansas City and an unaccredited school district. Charter schools are publicly-funded schools which operate independently of traditional public schools.

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What to watch for in this final week of the Missouri Legislature’s session

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Get ready for what could be long hours and plenty of drama during this last week of the Missouri Legislature’s regular session. The GOP supermajority chambers are hoping to wrap up final passage of several priorities that not all members agree with, including some of the same party. Two small but mighty groups – the Senate Conservative Caucus and Senate Democrats – will likely determine how bumpy the road to the finish line will be and how much wheeling and dealing will go on this week when several controversial bills potentially resurface.

Missouri House (Photo courtesy of Tim Bommel, House Communications)

The next five days are also key for Gov. Mike Parson, R, who is experiencing his first legislative session as the state’s chief executive officer. He has repeatedly pushed for lawmakers to focus on workforce development issues and infrastructure funding.

The Missouri Senate is expected to consider this week a $50 million incentives package for a potential $1 billion expansion General Motors expansion at the plant in eastern Missouri’s Wentzville. The plan was formed about one week ago by Parson and other House and Senate allies. The Senate Conservative Caucus is expected to have plenty to say about Senate Bill 68, sponsored by Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield.

The package would give $5 million per year in tax credits over 10 years to carmakers that invest at least $750 million in plant upgrades and would provide tax credits earlier in a business expansion. It would also provide financial aid for people seeking high demand fields and workforce training improvements for major expansions.

Missouri Senate dais

The House passed the measure during the late night hours last Thursday before adjourning for the week. It wasn’t a slam dunk in that chamber. Representatives voted 92-51 in favor of the plan, with a few Republicans from the St. Louis region voting against the measure. The House had to call in absent members to get enough votes and 17 members did not even cast vote.

Other legislation that could reemerge is one that would block a possible high-voltage power line project from using eminent domain to take private land in eight northern Missouri counties. Those counties are Buchanan, Clinton, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Randolph, Monroe and Ralls.

Rep. Jim Hansen, R-Frankford, is sponsoring House Bill 1062 in response to Clean Line Energy’s Grain Belt Express line project. The proposal is not one that is separated along party lines because of the impacts it could have on agriculture – Missouri’s number one industry.

According to the Missouri Public Utility Alliance, 39 Missouri cities that have signed up to take power from the line at a $12.8 million annual savings.

The State Public Service Commission rejected the project twice before a state Supreme Court ruling last year allowed commissioners to reconsider the plan again. In March, the Commission unanimously approved the project.

Hansen, like many lawmakers in this final week, are searching for other progressing bills to attach their measures to.

Another controversial measure that could come up for Senate debate is one that would ask voters to overturn a voter-approved ballot issue to change the legislative redistricting process. The resolution intends to toss out the portion letting the state auditor evaluate a nonpartisan demographer and requiring the demographer to draw legislative districts.

House Joint Resolution 48 is sponsored by Rep. Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres. It would also ban all lobbyist gifts to lawmakers, instead of the current $5 maximum limit.

The Missouri Senate’s top two Republican leaders have pledged to pass this session the proposal known as “Clean Missouri”. Senate Leader Dave Schatz, R-Sullivan, and Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, strongly support getting the plan on the November 2020 ballot.

Comprehensive anti-abortion bills could also come up for debate in the upper chamber. House Bill 126 would, among other things, make abortions illegal if a fetal heartbeat is found, which could come as early as eight weeks. Among other things, Senate Bill 279 would criminalize doctors who perform abortions unless for medical emergencies, prohibit doctors from providing an abortion if the baby could have Down Syndrome or if the procedure is sought solely because of the sex or race of the child.

According to the Missouri Constitution, the Legislature must adjourn the session by 6 p.m. on Friday.

To see a list of the bills that have so far been passed by the General Assembly, click here.

UPDATE: Missouri House rejects conference committee report on undocumented immigrants

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The Missouri House voted 110-43 on Thursday in Jefferson City to reject a budget committee’s recommendation that would have allowed in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants.

Missouri House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith (R-Carthage) and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Dan Hegeman (R-Cosby) discuss the budget on May 9, 2019 (photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

The budget’s future is now uncertain, with Friday’s constitutional deadline looming.

The budget conference committee is comprised of a bipartisan group of House and Senate negotiators.

State Reps. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, and Phil Christofanelli, R-St. Peters, told House colleagues that their constituents in southwest Missouri and in St. Charles County oppose providing in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants. They note they have knocked on thousands of doors.

State Sen. Bob Onder, R-Lake St. Louis, tweeted Thursday, praising the House vote.

“Enough of the games. Time to fix HB#3 in conference and pass the budget,” Onder tweeted.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, criticized the House vote, saying the House hasn’t rejected a conference committee recommendation since 2009.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, also criticized the vote, saying the conference committee had compromised on the issue.

It’s unclear what happens next. The issue will likely head back to a conference committee.

The state Constitution requires Missouri lawmakers to approve a balanced budget by Friday.

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In final weeks of Missouri Legislature’s session, ‘tough path’ for charter schools, sports betting issue not dead, GM package to get fast tracked

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Members of the Missouri Legislature could have some long nights during these final two weeks of the regular session. Lawmakers are expected to focus their time and effort on passing a balanced fiscal year 2020 state budget by Friday’s deadline, settling on an infrastructure funding plan and an incentives package to offer to automotive giant GM.

Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz (R-Sullivan) speaks to Capitol reporters on February 21, 2019 (photo courtesy of Senate Communications)

State officials used the weekend to gather a plan to pitch to GM, in hopes of landing a possible $1 billion expansion at the Wentzville plant in eastern Missouri. Senate President Dave Schatz, Republican-Sullivan, says workforce development measures and additional infrastructure changes in that region are expected to be a part of the plan, among other things.

“Specifically, to traffic issues that revolve around Wentzville. So, there will be some of the cost share funds that are in the current budget right now that could be utilized to address some of those issues,” says Schatz.

As of Monday afternoon, Schatz tells Missourinet lawmakers are finalizing the language in the bill.

Republican leadership is confident an incentives package will make it to the governor’s desk by the end of the regular session.

Meanwhile, the Senate could debate whether to legalize sports betting in Missouri. Several related bills have been filed in both chambers. Two Senate sports betting bills are awaiting Senate debate and another is awaiting a Senate committee decision.

“I don’t think that a sports betting conversation is absolutely gone by the wayside yet,” says Majority Floor Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia

Two of Missouri’s bordering states – Iowa and Tennessee – passed measures this session that would legalize sports betting. The bills await action by their governors. Indiana and Montana have passed similar legislation.

Rowden thinks a proposed expansion of charter schools has a “tough path” in the final weeks. A House proposal would let charter schools open in Missouri cities or charter counties with a population of at least 30,000.

“I am about as certain as I know how to be that we would have the votes to pass a charter expansion bill out of the Senate,” he says. “With some of the issues that the sponsor had in the House and some other family illnesses that have kept a couple House members, I think their path is a little tougher.”

House bill sponsor Rebecca Roeber, R-Lee’s Summit, was in a serious car crash earlier this year that has kept her from returning to the Legislature.

Current law allows charter schools in Kansas City, St. Louis and any unaccredited Missouri school district. Charter schools are publicly funded that operate independently of traditional public schools.

Several other bills could make an appearance in the next two weeks, including a statewide prescription drug monitoring program, further abortion regulations, banning private companies from using eminent domain to build above ground utility lines and restricting Missouri counties from enforcing regulations tougher than the state for large cattle operations.

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Springfield National Weather Service office issued 42 tornado warnings on Tuesday (AUDIO)

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Survey teams from the National Weather Service (NWS) in Springfield have confirmed that at least two tornadoes struck Tuesday in southwest Missouri’s Barry County: one near Pleasant Ridge and the other near Wheaton.

The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down near southwest Missouri’s Rocky Comfort on April 30, 2019 (map courtesy of NWS Springfield Twitter page)

NWS Springfield meteorologist Corey Rothstein says the tornado near Wheaton packed 110-mile-per-hour winds.

“Damage with that was multiple buildings, four of which were barns that were completely destroyed. There were also hundreds of trees that were blown down with that,” Rothstein says.

There were no serious injuries or deaths in either tornado.

NWS survey teams also have confirmed that a tornado touched down near Pleasant Ridge. Mr. Rothstein tells Missourinet the tornado damaged several outbuildings and uprooted numerous trees.

“That was an EF-0 (tornado). We had wind damage with that of 85 miles-per-hour. The path width was about 200 yards, and it was on the ground for five miles,” says Rothstein.

The NWS in Springfield issued 42 tornado warnings on Tuesday. Rothstein says two additional survey teams are in the field today.

“We’ve been looking at other locations such as Miller, Rogersville, Ozark. There’s a few other locations,” Rothstein says.

Survey crews are investigating to determine if a tornado struck a subdivision in Ozark, where about 100 homes are damaged. Three residents in the subdivision sustained non life-threatening injuries.

Missourinet Springfield affiliate KSGF reports Ozark Police are guarding the subdivision, to prevent looting.

Some schools canceled classes on Wednesday because of the storm damage in communities.

The NWS warned yesterday that it would be “one of the most severe weather days we’ve seen in awhile” across the Ozarks, warning that tornadoes and apple-sized hail was possible.

Meantime, flooding has been an issue across the Ozarks. Rothstein says three to six inches of additional rainfall have fallen in southwest Missouri in the past 48 hours.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Department tells Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 that a man drowned Tuesday night during flash flooding near Hunter Creek.

The station says 59-year-old Robbie Turner was camping in a conservation area known as Vera Cruz, when flash flooding occurred.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with National Weather Service (NWS) Springfield meteorologist Corey Rothstein, which was recorded on April 30, 2019:

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