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Parson says he’s focusing on being Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor

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COLUMBIA, Mo.- Missouri’s Lieutenant Governor says he’s focused on the job he was elected to in November 2016.

Missouri Lieutenant Governor Mike Parson arrives at the Boone County emergency communications center in Columbia on May 22, 2018 (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Republican Mike Parson traveled to Columbia Tuesday. He toured the $21 million state-of-the-art Boone County emergency communications center.

After his tour, Parson spoke to reporters, including Missourinet. He says “time” will take care of the situation involving Governor Eric Greitens (R).

“One way or the other, time’s going to take care of it and we’ll just have to see how that comes out,” Parson says.

Parson discussed the historic special session, which began Friday evening in Jefferson City.

“There’s a lot of good people (state lawmakers) trying to do a tough job right now, but I’m confident that they’ll complete the job, whatever the finished product is, it will be done,” says Parson.

Parson says whatever is done will be for what’s best for Missouri.

The bipartisan House committee investigating the governor meets again Wednesday morning in Jefferson City. The House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight is set to meet at 9 a.m.

Greitens has admitted to an affair with his former hairdresser, but has denied any wrongdoing.

A television reporter asked Parson Tuesday if he’s “prepping himself in any way for any next steps” that could happen.

“I know what my obligations are if something should ever occur, I knew that in the beginning what they were, you just never thought it was going to happen,” Parson says. “So my job right now is to focus on being the best lieutenant governor I can be and if that oath comes to effect and my job expands then we’ll be ready for that expansion.”

Missourinet asked Parson if he talks to Governor Greitens much.

“Have not talked to him for awhile to say the least, but anyhow there’s a lot going on,” says Parson. “He’s, right now, the session’s been on, we’ve been very busy during the session time trying to move legislation forward for the state of Missouri.”

Parson also spoke Tuesday to Columbia Chamber of Commerce members on the Mizzou campus, and toured Veterans United Home Loans’ newest location on Vandiver.

Parson tells Missourinet the 28,000 square feet Boone County emergency communications center receives about 80,000 911 calls annually.

Center officials tell Parson the massive facility is designed to withstand 250 mile-per-hour winds.

Mike Parson was elected Missouri’s 47th Lieutenant Governor in 2016, beating former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis. Parson receives the most votes of any Lieutenant Governor in Missouri history.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Missouri town receives seven inches of rain in two hours; cleanup underway

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(Program director Chad Speakar at Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio contributed to this story)

PARK HILLS, Mo.- About 40 homes in southeast Missouri’s Park Hills have water damage after the city received seven to eight inches of rainfall in a two-hour period on Monday afternoon.

The southeast Missouri town of Park Hills received seven to eight inches of rain on Monday (photo courtesy of Chad Speakar at Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio}

Park Hills city administrator Mark McFarland tells Missourinet Farmington affiliate KREI Radio (AM 800) that surrounding towns have offered to help.

“We’ve had a lot of people volunteer. The city of Desloge was gracious enough to offer to help. The city of Ste. Gen (Ste. Genevieve) called and wanted to help,” McFarland says.

McFarland says the city has everything under control, at this point.

He says one home was completely destroyed by flooding, and was pushed off its foundation.

Utility crews have restored power in Park Hills, which has about 9,000 residents.

“We have 14 businesses with minor damage. We have two city streets that have major damage,” says McFarland.

McFarland says there were no injuries in the flooding, and he credits firefighters for blocking streets.

Cleanup efforts are underway in Park Hills, which is located in the St. Francis range of the Ozark Mountains. The city’s website says the city “boasts historic antebellum roots from the early lead mining industry, recreational activities, including the ATV area at St. Joe Park, great family parks and a city pool, a downtown with diverse architecture, and several surrounding wineries.”

McFarland says the city will hold a bulk trash pickup next week for larger items that need to be discarded.

KREI reports Unico Bank served barbecue to both flood victims and relief workers on Tuesday.

Copyright © 2018 · Missourinet

Severe storms to sweep into Missouri Wednesday night (MAP)

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The National Weather Service warns that northwest Missouri will begin to see storms between 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., and severe weather begins in metro Kansas City between 7:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Meteorologist Jenni Laughlin told Missourinet that the storms will threaten the entire state Thursday, with the threat of straight-line winds, heavy rain, damaging hail and possible flooding.

Four tornadoes and high winds leave damage across southwest Missouri

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The weekend kicked off in southwest Missouri damaging winds and four tornadoes Friday evening.

Photo from Jeffrey Pettibone in Forsyth, Missouri near Branson courtesy of KOLR-TV

According to KOLR-TV meteorologist Wes Peery, the strongest twister was an EF-2 with wind speeds of 130 miles-per-hour in Macomb, which is roughly 50 miles east of Springfield.

EF-1 tornadoes with winds of 95-to100 miles per hour were reported in Dawson, Success, and Licking.

KOLR reports that Taney County saw straight-line wind damage to a highway bridge project in Forsyth near Branson.  Supplies and debris were blown across the structure of the Highway 76 bridge construction project while the surrounding landscape was strewn with debris.

KOLR reports a home was completely destroyed near Norwood along U.S. Highway 60 east of Springfield.  Homeowner Jack Chadwell says the house is a total loss.

“I think everything was destroyed,” said Chadwell.  “We got a few things out of the cabinet but all the stuff in there is destroyed. What the tornado didn’t take the rain came in last night.”

No one was inside the home when the twister blew through.  Chadwell says most of the house was leveled and shredded into rubble.

“You couldn’t possibly look at this and not be amazed at the power of that storm,” Chadwell said.  “We’re glad to be alive. And things could be worse.”

About 10 miles east of Norwood on Highway 60 is Mountain Grove, where a homeowner was home with his grandkids watching weather coverage. when the worst of the storms hit.  George Scott Told KOLR it all lasted about a minute and a half.

“All we heard was what we thought was hail, but it was probably just debris that was flying around,” Scott said. “The windows were fluctuating in and out and you could get a pressure sense in your ears like your ears popping.”

Scott’s house was damaged by straight line winds.  The garage was destroyed, as well as everything in it while the home’s roof, deck, and trees in the yard also received some damage.

Missourinet media partner KOLR-TV provided the content of this story

So how did a mid-Missouri town get so much rain in just a few hours last week?

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The mid-Missouri town of Moberly experienced its sixth-highest one-day rainfall total last Monday.  The downpour followed a much more mild prediction from weather forecasters.  Meteorologist Joey Welsh with the National Weather Service in Pleasant Hill says the storm resembled events when a lot of snow falls in a very narrowly confined area.

Flooding in mid-Missouri’s Moberly on March 26th, 2018 Moberly (Photo courtesy of KWIX radio)

“The atmosphere, we had a lot of moisture coming off the eastern Pacific actually,” said Welsh.  “It was a very deep moisture field.  Anytime you have that environment, modest forcing to kind of tap into that moisture, you can get a lot of efficient rainfall in a short amount of time. We had a little bit of instability to work with and combined with all that moisture, things going on at the surface, we had pretty efficient rainfall.”

Welsh admits the intensity of the storm caught National Weather Service forecasters off-guard.

“We were anticipating some isolated flooding, but we weren’t anticipating this kind of long axis of high rainfall totals,” Welsh said.  “It was pretty short lived.  It mostly occurred in the morning.”

Welsh went on to analyze last Monday’s historic rainfall total compared to a snowstorm.

“It depends on your snow ratios, but that would easily equate to the double-digits,” said Welsh.  “But you have to have your temperature profile just right to equate to that.  It would have been a lot of snowfall.  Our freezing height was pretty low, which is not unexpected going into the warm season.  We were able to get a little bit of ice and hail.  But fortunately, we didn’t have to worry about the snow.”

Prior to the almost five and a half inches of rainfall recorded last Monday, Moberly had not experienced five-plus inches of one-day rainfall since 1999. Moberly had last topped four inches of rain in April of 2013.

Missourinet affiliate KWIX provided content for this story

Flooding closes several Missouri roadways

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About 40 roads are closed today in Missouri from flooding and the number continues to fluctuate as the weather and conditions change. According to Sally Oxenhandler with the Missouri Transportation Department, the highest concentration of flooded roads appears to be in southwest Missouri, but almost every region of the state, except for northwest Missouri, is experiencing some flooding mainly on minor routes.

Photo courtesy of KWIX radio

Several highways to the south and east of Springfield have been closed. Roaring River State Park in southwest Missouri has evacuated its campgrounds because of flooding.

National Weather Service Meteorologist Megan Terry tells Missourinet affiliate KSGF in Springfield that southwest Missouri has received about three inches of rain today. Another one to two inches of rain is expected for that area tonight.

Several roads are also closed in mid-Missouri, especially north of Interstate 70. Moberly had about five inches of rain on Monday – the sixth highest total in one day for the northern Missouri community. A Moberly roadway beneath an underpass flooded with water about 5-6 feet deep, causing two vehicles to get completely submerged in water. According to Missourinet affiliate KWIX in Moberly, the town’s highest one-day rainfall total of 8.28 inches is from April 1973.

According to Missourinet affiliate KMMO in Marshall, first responders rescued a motorist in west-central Missouri’s Pettis County on Monday. A press release from Pettis County Fire Protection District Chief Mike Harding, says personnel found a vehicle which had been swept off of a bridge. Water was up to the hood of the truck, and the subject reportedly was on top of the vehicle. A Pettis County Water rescue team took about 30 minutes to get the person out of the water. No injuries were reported.

Rainfall is expected to continue tonight and possibly tomorrow, especially in southwest Missouri. Flash flooding is expected Tuesday night south of Clinton in west-central Missouri.

Oxenhandler stresses to drivers to turn around, don’t drown and never to move barricades to drive through flooded roads. Find more information below about flooding safety and precautions drivers can take by going to modot.mo.gov/flooding

Motorists can get the latest road conditions by going to www.modot.org or by calling MODOT’s toll-free number: 888-275-6636.

Labor to rally Wednesday at Missouri Capitol; theme is “paychecks over politics”

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A few thousand union members from across Missouri are expected to travel to the Statehouse in Jefferson City Wednesday to rally against right-to-work and for pensions.

Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh (D-Bellefontaine Neighbors)

The Missouri State Building and Construction Trades Council is organizing the “rally for the middle class,” which begins Wednesday at noon on the Capitol’s south lawn.

The theme of the rally is “paychecks over politics.”

Missouri Senate Minority Leader Gina Walsh, D-Bellefontaine Neighbors, tells Missourinet U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D) will deliver the keynote address at Wednesday’s rally.

Walsh says other speakers will include State Rep. Clem Smith, D-Velda Village Hills, an active member of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399.

Walsh says union member and State Sen. Jake Hummel, D-St. Louis, will speak, along with State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D).

Walsh will also speak, as will retired Roofers Local #20 member Walter Smith. He’s scheduled to talk about union pensions and retiring with dignity.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (R) signed right-to-work in February 2017, weeks after taking office.

Greitens campaigned for right-to-work, which says that a person cannot be required to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, as a condition of employment.

During the February 2017 bill-signing ceremony, Greitens told lawmakers that from 1995-2015, the five fastest states for job growth were all right-to-work states. He said that right-to-work would lead to more jobs and higher pay.

State Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, sponsored the bill, and predicted at the bill-signing ceremony that union and non-union jobs would increase in Missouri.

Labor unions and their supporters were able to gather enough signatures from Missouri voters to get the issue on the statewide ballot, so right-to-work is essentially on-hold until the ballot measure.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s spokeswoman, Maura Browning, says the ballot issue is a referendum, which is a question referred to the people.

The right-to-work referendum would appear on the November statewide ballot, unless the Missouri Legislature designates a different date.

House Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr, R-Springfield, told Missourinet at the bill-signing ceremony that right-to-work will strengthen labor unions.

State Rep. Doug Beck, a St. Louis County Democrat and pipefitter, said at the time that right-to-work would cost Missouri about $120 million in lost revenue.

Forecasters say Wednesday is expected to be dry in Jefferson City, and traffic is expected to be heavy around the Missouri Capitol.

That’s because the union members will be rallying on the Capitol lawn, with a $28.6 million construction project at the Capitol underway.

Fences and “road closed” signs have gone up around parts of the Capitol, and parking has gotten more difficult.

Buses will be bringing in union members in the St. Louis area.

Northern Missouri flooding leads to water rescues

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Photo courtesy of KWIX radio

The Moberly Fire Department and State Patrol have rescued several people from Monday’s flood waters. Highway Patrol Sgt. Eric Brown tells Missourinet affiliate KWIX in Moberly that the northern Missouri area is recovering from about five inches of rainfall on Monday.

“Especially in the southern part of our troop, in the Chariton and Randolph County areas, there’s a lot of flood water,” he says. “As the water is rising very quickly, if you do get stuck in it, the water could quickly rise over the top of your vehicle and put you in a very serious position of danger. You’re also placing a lot of first responders at risk, whether that be law enforcement, or firefighters or volunteer first responders who are coming to make this flood rescues.”

Moberly Fire Chief George Albert says six inches of rushing water can sweep a vehicle away.

“Stay out of rushing water, because you don’t know how deep the water is. You may only think it’s a couple inches deep but it’ll actually end up being two or three foot deep. Then you’re going to be submerged and stuck to where someone has got to come get you out.”

Heavy rainfall and flooding could continue throughout most of Missouri today and into tomorrow.

Judge: Corps of Engineers must pay for Missouri River flood damage

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A ruling in a federal court case finds the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for damages from repeated Missouri River flooding. The class-action case was filed on behalf of 372 farmers, landowners and business owners in Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.

Judge: Corps of Engineers must pay for Missouri River flood damage

Tuesday’s ruling from a Washington D.C. judge says Corps practices of water storage, release and flow management brought flooding in five years over the past decade. The suit contended the Corps deprived the plaintiffs of their land and essentially took it without compensation.

Lead plaintiff Roger Ideker of northwest Missouri says the river has changed.

“The changes, we feel, were as a result of management of the river. The changes that the Corps has made to the river has caused this recurrent flooding,” he says.

Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst is grateful for the decision but expects appeals.

“The $300 million judgement is a pretty big 2×4 upside the head to tell the Corps to start worrying about flood control,” Hurst says. “I think it has to have a positive effect.”

Damages could exceed $300 million.

Matt Kelley of Radio Iowa and Tom Steever of Brownfield Ag News contributed to this story

Missouri Congressman Smith to run again; says Malden tornado highlights why changes are needed in disaster aid (AUDIO)

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A Missouri congressman who serves as the House GOP Conference Secretary traveled to Jefferson City on Thursday to file for re-election.

Congressman Jason Smith (R-Missouri)

U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, is the House GOP Conference Secretary, and a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.

“This is my great opportunity to have the privilege to serve the folks that represents where I was born and raised and where my family has been seven generations,” Smith says.

Smith’s sprawling district includes 30 southern Missouri counties and 20-thousand square miles, and stretches from just south of St. Louis to ten miles east of Branson.

His district includes Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Sikeston and West Plains.

Festus Democrat Kathy Ellis has filed to challenge Smith, along with Fredericktown Libertarian Jonathan Shell. Filing ends March 27.

Smith was first elected to Congress in 2013, in a special election. He was re-elected in 2014 and 2016, and is seeking his third full term in November.

Meantime, Congressman Smith says Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe’s have donated supplies to help residents in Malden and Matthews clean up from Saturday’s EF2 tornado, which had wind speeds of about 115 miles per hour.

Smith began Thursday morning by traveling to both towns to inspect the damage. He says Malden was hit hard.

“22 homes completely destroyed, so a lot of families that are displaced,” says Smith. “76 homes is what they said this (Thursday) morning that are pretty significantly damaged, one business.”

Smith also toured the nearby Matthews nursing home in New Madrid County. It was struck by Saturday’s tornado, and Smith says 58 nursing home residents had to be evacuated.

Missouri Governor Eric Greitens (right) speaks to linemen working to restore power after the Malden tornado (February 26, 2018 photo courtesy of Gov. Greitens’ office)

Smith met with Malden Mayor Denton Kooyman and first responders, in addition to the tour.

KFVS reports the tornado injured four Malden residents, and that damage is estimated at $2 million.

Congressman Smith tells Missourinet he’s frustrated with current rules regarding federal disaster assistance, saying aid requires 300 damaged homes and at least $8 million in damage.

“But that to me is unacceptable and I said that today. It shouldn’t matter if you live in a zip code where the population is 500 or 500,000,” Smith says.

Smith praises the volunteers who’ve arrived in the Bootheel, describing it as the “American spirit at its best.”

He says the Salvation Army is also assisting residents.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) will be available at the Malden Community Center on Friday (March 2) from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. providing information and assistance to those impacted by the tornado.

The Malden Community Center is located at 607 North Douglass Street.

DNR has been dealing with numerous downed trees.

 

Click here to listen to Missourinet news director Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, which was recorded on March 1, 2018 outside the Kirkpatrick Building in Jefferson City: