Missouri’s leading agriculture groups are pushing legislation environmentalists and state regulators warn could jeopardize thousands of miles of streams and drinking water for 3.6 million people.
Members of a Missouri Senate committee on Tuesday heard testimony on a bill that would narrow the definition of “waters of the state,” slashing the state’s authority over small streams and major aquifers. Supporters say it’s necessary to clean up confusion in the law.
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources warned in a fiscal analysis that the bill could jeopardize the state’s groundwater, which provides drinking water to almost 60% of Missourians, and 136,236 miles of small streams.
The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe, said he’s working with state regulators on updated language to ensure the legislation doesn’t threaten groundwater.
Advertisement
Black said he introduced the bill because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act and limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s authority over wetlands. Black’s legislation would similarly limit the types of waters Missouri can regulate.
“I have wells at home. I don’t necessarily want those to get bad,” Black told the Senate’s Agriculture, Food Production and Outdoor Resources Committee. “But at the same time, going past my home, past farms, my family farms…what out there on those properties really should be state waters?”
Black’s bill would define waters of the state as all “relatively permanent, standing or continuously flowing rivers, streams, lakes and ponds” that are not confined to a single piece of property. Lakes, ponds, aquifers and wetlands would have to have a “continuous surface connection to a relatively permanent” body of water. Current law defines waters of the state as any body of water that crosses property lines.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Advertisement
The term “waters of the state” is referred to throughout the state’s pollution control laws, meaning placing limits on its definition narrows the kinds of water Missouri regulators can protect. Agriculture groups supporting the legislation say it brings the state in alignment with the new federal authority.
“We have a current definition of waters of the state…that regulates basically grass waterways and other upland watercourses that I would rather call a ditch than a stream,” said Robert Brundage, an attorney for the Missouri Pork Association and the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.
Advertisement
But environmental groups say there’s no reason to narrow Missouri’s definition. Federal pollution rules, they said, set minimum standards, but the state is free to further regulate water as it sees fit.
Critics fear the language requiring that lakes, ponds, aquifers and wetlands have a surface connection to another body of water in order to be protected would exclude numerous bodies of water.
Zach Morris, president of the Conservation Federation of Missouri, said he was concerned about streams that have surface connections during periods of high flow or wetlands that are disconnected from rivers at the surface but are connected underground.
“The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers are drinking water sources for millions of people and they have many, many wetlands along their banks that are permanently separated by man made structures but still have a subsurface connection,” Morris said, “and polluting those waters could certainly add pollution into that drinking water source.”
Melissa Vatterott, policy director for the Missouri Coalition for the Environment, told the committee the legislation “is seeking to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
Advertisement
“It’s being pushed by a very few industries — or maybe one particular person — to create confusion,” she said.
Need to get in touch?
Have a news tip?
Stephen Jeffery, an environmental attorney, said the bill should be rejected because it conflates wetlands and subsurface waters and fails to take into account the huge differences in geology and hydrology between various parts of Missouri. Beyond that, he said, “there have been expressed, so far today, no significant compelling reasons to change the existing law.”
“There’s been no testimony at all today of any government overreach or government intrusion coming onto someone’s property to do something that is unlawful,” Jeffery said.
Advertisement
He then quoted President Ronald Reagan’s 1984 State of the Union address: “Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge. It’s common sense.”
The committee did not take action on the bill Tuesday.
The number of customers without power in Cooper County is back down to about 100 after climbing to over 400 Friday night, according to outage tracking service Poweroutage.us.
About 100 Ameren Missouri customers were without power in Boonville around 8 p.m., according to Ameren Missouri’s outage map.
The number of customers without power in Boonville jumped to over 200 around 10 p.m., and the number of customers without power in Cooper County jumped again to around 470 at 10:30 p.m., according to Poweroutage.us.
Advertisement
The number of customers without power was back down to around 330 by 11 p.m. and down to around 100 by 11:40 p.m., according to Poweroutage.us.
Crews assessed that the outage was due to a wire problem and a crew has been assigned to the issue.
Callaway County outage
About 200 Callaway Electric Cooperative customers were without power around 11:15 p.m. Friday, according to the cooperative’s outage map.
Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup.
Advertisement
Error! There was an error processing your request.
The number was around 60 by 11:45 p.m., according to the outage map.
Boone County outage restored
At approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday, power was restored to over 200 customers who were without power across Boone County,
Advertisement
About 280 Boone Electric Cooperative customers were without power in northern Boone County at 9 p.m. Friday, according to the power outage map on Boone Electric’s website.
Boone Electric made a post on Facebook at 8:40 p.m. saying crews were on the way to an outage in Hallsville.
A lightning strike and lines down caused the outage, according to the Boone Electric Facebook page.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited News Release/KY3) – Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency in Missouri ahead of potentially dangerous severe weather forecast across the state.
New KY3 Weather App QR Codes(KY3)
The order activates the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan, enabling state agencies to coordinate directly with local jurisdictions to expedite assistance. The state’s emergency operations center is activating to support coordination efforts.
“The National Weather Service has cautioned that the threat of severe storms throughout the state tonight may produce damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes,” Kehoe said. “I urge all Missourians to pay attention to their local weather forecasts, follow official warnings, and have multiple ways to receive alerts – especially overnight.”
Severe weather threats
Widespread thunderstorms are forecast, with the highest threat for severe thunderstorms across western into north central Missouri, mainly in the evening. Storms are expected to weaken as they move east through the night, though the pace of weakening remains uncertain.
Advertisement
Potential threats include winds of 70 mph or higher, hail over two inches in diameter, and strong tornadoes. Localized flash flooding may also occur overnight due to significant rainfall over the past 24 hours.
“This Executive Order is a proactive step to ensure our emergency management teams are fully prepared should these storms warrant immediate action to protect Missourians,” Kehoe said.
Safety guidance
State officials are urging Missourians to postpone outdoor activities and avoid driving when storms arrive. Nighttime severe weather is particularly dangerous due to reduced visibility and the risk of people being asleep when storms strike.
Residents should identify a safe shelter location in advance. The safest place during a tornado is an interior room with no windows on the lowest floor of a sturdy structure, preferably a basement. Residents in mobile homes should seek shelter with a friend, family member, or at a local storm shelter before storms arrive. Drivers should never attempt to drive through floodwaters, regardless of water depth.
Executive Order 26-08 expires April 5, 2026.
Advertisement
To report a correction or typo, please email digitalnews@ky3.com. Please include the article info in the subject line of the email.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at March 5, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 5 drawing
Midday: 5-5-1
Midday Wild: 7
Advertisement
Evening: 4-7-3
Evening Wild: 1
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 5 drawing
Midday: 9-4-6-3
Midday Wild: 1
Advertisement
Evening: 9-3-6-3
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 5 drawing
Early Bird: 10
Morning: 14
Advertisement
Matinee: 14
Prime Time: 10
Night Owl: 09
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 5 drawing
10-17-22-24-30
Advertisement
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Missouri Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Missouri Lottery’s regional offices, by appointment only.
To claim by mail, complete a Missouri Lottery winner claim form, sign your winning ticket, and include a copy of your government-issued photo ID along with a completed IRS Form W-9. Ensure your name, address, telephone number and signature are on the back of your ticket. Claims should be mailed to:
Ticket Redemption
Advertisement
Missouri Lottery
P.O. Box 7777
Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777
For in-person claims, visit the Missouri Lottery Headquarters in Jefferson City or one of the regional offices in Kansas City, Springfield or St. Louis. Be sure to call ahead to verify hours and check if an appointment is required.
For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Missouri Lottery prize claim page.
Advertisement
When are the Missouri Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Pick 4: 12:45 p.m. (Midday) and 8:59 p.m. (Evening) daily.
Powerball Double Play: 9:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Missouri editor. You can send feedback using this form.
