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Former Missouri child brides call for outlawing marriages of minors

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Former Missouri child brides call for outlawing marriages of minors


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Adult women who left marriages they entered as children on Wednesday called on Missouri lawmakers to outlaw child marriage, a practice currently legal in most states.

Missouri lawmakers in 2018 prohibited marriages of children 15 and younger, only allowing 16- and 17-year-olds to marry with parental permission. Most states have a similar policy, according to the nonprofit group Unchained At Last.

Those laws do not go far enough, said Unchained At Last founder and Executive Director Fraidy Reiss. She said 231 minors were married in Missouri between 2019 and 2021.

“Under the new law, almost all of them, like before, were girls wed to adult men,” Reiss said of the children recently married. “That is unacceptable.”

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Bills pending this year in states including Missouri, California and South Carolina would prohibit underage marriages completely.

Efforts to ban child marriage altogether have failed before in states including South Dakota, California and West Virginia.

Supporters of child marriages say minors sometimes marry to escape the foster care system or to raise children as a wedded couple. Others have cited anecdotal cases of people in their communities marrying as children and enjoying the relationship.

Rebecca Hurst, a former Missouri resident who now lives in Kentucky, said her mother arranged her marriage to a 22-year-old fellow church-goer at age 16 to save her from “damnation.”

Hurst said her ex-husband physically, emotionally and sexually abused her. She said he refused to go to prom with her “because he said it was embarrassing to be a grown man at a high school event” and forced her to drop out of school.

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“I had no one advocating for me or my right to stay a child,” Hurst said. “Parents cannot always be trusted to make the best decisions for their child.”

For Missouri Republican state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, marriage to her 21-year-old boyfriend at age 15 was a chance to escape poverty and the premature responsibility of caring for her younger sister and her mentally unwell mother. But she warned girls in similar situations against marrying.

“I was not old enough to understand what challenges I was putting on myself,” Thompson Rehder said.

She said her little sister later got married at age 16 to her 39-year-old drug dealer.

After Missouri GOP Rep. Chris Dinkins’ sister became pregnant at age 15, Dinkins said her parents followed cultural expectations and signed papers allowing her sister to marry the child’s father. The relationship later turned abusive, Dinkins said, and the marriage did not last long.

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Marriage for people younger than 18 was legal in all 50 U.S. states as of 2017, according to Unchained At Last. Nearly 300,000 children as young as 10 were married in the U.S. between 2000 and 2018. Mostly, girls were wed to adult men, the organization said.

Reiss said marriage, “even for the most mature teen, creates a nightmarish legal trap because you just don’t have the rights of adulthood.”

Reiss said if a child is married against their will, the child cannot sue or file for divorce on their own. Thompson Rehder said marriages between minors and adults have been used by adults as a shield against rape charges.

Missouri’s bill passed unanimously out of a committee in February. One person — a former lobbyist for the state’s Baptist Convention — testified against it. An Associated Press call and email to the opponent were not immediately returned Wednesday.

The Missouri bill has not yet been debated on the Senate floor. Lawmakers face a mid-May deadline to pass legislation.

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Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for Dec. 15, 2025

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The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 15, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

23-35-59-63-68, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 2-7-3

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Midday Wild: 6

Evening: 3-2-6

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Midday: 8-4-4-6

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Midday Wild: 6

Evening: 2-7-8-4

Evening Wild: 4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash4Life numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

08-10-13-39-60, Cash Ball: 01

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Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

Early Bird: 07

Morning: 14

Matinee: 04

Prime Time: 08

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Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Dec. 15 drawing

07-09-12-21-28

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.

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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

Missouri Lottery

P.O. Box 7777

Jefferson City, MO 65102-7777

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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.

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.
  • Cash4Life: 8 p.m. daily.
  • Cash Pop: 8 a.m. (Early Bird), 11 a.m. (Late Morning), 3 p.m. (Matinee), 7 p.m. (Prime Time) and 11 p.m. (Night Owl) daily.
  • Show Me Cash: 8:59 p.m. daily.
  • Lotto: 8:59 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.
  • 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.



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The Food Bank, local agencies and schools partner to meet Mid-Missouri needs

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The Food Bank, local agencies and schools partner to meet Mid-Missouri needs


COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri is set to host its 19th annual One for One Holiday Food & Fund Drive on Wednesday. Items gathered will provide food to families in need during the holiday season and beyond.

The Food Bank has more than 145 partner agencies and 200 partner schools that help distribute food in its 32-county service area.

The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri serves 32 (dark purple) of Missouri’s 114 counties. [Courtesy: The Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri]

In Boone County, more than 30 agencies partner with The Food Bank, including Aging Best, Hogan House, In2Action, Powerhouse, Tiger Pantry, True North, Turning Point and Welcome Home.

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In Cole County, The Food Bank has 11 partner agencies, including Building Community Bridges, Catholic Charities, First Christian Church Food Pantry, Rape & Abuse Crisis Services, Salvation Army and the Samaritan Center.

The Food Bank’s interactive map can help people find partner agencies or schools distributing food near them.

The most needed items at the One for One Holiday Drive are canned meat/protein, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups/chilis/stews, boxed meal kits, cereal, peanut butter and pasta, according to The Food Bank’s website.

Food and funds can be donated at two locations from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday — the Columbia Mall and Buchheits in Jefferson City. The Food Bank’s purchasing power turns every $25 donated into at least 100 meals.

Firefighters from Columbia Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 1055 will volunteer during the One for One drive. The 12-hour event will also have fire engines, music and Santa.

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People interested in donating can visit sharefoodbringhope.org for more information.



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Bet365 Missouri bonus code: Bet $10, get a $365 bonus for Vikings vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football

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Bet365 Missouri bonus code: Bet , get a 5 bonus for Vikings vs. Cowboys on Sunday Night Football


The NFL Week 15 schedule is almost over, but not before the Dallas Cowboys host the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday Night Football. Sports bettors in Missouri can get in on the action with $365 in bonuses when they register with today’s bet365 Missouri bonus code.

While that new-user bonus is strong, we recommend the Missouri sports betting promos below. Click any banner or all of them to claim more than $4,000 in bonuses today.

Dallas struggled early this season, thanks mostly to its leaky defense. The Cowboys have improved on that side of the ball and have won three of their last four. That bounce back has coincided with the Philadelphia Eagles’ slump, giving Dallas hope it can climb all the way to the top of the NFC East and make the playoffs.

The Cowboys are 6.5-point favorites at FanDuel Sportsbook on Sunday against the Vikings, who won last week but have only faint playoff hopes.

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bet365 Missouri bonus code at a glance

🎁 bet365 bonus code None
💰 bet365 bonus code details Bet $10, and get $365 in bonuses
📝 Bet $5, get $365 in bonus bets terms and conditions A minimum deposit of $10 is required.

Bet $10+ and receive a $365 bonus within one hour of wager settlement, win or lose.

Bonus bets expire after seven days and cannot be withdrawn.

✅ Last verified Dec. 14, 2025

How to register with the bet365 Missouri bonus code

It does not take long to register for a new account at bet365. Follow the steps below to sign up and claim your guaranteed bonuses in Missouri.

  1. Download the bet365 Sportsbook app.
  2. Fill in the required informational fields to verify your age and identity.
  3. Select your banking method and make a first-time deposit of at least $10.
  4. Bet $10 on tonight’s game between the Vikings and Cowboys or any other sporting event.

You will receive a $365 bonus when your first bet settles, no matter the outcome of your bet. The bonus will be added to your account as a lump sum. You can use the full amount on a single bet or divide it into smaller bets. Edit the amount of bonus bets in your betslip before you confirm a wager.

Use the full amount within seven days of receipt or the leftover portion will expire.

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Bet365 bonus code terms and conditions

  • Only new users are eligible.
  • Place a first-time deposit of at least $10.
  • Enter your initial deposit within seven days of establishing the account.
  • The qualifying wager must be settled within 30 days.
  • Upon issuance, the bonus bets will be good for seven days.

Bet365 Missouri existing user promotions

Once the welcome bonuses have been used, the door opens to more tempting ongoing offers from bet365. Here are some of the current featured offers for confirmed registered players:

  • Profit boosts: Receive increased payouts on select markets and wager types.
  • Early win payout: When the team you bet on establishes a big lead, your wager is graded as a winner. If you bet on Dallas to beat Minnesota, and Dallas builds a 17-point lead, you cash out immediately.

Why our experts like this welcome bonus

Online sportsbook offers often fluctuate, and they don’t always guarantee a bonus for new users. That is not the case with bet365 in Missouri. New users receive the bonus no matter what. That’s impossible to beat.

In addition, bet365 awards more bonuses than industry leaders DraftKings and FanDuel. Both sportsbooks give new users $300 a bonus.

Learn more about our gaming editorial staff.

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