The director of Missouri’s Department of Social Services will resign next month, allowing Gov.-elect Mike Kehoe to choose a new leader for the embattled agency.
Robert Knodell’s last day as director of the department — which oversees foster care, Medicaid, other public assistance programs and services for delinquent youth — will be Jan. 13. He accepted a job to be the city manager of Poplar Bluff, his hometown, on Tuesday.
Knodell has been director since Oct. 2021.
Previously, he worked in Gov. Mike Parson’s office as deputy chief of staff and then acting director for the Department of Health and Senior Services.
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In an interview last week, Knodell said his biggest accomplishments leading the agency included helping push for staff pay raises, modernizing technology and putting the child welfare system on a more “positive trajectory” by emphasizing prevention.
“We have to continue to try to do everything as a full continuum to make sure that family needs and children’s needs are being addressed and that safety can be assured,” he said, “to prevent children from having to go into the foster system. And the prevention focus is new for the department.”
During his tenure, the department faced criticism over its administration of public benefits.
A federal judge earlier this year ruled Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state due to hourslong call center wait times for participants to receive a required interview.
The most recent monthly data the state submitted in the lawsuit says the average wait time to get through for its general call line was 43 minutes as of November. The wait time for the interview line for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was 23 minutes.
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The department in its budget request to the state legislature is asking for $11 million to hire 220 new staff in the Family Support Division to help ensure the agency complies with federal and state rules on timely processing, and “maintains a reasonable wait time in the call centers,” the budget request states.
The state has also struggled to meet federal guidelines for its processing of Medicaid applications.
Over the summer, the federal Medicaid agency announced it was intervening to help bring the state back into compliance. According to the most recent federal data, 27% of low-income Missouri Medicaid applications were processed in excess of the 45-day limit in July, which is down from 72% in February.
The department also faced scrutiny for its handling of missing foster kids.
A federal report in 2022 found that there were 1,780 instances of foster kids going missing in Missouri over a two-and-a-half year period that spanned July 2018 to December 2020. The agency last year said it has increased efforts to find missing foster kids. As of the most recent public data, from October, there were 72 foster children categorized as runaways.
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That data doesn’t distinguish between missing kids and those whose locations are known but unauthorized, though the department says it collects that data now.
Knodell said one of the challenges has been balancing the desires of those who want as robust a safety net as possible with those who want to control costs.
“We try to build as strong a safety net as we can, being as responsible a steward of the resources that we have as possible,” he said. “But there is a push and a pull, and there are limits to what the government can do, but certainly we want to do the things that we’ve been tasked as efficiently and effectively as possible. “
Knodell said the social services system in Missouri has “ been underinvested in for so long. But you know, hopefully, we’re pointed in the right direction.”
Parson in a press release Tuesday said “I remain ever grateful that, regardless of the challenges, Robert answered the call to serve in leadership within both DSS and the Department of Health and Senior Services.”
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.
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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.
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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,
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
