Missouri

Federal court rules Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state • Missouri Independent

Published

2 years ago

May 9, 2024

Federal court rules Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state • Missouri Independent

A federal judge ruled Thursday that Missouri’s social services agency violated the law in the way it has administered its food assistance program.

U.S. District Court Judge M. Douglas Harpool ruled that the state’s practices — including long call center wait times and a lack of accommodations for those with disabilities — violate the laws governing the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The Missouri Department of Social Services’ call center issues ultimately denied eligible Missourians meaningful access to benefits.

“While call wait times fluctuate and have shown some improvement, the record demonstrates too little progress,” Harpool wrote. “Consequently, Missourians who suffer food insecurity have been forced to either go hungry or seek alternative sources of food when their applications are denied.”

In February 2022, a federal lawsuit was filed against the social services department arguing the state’s “dysfunctional” call center deprives eligible Missourians of SNAP benefits, more commonly known as food stamps.

‘Broken system’: Call center backlogs impede Missouri families seeking food assistance

Plaintiffs described subsisting on little food while using up prepaid phone minutes waiting on hold for an interview, and, due to disability, struggling to understand the application forms but being unable to get through the call center for help.

An interview is required to sign up for or recertify SNAP benefits.

Without interviews, SNAP applications and renewals are automatically denied after 30 days — even if applicants have tried and been unable to get through. Around half of all SNAP denials in the state are due to failure to complete an interview, according to data obtained in litigation. The average call center wait time for the SNAP interview line, as of late last year, The Independent found, was over an hour.

“The high percentage of denials based on failure to interview is a direct consequence of the failed administration of defendant’s SNAP program,” Harpool wrote in his order.

“These denials are not based on the applicant’s eligibility but on the inadequacies of [the Department of Social Services’] process,” he wrote.

The lawsuit was filed by New York-based National Center for Law and Economic Justice, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Stinson LLP, on behalf of individual low-income Missourians and the advocacy group Empower Missouri.

“Today’s decision is a vindication of the rights of Missourians,” said Katharine Deabler-Meadows, attorney with the National Center for Law and Economic Justice.

“The Court has recognized the immense harm that DSS is causing to people who depend on SNAP to feed themselves and their families,” she said. “We are excited that DSS will now have to implement systems that ensure all Missourians can access SNAP.”

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The decision orders the social services agency to come into compliance with federal SNAP law and the Americans with Disabilities Act, and outlines several steps the agency must take, under the court’s supervision.

The steps the state must follow, as outlined in the order include:

submitting a report with specific changes it will make to comply with the law within 30 days;
filing monthly reports with the court with detailed data on SNAP applications and wait times, and filing that report with several members of Missouri state government outlined in the order;
submitting a proposed plan of action and timeline of implementation “to address shortcomings in the administration of SNAP as identified” within 90 days, including a reduction in call wait times and denials based on failure to receive an interview and compliance with the ADA.

After the state complies with the order, the court “will determine what, if any, further actions, orders, remedies, or proceedings are appropriate,” Harpool wrote.

Harpool has been candid in previous hearings about his concerns over the state’s progress since the lawsuit was first filed.

“I continue to be amazed that it’s been since this case started,” he said in a January motion hearing, “that the state’s whole focus is how can we avoid liability rather than how can we get these benefits to our citizens.”

Hardin Haynes, the attorney representing DSS, rejected that characterization, according to court transcripts.

“The whole time this has been going on,” he said in the January hearing, “DSS has been doing what it can to increase its ability to do interviews throughout this process. That has never stopped.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Social Services did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

DSS has previously said it is doing all it can to hire more staff, grant overtime, move to automate assistance and contract with private call centers.

Agency leaders pointed to resource issues and challenges getting more staff as it requested $4 million this year for a “call center bot” to increase automation and reduce the need for staff on the general call center line.

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Missouri

Mizzou linebacker arrested, accused of fleeing traffic stop on Broadway

Published

9 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Press Room

Mizzou linebacker arrested, accused of fleeing traffic stop on Broadway

COLUMBIA — Freshman Mizzou linebacker JJ Bush was arrested late Monday night after he allegedly fled from police on East Broadway, according to court documents.

Bush, 18, was booked into the Boone County Jail early Tuesday and faces charges of aggravated fleeing a stop or detention, a class D felony, and operating a vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner, a class B misdemeanor, according to court records. He has since bonded out of jail.

Police saw a white Ford Mustang traveling around 50 mph on Trimble Road around 9:55 p.m. Monday, where the speed limit is 35 mph, according to a probable cause statement. Trimble Road is a short road between Conley Road and East Broadway in east Columbia next to several shopping centers and restaurants.

Police started following the vehicle and reported that it rapidly accelerated beyond the speed limit when it turned onto East Broadway, heading east in the direction of Old 63, according to the probable cause statement. Police estimated the vehicle reached speeds of 80 mph in the area, where the speed limit is 40 mph, according to the statement.

The officer activated their emergency lights and sirens in the area of East Broadway and Trimble Road and pursued the vehicle on East Broadway for over 20 seconds, during which the vehicle changed lanes to overtake other vehicles, according to the probable cause statement.

Police stopped the driver on East Broadway at the intersection with Old 63, where vehicles in all three westbound lanes were stopped at a red light, according to the probable cause statement. A video obtained by KOMU 8 News shows at least six law enforcement vehicles stopped with a vehicle matching the description of Bush’s vehicle in the area at the time of the traffic stop.

Police arrested Bush, the driver of the vehicle, at the scene, according to court documents. Bush allegedly told officers that he did not see the police vehicle until its emergency lights were activated, according to court documents. The officer wrote in the probable cause statement that the emergency lights were activated for over 20 seconds before the vehicle came to a stop.

Bush allegedly said he did not continue to speed after the officer activated their emergency lights and said “that’s just how my car is,” according to the probable cause statement. He allegedly admitted to going between 80 mph and 90 mph and said it was a bad decision, according to the statement.

The probable cause statement indicated there was another person in the vehicle while Bush was driving.

A statement KOMU 8 News obtained from Mizzou football head coach Eli Drinkwitz said Bush is suspended from the team.

“We are disappointed in JJ’s actions,” Drinkwitz said in the statement. “He is indefinitely suspended from the team as the legal process plays out.”

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for May 4, 2026

Published

21 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Press Room

The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 4, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 4 drawing

30-36-42-60-63, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 4 drawing

Midday: 3-0-1

Midday Wild: 6

Evening: 1-8-0

Evening Wild: 3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 4 drawing

Midday: 9-9-3-3

Midday Wild: 0

Evening: 0-2-0-8

Evening Wild: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 4 drawing

Early Bird: 13

Morning: 12

Matinee: 08

Prime Time: 15

Night Owl: 10

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from May 4 drawing

19-21-24-32-35

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 4 drawing

20-32-35-51-60, Powerball: 07

Check Powerball Double Play 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

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.

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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Missouri

Lane of I-70 near St. Charles Road closes for emergency repairs

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Press Room

Lane of I-70 near St. Charles Road closes for emergency repairs

One lane of a portion of eastbound Interstate 70 in Columbia will close overnight for emergency pavement repairs, according to the Missouri Department of Transportation.

The closure will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday for the right lane at St. Charles Road, near mile marker 131, and will be reopened Tuesday morning when repairs are complete, according to the news release.

The area is the site of ongoing construction as part of MoDOT’s Improve I-70 Program. Construction crews tore down the St. Charles Road bridge over I-70 last month so a new bridge that’s wide enough to accommodate three lanes of travel each way underneath can be constructed.

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