Missouri
Fighting holiday stress? Missouri’s nature centers could bring you peace on Earth – Missourinet
If the Christmas cookies are about to hit the fan, Missouri’s nature centers could be a great way to prevent a holiday meltdown.
The centers are known for showcasing Missouri’s rich natural resources. The hiking trails could help families take a deep breath of fresh air and appreciate the sunshine. A stretch of water capturing reflections of wildflowers blowing in the wind could provide a chance to reset after a stressful day.
On the inside, there might be live animal exhibits, indoor aquariums, and hands-on activities. A host of classes are offered to teach you about anything from soap making, embroidery, and woodcarving, to owls, foxes, and the slithery world of snakes.
Margie Vandeven, the Missouri Department of Conservation’s new education branch chief, said the nature centers are a great place to unwind.
“What a great thing to do on your way home after having a relatively frantic day at the office, or maybe a busy time with your children, and they might be a little sugared up. Get outside and have them play,” she told Missourinet.
Land at Boone County Nature School (Photo by Alisa Nelson)
Vandeven said you’ll be amazed at the calming effects that nature can have on us.
“We’ve been hearing more and more about the mental health needs that we’re all experiencing right now for a lot of different reasons,” she said. “Nature is just an amazing place to be and helps students in ways that I don’t know that we’re always thinking about, unless we are very strategic in making sure that we’re providing those kinds of opportunities for our kids.”
Missouri’s nature centers are in Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, Joplin, Springfield, Winona, Lebanon, and the St. Louis and Kansas City areas.
A new Missouri Department of Conservation education center is opening Thursday in Branson. The Shepherd of the Hills Conservation Education Center includes room for two classrooms, a 7,500 gallon indoor aquarium, and new exhibits. It is adjacent to the department’s fish hatchery, where one million trout are raised each year.
The state also has about 100 parks and historic sites to help you reset.
Vandeven, who previously served as the state education commissioner, is now devoting her days to bringing nature into the classroom. Since 2009, more than 1,000 Missouri classrooms have been participating in the Missouri Department of Conservation’s “Discover Nature Schools” program.
The nature schooling curriculum is available to K-12 classrooms and covers a variety of topics, such as wildlife, kayaking, fishing, and the different ecosystems. The teacher and student guides are free and can be ordered through the department’s teacher portal.
Copyright © 2024 · Missourinet
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 21, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from April 21 drawing
01-36-43-56-58, Mega Ball: 07
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 21 drawing
Midday: 0-0-9
Midday Wild: 9
Evening: 0-7-4
Evening Wild: 0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 21 drawing
Midday: 4-2-2-8
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 9-4-7-5
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 21 drawing
Early Bird: 14
Morning: 05
Matinee: 03
Prime Time: 02
Night Owl: 12
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 21 drawing
17-19-22-25-29
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
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.
The Missouri House passed a bill Monday that would force entities receiving state funding to restrict usage of restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping accommodations based on biological sex and codify definitions for “female,” “male,” and “sex” throughout state statute.
State Rep. Becky Laubinger, a Republican from Park Hills, pitched the legislation as a “vital protection for women.” Lax policies and all-gender restrooms, like facilities in the Kansas City International Airport, invite predators, she argued.
“This is about our government facilities forcing people to share those spaces by creating all gender spaces where you don’t have the option in those spaces to go to a single sex space,” Laubinger said.
But during a House debate over the bill’s language last week, Democrats raised numerous issues with the legislation, saying it would be used to target transgender people.
“If you can just call the police and accuse someone of using the wrong bathroom, think about the implications of that,” said state Rep. Wick Thomas, a Kansas City Democrat and the House’s first transgender member.
The bill lacks an enforcement mechanism, other than allowing people to sue state-funded entities that do not “take reasonable steps” to designate single-sex spaces.
The bill’s fiscal note reflects concerns about costly litigation, though state departments could not estimate how much they will be impacted.
The University of Central Missouri projected “an indeterminate fiscal impact,” pointing to the “costs associated with enforcement of the regulations.”
The bill would require public universities to restrict dorm rooms, bathrooms, and locker rooms based on biological sex. It states that, “no individual shall enter a restroom, changing room or sleeping quarters that is designated for females or males unless he or she is a member of that sex.”
State Rep. Keri Ingle, a Democrat from Lee’s Summit, asked if this would bar college students from having students of the opposite sex in their dorm rooms overnight.
Laubinger said she had heard complaints from college students who felt uncomfortable when their roommate allowed a significant other to sleep over.
“I understand someone not wanting a boy over,” Ingle said. “I don’t know why we would legislate that. I don’t know why we would put that in the statute.”
State Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, said the bill would bar men from visiting women’s dorm rooms at any time. He wouldn’t be allowed to help his daughter set up her dorm room as a man, he said.
“I understand the intention you’re having,” he told Laubinger. “But the words don’t match your intention of this bill.”
House Republicans offered broad support, calling the bill a basic safety measure.
State Rep. Carolyn Caton, a Blue Springs Republican, said she thinks the legislation would be a “good protection.
“If nothing else, I think it just eases some young ladies’ minds,” she said.
The bill passed along party lines Monday, apart from a lone Republican “nay” from state Rep. Tara Peters of Rolla, who also voted against the bill at the committee level.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at April 20, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Midday: 6-4-7
Midday Wild: 1
Evening: 0-2-2
Evening Wild: 2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Midday: 5-1-9-1
Midday Wild: 9
Evening: 2-5-8-0
Evening Wild: 4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from April 20 drawing
Early Bird: 12
Morning: 10
Matinee: 09
Prime Time: 03
Night Owl: 06
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from April 20 drawing
01-11-14-16-18
Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from April 20 drawing
04-29-35-40-43, Powerball: 21
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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