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There are some things you love to see your city become famous for and others you don’t. This is that second one. Suddenly, two Missouri places have become synonymous with a vile creature – rats.

I have a pretty strong stomach and really am not afraid of much. For my family, I’m the designated spider killer and wasp getter. That being said, I don’t like rats. When I hear that two Missouri places are now among the most rat-infested in America, my first response is EW.

In the newest rundown of America’s places where rats flourish by Orkin, you’ll now find two Missouri cities. It’s not really a shocker that St. Louis and Kansas City are the culprits although I will admit wondering if Springfield had snuck into the top 30. No offense intended, Springfield friends. It’s stories like this that had me wondering.

I was a little surprised to see that Kansas City has a bigger rat problem than St. Louis. No offense intended, St. Louis, but admit that you were surprised, too.

I think my problem with the surging Missouri rat problem is the fact that they are known to carry diseases. It’s just a nasty creature to have a lot of. The fact that the two biggest Missouri places are now synonymous with rats (and Springfield making a case to be included, too) is pretty gnarly if you ask me. Ew.

State transportation officials say construction on the $405-million stretch to rebuild and six-lane I-70 between Columbia and Kingdom City will begin on Monday, after the Fourth of July weekend.

The state Department of Transportation (MoDOT) says will begin work on I-70 between mile markers 137 and 144, east of Columbia. State Rep. Jim Schulte (R-New Bloomfield) is urging you to be patient, telling 939 the Eagle that it will be a win-win when it’s completed:

“I just tell everybody it’s going to be a mess for a few years and be patient because once it’s over, it’s just going be incredible how much easier it is to travel. The amount of business it will bring in to the area. The number of people that stop just to gas up and eat lunch and dinners,” Rep. Schulte says.

MoDOT says mid-Missouri motorists will see nightly single-lane closures in that area of I-70 in each direction, Mondays through Saturdays. Lane closures will begin at 7 each evening and continue until 6 am the next morning.

Meantime, Schulte, who represents Callaway County in Jefferson City, is seeking a second term. Representative Schulte tells 939 the Eagle that inflation is a top issue he hears about from constituents when he goes door-to-door:

“When you have to spend all your money on groceries and gas you have to give up a lot of luxuries and just even things that aren’t considered a luxury, they’re just things that you enjoy doing in addition to eating and driving to work. And it really cramps their style,” Rep. Schulte says.

Schulte, who was first elected in 2022, faces Fulton Democrat Jessica O’Neal-Slisz in November.