Missouri
In the Missouri Ozarks, residents struggle to rebuild after tornadoes
Tim Scott, right, gets a hug from friend Jorden Harris outside Scott’s home he was inside when it was destroyed during a severe storm the evening before Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Wayne County, Mo.
Jeff Roberson/AP
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Jeff Roberson/AP
WAYNE COUNTY, Mo. — People are spread thin through the Ozark hills of this county. Some 11,000 of them live in the small towns and enclaves linked by two-lane highways and narrow gravel roads snaking through the forest.
Then the tornados came. A massive storm system swept through states from Kansas to Alabama triggering fires, dust storms and dozens of reported tornadoes. Three twisters raked Wayne County churning homes into rubble.
Wayne County Sheriff Kyle Shearrer just took over the job three months ago.
“You get so many warnings, nothing ever happens. And this time it happened,” Shearrer said, surveying splintered houses near the town of Leeper, Mo. “As you can see, it’s … it’s just loss. It’s total loss.”
Three people died here, near the banks of the Black River.
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Frank Morris/KCUR
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Frank Morris/KCUR
About 20 miles north, in a valley near Gads Hill, another twister chewed up and spit out homes and parked camping trailers.
Casey Melton has two houses to pick through — his own place and the one where he grew up. It stood for 50 years before the tornado ripped it apart.
Melton and his grandfather managed to get out before the storm hit. He says National Weather Service alerts gave them half an hour to take cover in a FEMA shelter eight miles away. Others here weren’t so fortunate. Three people died less than a block from here.
“These two over here were in their home. They believed they were asleep,” Melton said. “They found them out in their pajamas in the yard, lifelong residents here, good neighbors.”
Destruction from a severe storm is seen Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Wayne County, Mo.
Jeff Roberson/AP
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Jeff Roberson/AP
Looking at the rubble here, it’s hard to imagine anyone surviving. But Jeff and Christina Adler took a direct hit from the tornado in their 28-foot camper. Jeff Adler said they narrowly escaped death.
“All these rocks here were shooting through the windows like somebody was shooting a BB gun at us,” said Adler. “And then it just started to tip over and just started rolling, rolling and rolling. I thought to myself, ‘You know what, this is the way I’m going to die. … I just hope it ain’t going to hurt.’ And you know, right after that, I was laying on the ground.”
They don’t know how they escaped the disintegrating trailer. They just both found themselves on the ground in the hard cold rain, searching for each other.
“I just remember looking up yelling for him, and he was yelling for me. And he jumped on top of me as the storm was going, and we just held each other and prayed,” said Christina Adler.
They got out in the nick of time. The twister quickly ripped the trailer apart and flung sheet metal and all the stuff they had inside across an area larger than a city block.
Property destroyed in the storm.
Frank Morris/KCUR
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Frank Morris/KCUR
“A lot of our camper is in that creek there,” said Jeff Adler, pointing across a field, “And then the actual frame tires are laying in the field on the other side of it.”
The Adlers say they don’t care at all about losing their camping trailer, a retreat from their normal lives in Arnold, Mo.
But they are devastated at the loss of their dog, which also escaped the trailer but hasn’t come back.
“You know the camper, that’s all material stuff. There’s nothing in there that was even worth worrying about. Right now, it’s doing everything we can to find our dog,” said Jeff Adler.
Their 10- or 12-pound, 3-year-old, white Shih Tzu, Piper.
“I think she’ll come to me. I know she’ll come to me. She hears my voice, she will come to me,” said Christina Adler.
And then she broke into tears, calling into the woods near their old campsite, but Piper didn’t come.
A vehicle sits in front of a damaged home and debris from a severe storm Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Wayne County, Mo.
Jeff Roberson/AP
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Jeff Roberson/AP
As summer recreation ramps up across Missouri, safety officials are reminding residents that water safety begins long before anyone steps into a lake or river. Understanding the risks of water activities, knowing personal limits, and making responsible choices are the foundation of preventing tragedies on the water.
The Missouri State Highway Patrol and other safety agencies emphasize that natural waterways can present hidden hazards, including strong currents, sudden drop‑offs, and floating debris. Swimmers are urged to stay aware of their surroundings, use life jackets when appropriate, and avoid swimming alone.
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Officials say simple precautions—such as recognizing fatigue, monitoring weather conditions, and watching out for others in your group—can make the difference between a fun day on the water and a dangerous situation. As families head outdoors, authorities encourage everyone to treat water safety as a shared responsibility.
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at June 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing
15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 6-2-1
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 0-2-0
Evening Wild: 2
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 4-9-6-4
Midday Wild: 5
Evening: 1-3-6-4
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from June 2 drawing
Early Bird: 13
Morning: 04
Matinee: 04
Prime Time: 08
Night Owl: 12
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from June 2 drawing
01-10-15-19-31
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 date for the last matchup in the current Border War series is set.
Missouri men’s basketball will face Kansas in the Border War game on Dec. 6 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, according to a post from the Jayhawks’ official X/Twitter account Tuesday. The tipoff time and TV designation for the matchup will be released at a later date.
Kansas released its full nonconference schedule Tuesday, including the sixth and final game against Mizzou on the current competition contract.
The historic rivals have not yet signed a contract to renew the series beyond this season, according to a recent batch of competition contracts obtained by the Tribune through an open records request.
Missouri is yet to announce its nonconference schedule for the 2026-27 season, but there are three other known or reported games for this upcoming season.
Mizzou will face Howard at Mizzou Arena in the last leg of a three-game series, which will take place on a still-to-be-determined date.
The Tigers also have three more neutral-site games on their schedule. The annual Braggin’ Rights matchup against Illinois likely will fall in mid- or late- December at Enterprise Center, and Mizzou has agreed to a Nov. 15 trip to United Center in Chicago to face Marquette. Missouri also reportedly will face Saint Louis on Nov. 6 at Enterprise Center, according to Jon Rothstein at CBS Sports and College Hoops Today.
This season’s Border War matchup will include the first direct transfer between the two schools when Bryson Tiller suits up for Missouri after spending last season, his freshman year, at Kansas.
KU has won four of the five games since the series was renewed in 2021, including an 80-60 win in Kansas City last season. Missouri won the 2024-25 season matchup at Mizzou Arena, but has not beaten Kansas outside of Columbia since 2003.
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