Missouri

Preparing for Missouri’s tornado season is critical for readiness

Published

1 year ago

March 11, 2025

Preparing for Missouri’s tornado season is critical for readiness

A tornado touched down Dec. 31, 2010, on Fort Leonard Wood, causing an estimated $90 million in damage.
(Photo Credit: Catherine Threat, 88th Regional Support Command)

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FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Just like Fort Leonard Wood’s warriors train every day to be mission ready, preparing for severe weather is essential to readying the community for Missouri’s tornado season.

“Missouri’s tornado season occurs from April to June and tends to peak in May,” said Don Busbice Jr., U.S. Army Garrison Fort Leonard Wood safety director.

Although tornadoes often happen in the springtime, they are a year-round threat in Missouri, according to Busbice, who described an EF-3 tornado, approximately a quarter of a mile wide, that touched down on New Year’s Eve at Fort Leonard Wood about 14 years ago.

“It was on the ground for seven minutes and resulted in destroyed homes and the loss of half of the water treatment plant,” Busbice said.

According to ready.gov, tornadoes are violently rotating columns of air that extend from a thunderstorm to the ground. Tornadoes can destroy buildings, flip cars and create deadly flying debris, with intense winds at more than 200 miles per hour.

Busbice said a tornado can feel like “complete chaos” if you aren’t prepared and paying attention to weather watches and warnings.

Busbice also pointed out the National Weather Service in Missouri and Fort Leonard Wood have tornado sirens in place to alert citizens to observe conditions.

“Fort Leonard Wood tests the mass notification system monthly,” Busbice said.

According to the weather service, there are three key alerts to watch out for — a tornado watch, a tornado warning and a tornado emergency.

Tornado Watch: Be prepared. Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, take inventory of your supplies and check your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Tornado Warning: Take action. A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on radar or by a trained spotter.

Tornado Emergency: Seek shelter immediately. A tornado emergency is the NWS’s highest alert level. It is issued when a violent tornado has touched down in the watch area. There is a severe threat to human life and property, with catastrophic damage confirmed. Immediately seek refuge in the safest location possible. Call friends and family who are within the watch area to ensure they are aware of the situation. Once safe, be sure to monitor your local forecast for the latest updates.

In the event of a tornado warning, Busbice said, people should “enable your tornado response plan.”

According to the weather service, acting quickly is key to staying safe and minimizing impacts.

At your house: If you are in a tornado warning, go to your basement, safe room or an interior room away from windows. Don’t forget pets if time allows.

At your workplace or school: Follow your tornado drill and proceed to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. Stay away from windows and do not go to large open rooms such as cafeterias, gymnasiums or auditoriums.

Outside: Seek shelter inside a sturdy building immediately if a tornado is approaching. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Neither is a mobile home or tent. If you have time, get to a safe building.

In a vehicle: Being in a vehicle during a tornado is not safe. The best course of action is to drive to the closest shelter. If you are unable to make it to a safe shelter, either get down in your car and cover your head or abandon your car and seek shelter in a low-lying area such as a ditch or ravine.

According to Terry Moore, supervisory range planner with the Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security, the installation has more than 700 tornado safety shelters for service members to seek shelter in while training on Fort Leonard Wood’s ranges.

“Each shelter can house up to 14 people,” Moore said. “It is good to know they are there when we need them.”

Matthew Mertz, Fort Leonard Wood’s installation emergency manager, said accountability after the weather event is just as important as the preparation.

“Accountability allows supervisors to ensure their employees are safe from immediate danger,” Mertz said.

This goes for family members as well — according to the National Weather Service’s tornado safety website, people should contact loved ones to let them know, “you’re okay, so they can help spread the word.”

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Missouri

Missouri bill that would split Jackson County and Kansas City gets little support from lawmakers

Published

5 hours ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

Missouri bill that would split Jackson County and Kansas City gets little support from lawmakers

A Missouri House committee had its first hearing this week on a proposed constitutional amendment that would split Kansas City and Jackson County upon approval by voters.

The legislation is nicknamed “Jackxit,” a nod to Brexit, the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union in 2020.

Republican state Rep. Mike Steinmeyer is sponsoring the bill. He said eastern Jackson County voters feel underrepresented in the county government, and this legislation would give them the power to change that.

At the hearing, committee members listened to Steinmeyer’s presentation of the bill before asking questions and sharing their thoughts.

Democratic state Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore compared what the bill proposes to “The Great Divorce” that saw the legal separation of the city of St. Louis from St. Louis County in 1876.

Several committee members criticized a part of the bill that says if it’s signed into law, the question of whether to split the county in two would appear on the Missouri ballot every 10 years.

Moore called it a “never-ending clause.”

“There’s a provision that says every 10 years this has to go back on the ballot, whether you like it or not,” Moore said. “And we’re going to keep voting on it, until you vote the way we think you should.”

Democratic state Rep. Jeff Hales said the bill’s language suggests the question would reappear on the ballot every 10 years until it’s approved by voters.

“Why does it end when it’s approved if the importance and the value here is giving the voters of Jackson County a right to weigh in on their charter and their government?” Hales said.

Steinmeyer said that clause exists to give Jackson County voters the opportunity to weigh in on their form of government.

“It gives them the right to speak and say we want change, or we want to abolish and start over,” Steinmeyer said. “That’s all we’re asking for.”

Democratic state Rep. Ashley Aune questioned how the ballot question would protect the right of voters. Steinmeyer said it protects their right to vote and be heard, specifically on their governance.

Lobbyist Shannon Cooper testified on behalf of the city of Kansas City, the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City. He said during a public comment period that the bill was “the most befuddling piece of legislation” that he’s had to testify for or against.

Cooper brought up the historic recall election of County Executive Frank White Jr. and said the recall showed the system Steinmeyer is trying to fix with this bill can work.

“If the voters are not happy, they can deal with their problems,” Cooper said. “They’ve proven that in the last year.”

No action was taken on the bill, and it is not yet scheduled for a future hearing.

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Missouri

Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s $2.6 billion budget for 2026-27

Published

17 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve the city’s .6 billion budget for 2026-27

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, City Council voted Thursday to approve a $2.6 billion budget for the city’s fiscal year of 2026-27.

The budget includes $744 million in spending for public safety, including $26.3 million for a new Department of Community Safety and $4.2 million to hire 50 new KCMO Police Department officers, along with 10 call takers and 10 dispatchers.

“Our budget respects the strong fiscal foundation the taxpayers have helped Kansas City build, maintaining a rainy-day fund of over $200 million, increasing road resurfacing, hiring more public safety and city workers, and investing in all Kansas City neighborhoods,” Mayor Quinton Lucas said in a news release from the city. “In a city that can walk and chew gum, we are proud to welcome the world while delivering strong basic services for Kansas City’s families.”

The council voted to spend $83.8 million for the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority to provide bus services, but the KCATA may have to make cuts in bus services even with a $6 million boost in funding from the city.

In addition, the council approved spending $39.4 million for citywide street resurfacing and $1.5 million for tearing down dangerous buildings.

“This budget reflects a collaborative effort across the city, and provides a clear path for Kansas City to keep moving forward with discipline, accountability and a focus on service,” City Manager Mario Vasquez said in the news release. “Thank you to the council for its thoughtful deliberation and input in crafting this budget.”

More information on the fiscal year 2026-27 budget can be found on the city’s website.

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Missouri

Missouri Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for March 25, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 25, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 25 drawing

07-21-55-56-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 3-2-0

Midday Wild: 7

Evening: 0-0-5

Evening Wild: 5

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 2-6-3-9

Midday Wild: 4

Evening: 9-5-6-8

Evening Wild: 1

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash Pop numbers from March 25 drawing

Early Bird: 07

Morning: 09

Matinee: 04

Prime Time: 14

Night Owl: 07

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Show Me Cash numbers from March 25 drawing

12-14-22-26-28

Check Show Me Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from March 25 drawing

35-38-41-43-62, Powerball: 08

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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