Missouri
What would Dana Ford’s buyout be if Missouri State basketball made a move this week?
Missouri State men’s basketball coach Dana Ford enters Arch Madness this week widely considered to be on the hot seat following his worst finish in the Missouri Valley Conference regular season standings.
Ford has one year remaining on his contract.
The university made it known that it is noncommittal to Ford’s future after Missouri State President Clif Smart wrote in a blog post last week that the season would be evaluated once it concludes. Smart and MSU Athletics Director Kyle Moats gave Ford a vote of confidence entering Arch Madness a year ago, saying he would be back when it was reasonable to believe he could have been let go near the end of the 2022-23 season.
The Bears enter Thursday’s first-round game at Arch Madness as the nine-seed, the program’s worst finish in the league since 2008-09 in its first year under Cuonzo Martin.
The News-Leader attempted to ask Smart and Moats about the decision-making process last week in light of Smart’s upcoming retirement in June. A university athletics spokesperson declined to comment on behalf of both.
More: Missouri State noncommittal on Dana Ford’s future as Bears’ men’s basketball coach
What would Dana Ford’s buyout be?
Missouri State used different language in its “cancellation without cause by the university” section of Ford’s contract than in the past.
According to his contract, the sum of the buyout would be calculated by taking the number of months remaining on his contract and multiplying it by his monthly pay. That number would then be divided by two. To put it simply with one year left on his contract, Ford would be paid for half of those months.
With 12 months remaining on his contract with a monthly salary listed at $30,416, it appears a potential buyout would be around $182,496.
Once Proud: A look at the downfall in Missouri State men’s basketball interest
Part 1: Missouri State basketball games are emptier than ever. What happened, and what’s next?
Part 2: Here’s how Missouri State’s rivals are filling the bleachers at basketball games
Part 3: What’s being done to save Missouri State’s dying men’s basketball fanbase?
What if Dana Ford was to cancel his contract and leave for a different program?
In the event Ford is not fired by Missouri State and he was to pursue a different head coaching job, he would have to pay the school around $182,496.
However, if he left for an assistant job at any level, a head coaching job at a smaller division or left collegiate coaching for a year, he could leave without owing anything. It’s the same clause Missouri State had with former football coach Bobby Petrino who took a coordinator position elsewhere and he nor UNLV had to pay MSU anything.
What were the original terms of his contract?
Ford signed a five-year deal in March 2022 that paid him $375,000 in his first two years and $425,000 in years three, four and five. Until he signed an extension, the original deal was set to expire following the 2022-23 season.
When was Dana Ford’s contract extended?
Ford’s contract was extended following the 2020-21 season. He was coming off a 17-7 COVID-19-impacted campaign and had a promising roster featuring standout players like Isiaih Mosley and Gaige Prim.
At that point, the Bears had an overachieving year in his debut season, followed by a flop in year two. The third year saw MSU finish third in league play and fall in a heartbreaker to Drake in the Arch Madness semifinals.
After seven years as Missouri State’s head coach, Paul Lusk was fired in 2018 with one year remaining on his contract. The school bought him out for $370,000 using private donations. Lusk finished with a 105-121 record at Missouri State.
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
Missouri
1 dead after rollover crash Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — One person died in a rollover crash Friday evening in Kansas City, Missouri, on Missouri 152 Highway near North Indiana Avenue.
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was alone in the vehicle, police said.
The crash happened at 5:35 p.m.
No word on what led to the crash.
—
Missouri
Missouri Secretary of State admits to misleading ballot language for gerrymander referendum
An attorney representing Missouri’s top election official admitted in court Friday that her client had authored ballot language that could “prejudice” voters about a referendum to block the GOP’s new gerrymandered congressional map.
The state constitution gives Missourians the right to veto new state laws by holding a statewide referendum vote. Since Missouri Republicans passed mid-decade redistricting in September, voters have been fighting to put it to a referendum. But the Republican Party – including Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins – are throwing every possible hurdle in its path.
That apparently includes ballot language.
In November, People Not Politicians, the group leading the referendum effort, filed a lawsuit challenging what it termed the “dishonest” text Hoskins had approved.
The court could take over the task of writing the ballot language if Hoskins fails to provide an acceptable version after three tries. A bench trial is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Missouri law requires the secretary of state’s ballot language to be a “true and impartial statement” that isn’t “intentionally argumentative” or “likely to create prejudice either for or against the proposed measure.”
At a hearing Friday, Hoskins’ attorney admitted the ballot summary was likely to create prejudice against the referendum, according to People Not Politicians. She also said the language would be revised in negotiations with the referendum organizers, the Missouri Independent reported.
Now, the state will get “another bite at the apple” to write new language, Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing People Not Politicians, told Democracy Docket.
“Rather than losing in court, today the Secretary of State simply admitted that he broke the law and sought to deceive Missouri voters,” Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians, said in a statement. “While warranted, this admittance does little to alleviate our concerns that a subsequent summary prepared by him will be any more accurate. Missourians deserve the truth about their rights and the referendum.”
According to court filings, the official certified ballot language reads: “Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),’ which repeals Missouri’s existing gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbent politicians, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, are more compact, and better reflects statewide voting patterns?”
In addition to the misleading ballot language, Republicans have devised relentless obstacles for referendum supporters, including trying to decline certifying the petition on holding a referendum for being filed too soon, reject signatures for being collected too soon, block the petition from moving forward and intimidate referendum supporters.
Hoskins is also insisting on enacting the new map before voters can hold the referendum, breaking with Missouri precedent.
Missouri
Missouri Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 winning numbers for Jan. 8, 2026
The Missouri Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
Midday: 3-5-3
Midday Wild: 9
Evening: 6-3-9
Evening Wild: 3
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
Midday: 7-1-3-4
Midday Wild: 4
Evening: 9-6-9-8
Evening Wild: 9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash4Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
27-28-39-47-58, Cash Ball: 04
Check Cash4Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash Pop numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
Early Bird: 14
Morning: 07
Matinee: 06
Prime Time: 07
Night Owl: 11
Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Show Me Cash numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
02-26-28-29-34
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.
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