HOLDENVILLE, Okla. (AP) — Tornadoes that tore across Oklahoma left a wide trail of destruction Sunday, leveling homes and buildings and knocking out power for tens of thousands of residents. At least two people were killed, including a child. Dozens of reported tornadoes have wreaked havoc in the nation’s midsection since Friday, with flood watches and warnings in effect Sunday for Oklahoma and other states — including Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and Texas. In Oklahoma, a tornado ripped through Holdenville, a town of about 5,000 people, late Saturday, killing two people, and injuring four othe ..read more

The recent rain storms have softened the earth and closed a variety of problems in the four states. One such road is in Crawford County, Kansas. 690th Ave. between 60th Street and Hwy 3 is closed due to washed out road conditions. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes Source ..read more

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College selected the City of Miami for the Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Leadership from the City of Miami and the Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau were recognized and awarded in late March at the University of Central Oklahoma. The OSRHE business partnership award is designed to highlight successful partnerships between higher education institutions, businesses, and the community to further cultivate the higher learning environment through State Regents economic development grants. The cer ..read more

Former Joplin Eagle standout player Isaiah Davis was drafted by the New York Jets on Saturday. Davis, who played college football at South Dakota State, was the 173rd overall pick in the draft. During his time as a Joplin Eagle, Davis helped take the team to the Class 6 State Championship game.  He was selected at Gatorade player of the year in the Show-Me State. As  South Dakota State Jackrabbit, he had 18 touchdowns and 1,578 rush yards in the most recent season. The team won the national championship two years running. Source ..read more

Three people suffered serious injuries in an accident in the eastbound lane of I-44, about three miles west of Mt. Vernon around 12:42 Saturday afternoon. The Missouri State Highway Patrol says an eastbound 2017 Ram 1500 driven by 45-year-old Dustin L. Guthrie of Joplin drove off the left side of the roadway into the median. The truck then went down an embankment into a creek bed. Guthrie, passenger 41-year-old Ashley E. Wise of Joplin and a 16-year-old girl in the vehicle were all seriously injured. Wise was life-flighted to Mercy Springfield.  Guthrie was taken to Mercy Springfield by ..read more

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports a fatal accident on county Road 1801, about 7 miles south of Stockton around 5:45 Saturday evening. It happened when a southbound 2011 GMC Sierra pickup driven by 41-year-old Edward T. Hargrave of Stockton and a  northbound John Deere Gator UTV driven by 50-year-old Joey E. Gray of Stockton collided head-on. Gray was pronounced dead just before 8 p.m. at Citizens Memorial Hospital in Bolivar. Hargrave was not injured. It was Highway Patrol Troop D’s 26th fatality so far in 2024. Source ..read more

Help honor the men and women who have served or are serving our amazing country. The Missouri State Fair is accepting nominations for Veteran/Active Military Honoree of the Day, sponsored by Capital Materials, Retrieving Freedom, Inc., and Starline Brass. Eleven veterans/active duty service members from Missouri will be chosen from the nominations and honored daily in a Military Flag Retreat ceremony to take place outside the Historic Administration Building on the Fairgrounds. Individuals can be nominated using a form available on the Missouri State Fair Mi ..read more

The Missouri Department of Agriculture Plant Industries team is setting spongy moth pest traps in May and will continue monitoring for other plant pests in the upcoming months. Summer is a popular time for pests to make their presence known in a negative way. “Plant pests can hitchhike to new locations through a number of avenues,” said State Entomologist Rosalee Knipp. “They can burrow in untreated firewood and attach themselves to outdoor surfaces. Our team works hard to ensure Missouri’s plant industry remains protected throughout the year, and no invasive species ..read more

 Nine Pittsburg State University Media Production students led by Communication Professor Troy Comeau, Assistant Professor Barth Cox, and Assistant Instructional Professor Kate Allred won 11 awards in eight categories at this year’s Kansas Association of Broadcaster’s competition. “I am extremely proud of these students who have worked really hard to represent us and showcase what our department has to offer,” Cox said. Their success included five 1st Place awards: Zack Shelby (Carl Junction) for Source ..read more

TOPEKA – Governor Laura Kelly Friday announced federal approval of the state’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2, providing an investment of more than $450 million to expand Kansas’ high-speed internet infrastructure. Funding will be granted to areas that have been identified as underserved through a competitive application process that will begin in July. “Kansans, no matter their zip code, deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The distribution of BEAD funds will break down the barriers that have prevented som ..read more