By Leore Tai, Missouri News Network In the spring of 2021, Cecilia Williams lost her son, daughter-in-law and grandson to a drunken driver. Williams, who lives in Bonne Terre, is now raising the two orphaned grandchildren who survived, Bentley and Mason. A year later, Melanie Wankum was hit head-on by a drunken driver, killing her instantly and injuring a passenger on their way back from a wedding. In both tragedies, families of the victims became advocates on their behalf, championing tougher laws in Missouri against drunken driving. Soon after the crash that killed her son and his family, Williams found…

JEFFERSON CITY — Missouri’s annual Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday begins at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, August 7, and runs through midnight on Sunday, August 9. During this time, certain purchases such as school supplies, computers, clothing, and other qualifying items as defined by statute are exempt from all state and local sales tax. During this period, state and local sales tax will not be charged on the following items: Clothing that does not have a taxable value exceeding $100 per item. Eligible clothing items include any article of apparel intended to be worn on or about the body, including footwear.…

Seasonal retailers may legally sell fireworks in Missouri from June 20 to July 10 JEFFERSON CITY – As Missourians prepare for a summer filled with even more festivities and celebrations than usual – including the “America 250” commemoration and FIFA World Cup events in the Kansas City area – the Division of Fire Safety is urging residents to keep safety at the forefront of their planning. “Because July 4th – the largest fireworks event each year – is also the 250th anniversary of American independence this year, we expect to see more gatherings and an uptick in the use of…

University of Missouri Extension NOVELTY, Mo. – Waterlogging and flooding are among the most damaging weather-related stresses in crop production worldwide, and their impacts are increasing as extreme rainfall becomes more frequent. Flooding ranks second only to drought among abiotic stresses. Research by Gurbir Singh, a soil scientist with University of Missouri Extension at MU’s Lee Greenley Jr. Memorial Research Farm, along with Gurpreet Kaur, assistant research professor in the MU School of Natural Resources, and others, shows how excess water affects crops, soils and nutrient management, and outlines strategies farmers can use to reduce losses. Flooding submerges plants, while…

By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — Hundreds gathered Saturday evening on the Knox County Courthouse lawn in Edina for a community prayer vigil for missing Edina woman Lindsey Watts as the search for the 35-year-old entered its fifth day. Residents from across Knox County and surrounding communities joined local pastors, law enforcement supporters, family members and friends during the hour-long vigil organized by the Knox County Ministerial Alliance. Pastor Brian Burton of Edina Assembly of God Church opened the vigil by encouraging the community to remain hopeful while continuing to support both the family and investigators. “We come together as…

By Echo Menges   MEDIA: Video Interview YouTube Link Below EDINA, Mo. — 1 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2026 — Knox County Sheriff Carl Knoche said Friday that “hundreds” of man-hours have already been invested in the investigation into the disappearance of missing Edina woman Lindsey Watts as multiple agencies continue working the case around the clock. Watts, 35, of Edina was reported missing Wednesday after family members discovered she was no longer at her residence on North Fifth Street. Authorities have described the disappearance as “very concerning.” Speaking Friday afternoon outside the Knox County Courthouse, Knoche said investigators are…

By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — 5:45 p.m. Thursday, May 21, 2026 — Law enforcement agencies are investigating the disappearance of a missing Edina woman described by authorities as “very concerning.” Lindsey Watts, 35, of Edina was last seen Tuesday night, May 19, at approximately 11 p.m. by a family member after returning home to 510 N. Fifth St. following her shift at The Blessing Center in Edina. According to Knox County Sheriff Carl Knoche, family members discovered Wednesday morning, May 20, that Watts was no longer at the residence. Watts did not report to her scheduled shift at work…

Attendees travel from across Northeast Missouri for hands-on training focused on open meetings and public records laws By Echo Menges EDINA, Mo. — A strong regional turnout filled the Knox County Community Center on Thursday, April 30, for a Missouri Sunshine Law training, with nearly 100 attendees gathering to learn more about open meetings and public records requirements. Organizers said approximately 95 people signed in for the session, though actual attendance was likely higher. At one point, attendees lined up to get into the training as additional tables and chairs were brought in to accommodate the crowd. The training was…

I parked the truck, and as soon as I had grabbed my gear, I knew it was going to be a good afternoon. I crept along carefully, placing one foot in front of the other in an effort not to spook the target of this hunt. As I neared a likely looking location, I could look ahead and see that the creatures had other ideas and were more concerned with mating than they were in me. Still, if I was careless, they would easily be spooked and just as quickly take off. Like all hunts, the closer I could get,…