Missouri counties denied state aid for tornado damage
Residents in St. Clair, Henry and Benton counties have learned that they will not be receiving any state assistance in wake of the May 19 tornadoes.
It's another setback for communities trying to clean up the mess left behind.
The Henry County, Missouri, Office of Emergency Management said the counties will not be able to apply for state funding—for cleanup, repairs or financial help.
FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox
According to emergency management, one of the reasons state assistance was denied is because many of the homes in the counties were 'second homes' – which don't quality to be included in assessments.
'We have been on the phone all morning with area agencies to find more resources, financial aid and labor to help our citizens in our communities recover,' Henry County Emergency Management said on Thursday.
'We are very encouraged with what we have found thus far and will be sharing more information as the day goes on. We are not giving up making sure the citizens of our county to get all the help we can possibly find.'
The Iconium Fire Protection District in St. Clair County posted on social media that they are looking for volunteers on Friday and Saturday to help people in the area whose neighborhoods were devastated by last week's tornadoes.
'We need dump trucks, dump trailers and wood chipper operators to grind up and haul off wood chips,' the fire department said.
According to the fire department, dozens of branches and trees are piled up in yards in the Fox Run and Richochet Ridge subdivisions off Highway ZZ between Truman Lake and the St. Clair County-Henry County line.
'The Iconium Fire Department will pay to rent a wood chipper,' the fire department said. 'But we need people who can spend a day feeding the chipper and others who can bring trailers and trucks to accept the chips and haul them away, probably to the yard next to our Station 3, about a mile from those subdivisions.'
View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4
The fire department is asking anyone who has the time or equipment to help to call Fire Chief David Price at 417-309-0078. It estimates the cost will be around $2,000.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
4 days ago
- New York Post
Sen. John Kennedy, 73, clarifies why he froze up on live TV
Soundbite savant Sen. John Kennedy clarified that he didn't suffer a stroke or catch a sexually transmitted disease when he dramatically froze up mid-sentence live on air Tuesday during a Fox Business hit. The one-liner whiz fired back at lefty critics for speculating he suffered a medical scare after what looked like troubling footage of the 73-year-old growing stonefaced went viral on social media. 'Yesterday I was on your show. I enjoyed it. I was just yapping away, and all of a sudden, my earpiece blew up. This one — it sounded like a 747 was taking off,' Kennedy told host Larry Kudlow on Wednesday, motioning to his earpiece. 'Man, my ears are still ringing. Anyway, so I just, assumed we were off air. I just stopped talking, and I didn't start talking again until I could hear you.' A day prior, Kennedy had been discussing the Trump administration's crackdown on sanctuary cities, when suddenly he trailed off mid-sentence before staring blankly off to the side. 4 Sen. John Kennedy wants the world to know that he didn't get an STD live on TV. FOX 4 The Louisiana Republican is famous for his snappy one-liners. REUTERS 'Jesus loves them, but everybody else thinks …' the Louisiana senator riffed before mumbling quietly. 'Everybody else thinks,' he repeated, then turned blankly with his mouth agape. Kudlow then interjected at the time after several seconds of Kennedy looking blankly into the camera and cut him off, claiming there were 'technical problems.' 'That was the same mic we lost with Sen. Rand Paul,' Kudlow added. Paul (R-Ky.) had done an interview on his program before Kennedy and, at one point, complained mid-interview about losing his connection to the program. The Louisiana Republican later returned to the air Tuesday, about half a minute after the incident and was still mired by technical issues and trouble hearing Kudlow. Kudlow seemed to corroborate Kennedy's claim that there was a technical issue, stressing 'I think that's all that happened' and 'a lot of people are making conclusions about your health that they had no business making.' 4 Sen. John Kennedy ripped into coverage of what appeared to be a freeze-up of his live on television. AP 'I don't know, some of the rags up here have they've got all kind of stories that I had a brain freeze live on TV or a stroke or caught an STD live on television or something?' Kennedy quipped about the media speculation after the incident. 'I'm OK, I'm here. I'm back here today. I'm full of piss and vinegar.' When questioned about the incident, Kennedy's office sent a statement to The Post from the senator explaining 'there was a malfunction in my earpiece. 'I heard a loud screeching noise with a lot of static.' Before the clarification, speculation quickly swirled about Kennedy, and some observers drew comparisons to Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) repeated freeze-ups in the public eye. 4 Sen. Mitch McConnell had frozen up several times during the end of his time as Senate GOP leader. AP McConnell's team later chalked up the health scares to a concussion he suffered from a fall in March 2023. The former leader of the Senate GOP later announced that he would not be seeking reelection in 2026. Concerns about the health and vitality of lawmakers have been elevated over recent months. This year alone, three House Democrats died from illnesses or old age. Democrats in particular have been forced to reckon with former President Joe Biden's mental acuity amid a string of new revelations about the 82-year-old's condition.
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Newsweek
Greg Abbott Sets Out Vision for Texas THC Regulation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has pushed for strict enforcement to ensure that THC products are not sold to people under the age of 21. Abbott set out a vision for the future of Texas THC regulations after he vetoed a bill that would have fully banned consumable products containing the compound of marijuana that which makes it psychoactive, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, in the state. "We need to have a highly regulated hemp industry," Abbott told Fox 4 on Tuesday. Newsweek has contacted Governor Abbott via email for comment. Main: THC products seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Inset: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas. Main: THC products seen at the Dope Daughters dispensary, Thursday, May 29, 2025, in Austin, Texas. Inset: Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at Hill Country Youth Event Center in Kerrville, Texas. Main: Eric Gay, Inset: Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo Why It Matters Abbott's approach to THC has put him at loggerheads with fellow Republicans who have supported a complete ban. Some law enforcement leaders have said the only way to fully regulate THC use is to ban it completely and that they will not be able to fully stop smoke shops from illegally selling THC above the state-mandated dose, according to Fox 4. Abbott says regulation is possible when police are given the right resources. What To Know Abbott's proposal for the future of THC is to keep it regulated at its 0.3 percent legal limit. He said he will not be legalizing marijuana in the state, and will be pushing for stricter enforcement to ensure that hemp products are not sold to people under the age of 21, and that they do not contain any synthetic compounds. He told Fox 4 that the industry can be regulated like alcohol, including making it illegal to sell products near areas frequented by children. He added he still wanted hemp farmers and people selling the products to be allowed. In June, Abbott vetoed Senate Bill 3, which would have fully banned THC in Texas. The bill, introduced by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, received overwhelming Republican support in the state legislature. Critics of THC in the state say that it poses a danger to children who may find it and consume it, and have pointed to THC as a public health risk. Lieutenant Governor Patrick has said that THC consumption leads to addiction and brain alteration, as reported in The Texas Tribune. The governor vetoed it, saying that the "legal defects in the bill are undeniable." He mentioned that a similar ban in Arkansas was stalled by lawsuits for years. The bill would have banned hemp-derived cannabinoids in Texas, the market of which reached $2.78 billion industry in the state in 2023, according to the Baker Institute at Rice University. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on State Affairs passed Senate Bill 5 with a 10-0 vote. The bill would eliminate the majority of hemp products, according to The Texas Tribune. Hemp-derived cannabinoids were made legal in Texas in 2019 following the passage of a 2018 federal law which legalized hemp. They must contain a THC limit of 0.3 percent. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick shows products containing THC while calling for a ban on the consumables on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas. Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick shows products containing THC while calling for a ban on the consumables on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at the state Capitol in Austin, Texas. Jim Vertuno/AP Photo What People Are Saying Governor Abbott told Fox 4: "We need to have a highly regulated hemp industry to ensure that farmers are able to grow it and that hemp products that do not have an intoxicating level of THC in it can be sold in the marketplace." Steve Dye, a police chief, told The Texas Tribune: "It would take decades, in our opinion, and millions of millions of dollars to hire and train agents to understand chemistry, potency threshold, lab testing and labeling compliance, and they will never be able to keep pace with the retailers, wholesalers and shippers." What Happens Next Senate Bill 5 has now advanced to the full chamber. But, according to The Texas Tribune, lawmakers in the House are more open about regulating THC products rather than banning them outright.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Yahoo
Staying safe in extreme heat: Where to find cooling centers in Kansas City area
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City metro will be under an from noon Saturday until 7 p.m. Wednesday. Heat index values up to 105 to 110 are expected, according to the National Weather Service. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 With the extremely high temperatures, finding ways to stay cool will be crucial. The heat and humidity will make this week extremely uncomfortable and potentially dangerous for those who do not pay attention to some key signs of heat illness. Doctors are reminding people to be aware of heat-related illnesses, such as heat stroke. If someone is showing symptoms call 911 or get them to an ER. Here are some of the symptoms to look out for: Headache Dizziness Nausea High body temperature The city of Independence will have the Roger T. Sermon Center open as a cooling location Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from noon until 6 p.m. Along with the cooling center in Independence, here are some other centers in Kansas City: Kansas City Public Library (Central Library) Garrison Community Center Garrison Square Spray Park Hope Faith – Cooling Site Guadalupe Center Gregg/Klice Community Center Tony Aguirre Community Center Kansas City Public Library (Ruiz Biblioteca De Las Americas) Parade Park Spray Park Spring Valley Spray Park To find a full list of cooling centers in the Kansas City metro visit the United Way of Greater Kansas City's website. FOX4 Newsletters: Sign up for daily forecasts and Joe's Weather Blog in your inbox Here's a list at some of the cooling centers in Kansas City, Kansas and Wyandotte County: West Wyandotte Library Eisenhower Spray Park Providence YMCA/Ball Family Center Turner Community Library Pierson Spray Park F.L. Schlagle Library Kensington Community Center South Branch Library Parkwood Pool Main Library Armourdale Community Center Bonner Springs/Edwardsville Library Bonner Springs Family YMCA To find a full list of cooling centers in Wyandotte County . For cooling centers in Johnson County, Kansas . You can find more information on staying healthy in the heat on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
