Judge Rules Against Crawford County R-I, Other Defendants In Lawsuit Over Property Tax Bills

A Cole County judge has ruled against the Crawford County R-I School District and dozens of other local government entities in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a Missouri property tax law enacted as part of legislation intended to help finance stadium projects for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals.

Farmington Inmate Dies at St. Louis Hospital

St. Louis, Mo. (KFMO) - A Missouri Department of Corrections inmate has died at a St. Louis hospital. According to the Missouri Department of Corrections, 39-year-old Terry Benson was pronounced dead at Mercy Hospital St. Louis at 4:48 p.m. Monday, November 9, 2026. Benson was serving a five-year sentence at...

This Haunted Missouri Road Has Kept Locals Away After Dark for Years

Devil’s Elbow in Missouri is a 2-mile loop along Route 66’s old alignment through the Ozarks where, according to local legend, the ghosts of drowned 19th-century lumbermen and vanishing cars appear in the mist that rises off the Big Piney River. During the day, the area is popular with paddlers, anglers, and Mother Road enthusiasts […]

This Charming Little Missouri Town Is So Budget Friendly It Feels Almost Too Good To Be True

Most things that sound too good to be true actually are, but Farmington, Missouri keeps being the exception that breaks that rule. Sitting comfortably in the rolling hills of St. Francois County, about 70 miles south of St. Louis, this town has quietly assembled a combination of affordability, charm, and genuine quality of life that most people spend years searching for and never quite find.

Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells dies after cancer battle

Dent County Sheriff Bob Wells passed away on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 12, following a battle with cancer.

Missouri hemp businesses clear shelves, close shops as new restrictions take effect

Brian Riegel, owner of South Point Hemp, has farmed hemp since 2018 near Union. He had hoped to specialize in full-spectrum CBD products, which are marketed as sleep aids and pain relievers. But those products contain small amounts of hemp-derived THC, which is now banned in Missouri (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).

An Ozarks bluff holds a 2,000-year-old mystery painted in red

Archaeologists have determined that some pictographs at Missouri's White Rock Bluffs were painted between 420 and 120 B.C., providing new insights into the lives of ancient Native Americans in the Ozarks.

Area Schools Face $5.5 Million Funding Shortfall Under State Budget Proposal

Ten area school districts could receive a combined $5.55 million less than Missouri's school funding formula calls for in the next fiscal year, according to estimates released by Crawford County R-I Superintendent Brian Witt. The projected shortfall includes $907,480 for Potosi, $835,223 for St. Clair, $755,760 for Sullivan and $338,498...

‘Willing to cooperate’ - Fort Leonard Wood commander confronted a wartime health threat in Missouri

Col. Andrew R. Duvall commanded Fort Leonard Wood during World War II. In August 1944, he warned Lebanon officials that the community could be placed off limits to soldiers unless concerns involving venereal disease and military readiness were addressed. Courtesy of Jeremy P. Ämick. The warning from Fort Leonard...

Catch A Shuttle Up The Mountain And Ride Back Down At This Missouri Bike Park

A mountain that once held Civil War cannon positions now sends mountain bikers flying down rocky downhill trails. You can still spot those old cannon spots up there. You can also find leftovers from a former ski operation. The best part is the ride to the top. A shuttle hauls...

Local Author Pens Historical Fiction Book

(Farmington, Mo.) Local author, Jack Ward Skinner, has a new book. It’s the second installment in his continuing saga of the Calliott family. Skinner says The book is called “War and Promise” and it’s set in the time of the War of 1812. Skinner says he has several book signings coming up for those who wish to purchase a copy.

Public Comment Rule in Place

(Farmington, Mo.) Public comment guidelines are now in place for St. Francois County Commission meetings after the proposed rules were approved by St. Francois County Commissioners. Presiding Commissioner, Kent Scism, says with the guidelines in place it gives everyone who wants to talk during the public comments section of commission meetings an equal opportunity.

"Don't Give Up the Ship" Flag Arrives In Annapolis

Waynesville, Mo., service station still operates as a full-service stop on Route 66

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. (KY3) -Civic and state leaders officially created Route 66 100 years ago today, and one of the service stations that supported the route is still open and operating in Waynesville. Service stations were critical for the survival and success of the Mother Road. The Downtown Service Station in...

New U.S. 67 and Route CC Interchange Opens in Jefferson County

Jefferson Co., Mo. (KFMO) - A new interchange at U.S. Route 67 and Route CC in Jefferson County is officially open following a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday. The Missouri Department of Transportation, along with KCI Construction and Bartlett & West, held the ceremony to celebrate the completion of the project, which transforms the former signalized intersection into a grade-separated interchange.

District football championships decided tonight

Eureka, Festus and St. Pius X host district championships tonight, while Crystal City, Jefferson and Seckman have tough road tests if they’re to play another week. Bundle up because playoff football weather arrived just in time for high school football’s stretch run that ends up with the Show Me Bowls in St. Joseph in December. Hillsboro, Festus and St. Pius were state finalists the last three years. That’s new territory for county teams. All that remains is closing the deal with Jefferson County’s first state title.

County Council adds road improvements to subdivision plan

The Jefferson County Council has added another stipulation that developers of a 200-home subdivision in Imperial must follow before their petition is given the go-ahead. The council voted 6-0 on Oct. 26 to amend the petition submitted by JSS Land Development LLC of St. Louis to include work on Lions Den Road before more traffic is added to the road once the subdivision is built. The work includes widening the road at the intersection of Lions Den and Old Hwy. 21 to allow for a dedicated right-turn lane and a shoulder.

JCAA Announces All-Conference Boys Soccer Team

(Festus) The Jefferson County Activities Association has announced this year’s all-conference boys soccer team. De Soto’s Josh Golightly was named the JCAA Soccer Player of the Year, and Perryville’s Dwayne Hadler was named JCAA Coach of the Year. The JCAA All-Conference team was announced on November 10.

Caledonia's 'Grinchmas' celebration is a festive event for families

The Village of Caledonia will host its eighth annual “Grinchmas” celebration in preparation for the holiday season from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12. While the Grinch will be in town for the celebration — and available for a photo-op — the holiday spirit won’t be stolen from a village that is often compared to a Hallmark Christmas movie setting.

MoDOT Plans Route U Bridge Replacement in Iron County

Iron Co., Mo. (KFMO) - The Missouri Department of Transportation is planning improvements to a bridge along Route U in Iron County, with construction potentially beginning in early 2029. MoDOT plans to replace the Route U bridge over Logan Creek, located between County Road 28 and Logan Road, east of...