Whitney Barnes

Whitney Barnes

Governor Kehoe provides update on May 16 severe storms and tornadoes

JEFFERSON CITY – On Monday, May 19, Governor Mike Kehoe provided an update on the recovery efforts following the devastating severe storms and tornadoes that struck on May 16, leaving widespread destruction in St. Louis and the southeast Missouri region. Governor Kehoe and state officials spent Saturday with local officials in St. Louis surveying some of the hardest-hit areas. All levels of government are fully engaged, and recovery efforts continue across the region.

MoDOT encourages extra caution ahead of busiest construction season ever this summer

JEFFERSON CITY – As Missourians ramp up their summer travels, the Missouri Department of Transportation is urging drivers to plan ahead, use good judgment and be patient, as there are more work zones than ever across the state this construction season. Distracted driving, impaired driving, excessive speeds, and not wearing seat belts are just a few of the concerns that may accompany the increased Memorial Day weekend traffic. In Missouri, 10 people were killed and 83 were seriously injured in crashes over the Memorial Day holiday last year. Prior to this year’s holiday weekend, MoDOT officials said they would like that number to be zero for the 2025 holiday.

New report from Auditor Fitzpatrick gives Randolph County government a rating of “poor” and finds several areas in the County Clerk’s Office in need of improvement

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (May 22, 2025) -- Numerous mistakes made by the Randolph County Clerk’s Office have contributed to the county receiving a rating of “poor” in a new audit report released today by Missouri State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick. The audit documents how the County Clerk failed to comply with state law, which will force the Higbee Fire Protection District to place a bond issue on the ballot for a third time, made numerous errors when reporting the assessed valuation of each taxing jurisdiction, and may have caused the county to collect excessive property taxes.