Joplin tornado

An aerial view shows the destruction of the Home Depot in Joplin, Mo. on May 24, 2011. The tornado that hit Joplin on May 22 claimed 161 lives. The Home Depot has since been rebuilt.

Talk of 'tornado tourism' stirs anger in Joplin

Eight months after a tornado laid waste to much of the city, Joplin is wrestling with an emotional question: Should the community market its devastated…

Government, Politics & Issues

Nixon focuses on education, jobs, campaign spending

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Jan. 18, 2012 - While Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's proposed state budget is primarily about austerity,…

A Mo. Senator is proposing to eliminate the state income tax for some low-income residents while raising the tax on smokers.

Morning headlines: Wednesday, January 11, 2011

Mo. Senator wants to increase cigarette tax and eliminate state income tax for low income peopleRepublican state Sen. John Lamping, of Ladue, has filed…

Government, Politics & Issues

From small, bright spots to big ones: Americorps St. Louis still at work in Joplin

Kristen Hare

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 29, 2011 - Just after the deadly tornado that struck Joplin last May, Quinn Gardner and other…

Government, Politics & Issues

Kinder continues effort to drop prevailing wage for construction in Joplin

Jo Mannies

This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, Dec. 27, 2011 - Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is reaffirming that he's continuing to try to suspend…

Joplin residents look through the remains of their house on May 24,two days after an EF-5 tornado devastated the city. The EPA will provide $500,000 to test and clean up lead-contaminated soil in residential areas exposed by the tornado and recovery.

Joplin gets EPA help for lead testing, remediation

Rachel Lippmann

The federal Environmental Protection Agency will provide the city of Joplin, Mo. with $500,000 to help test and clean up lead-contaminated soils that were…

Some of the aftermath following the devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo. in May 2011. The tornado killed 161 people and destroyed more than 7,000 residences.

Housing agency upholds wage waiver for Joplin

Missouri's housing agency has rejected a proposal to bypass new federal wage standards for tornado recovery projects.A Missouri Housing Development…

An American flag blows in the wind, attached to a downed limb, near a home that has been destroyed in Joplin, Missouri on May 23, 2011. A massive tornado hit the small southwestern Missouri town on May 22, 2011.

Phony 'victim' of Joplin tornado admits fraud

A southwestern Missouri man has admitted writing more than $160,000 in bad checks by claiming he and his family were victims of the Joplin tornado.The U.…

Patrick Foreman comforts his wife in what was the second floor of their home. in Joplin, Missouri on May 24, 2011. The tornado hit Joplin on May 22 and is the deadliest single U.S. tornado in about 60 years.

Morning headlines: Monday, November 28, 2011

Rachel Lippmann

Insurers have spent more than $1 billion in Joplin tornado claimsAfter spending about $1.13 billion in claims tied to the Joplin tornado, insurers expect…

Tree limbs are piled up near Saint John's Hospital in Joplin, Missouri on May 22, 2011. Officials say a deadly tornado cut a path a mile wide by four miles, destroying over 2000 homes and businesses. 116 people have died so far.

Morning headlines: Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Joplin to mark 6 month anniversary of devastating tornadoThe city of Joplin is marking the six-month anniversary of the May 22 tornado with a community…