Gov. Mike Kehoe announced on Monday the state has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency participate in joint preliminary damage assessments for Individual Assistance in 23 counties following the severe storms and deadly tornadoes that devastated Missouri March 14 and 15. The request begins the process of receiving federal disaster assistance. more

The Tribal Cajun food truck, owned by Jeff Two Hawks of Pottersville, has been providing free meals and supplies to those impacted by the tornadoes and severe weather that rolled through the area Friday.  more

Eric Valentin, owner of Señor Valentin, a taco truck and restaurant in the process of moving to the First & Jefferson building, was set up Sunday at Endurance Church in West Plains, where he said more than 100 people were served food and drinks at no cost.  more

The National Weather Service office in Springfield confirmed an EF-3 tornado with peak winds of 140 mph touched down at 8:35 p.m. Friday just south of Bakersfield in Ozark County and tracked northeast toward South Fork in Howell County. more

An EF-3 tornado confirmed by the National Weather Service caused severe damage at Bakersfield School District when it plowed through the town on Friday night. more

In addition to Drake and Cassity Frazier and their sons, several area families have been set up to benefit from GoFundMe fundraisers set up by close friends and family. Here is what the Quill has been alerted to as of Tuesday morning: more

Throughout the weekend and likely to continue the next several days, resources for those affected by the Friday night's storms and tornado have been collected and distributed through efforts coordinated with local and county emergency and governmental agencies and churches. more

The result of a collaboration between several area school districts, a luncheon forum recently held at West Plains High School gave educators and district administrators a chance to ask state legislators about an upcoming vote on a law that would expand school choice for parents. more

A 36-year-old Gainesville man died of injuries suffered in a rollover accident late Saturday night, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

West Plains schools, including rural K-8 schools in addition to the R-7 district, and His Place Christian Academy will be closed today due to inclement weather forecast this morning, officials announced. more

A 36-year-old Caulfield man died after being thrown from his pickup truck Saturday afternoon, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

An Ozark County woman charged with elder abuse about a year ago is now charged with second-degree murder after an investigation into the Oct. 8, 2023, death of a disabled woman. The incident came about four months after the victim was returned to the suspect's care after being treated at Ozarks Healthcare and a subsequent long-term stay at a West Plains nursing home in 2023. more

A winter storm warning with “significant snow risk” will be in effect starting at 5 p.m. for Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Douglas and Ozark counties, said meteorologists with the National Weather Service in Springfield. more

Serious injuries were reported for a man from Mammoth Spring, Ark., following a two-vehicle crash at 11:25 a.m. Monday on U.S. 63 a mile south of Koshkonong, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

West Plains City Council held its last regular meeting of the year on Monday, during which it approved an amended 2024 budget and voted on several resolutions. more

A 16-year-old girl from Tecumseh has died as the result of a two-vehicle collision, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. more

Small nonfarm businesses in 16 Missouri counties and neighboring counties in Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma are now eligible to apply for low‑interest federal disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, announced Francisco Sánchez, Jr., associate administrator for the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the U.S. Small Business Administration. more

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded contracts for the Southeast District during its October regular meeting. Contracts included bridge replacements, the addition of outer roads and pavement resurfacing. more