News – Monday, July 28th 2025

An accident occurred Saturday morning around 5:15 in Crawford County on Hwy 19 about 3 miles south of Steelville. According to the highway patrol report a 2002 Honda Accord driven by an unknown person was traveling southbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Honda began to skid and travelled off the left side of the roadway. The Honda then struck a tree, an unoccupied park car, and the side of a garage before coming to rest. The driver fled the scene before officers arrived. A 34-year-old male from Salem, 22-year-old male from Cuba, and a 20-year-old male from Sullivan all suffered moderate injuries and were airlifted to Mercy Creve Coeur. It is unknown if any occupants were wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Honda was totaled and removed from the scene by Miles and Sons Towing.

An accident occurred Friday afternoon around 2:10 in Dent County on Hwy 68 near County Road 3250. According to the highway patrol report a 2015 Toyota Prius driven by a 69-year-old male from Festus was traveling northbound and failed to negotiate a curve. The Toyota travelled off the right side of the roadway and struck a pole. The male suffered moderate injuries and was transported by Salem Memorial Ambulance to Salem Memorial Hospital. He was wearing a safety restraint at the time of the accident. The Toyota was totaled and removed from the scene by American Towing.

The Missouri Public Service Commission (PSC) approved an agreement Wednesday July 16th setting new rates for natural gas customers of Union Electric Company d/b/a Ameren Missouri. The Commission approved an unopposed agreement reached among the parties in the case: Ameren Missouri, PSC Staff, the Office of the Public Counsel and the Missouri School Boards’ Association. Under the agreement terms, Ameren Missouri will increase rates by $31.5 million. The amount approved by the Commission is $8.1 million less than Ameren Missouri’s original request of $39.6 million. The new rates will become effective on September 1, 2025. The agreement also included approval of certain low-income and weatherization programs, including the Critical Needs Program and the Income-Eligible Weatherization Assistance Program. The Missouri Public Service Commission regulates investor-owned electric, natural gas, steam, manufactured housing and modular units, water and sewer companies, and has limited authority over telephone providers in the state. The Commission ensures the public has access to safe, reliable and reasonably priced utility service. The Commission must balance the interests of the public – ratepayers – as well as company shareholders. In proceedings before the Commission, rates are set to allow the utility company an opportunity – but not a guarantee – to earn a reasonable return on its investment after recovering its prudently incurred expenses.

The Missouri Conservation Commission gave initial approval to several regulation changes from the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) to expand furbearer hunting and trapping opportunities at its May 16th open meeting in Jefferson City. As many populations of furbearing species continue to increase, the proposed regulation changes will increase trapping opportunities and provide landowners with additional tools to manage wildlife populations and respond to human-wildlife conflicts. The Commission gave initial approval to increasing the number of days that allow the use of artificial light, night vision, and thermal imagery equipment when harvesting coyotes. The proposed regulation would extend the use of these tools to 252 days from January 1st through September 30th, excluding the prescribed spring turkey hunting season. Prior to the proposed regulation, artificial light, night vision, and thermal imaging equipment could only be used to harvest coyotes from February 1st through March 31st, a total of 59 days. The Commission also approved a proposed regulation change that would allow Conibear and similar type traps that are 7 inches in size or smaller to be used in dryland sets on private property with some restrictions on placement and use. Previously, these types of traps could not be more than 5 inches, unless set in water. In addition, the Commission approved a proposed regulation change that would allow the use of snares in dryland sets on private property with certain requirements on size and device configuration. Currently, snares can only be used in water sets. The proposed regulation would allow snares in dryland sets on private property as long as they are set 150 feet from public areas and property borders, unless written consent is obtained. MDC is seeking public comments on the proposed regulation changes until this Thursday. Get more information and submit comments at mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage. If given final approval, the anticipated date for the regulation changes to take effect is January 1st, 2026, for extended use of artificial light, night vision, and thermal imagery equipment when harvesting coyotes. If given final approval, the anticipated date for the other regulation changes to become effective is April 1st, 2026. For more information on Hunting and Trapping in Missouri, visit MDC online at mdc.mo.gov.