The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Thursday, May 16, 2013  At least 6 dead, dozens left homeless as tornadoes leave trail of destruction in North Texas

Wednesday, May 08, 2013  Cole County added two new tornado sirens Wednesday morning as part of a program to build more in the city and county.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013  The previous site was destroyed in an EF-5 twister that also leveled the hospital.

Thursday, April 11, 2013  A former Joplin resident has pleaded guilty to disaster fraud for benefits she received after a deadly tornado hit the city in 2011.

Thursday, April 04, 2013  The experiment went into effect April 1 and will last through November 30.

Tuesday, April 02, 2013  Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is suing a southwest Missouri company for allegedly dumping tornado waste from Joplin into an abandoned mine shaft.

Thursday, March 28, 2013  The massive E-F5 tornado killed 161 people and flattened a large swath of the city, destroying thousands of homes and commercial buildings.

Thursday, March 21, 2013  Jim Reed, extreme weather photographer, shared his experiences with chasing storms and photography at WWU.

Sunday, January 20, 2013  JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) -- Nearly two years after a tornado demolished much of Joplin, acts of generosity are continuing to lighten the burden for residents who lost nearly everything.

Saturday, January 19, 2013  Residents in tornado-ravaged Joplin are being asked to help design bow ties that will be hawked to raise money for an arts center and ongoing recovery efforts.

Friday, January 11, 2013  State regulators say insurance claims from the May 2011 Joplin tornado are likely to reach $2 billion.

Tuesday, January 08, 2013  An insurance company that nearly went under after the Joplin tornado is back in better financial condition.

Friday, January 04, 2013  A Joplin woman has admitted defrauding the federal government out of disaster benefits following the May 2011 tornado that devastated the city.

Thursday, December 27, 2012  A powerful winter storm brought snow to inland parts of the Northeast and driving rain and wind to areas along the coast Thursday, a day after it swept through the nation's middle.

Wednesday, December 26, 2012  An enormous storm system that dumped snow and sleet on the nation's midsection and unleashed damaging tornadoes around the Deep South began punching its way toward the Northeast on Wednesday, slowing holiday travel.