These are the reddest and bluest counties in Missouri, based on recent election results

MISSOURI – We’re less than a week away from the midterm elections. Missourians will select candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and state legislature seats, among other offices.

Recent election results indicate a Republican stronghold in the Show-Me State. The majority of Missouri voters have sided with the GOP candidate in each of the last six presidential elections, and the GOP governor three of the past five times. All but one current statewide office are also occupied by Republicans.

Before the turn of the 21st century, Missouri had the reputation of being a battleground state. Voters have sided with the eventual president-elect in all but one election since 1904. More Democrat governors (13) have served in terms than Republican governors (8) in that same span. That’s not the case of recent, but some blue-supported spots still emerge in a sea of red.

Ahead of the Nov. 8 general election, FOX 2 compiled results from the November general elections in 2016 and 2020 to determine which counties lean most heavily toward Democrat and Republican candidates.

To determine the reddest and bluest counties, FOX 2 calculated the average margin of victory in each Missouri county using election results in the 2016 and 2020 gubernatorial elections and presidential elections.

COUNTY-BY-COUNTY MAP

The following map displays the average margin of victories for each of Missouri’s 117 polled counties in 2016 and 2020, based on governor and presidential race results. The averages are based on election results from the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office.

!function(){“use strict”;window.addEventListener(“message”,(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data[“datawrapper-height”]){var t=document.querySelectorAll(“iframe”);for(var a in e.data[“datawrapper-height”])for(var r=0;r<t.length;r++){if(t[r].contentWindow===e.source)t[r].style.height=e.data["datawrapper-height"][a]+"px"}}}))}();

FINDINGS

The Most “Blue” Counties:

  1. St. Louis City (64.3%)
  2. St. Louis County (20.2%)
  3. Jackson County (20%)
  4. Boone County (10.8%)

These are the only four counties that have had a blue majority in each of the last two governor and presidential races. These counties represent three of the four most populated metropolitan areas of Missouri (St. Louis, Kansas City and Columbia). St. Louis City is considered the “bluest” county with a 64.3% margin of victory for the Democratic candidates.

The Most “Red” Counties

  1. Barton County (72.5%)
  2. Mercer County (67%)
  3. Bollinger County (66%)
  4. Wright & Stoddard Counties (65.5%)
  5. Carter County (64.2%)

Five of the top six GOP-backed counties are based in southern Missouri, including a few in the Missouri Ozarks region. None of these counties have a population higher than 29,000 people. Barton County, located in southwest Missouri just north of Joplin, is considered the “reddest” county with a 72.5% margin of victory for the Republican candidates.

Closest Gap to “Blue” Counties

  1. Clay County (5.4%)
  2. Platte County (6.5%)
  3. St. Charles County (18.5%)
  4. Buchanan County (21%)
  5. Greene County (21.7%)

Four of five “red” counties with the closest gap are in western Missouri. Two that appear closest to battleground territory, Clay and Platte counties, are located in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Buchanan County and Greene County represent parts of St. Joseph and Springfield. St. Charles County is the closest with local ties to the St. Louis region. All of these regions are home to somewhere between 80,000-400,000 residents.

The election is on Nov. 8. FOX 2 will provide results and live coverage after the polls close. For FOX 2’s in-depth voter’s guide for what else to expect in the November election, click here.

Grove man dies from injuries in October truck crash

GROVE, Okla. – A Grove man has died from injuries he sustained in an October truck crash in Rogers County.

Joseph Alan Littlebear, 33, died Oct. 27 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa from injuries sustained in the Oct. 15 crash, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.  

Littlebear was a passenger in a 2020 Freightliner that was northbound on S. 4220 Road near Inola.  For an unknown reason the Freightliner departed the road to the right, overcorrected and struck a second vehicle that was traveling southbound, the patrol said.

The driver of the freightliner, Dave Cairns, 20, of Haskell, Okla. and the driver of the second vehicle, Harold Lee Scott, 22, of Webbers Fall were treated and released from St. Francis Hospital, the patrol reported.

Cairns’s condition as a driver is under investigation, the patrol reported.

Recreational marijuana can benefit Missouri, proponents say

ST. LOUIS – Proponents want Missourians to consider how recreational cannabis can benefit the Show Me State if it passes statewide. Many signs off Chippewa Street in the Lindenwood Park neighborhood show support for Amendment 3.

“We estimate about $40 million in revenue to be taxed here at the statewide,” said Tom Bommarito with Green Light Medical Marijuana Dispensary. “Then there’s also an opportunity for local municipalities to do the same thing with another three percent tax, and they can use as well. Illinois right now is doing great. We have customers leaving every day to go over to Illinois. About $30 million a month is being spent in Illinois, and we need to stop that and have it spent here.”

Bommarito said there are 200,000 people in the system with medical marijuana cards, but opening it up to the six million Missouri residents could mean more revenue.

He has four stores located in Ferguson, Berkley, Baden, and St. Louis City.

Alderwoman Megan Green of the 15th Ward showed her support Wednesday for states that have benefited from passing recreational sales.

“This makes sense from a criminal justice standpoint and from an economic standpoint,” Green said. “Beyond the $40 million in taxes that we anticipate will be raised at a state level, it also gives the authority for local municipalities to enact a three percent local sales tax. That’s tax revenue that the city of St. Louis can use for a variety of different things, to improve the lives of residents in our city.”

Legal Missouri 2022 said part of the amendment will remove non-violent past marijuana offenses. The group said Missouri will be the first state in the country to pass automatic expungement by a vote of the people.

And the revenue?

“Then it’s divided equally between services for Missouri veterans for healthcare services for them, drug abuse prevention and treatment programs, and finally the state’s underfunded public defender system,” said John Payne, a campaign manager for Legal Missouri 2022.

Biden admin distributing $4.5 billion to help with home heating costs: Here's how to apply for assistance

(WPRI/NEXSTAR) — Billions of dollars in federal aid is being made available to help Americans with their heating bills through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

The Biden administration said Wednesday that roughly $4.5 billion has been allocated for LIHEAP this winter, to help low-income families pay their energy or utility bills, or, in some cases, to cover the cost of weatherization or repairs.

The funds will be distributed to states, territories and tribal governments this week.

LIHEAP, established in 1981, is funded by grants approved by Congress. Typical annual funding is somewhere around $3.5 billion, the Associated Press reported, though last year’s allocations amid the coronavirus pandemic totaled $8 billion.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which operates the assistance program, said LIHEAP helped 5.3 million families in 2021.

“For more than 40 years, this program has helped low-income families pay their home heating and cooling bills,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra stated in a news release issued Wednesday. “As heating costs increase, it is more important than ever to help families struggling to make ends meet. With this funding, we will help protect the health and well-being of Americans by keeping them safe and warm this winter.”

Officials from states across the country, meanwhile, are continuing to keep a close eye on weather forecasts ahead of winter. Resources have tightened amid the war in Ukraine, and inflation has contributed to rising fuel costs over last year. Even the U.S. Department of Energy projects sharp price increases for home heating compared with last winter, the Associated Press reported.

Families seeking aid from LIHEAP can learn more and apply for assistance with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Assistance is distributed through states, territories or tribal governments, and availability is based on income, family size or the availability of resources.

In addition to the $4.5 billion allocated for LIHEAP, the Department of Energy is allocating “nearly $9 billion” for states and tribes to put toward home efficiency programs, to help with upgrades for up to 1.6 million homes, the White House announced Wednesday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Drivers told to park older Dodge and Chrysler models after air bag deaths

Stellantis, the company formerly known as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, instructed drivers of about 276,000 vehicles to park their cars following two incidents in which people died from exploding air bags.

In a release with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), Stellantis warned drivers against taking out 2005 to 2010 Dodge Magnums, Chargers, Challengers and Chrysler 300s.

Two people died this year after Takata air bags blew apart in two separate incidents involving a 2010 Dodge Charger. Stellantis has confirmed the exploding air bags killed the drivers in both incidents.

The NHTSA warned that older model year vehicles can be dangerous even in minor accidents if the air bag is a safety risk.

“Left unrepaired, recalled Takata air bags are increasingly dangerous as the risk of an explosion rises as vehicles age,” NHTSA acting Administrator Ann Carlson said in a statement. “Every day that passes when you don’t get a recalled airbag replaced, puts you and your family at greater risk of injury or death.”

“An exploding Takata air bag can send metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, and this shrapnel can kill,” Carlson added.

The death toll from exploding Takata air bags has reached 32 worldwide, including 23 in the U.S.

Tens of millions of vehicles with Takata air bags are being recalled. The ammonium nitrate in the air bags can be volatile and explode when deployed if exposed to prolonged heat.

Takata Corp., a company based in Japan, filed for bankruptcy in 2017 because of the air bag issues, which led to the auto industry’s largest ever recall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Powerball lottery proceeds help fund Missouri schools

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — There was no lucky winner for Monday night’s Powerball drawing, increasing Wednesday night’s jackpot to $1.2 billion. 

According to the Missouri Lottery, the Show-Me State has had 31 Powerball jackpot winners. Each time someone buys a ticket, they help fund public schools. Since 1986, more than $7 billion of lottery proceeds have gone to the state, its public education system. 

It’s the second-largest prize in Powerball’s 30-year history. As of Tuesday, the jackpot was at $1.2 billion dollars, a cash prize of $596 million. 

Back in 1992, Missouri voters passed Amendment 11, setting aside all lottery proceeds to solely benefit public education. Before that, the money went to the state’s general revenue fund. About 4% of the total funding for elementary, secondary and higher education systems come from lottery proceeds, according to the Missouri Lottery. 

In 2022, $337 million dollars went to public education from the Missouri Lottery. That number breaks down to $203 million to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and $133 million to the Department of Higher Education. The year before, $331 million from lottery proceeds to public education. 

A spokeswoman from DESE said money from the lottery is part of the foundation formula. More lottery funds means that more general revenue dollars are available for the state to use in other ways. 

Here are the overall county education totals from the Missouri Lottery: 

  • Jackson County – $50.2 million 
  • St. Louis County – $39 million
  • St. Louis City – $9.4 million 
  • Greene County – $20.7 million 
  • Jasper County – $9.8 million
  • Newton County – $2.6 million
  • Clay County – $5 million
  • Newton County – $2.6 million 

Unlike previous years, the state is fully funding the foundation formula for schools, which includes money to fully fund transportation for schools, something that hasn’t been done in 30 years. 

The Missouri Lottery also provides about half of the funding for the state’s A+ Program. In the past week, there have been seven $50,000 winners in Missouri for matching the four white ball numbers and the Powerball. 

To find out how much money each individual school district receives from the Missouri Lottery, click here.  

Funeral homes could be required to start posting prices online

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — Funerals can be pricey, but a new federal rule could make it easier for people to manage those costs. The Federal Trade Commission is considering changes to the so-called ‘Funeral Rule’, which controls where and how prices are listed. 

Saying goodbye to a loved one comes with a cost. The average funeral is over $7,00 according to the Funeral Consumer Alliance. 

Stephen Brobeck with the Consumer Federation of America says in part the high prices are driven by a lack of transparency in the funeral industry. 

“The prices in the industry are simply not competitive, because it’s difficult for consumers to obtain them,” Brobeck said. 

Right now the FTC’s Funeral Rule only requires funeral providers to give price lists to customers who visit in person. But the FTC is considering changing that rule to require providers to put their price lists online. 

“We’re seeking additional comment about whether the rule should be updated or not,” Melissa Dickey with the Federal Trade Commission said. 

Grieving families are looking for closure and comfort from a funeral. Chris Famer with the National Funeral Director’s Association says the potential rule changes could compromise funeral services. 

“If you have DC telling everyone else across the country how they’re supposed to shop for something I think that’s a problem,” Farmer. 

Farmer argues there’s no need for the online requirements and that price lists on websites can’t tell consumers everything they need to know about what funeral providers are offering. 

“To reduce the entire experience of saying goodbye for the last time in your life to a loved one to a single number on a website, I think just doesn’t do justice to the service or the consumer,” Farmer said. 

Brobeck says it’s a simple modernization of the Funeral Rule that would give customers more choices and save them money. 

“Prices that represent gouging, taking advantage of ignorant consumers will decline and consumers will save, every year, billions of dollars,” Brobeck said. 

The FTC hasn’t made its official decision yet, so it could be years before customers see funeral prices available online. 

'Grinch', 'Wonderful Life' and Dolly Parton movies among NBC's 2022 holiday specials lineup

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — NBC is helping viewers celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with more holiday broadcasts, classic specials and encore presentations for 2022.

This year’s holiday-specific programming will kick off on Thanksgiving Day. The 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will start at 9 a.m., followed by “The National Dog Show,” at noon. NBC is also bringing back musical specials from Michael Bublé, on Nov. 29, and Kelly Clarkson on Nov. 30.

Three heartwarming TV movies from beloved entertainer and music icon Dolly Parton are scheduled as well:

  • New for 2022 will be “Dolly Parton’s Mountain Magic Christmas,” premiering on Dec. 1, followed by “Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle Of Love,” on Dec. 23, and the original “Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors” on Dec. 26.
  • The newest Grinch film, 2018’s “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” will air on Dec. 20, followed by the 1966 classic animated TV special “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” on Dec. 23.
  • “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, and Lionel Barrymore will once again air on Christmas Eve.

Following Christmas, Milly Cyrus will ring in the new year for a second time with “Miley’s New Year’s Eve Party” on Dec. 31. On Jan. 2, NBC will broadcast the Rose Parade live from Pasadena, California.

NBC is also offering encore presentations of animated family movies, Saturday Night Live specials and more. See the complete list below.

2022 NBC Holiday programming list

Saturday, November 19
8 p.m. – 10 p.m.  MOVIE: TROLLS

Wednesday, November 23
8 p.m. – 9 p.m. COUNTDOWN TO MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
9 p.m. – 11 p.m. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE THANKSGIVING SPECIAL

Thursday, November 24
9 a.m. – noon THE 96th ANNUAL MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
Noon – 2 p.m. THE NATIONAL DOG SHOW PRESENTED BY PURINA

Tuesday, November 29
9 p.m. – 10 p.m. MICHAEL BUBLÉ’S CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY

Wednesday, November 30
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. 90th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS IN ROCKEFELLER CENTER
10 p.m. – 11 p.m. KELLY CLARKSON PRESENTS: WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES AROUND

Thursday, December 1
DOLLY PARTON’S MOUNTAIN MAGIC CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 14
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Monday, December 19
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. MOVIE: SHREK 2
10 p.m. – 11 p.m. THE WALL

Tuesday, December 20
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. MOVIE: ILLUMINATION PRESENTS: DR. SEUSS’ THE GRINCH (2018)

Thursday, December 22
9 p.m. – 11 p.m. A SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Friday, December 23
8 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS (1966)
8:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. 5 MORE SLEEPS ‘TIL CHRISTMAS
9 p.m. – 11 p.m. DOLLY PARTON’S CHRISTMAS OF MANY COLORS: CIRCLE OF LOVE

Saturday, December 24
8 a.m. – 11 p.m. MOVIE: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

Monday, December 26
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. DOLLY PARTON’S COAT OF MANY COLORS

Saturday, December 31
8 p.m. – 10 p.m. A TOAST TO 2022!
10:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. MILEY’S NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY
12:30 a.m. – 2 a.m. SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

January 2
11 a.m. – 1 p.m. THE ROSE PARADE

Missouri's "Katy Trail" offers a great biking experience

MISSOURI (KSNF/KODE) — For those who love to get outdoors and pedal, Missouri has some of the best biking destinations in the nation. The Show-Me-State is well-known for its diverse landscape, featuring rivers both large and small, limestone bluffs, prairies, farmland, and rolling hills. According to local bicycling enthusiasts, there’s one trail in Missouri that beats out all of the others: The Katy Trail.

Stretching across the state, Missouri’s Katy Trail State Park is the longest developed rail-to-trail in the United States. The park, built on the former corridor of the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad (MKT or Katy), is 240 miles long and runs between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. The Katy Trail is flat and scenic and ideal for cycling on just about any kind of bike and any type of rider, from beginners to advanced riders on a cross-country journey.

In 2018, Carl Junction resident and cycling enthusiast, Patrick White biked the full length of the trail for the first time. Since then, he has gone back many times to ride different sections of the Katy Trail.

“Because most of the trail is converted railroad beds, it’s generally very easy to ride since there’s not a lot of elevation change. It doesn’t have a lot of steep inclines; the trail is very gradual. A lot of the trail is located in some very scenic parts of Missouri,” said Patrick White.

| America’s “Little Grand Canyon” Located In Missouri >

Cyclists on the Katy Trail have the opportunity to wind through some of the most scenic areas of the state with the majority of the trail closely following the Missouri River. The park also takes visitors through a piece of rural history as it meanders through the small towns that once thrived along the railroad corridor. Information at the trailheads makes a ride on the Katy not only a healthy adventure, but also an educational one.

“When you’re biking the Katy Trail, you see things that you wouldn’t see from the car. I like the trail because you don’t have the traffic to worry about, like you would on a road,” said White.

Another bicycling enthusiast who has traveled the Katy Trail is Patrick Tuttle, Director of the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau. From beginners, to the most experienced cyclists, Tuttle says the trail is a great experience for all.

“Whenever you’re riding on a protected trail like the Katy, it’s very memorable because you’re not concerned about cross traffic or motorist or whatever coming your way. It’s unique in itself that it’s packed gravel. So it’s not really a dirt bike trail, but also it’s not a trail just for a road bike, you’re kind of in between as far as the surface goes. But the fact that the trail is already established makes it fairly easy to travel, because obviously trains don’t like doing steep grades. It’s a protected trail, and one you can just ride very passively,” said Patrick Tuttle.

If you’re not ready to take on “The Katy,” Tuttle suggests that you start somewhere close to home. For those in Southwest Missouri, the Frisco Greenway Trail and the Ruby Jack Trail are two short, easy routes to consider.

“The Frisco Greenway and the Ruby Jack are rails-to-trails, meaning they’re former railroad beds that are no longer in use and they’ve developed into protected trails that give you a fairly good length of distance to practice on. The Ruby Jack Trail is 13 miles between Carl Junction and Carthage, and the Frisco Trail between North Joplin and Webb City is only about four miles, but it’s still a good trail to learn from. Those can be a basic bike without having a lot of skill and a lot of equipment to do it,” said Tuttle.

  • You can find more information on Katy Trail State Park, HERE.
  • Information on the Frisco Greenway Trail can be found, HERE.
  • If you’re looking for information on the Ruby Jack Trail, you can find that, HERE.

"Care Partner Network" celebrates its first anniversary

JOPLIN, Mo. — A program that helps people in need to get the assistance they require in a short amount of time has celebrated its first full year in existence in the Four States.

It’s called the “Care Partner Network” and it’s a web-based program that director Jennifer Van Hoose says has continued to grow to include more and more agencies.

“And so the Care Partner Network is now, you know, instead of ten agencies we have close to 55, 60 agencies that are working together, using the platform, sending and receiving referrals, having success,” said Jennifer Van Hoose, Care Partner Network Director.

It grew out of a grant received a few years ago by Freeman Health System, the purpose of which was to see if there’s a way to prevent the same group of individuals from ending up in the emergency room over and over again.

The network provides the user with a list of agencies that provide the services they need, all without duplication of services.

“It takes the onus and the burden off the individual, so instead of you know somebody coming in here and saying where do I find food, and I hand them a list and say good luck, I can say oh let me send a direct referral on your behalf,” said Van Hoose.

Daniel Gurley says the advantage of the program for agencies like his is that some of his clients may qualify for help from other area agencies.

“It helps me directly because that way I know that the communication is there and exactly what type of help another entity is doing in conjunction with what we’re trying to provide here at Souls Harbor,” said Daniel Gurley, Souls Harbor.