Concerned citizens will sample soup and raise money to fight hunger at the 7th annual Empty Bowls in Saint Joseph Wednesday.  Chairman Joe Houts of the Hunger Coalition says 16 local restaurants will donate soup.

Houts and Second Harvest executive director David Davenport say Empty Bowls has raised more than $100,000 for a meal for the hungry every Sunday at the Open Door Food Kitchen.  Tickets to Empty Bowls cost $25 and are available at the door at Wyatt Park Baptist Church.  The event runs from 11:30 to 1 pm Wednesday.

A Clinton County toddler is dead after the child ran in front of a vehicle on Memorial Day.

Two-year-old Reed Rogers was killed after he walked into the path of a 2005 Dodge truck just before noon on Monday, according to the Missouri Highway Patrol.

43-year-old John Rogers was pulling the truck forwards in the driveway south of Lathrop when the boy ran in front of the truck.  The accident happened two miles southwest of Lathrop on 240th street in Rural Clinton County.

 

A new book by a former Baltimore police officer and professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice has sparked the debate about flogging as an alternative to prison.

According to “In Defense of Flogging” by Peter Moskos, the American penal system incarcerates 2.3 million people, the largest per capita proportion of any country in the world.

Vote below the video. What do you think of flogging?

WASHINGTON (AP) – It turns out that home prices haven’t finished falling. Prices in major areas have now reached their lowest level since the housing bubble burst in 2006.

They’ve been driven down even further by foreclosures and a glut of unsold homes. Home prices fell between February and March in 18 of the 20 metro areas tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller index.

A monthly survey finds Americans losing faith that the economy will keep improving. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index fell to 60.8 from a revised 66 in April.

It’s a sign of the toll that high gas prices, a choppy job outlook and a moribund housing market are taking on people’s outlooks.

The Corps of Engineers warns communities along the Missouri River to expect flooding in mid-June.

The Corps is releasing more water from upstream reservoirs to relieve high levels caused by rain and heavy snowpack.  The flow rate past Saint Joseph could double in the next two weeks, putting extra pressure on levees.  

Holt County has activated its emergency shelter and is advising residents to evacuate low-lying areas.
 
Buchanan County has ordered an extra 100,000 sandbags.

The Missouri Department of Public Safety on Monday announced that a total of 113 individuals have been confirmed as deceased and their next-of-kin notified following the tornado that devastated Joplin on May 22.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has assumed the duty of notifying the relatives. The Department of Public Safety will release a daily update of those individuals confirmed as deceased as a result of the tornado, following notification. The updates will be available on the department’s Web site.

As of 6 p.m. Monday, May 30, the deceased victims whose next-of-kin have received notifications of their deaths are:

Jose O. Alvarez, 59, Joplin
Barbara A. Anderson, 76, Joplin
Sarah L. Anderson, 47, Joplin
William A. Anderson, 53, Joplin
Cyrus “Edward” Ash, Jr., 87, Joplin
Grace Aquino, 46, of Joplin
Robert W. Baker, 54, Joplin
Robert E. Bateson, 45, Joplin
Dorothy T. Bell, 88, Joplin
Regina M. Bloxham, 55, Joplin
Lathe E. Bradfield, 84, Joplin
Ramona M. Bridgeford, 77, Seneca
Leo E. Brown, 86, Joplin
Hugh O. Buttram, 85, Joplin
Tami L. Campbell, 28, Joplin
Arriyinnah S. Carmona, 8, Joplin
Moises Carmona-Navarro, 42, Joplin
Shante M. Caton, 10, Joplin
Trenton Caton, 6, Pierce City
Raymond Chew, 66, Joplin
Carolane J. Collins, 62 Eagle Rock
Clyde Coleman, 72, Galena, Kansas
Lois A. Comfort, 66, Webb City
Keenan K. Conger, 49, Joplin
Vicki L. Cooper, 59, Joplin
Teddy R. Copher, 71, Joplin
Malisa A. Crossley, 36, Joplin
Adam Darnaby, 27, Joplin
Patricia E. Dawson, 74, Joplin
Nancy E. Douthitt, 94, Joplin
Ellen Doyle, 75, Joplin
Amonda S. Eastwood, 49, Joplin
Richard A. Elmore, 70, Joplin
Randy E. England, 34, Neosho
Betty Fisher, 86, Joplin
Marsha A. Frost, 32, Joplin
Sebastian C. Frost, 10, Joplin
Charles K. Gaudsmith, 21, Carthage
Billie J. Gideon, 77, Joplin
Paul E. Haddock, 63, Joplin
Caley Lantz Hare, 16, Joplin
Dorothy V. Hartman, 91, Joplin
Dee A. Hayward, 47, Galena, Kansas
Glenn W. Holland, 59, Joplin
Lorie M. Holland, 48, Joplin
Charlotte Hopwood, 84, Joplin
Hayze Howard, 1, Webb City
Harli Howard, 5, Webb City
Thomas Russell Howard, 29, Webb City
Jane E. Jaynes, 86, Joplin
Melisa R. Johnson, 50, Carthage
Cheryl L. Jones, 39, Altamont, Kansas
Kathy S. Keling, 53, Joplin
James D. Kendrick, 63, Joplin
Geneva Koler, 84, Joplin
Donald W. Lansaw, Jr., 31, Joplin
Bruce A. Lievens, 48, Joplin
Billie S. Little, 65, Joplin
Skyuler I. Logsdon, 1, Joplin
Christopher D. Lucas, 28, Vinita, Oklahoma
Rachel K. Markham, 31, Joplin
Nancy Martin, 52, Neosho
Jesse L. McKee, 44, Neosho
James E. McKeel, 69, Joplin
Mary L. McKeel, 64, Joplin
Randall E. Mell, 49, Joplin
Ronald D. Meyer, 64, Joplin
Lorna K. Miller, 72, Joplin
Ray Donald Miller III, 49, Joplin
Doris Montgomery, 83, Joplin
Edmond V. Mullaney, 82, Joplin
Sharyl Nelsen, 34, Joplin
William R. Norton, 18, Joplin
Dennis M. Osborn, 34, Seneca
Charles E. Oster, 77, Joplin
Shirley Ann Parker, 68, Joplin
Mary J. Perry, 76, Joplin
James B. Peterson, 27, Joplin
John H. Petty, 37, Neosho
Hallie M. Piquard, 78, Joplin
Natalia M. Puebla, 17, Neosho
Shelly Marie Ramsey, 42, Neosho
Loretta Randell, 54, Joplin
Troy Raney, 39, Joplin
Virgil T. Reid, 77, Joplin
Johnny Richey, 52, Joplin
Vicki Robertson, 66, Joplin
Keith D. Robinson, 48, Joplin
Virginia Mae Salmon, 80, Joplin
Tonya L. Sawyer, 41, Fort Scott, Kansas
Frances A. Scates, 70, Joplin
Gladys J. Seay, 83, Welch, Oklahoma
Daniel W. Shirley, 48, Joplin
Judy Smith, 71, Joplin
Nicholaus A. Smith, 23, Joplin
Shyrell L. Smith, 68, Pittsburg, Kansas
Lois L. Sparks, 92, Joplin
Steven J. Stephens, 28, Joplin
Gregan D. Sweet, 59, Joplin
Kayleigh Teal, 16, Pittsburg, Kansas
Heather L. Terry, 36, Joplin
John Thomas, Jr., 40, Joplin
Sandra K. Thomas, 55, Carthage
Zachary D. Treadwell, 9, Joplin
Margaret Tuit, 92, Joplin
Michael E. Tyndall, 33, Joplin
Darian D. Vanderhoofven, 45, Joplin
Joshua D. Vanderhoofven, 1, Joplin
Miguel Vazquez-Castillo, 28, Joplin
Miles Wells, 49, Webb City
Tiera Whitley, 20, Fulton, Kansas
Zach Williams, 12, Joplin
Charles W. Writer, 74, Joplin

Dan Michaels took these photographs and then recorded his impressions of Joplin after it was hit by the most deadly single tornado ever recorded.

One of the striking aspects of the damage in Joplin caused by the tornado May 22 is that it goes on, and on, and on. Dan Michaels drove along 26th street for about a mile, from St John’s Hospital at McClelland Boulevard, to the Taco Bell at Main Street, and recorded this video.

The City of Joplin, Missouri planned a city wide Moment of Silence at 5:41 p.m., on Sunday, May 29 to honor those who lost their lives or have been injured and are suffering because of the disaster that struck Joplin one week ago.

The initial report of the EF-5 tornado on the ground in Joplin was made at 5:41 p.m. May 22.

Over 6,000 structures were affected, with many demolished completely, by this disaster.

But for every story of tragedy in this Southwest Missouri town, there are ten equally compelling stories of compassion, selflessness and charity. Here, on video, are one of each. Below is the first list of names released by the Missouri Department of Public Safety who are confirmed dead and whose relatives have been notified.

Governor Jay Nixon has directed the Missouri State Highway Patrol to assume control of notifying next-of-kin.

The Department of Public Safety will release a daily update of those individuals confirmed as deceased as a result of the tornado, following notification of next-of-kin. The updates will be available on the department Web site, www.dps.mo.gov.

As of 8 p.m. Saturday, May 28, the deceased victims whose next-of-kin have received notifications of their deaths are:

Miguel Alvarez, 28, Joplin
Sarah L. Anderson, 47, Joplin
Grace Aquino, 46, of Joplin
Robert E. Bateson, 45, Joplin
Dorothy T. Bell, 88, Joplin
Regina M. Bloxham, 55, Joplin
Lathe E. Bradfield, 84, Joplin
Leo E. Brown, 86, Joplin
Tami L. Campbell, 28, Joplin
Arriyinnah S. Carmona, 8, Joplin
Moises Carmona-Navarro, 42, Joplin
Shante M. Caton, 10, Joplin
Trenton Caton, 6, Pierce City
Raymond Chew, 66, Joplin
Carolane J. Collins, 62 Eagle Rock
Clyde Coleman, 72, Galena, Kansas
Lois A. Comfort, 66, Webb City
Adam Darnaby, 27, Joplin
Nancy E. Douthitt, 94, Joplin
Ellen Doyle, 75, Joplin
Randy E. England, 34, Neosho
Betty Fisher, 86, Joplin
Marsha A. Frost, 32, Joplin
Sebastian C. Frost, 10, Joplin
Charles K. Gaudsmith, 21, Carthage
Billie J. Gideon, 77, Joplin
Caley Hare, 16, Joplin
Dorothy V. Hartman, 91, Joplin
Glenn W. Holland, 60, Joplin
Hayze Howard, 1, Webb City
Harli Howard, 11, Webb City
Thomas Russell Howard, 29, Webb City
Cheryl L. Jones, 39, Altamont, Kansas
James D. Kendrick, 63, Joplin
Bruce A. Lievens, 48, Joplin
Rachel K. Markham, 31, Joplin
Nancy Martin, 52, Miami, Oklahoma
Jesse L. McKee, 44, Neosho
Randall E. Mell, 49, Joplin
Ronald D. Meyer, 64, Joplin
Donald R. Miller, 49, Joplin
Doris Montgomery, 83, Joplin
Edmond V. Mullaney, 82, Joplin
Sharyl Nelson, 34, Joplin
William R. Norton, 18, Joplin
Dennis M. Osborn, 34, Seneca
Shirley Ann Parker, 68, Joplin
John H. Petty, 37, Neosho
Natalia M. Puebla, 37, Neosho
Shelly Marie Ramsey, 42, Neosho
Loretta Randell, 54, Joplin
Troy Raney, 39, Joplin
Virgil T. Reid, 77, Joplin
Johnny Richey, 52, Joplin
Vicki Robertson, 66, Joplin
Keith D. Robinson, 48, Joplin
Virginia Mae Salmon, 80, Joplin
Tonya L. Sawyer, 41, Fort Scott, Kansas
Daniel W. Shirley, 48, Joplin
Judy Smith, 71, Joplin
Nicholaus A. Smith, 23, Joplin
Shyrell L. Smith, 68, Pittsburg, Kansas
Steven J. Stephens, 28, Joplin
Kayleigh Teal, 16, Pittsburg, Kansas
Heather L. Terry, 36, Joplin
John Thomas, Jr., 40, Joplin
Sandra K. Thomas, 55, Carthage
Margaret Tuit, 92, Joplin
Michael E. Tyndall, 33, Joplin
Miles Wells, 49, Webb City
Tiera Whitley, 20, Fulton, Kansas
Zach Williams, 12, Joplin
Charles W. Writer, 74, Joplin

There are now 39 people who remain unaccounted for in Joplin.  Four more have been reported dead by their families a week after the killer tornado.  The Missouri Department of Public Safety says those four haven’t been officially confirmed dead, however.  More than 130 people have been reported killed in the storm thathit Joplin a week ago.   The tornado – an EF-5 packing 200 mph winds – injured more than 900 people. Tallying and identifying the dead and the missing has proven a complex and sometimes confusing exercise for authorities and loved ones.