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By M. Spencer Green/The Associated Press  ¦   A pedestrian races to avoid an unusually massive line of storms packing hail, lightning and tree-toppling winds that have been forecast for evening rush hour Wednesday in Chicago.

By Scott Eisen/The Associated Press  ¦   Lighting flashes over the Chicago skyline Wednesday evening. An unusually massive line of storms packing hail, lightning and tree-toppling winds was rolling through the Midwest on Wednesday and could affect more than one in five Americans from Iowa to Maryland.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Ibrahim Khaleel and his daughter Mabinah Khaleel teach students how to make water rockets during the first part of the week in preparation to launch solid fuel rockets Friday at the Columbia Area Career Center.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Jun Jung, 11, front, Lincoln Wasden, 13, Chandler Gibbens, 12, Kavin Anand, 11, and Veronica Fritz, 13, look up to see a classmate's rocket fly through the air Wednesday outside the Columbia Area Career Center.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Weston Schlemeyer, 11, holds his rocket, Airborne Assassin, while watching his classmates' water rockets being launched through a welder's mask Wednesday outside the Columbia Area Career Center. Schlemeyer is attending welding camp during the morning session and rocket camp during the afternoons at the center.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Justin Douty, 10, jumps to help pump air into his water rocket before launch while instructor Ibrahim Khaleel and his daughter Mabinah Khaleel, 17, supervise Wednesday outside the Columbia Area Career Center. Ibrahim Khaleel teaches students about industrial technology and engineering during the school year at Oakland Junior High School.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Byron Toalson, 10, fills his water rocket in preparation to launch during rocket camp Wednesday outside the Columbia Area Career Center.

By Quint Smith  ¦   Kavin Anand, 11, fires off his water rocket, USS Thunderbolt, as instructor Ibrahim Khaleel and his daughter, Mabinah Khaleel, 17, supervise Wednesday outside the Columbia Area Career Center. Khaleel taught his students how to make water rockets during the first part of the week to prepare to fire solid fuel rockets Friday.

By Valerie Mosley/The Associated Press  ¦   Kendra Halcomb, former Hammons employee, signs an oversized card Tuesday with her daughter Kaiya Halcomb, 10 month old, at a Celebration of Life service for John Q. Hammons in Springfield. More than 450 people attended the memorial service for the Springfield philanthropist who built more than 200 hotels in 40 states and reshaped his hometown.

By Jennah Sontag  ¦   Eliot Battle sits for a portrait with family members during the dedication ceremony for Battle High School on June 2.

By Jennah Sontag  ¦   Daughters Donna Battle Pierce and Muriel Jean Battle Browder sit in the front row with their father, Eliot Battle during the Battle High School dedication ceremony June 2.

By Courtesy of Columbia Public Schools  ¦   Eliot Battle receives a standing ovation after speaking at the dedication of Battle High School.

By Katherine Jones/Missourian file photo  ¦   Eliot Battle was the director of guidance at Hickman High School in May 1986.

By Manuel Balce Ceneta/The Associated Press  ¦   Russ Martin of American Automobile Association is seen on a monitor in a research vehicle skull cap connected to the research vehicle during a demonstrations in support of their new study on distracted driving in Landover, Md.

Carl W. Kenney II

Ben Henick

By Missourian staff  ¦   MU Chancellor Brady Deaton announced Tuesday that he will retire effective Nov. 15. He has been chancellor since 2004.

By Missourian staff  ¦   Columbia educator Eliot Battle died Tuesday night. He was 88. This gallery is a collection of photos of Battle through the years.

By Shared by Janese Silvey/Missourian Reader  ¦   Students in the Summer Theatre Institute at Stephens College show off the skills they've learned.

By Orlin Wagner/The Associated Press  ¦   Detroit starting pitcher Max Scherzer, a former Missouri standout, throws against Kansas City on Tuesday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City.