Joplin recovery

Officials in Joplin and Duquesne signed off on FEMA's debris removal efforts, and now damaged houses can be demolished and cleaned up.

FEMA said it would pay 90 percent of the debris removal costs from residential areas in Joplin and Duquesne if they were cleared by Sunday.

Businesses destroyed by the May 22 tornado are still on the tax rolls, but one legislator hopes to change that during the special session of the legislature. He says the tax break will help businesses to re-open sooner.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will only pay for 75 percent of the costs instead of the 90 percent it's currently covering. With the federal government paying less, the state will pay for more.

The 12- and 13- year old little league All-Stars didn't win a state title, but they didn't leave Joplin without making their mark.

Gov. Nixon and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius visited Joplin Monday.

The state will pick up 10 percent of the cost of the expedited debris removal program not covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Joplin in the process of figuring out how to pay for what was damaged in the May 22 tornado, but officials do know it's a long process.

Some Joplin residents left homeless by the May 22 tornado might be able to move into mobile homes as soon as this weekend.

The Southwest Missouri BBB said rescuejoplin.org, a charity collecting donations for Joplin, is not registered as a nonprofit group. Attorney General Chris Koster's office said it is investigating.

Joplin leaders are looking to the Greensburg, Kan., tornado of 2007 as a guide for the future.

At least 135 students affected by the May 22 tornado won't return to the Joplin School District in the fall.

The new hospital is three times larger than the existing temporary unit.

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said several thousand dollars of contributions have not been passed on as promised to Joplin charities, churches or families.

Gov. Jay Nixon plans to allot state and federal aid to single-family, low- and moderate-income homeowners. The plan would use about 38 percent of the state's annual share of low-income housing tax credits.

Volunteers at First Baptist Church in Carthage have received recovered photographs scattered across the state by the EF5 tornado. They meticulously clean them and search the photos for information on their owners.

Schnucks employee Tom Oleski said that the day's success was due to the enthusiasm of Columbia residents. Customer concerns prompted the benefit.

Church members, the Ozark Gateway Master Gardeners and a troop of Boy Scouts joined the beautification efforts.

The financial services company has agreed to allow those affected by the tornado to delay payments through September.