Missouri News Roundup: Big River, State Fair and More

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Community · Red Rock Daily staff

Here’s a roundup of recent Missouri news: E. coli levels in the Big River near Leadwood are improving but still unsafe, the Missouri State Fair canceled its Sea Lion Splash show after an I-70 crash in Boone County, and more.

E. coli levels in the Big River improve slightly, but remain unsafe

E. coli levels in the Big River near Leadwood, Missouri, are slightly improving but remain high, one week after state officials identified raw sewage in the river and problems with the city’s wastewater treatment system (FOX 2, Aug. 15, 2026). The Missouri Department of Natural Resources says it is making progress toward repairing Leadwood’s failing wastewater system, which had allowed only partially treated water to be released upstream and downstream into the river (DNR via FOX 2, Aug. 15, 2026).

New sampling shows E. coli levels near the Leadwood Access Point are dropping but still considered unsafe and abnormally high. “Until the treatment plant’s capacity improves and starts attaining permitted effluent limits, people should heed the public health advisory signs posted at access points on the Big River from the Leadwood Access to Owl Creek Park in St. Francois County,” Missouri DNR said in a news release Friday (DNR, Aug. 15, 2026).

DNR said the city of Leadwood is installing a replacement pump to move sludge and solids from the plant’s clarifier to the sludge holding basin, and the state is helping the city identify emergency funds through the Department of Economic Development’s Community Development Block Grant program (FOX 2, Aug. 15, 2026). Leadwood is located about 70 miles southwest of St. Louis in St. Francois County (FOX 2, Aug. 15, 2026).

Missouri State Fair cancels Sea Lion Splash after I-70 crash

The Sea Lions Splash show has been canceled at the Missouri State Fair following a crash early Thursday morning, Aug. 13 (FOX 2, Aug. 13, 2026). According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a trooper responded to the one-vehicle crash shortly after 3 a.m. on Interstate 70 near the 133-mile marker in Boone County, where a tractor-trailer struck a concrete barrier while transporting three sea lions to the fair (FOX 2, Aug. 13, 2026).

The Missouri State Fair announced multiple people were injured in the crash, forcing the show to cancel its 10-day run; no fatalities were reported, though the number of people and types of injuries have not been released. The sea lions were taken to a veterinarian’s office and evaluated, and are in “excellent health,” according to the fair (FOX 2, Aug. 13, 2026). Performances had been expected to run until Sunday, Aug. 23, on the fairgrounds.

14-year-old Eldon boy drowns in Miller County swimming pool

A 14-year-old boy drowned in Miller County Friday night, Aug. 14 (KY3, Aug. 15, 2026). According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the incident happened in southwest Eldon, Mo., at around 6:20 p.m. Troopers said the original 911 call was for a missing juvenile; an alarm call was received at a nearby home, and the 14-year-old was found at the bottom of a swimming pool (KY3, Aug. 15, 2026).

The boy was pronounced dead at Lake Regional Hospital, according to the patrol report. The Miller County Sheriff’s Office, Rocky Mount Fire and Miller County Ambulance assisted at the scene (KY3, Aug. 15, 2026).

Small earthquake recorded in southeast Missouri

The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a small earthquake in southeast Missouri overnight, with a magnitude 2.2 quake at a depth of about 4.35 miles (KFVS12, Aug. 15, 2026). According to the USGS, it happened at around 2:06 a.m. on Aug. 15, about 4.4 miles south-southwest of Catron, Missouri, in New Madrid County, part of the seismically active New Madrid seismic zone. No one has officially reported feeling the quake so far (KFVS12, Aug. 15, 2026).

Missouri teacher says licensing process stands in the way

In an opinion piece published Saturday, a newly certified Missouri biology teacher argues the state’s teacher licensing process is a barrier to talented people, especially career switchers (Missouri Independent, Aug. 15, 2026). The teacher said the alternative certification process cost more than $20,000, called required coursework “literally pointless,” and proposed waiving content tests for candidates who graduated with a certain GPA and condensing licensure classes to one or two courses focused on classroom management (Missouri Independent, Aug. 15, 2026).

For more on the Show-Me State, see the Missouri guide.