An East St. Louis, Ill.-based trucking company president protested the city of Springfield’s decision to award a three-year coal-hauling contract to a Decatur-based firm and asked City Council members on Dec. 11 to instead give the contract to his company.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — When record and near-record flooding swept through Missouri in December, nearly 300 roads were underwater, including stretches of several interstates. State Department of Transportation crews spent days clearing debris from roadways and weeks rebuilding damaged stretches, racking up overtime and other costs.