JEFFERSON CITY > MoDOT suspends most road work • The Missouri Department of Transportation is suspending most construction and maintenance for the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

"We recognize it is a busy weekend for travelers, and a busy time of year for construction," said Beth Wright, MoDOT's state maintenance engineer. "This year flooding is added into the mix of things that could increase traveler frustrations, but we are doing our best to help you arrive without incident."

MoDOT will limit the amount of work performed from noon today until 6 a.m. Tuesday, but drivers may still encounter some construction and lane closures. An online construction map at www.modot.org identifies work zones. The website also offers a flood page with closures and detours. (From staff reports)

JEFFERSON CITY > State gets emergency declaration • President Barack Obama has issued a federal emergency declaration for Missouri because of flooding along the Missouri River system and flash floods in the Northeast.

Gov. Jay Nixon said his request for the declaration was granted Thursday.

The declaration covers all 25 counties along the Missouri River, from the far northwest to St. Louis. It also applies to northeastern Missouri's Clark and Lewis counties, which have been coping with flash floods.

Nixon says the declaration clears the way for federal assistance in efforts to protect lives and property. Such assistance includes material to support long-term shelter operations plus help and equipment for flood-fighting operations, such as pumps, sand and sandbags. (AP)

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. > Governor trims, signs budget • Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed the budget bill Thursday, after making additional cuts to education and health care.

The Democratic governor said Thursday he reduced money for school buses and eliminated funds for regional offices of education. He also cut Medicaid funding by $276 million.

Quinn had criticized lawmakers for cutting too much from education and human services. But budget director David Vaught said the additional cuts were necessary. (AP)

JEFFERSON CITY > E. coli levels prompt beach closures • Missouri's Department of Natural Resources said that swimming beaches at four state parks have been closed because of high levels of E. coli bacteria.

The agency said Thursday the affected beaches are at Cuivre River, Finger Lakes and Mark Twain state parks and the Grand Glaize Beach at Lake of the Ozarks State Park. However, the Lake of the Ozarks' other swimming beach, in Kaiser, remains open.

Elsewhere in Missouri, the beaches at Wakonda and Lake Wappapello state parks are closed because of storm debris or flooding. And in the far northwest, Lewis and Clark State Park and its beach are closed because of flooding by the Missouri River. (AP)

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. > University's dorms again overbooked • For the second consecutive year, Southeast Missouri State University will have to tell some new students to wait until the spring to start because its residence halls are full.

The Cape Girardeau school says it's expecting another large freshman class.

Southeast Missouri State requires students to live on campus if they are beginning freshmen or new transfers with fewer than 57 completed credit hours, under 21, unmarried, not supporting children, not a veteran and not living with a parent. (AP)

JEFFERSON CITY > Military medals go on display • Two World War I military medals found in a safe deposit box are going on display in the Missouri state museum in the Capitol building.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel was joined Thursday by the family of a Kansas City soldier to unveil the Distinguished Service Cross and a French Croix de Guerre. The medals were awarded during World War I to Maj. Ernest W. Slusher, a surgeon who had also served in the Spanish-American War. They are on loan to the museum and will be displayed for the next six months.

The four members of Slusher's family at the ceremony included Margaret Means, of Festus. Means is in the process of seeing if she is the lawful owner of the medals.

The medals were turned over to Zweifel's office as unclaimed property. The treasurer's office says there are 86 military medals and honors among the unclaimed property. (AP)

JEFFERSON CITY > Joplin tornado claims hit $500 million • Insurance companies already have paid out more than $500 million in claims for the tornado that struck the southwest Missouri city of Joplin. But the final total could grow to three or four times that amount.

The state insurance department said Thursday that insurance companies have reported receiving 14,910 claims on homeowners, commercial and vehicle insurance policies. They have paid out $509 million on those claims.

But the state agency says insurance companies expect nearly 17,000 more claims.

State insurance director John Huff said the Joplin tornado will be the largest insurance payout in Missouri history. The state agency said it expects insurance companies ultimately will pay between $1.5 billion and $2 billion in claims. (AP)

WASHINGTON > Illinois to get funds for storm cleanup • The federal government is devoting $2 million to create temporary jobs for eligible workers who will assist Southern Illinois with cleanup and recovery efforts tied to recent severe storms and flooding.

The Labor Department said the national emergency grant announced on Thursday will be awarded to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency this month declared 21 Illinois counties eligible for FEMA's public assistance program.

National Emergency Grants are part of the secretary of labor's discretionary fund and are awarded based on a state's ability to meet specific guidelines. (AP)