Associated Press

Ecologists in Kansas and Missouri say extreme temperatures are killing a large number of butterflies and could hurt their southern migration next month.

Millions of monarch butterflies are expected to migrate south through the two states in less than a month in their seasonal trip from Canada to Mexico.

KSHB-TV reports the Powell Botanical Gardens annual butterfly festival east of Kansas City is seeing the lowest number of monarchs in a decade.

Missouri conservation officials are asking bow hunters to help keep track of wildlife by participating in a survey.

The state Conservation Department will mail surveys to participating bow hunters next month. They'll be asked to record how many deer, turkeys and furbearing animals they see and where, when and for how long they hunt.

Conservation officials say the survey has been conducted since 1983 and helps the agency manage wildlife and set hunting rules.

The Missouri Association of School Nurses is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against meningitis.

The association is among several health groups across the country urging meningococcal vaccination. A new report says only about half of Missouri's teens are vaccinated against the disease.

Meningitis is rare, but often deadly. It can be spread through common school activities such as sharing water bottles and drinking glasses. Ten percent of those who contract it die, sometimes within a day.

The recession has been particularly hard on older workers, and many suspect age discrimination.

Among them is Larry Wilson, a 57-year-old resident of St. Charles County. He told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he long ago stopped counting the number of rejected employment applications and is resigned to the fact he may never find a full-time job again.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that unemployed job-seekers over 55 typically wait 56 weeks to find a job, far more than the 38-week average for the rest of the unemployed population.

Five candidates who ran in this week's Missouri party primaries appear eligible for recounts.

The Missouri treasurer's office will have a team at the State Fair to help people determine if they have any unclaimed property being held by the state.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel says his office has about $700 million in unclaimed property. Members of his office's unclaimed property team will be at the Mathewson Exhibition Center throughout the fair.

The fair runs was opening Thursday and runs through Aug. 19.

Zweifel says more than 400 account owners found $90,000 at the fair last year. People can also search for unclaimed property on the treasurer's website.

Gov. Jay Nixon is helping kick off the events at the 110th annual Missouri State Fair.

Nixon planned to purchase ticket for the fair Thursday in Sedalia, then greet attendees at the entrance gate before taking part in the official opening ceremony.

The fair runs from Thursday through Aug. 19. It features the standard fair attractions — lots of livestock, carnival-style rides, concerts and shows and, of course, food.

Nixon and many other politicians plan to be on hand Aug. 16 for the fair's annual governor's ham breakfast.

Gov. Jay Nixon says Missouri officials have approved more than 3,700 applications totaling $18.7 million to help drought-stricken farmers and ranchers get more water.

The emergency program provides for the state to pay 90 percent of the cost of drilling or deepening a well or expanding an irrigation system. The state's match is capped at $20,000 per project.

Nixon announced the program in late June. Monday was the deadline for farmers and livestock producers to apply.

Several Missouri legislators appear to have been defeated in their party primaries.

Unofficial results from Tuesday's elections show voters ousting a Democratic state senator from St. Louis and two House Democrats from the St. Louis area.

In southwestern Missouri, a Republican House member was trailing Wednesday in a race close enough that a recount could be requested.

In addition, newly redrawn House districts matched up Democratic incumbents in four St. Louis area races.

Victory has resulted in some immediate financial support for Republican gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence.

The Republican Governors Association gave $1.5 million to its Missouri affiliate Wednesday — a day after Spence easily won a four-way Republican primary for the right to challenge Democratic Governor Jay Nixon. The Missouri political action committee can either pass the money on to Spence's campaign or spend it directly to support him or oppose Nixon. The national group also gave the Missouri affiliate $250,000 in late July.