St. Joseph has been honored with an award from the Missouri Division of Tourism.  

Specifically, Christian Mengel with the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau has been honored. Mengel received the Film Industry Champion Award.  

Mengel says this award was never on the bingo card of life, and it makes him reflect on his career since returning to St. Joseph after stints in Kansas City and Oregon. 

"When I was a student at Missouri Western like trying to make student film projects and not knowing where my career would lead, I’d have never thought that something like this would be on the table,” Mengel tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “So, to think that I guess I’m in a position to move that can actually move the needle a little bit on the industry is just a really big honor, it feels like it’s naturally a really big responsibility too.” 

Mengel feels he doesn't want to let filmmakers in the community down, or people that don't want to move to Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago and still work in the industry.  

Mengel says it's humbling to receive the award, but it's all about the local businesses who participated and helped  

“I mean we have residents in St. Joseph that opened up their homes, and they were like they can film here, and if it wasn’t for people like that these projects wouldn’t have happened,” Mengel explains.  “And this would have never been in the running let alone be awarded something like that, so it really is a humbling thing.” 

Mengel says looking at all the winners it really is humbling considering some of the bigger cities in the state represented 

"Winners were from Kansas City, St. Louis, the Missouri Department of Travel was in there for the Missouri River Runner, so there’s big players in there,” Mengel says.  “So, for us to get mentioned, it’s really cool for a community like us to get to share something like that, nothing against the major metros but it’s a nice win for the little guys.” 

Mengel says especially with the way the Film Tax Credit is written to help smaller communities more than the major metro cities like Kansas City and St. Louis.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Film production puts St. Joseph in spotlight

Today is Columbus
Day, a federal holiday. Congress returns to debate tomorrow to see if agreement
can be reached to re-open the federal government.

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt, a Republican, says the stance of the top Democrat in
the House to reject a proposed one-year extension of Affordable Care Act
subsidies complicated things.

“Well, I think it’s
a mistake and this apparent decision to ramp up rather than toning down the conflict
I think is unhelpful,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Democrats have
held out and held up efforts to reopen government, stating they want Republican
concessions on health care. Top House Democrat, Hakeem Jeffries of New York,
called laughable the proposal to extend subsidies for one year.

Schmidt says
Democrats have taken a different tact after agreeing to legislation that would
give budget negotiators an extra seven weeks to finalize budget bills.

“So we did exactly
what Hakeem and others wanted, we thought, they said, and then things melted
down when (the) minority party in the Senate said heck no, we’re not doing that,”
Schmidt says “And now, leader Jefferies has sort of upped the rhetoric and upped
the ante and turned it into more of an all or nothing fight.”

Schmidt says the
issue is in the hands of the Senate where Republicans will have to secure
enough Democratic votes to meet a 60-vote threshold to pass legislation.

Schmidt asserts great
progress was underway in approving the 12 bills that make up the federal budget
and would like to get back to that work.

“I at least and I
think most of my colleagues would like to get passed this so-called shutdown
fight, which appears to me to be all a political fight, and back to the policy
discussions,” Schmidt says. “And I hope that this doesn’t taint the well for
continuing collaboration going forward.”

Some Republicans
seem to be considering the idea of extending the ACA credits.

Schmidt opposes
extending the credits, but.

“I think there’s probably
support for doing something with the ACA credits,” Schmidt says. “My own view
has long been that they’re bad public policy, but they’re bad public policy that
people have come to rely upon. And so, just abruptly ending them is probably
not the best option. Rather, some reforms and maybe a phase out over time makes
a lot more sense.”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

After holiday, Congress will return still trying to reopen government

In the first month of direct state aid for Missouri’s K-12 scholarship program, 98% of funds went to religious institutions

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hansha</a>w <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

State funding of private-school vouchers is primarily being used for students attending religious institutions, with nearly 98% of funding going toward Catholic, Christian, Jewish and Islamic schools.

This year, state lawmakers passed a budget that included a request from Gov. Mike Kehoe to supply the state-run K-12 scholarship program, MOScholars, with $50 million of general revenue. Previously, the impact to the state’s bottom line was indirect, with 100% tax-deductible donations fueling the program.

Donations are still part of MOScholars’ funding, but the state appropriation has more than doubled the number of scholarships available.

During the 2024-25 school year, MOScholars awarded $15.2 million in scholarships.

In August alone, the State Treasurer’s Office received invoices for scholarships totaling $15.6 million, according to documents obtained by The Independent under Missouri’s open records laws.

The invoice process is unique to the direct state funding of the program. The nonprofits that administer scholarships, called educational assistance organizations, were the sole keepers of scholarship funds. But now, the State Treasurer’s Office holds scholarship money derived from general revenue in an account previously only used for program marketing and administration.

The invoices contained data on which schools MOScholars students are attending and the scholarship amount.

Of the 2,329 scholarships awarded in August, only 59 went to students in nonreligious schools.

This number did not surprise Democratic lawmakers, who for years have warned that state revenue was going to be siphoned into religious schools.

“We are simply subsidizing, with tax dollars, parents who would already choose to send their kids to a private school,” state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, told The Independent. “And now we are using public dollars to pay for schools that are not transparent whatsoever in choosing who to educate and who not.”

Some schools have been criticized for admission requirements that push a moral standard.

Christian Fellowship School in Columbia, which received scholarships for 63 MOScholars students in August, requires “at least one parent of enrolled students professes faith in Christ and agrees with the admission policies and the philosophy and doctrinal statements of the school,” according to its&nbsp;<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F-pfYc2664C0toFkKlJqr36C50f1Dh2D7ZZrsa4CTjo/edit?tab=t.0" target="_blank">handbook</a>.&nbsp;

These statements include disapproval of homosexuality.

“The school reserves the right, within its sole discretion, to refuse admission of an applicant or to discontinue enrollment of a student,” the handbook continues.

With around 430 K-12 students enrolled at Christian Fellowship School, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/pss/privateschoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&amp;SchoolName=christian+fellowship+school&amp;NumOfStudentsRange=more&amp;IncGrade=-1&amp;LoGrade=-1&amp;HiGrade=-1&amp;ID=A9103769" target="_blank">National Center for Educational Statistics survey data</a>, MOScholars makes up a sizable portion of its funding. But it is not the only school with a large number of scholarship recipients.

Torah Prep School in St. Louis had 229 K-12 students during the 2023-24 school year. And in August, 197 MOScholars students received funding to attend the school. Torah Prep did not respond to a request for comment.

The high number of students attending religious schools with MOScholars funding is somewhat incidental, somewhat by design.

The MOScholars program allows its six educational assistance organizations to choose what scholarships they are willing to support.&nbsp;

Religious organizations stepped into the role to help connect congregants with affiliated schools. Only two of the six educational assistance organizations partner with schools unaffiliated with religion.

The Catholic dioceses of Kansas City-St. Joseph and Springfield-Cape Girardeau run the educational assistance organization Bright Futures Fund, which administered nearly half of the scholarships awarded in August.

The educational assistance organization Agudath Israel of Missouri focuses on Jewish education, partnering with four Jewish day schools.

The organization’s director Hillel Anton told The Independent that students are attracted to the program for more than just religious reasons.

“(Parents’) first and foremost concern is where their child is going to be able to be in the best learning environment,” Anton said. “And you may have a faith-based school that is fantastic and is able to provide that.”

State-funded scholarships administered in August, by location

This data was compiled from MOScholars invoices issued in August — the first month that scholarships were administered through a state appropriation. During August, over 2000 students received funding through the program.

The demand for the program has long&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/21/funding-lag-creates-barrier-for-missouri-private-school-tax-credit-program/">exceeded funding availability</a>. Going into August, organizations had waitlists of students eligible for a scholarship but without funding secured.

Agudath Israel of Missouri couldn’t guarantee scholarships for all of the returning students, Anton said, until the state funding was official.

“Because a lot of the funding is done towards the end of the year… we had everyone on a wait list,” he said. “Because we didn’t know necessarily how much funding we were going to have, we weren’t awarding anyone (the funding).”

Because the program was previously powered by 100% tax-deductible donations, the majority of funds poured in around December. But families need the money months sooner, with tuition due at the start of the school year.

Some educational assistance organizations prefunded scholarships, dipping into their savings to front expenses in the fall. Others had schools that would accept students and wait for payment.

The funding from the state, though, has resolved the backlog and allowed organizations to give scholarships to everyone on their wait list.

“Everyone who qualified for a scholarship this year received one,” Ashlie Hand, Bright Futures Fund’s director of communications, told The Independent.

Bright Futures Fund nearly doubled the number of students it serves, from 1,050 to 1,909.

Agudath Israel of Missouri is growing, too. The new funding helped the organization expand from 175 scholarships last year to 277 this year.

Some expect the state funding to continue next year to support this year’s windfall of scholarships. State Treasurer Vivek Malek&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/04/new-funding-for-private-school-vouchers-will-set-precedent-for-future-missouri-budgets/">told The Independent in May</a>&nbsp;that if donations fall short, he will request state funds to support the new students through graduation.

The Independent’s Rudi Keller contributed to this report.

Nearly all state funding for Missouri school vouchers used for religious schools

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Nissan Rogue driven by a 72-year-old Maryville man was northbound on U.S. 71 just north of Route A. The Nissan rear-ended a 2000 Kenworth Conventional.

Nodaway County ambulance transported the Nissan driver to Mosaic in Maryville. The 77-year-old semi driver from Maitland was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured after rear-end crash

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30a.m. Sunday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Freightliner semi driven by a 46-year-old Montgomery Village man was westbound on U.S. 36 two miles west of Osborn. The vehicle traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road, traveled off the south side of the road, returned to the road a second time and overturned.

DeKalb Clinton ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man hospitalized after semi overturns

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Saturday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Freightliner semi driven by a 49-year-old Ankeny, Iowa man was northbound on Interstate 35 three miles south of Pattonsburg. The vehicle crossed the median into southbound traffic, traveled off the west side of the road into trees and came to rest ot its wheels.

Daviess County EMS transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver hospitalized after semi crash into trees

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Saturday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Polaris Titan driven by a 46-year-old Denver, Missouri man was southbound on 127th Avenue just north of West 385h Street. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck an embankment. The driver was ejected and the vehicle came to rest on top of him.

Grand River EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured in snowmobile accident

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1982 Honda 3-wheeler driven by a 43-year-old Cameron man was northbound on MO 13 just south of Coffey.&nbsp; The driver lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and the driver was ejected.

North Missouri EMS transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured after 3-wheeler overturns

KFEQ Week in Review 

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Honda HRV driven by a 21-year-old Gardner, Kansas woman; a 2019 Kia Ronda driven by a 19-year-old Ozark, Missouri, woman and a 2004 Nissan Sentra driven by 27-year-old Des Moines, Iowa, man were southouthbound in the passing lane of Interstate 35 two miles south of Cameron. A 2023 Hyundai Sonota driven by a 65-year-old Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, woman was southbound in the driving lane.

The Hyundia and the Nissan slowed to avoid congestion from the construction zone. The Kia slowed and merged into the driving lane to avoid the Nissan. The Honda rear-ended the Kia and the Nissan. The impact pushed the Nissan into the rear of Hyundai.

Cameron ambulance transported the Nissan driver to Liberty Hospital. There were no other injuries. All four drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver hospitalized after 4-vehicle crash on Mo. highway

BUCHANAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after noon Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway. Patrol reported a 2010 Ford Fusion driven by a 29-year-old St. Joseph woman was southbound on Interstate 29 taking the exit to eastbound U.S. 36 in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The Ford rear-ended a 2023 Nissan Rogue driven by a 57-year-old Omaha woman who had stopped at the bottom of the ramp due to heavy traffic.

Buchanan County EMS transported the Ford driver to Mosaic Life Care. The other&nbsp; driver was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joe woman injured after rear-end crash

The American Farm Bureau Federation sent letters to President Donald Trump and Congressional leaders to emphasize the severe economic pressures facing America’s farmers and ranchers. Falling crop prices, skyrocketing expenses, and trade disputes are creating conditions that are too much for farm families to bear. “Across the country, farms are disappearing as families close the gates on the farms tended by their parents, grandparents, and generations before them,” wrote Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “In the short term, we urge leaders to authorize bridge payments for farmers before the end of 2025.” 

While emergency aid will help, Farm Bureau asks for long-term solutions to help improve economic conditions in rural America, including fair and enforceable trade agreements. The organization also wants year-round sales of E15, restoration of whole milk in schools, and protection of interstate commerce. “Federal leadership can now prevent a deepening crisis in the agricultural economy,” Duvall added.

AFBF: Farmers are at a breaking point

December corn closed down 5 1/4 cents and March corn was down 5 cents. November soybeans closed down 15 1/2 cents and January soybeans were down 15 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 6 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 8 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 5 1/4 cents.

December corn closed down 6 cents and March corn was down 6 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed down 11 1/4 cents and January soybeans were down 13 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 14 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 16 3/4 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was down 8 cents.

Row-crop markets fell sharply Friday, led by accelerated selling in the soybean complex after a series of escalations regarding trade between the U.S. and China. It began on Thursday with reports that China was planning further export restrictions on rare-earth minerals which have been a primary point of contention between the two nations through negotiations this year. It was then reported early Friday that China would respond to planned U.S. port fees with fees of their own on U.S. ships beginning Oct. 14. The final straw that broke the proverbial camel's back on Friday was a social media post from President Trump expressing frustration with China, but perhaps most concerning to the market was the comment that the highly anticipated summit between he and President Xi of China may no longer take place. The development was a bearish aspect across almost all markets for Friday, with energy and equity markets falling drastically as well as commodities.

The live cattle complex traded slightly lower as traders took note of the equity market's decline amid ongoing turmoil with China. But even so, the market was able to maintain a relatively low decline, and fundamental support was fruitful today as some early sales in the cash cattle market were marked higher and as boxed beef prices were higher again today too. The complex managed to get enough support to finish fully higher by the closing bell. The cash cattle market has still been mostly quiet, but some light trade has recently been reported in Nebraska at $362, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average. I anticipate that the Southern plains will be able to trade cattle higher, too, as their showlists are slimmer than those in the North.

The feeder cattle complex is also trading lower as traders are skeptical of pushing the feeder cattle contracts any higher, given the fact that they're already trading at record high prices and that outside pressure has grown more troublesome. The market did not keep this lower tone through the day's close, fundamentally, there was more than enough support in the marketplace to finish higher across the board.

The lean hog complex is continuing to scale lower as there's not enough fundamental support in the market to comfort traders, and as the external pressures of the equity markets are affecting the hog complex too. Yes, pork cutout values were a tick higher this morning, but the market's support is a little too late to give much stability to traders.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/10142031/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Weekly pork slaughter was estimated to be higher than 2.6 million head, although we won’t know the actual figures as the USDA has furloughed many of its staff due to a funding lapse. Seasonally, pork supply trends higher in the fall, and this year is no different. Slaughter is up 11 percent compared to where it was in mid-August, while weights are up three percent. With nearly 15 percent more pork coming to market, prices have started to trend lower and could see more downside this quarter. 

Pork trim prices were counter-seasonally higher in the previous three weeks, but the increase in supply has finally started to catch up with this market. Strong demand should keep prices above year-ago levels, but prices in November and December are expected to be lower than the current trends. Ham prices are expected to trade sideways, while belly prices could see more downside. 

Pork prices trend lower

A bipartisan group of 47 legislators from both Chambers of Congress petitioned the EPA to finalize its proposal for the Renewable Fuel Standard Program, which includes measures to discourage the use of imports into the U.S. biofuels market. The group sent a letter to Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, asking him to advocate for the proposal. The legislators say it represents a common-sense approach that puts America’s farmers first in line, strengthens U.S. domestic biofuel markets, and delivers tangible economic benefits to rural communities.

 An EPA proposal in June would change the RFS program to increase the Renewable Volume Obligation, or RVO, reduce the value of the Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) for foreign-produced fuels and biofuel components, and reallocate unmet regulatory costs from exempted small refineries to larger ones. The group argued that the RIN reduction measure would provide essential support for the farm economy.

Congressional coalition supports EPA biofuels plan

December corn closed down 3 3/4 cents and March corn was down 3 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed down 7 1/4 cents and January soybeans were down 5 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 3 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 1 1/2 cents.

Corn, soy, and wheat prices fell Thursday, erasing gains made through a generally bullish midweek session Wednesday. Corn and soybean futures hit technical resistance Thursday, which bullish traders lack the reassurance to trade through currently with no USDA report this month to back up thoughts (supported by firmer spreads and basis levels) that the supply and demand relationship for corn and soybeans is tighter than previously reports have estimated. Outside markets on Thursday leaned negative, with a firmer U.S. dollar and lower energy markets weighing on agricultural prices.

The live cattle complex again followed in the feeder cattle market's wake, trading higher, with once again the market's deferred contracts seeing the biggest gains. With the spot December contract nearing the market's resistance at $241, it will be interesting to see how traders handle that threshold, as not only is it a resistance plane, but depending on how far traders would potentially take the contracts, it could mean new record high prices for the contracts as well. A single bid of $230 is currently on the table in Nebraska, but still no cash cattle trade has developed as feedlot managers are hoping to hold prices at least steady, and packers are obviously hoping to again work the market lower. Asking prices are noted at $235 to $237 in the South but are still not established in the North.

Rallying like it didn't have a care or a concern in the world, the feeder cattle contracts were pressing onward, pushing an aggressive $3.00 rally into midday Thursday. On Wednesday afternoon, the market was pleased to successfully reach new contract highs, which has seemed to fuel the market's ambition as traders have restlessly continued to push it higher and higher. Yes, seeing stronger boxed beef prices is helping, and if the fed cash cattle market were to trade steady to somewhat higher, that would be positive as well, but time will tell if that support develops or not.

It was another painstaking morning and session overall for the lean hog complex as support did not come to fruition, and the contracts were struggling because of that. Both cash prices and pork cutout values were weaker in the midday reports, and it's likely that remains the theme through the balance of the week.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/09143635/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Calhoun County, Iowa. This is Iowa’s eighth detection of HPAI within domestic birds in 2025. As the fall wild bird migration continues, that’s typically when infections in domestic flocks pick up. Clinical signs of infection include a sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs, lethargy, and a lack of appetite. 

It can also include a decrease in egg production, or soft, thin-shelled, or misshapen eggs, and a swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks. Remember, it remains safe to enjoy eggs and poultry products. Consumers are reminded to properly handle and cook eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The CDC said the threat to the public remains low.

HPAI detected in Iowa commercial flock

Four people familiar with the talks say that the White House is delaying its plans to issue economic aid to farmers this week due to the government shutdown. The White House Office of Management and Budget prepared between $12 and $13 billion to be allocated from an internal USDA account. The sources said no final decision has been made yet on the total amount of money that will go for farm aid, and the package likely won’t be coming out soon. 

It’s possible the timeline was further delayed because some of the USDA’s political appointees have been placed on furlough during the shutdown. Politico also said officials are weighing the possibility of using tariff revenue, the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation fund, and other alternative methods to alleviate farmers’ financial stress. President Trump tapped the USDA fund to dole out $28 billion in assistance during the first trade war with China. 

Farm aid reportedly delayed by government shutdown

December corn closed up 2 1/4 cents and March corn was up 1 1/2 cents. November soybeans closed up 7 1/2 cents and January soybeans were up 5 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 1 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 3 1/2 cents.

It was the soybean show for row-crop futures Wednesday as November futures raced for its fourth higher session in the past six; meanwhile corn and wheat markets initially struggled to get off the ground but eventually joined with modest gains of their own amid a general bullishness across commodities at midweek. Crude oil futures put in a fourth straight session higher, with higher diesel prices also providing positive influence on the soybean complex. Meanwhile, the hot macroeconomic topic this week has been gold futures' meteoric rise through 2025 but especially the last few months to over $4,000 per troy ounce, fueled recently by the uncertainty due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. For Wednesday, the U.S. Dollar Index also rose to 2-month highs, likely a source of pressure to the wheat market.

The live cattle complex continued to trade higher as the market regained some technical support and interest from traders and continues to highlight the fact that boxed beef prices have seen more support this week as well. The spot December contract is nearing resistance at $241.00, which could cause the market some angst, as although support has been a tick more bountiful this week, has it really been enough to surpass resistance? Time will tell. So far, there's been no trade in the fed cash cattle market, but asking prices remain firm in the South at $235 to $237 and are still unestablished in the North. Trade will likely be delayed for another day or so. Some of the support that the cattle complex has received early this week could also be stemming from the fact that yet another new case of New World screwworm was detected in Mexico, roughly 170 miles away from the U.S./Mexico border. And while it may seem counterintuitive for the market to trade higher upon that finding, because we could be battling NWS here domestically at any point in time, another detection does likely indicate that the border won't be reopened any time soon, which should keep feeder cattle prices elevated.

The feeder cattle complex was powering on, full steam ahead, as the market traded $2.00 to $3.00 higher into Wednesday's noon hour and reaching as much as $5.00 to $6.00 higher before the closing bell in the far deferreds. So far, traders haven't seemed anxious about surpassing the market's resistance at $364, as they're continuing to drive the contracts.

Meanwhile, the lean hog complex traded mixed as the market wishes consumer demand would shine through and lend some additional support to the marketplace. But with fundamental support being hard to come by, traders yearn to push the contracts higher but are doing so in a cautious manner.

Mexico’s Agriculture Ministry said another case of New World Screwworm was reported in Nuevo Leon, which borders the United States. Reports say it’s the state’s second confirmed case in approximately two weeks. The infected calf came from the southern part of Mexico and was intercepted just south of Monterrey. None of the other 84 animals in the shipment were found to be infected with the flesh-eating parasite. 

The screwworm larvae in the detected case were all found dead or dying as a result of the mandatory treatments, including the antiparasitic Ivermectin. “The condition in which the larvae arrived makes them unviable for reproduction, demonstrating the effectiveness of the inspection protocols at origin and destination applied to mitigate the risk of screwworm spreading,” the ministry said in a statement about the most recent case. The outbreak has prompted the U.S. government to keep its border mostly closed to Mexican cattle imports.

Another screwworm case in Mexico

Although the overall runoff in September was above average in the upper Missouri River Basin, the runoff at the Fort Peck and Garrison reaches continues to be well below average. “Beneficial rainfall occurred over central South Dakota and North Dakota in September, resulting in well-above average runoff into Oahe, Big Bend, Fort Randall, and Gavin's Point,” said John Remus, Chief of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Water Management Division. 

“The above-average runoff combined with the lower releases from Gavin's Point slightly improves the System storage outlook for the beginning of the 2026 runoff season.” September runoff was 1.3 million acre-feet, 109 percent of the average above Sioux City, Iowa. As of October 1, the total volume of water stored in the system was 50.4-million-acre feet, which is 5.7 million below the base of the system’s flood control zone. System storage will continue to decline through the fall.

Missouri River September runoff above average

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a burglary at a home in Manhattan.

Just after 1p.m. Sunday, officers filed a report of burglary in the 400 block of Walters Drive, according to the Riley County Poice Department activity report.

 A 51-year-old woman reported an unknown suspect broke into her home and stole a safe with cash. The total estimated loss associated with this case is $10,150. 

Anyone with information, contact RCPD or the Manhattan Riley County Crime Stoppers. Using the Crime Stoppers service can allow you remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward up to $1,000.

Police: Suspect took safe containing $10,000 in cash from Kan. home

RALLS COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred in Monroe County, Missouri on Sunday, according to a statement from the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control.

Just before 2p.m. Sunday, the Ralls County sheriff requested&nbsp; Randolph County Sheriff's deputies, investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Operation Relentless Pursuit Officers assist with locating a suspect in connection with a homicide investigation.

Law enforcement arrived in Paris, Missouri, in rural Monroe County in an effort to contact the suspect. When law enforcement entered the home, they encountered a man inside who fired a weapon at them. The gunfire struck a Randolph County deputy. Officers returned fire before exiting the residence. The suspect remained inside. EMS transported the wounded deputy to a local hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening wound.&nbsp;

At approximately 2p.m., the Moberly Police Department's Special Weapons and Tactics Team responded to make contact with the suspect. Just before 5p.m. the SWAT team entered the residence and found the suspect, later identified as Charles W. Armour, 57,&nbsp; Paris, Missouri,&nbsp; deceased.

The deputy remained hospitalized late Sunday. The patrol released no additional details.

Mo. deputy wounded in exchange of gunfire with homicide suspect

🎥Trump references the Bible in speech to Israeli lawmakers

JOHNSON COUNTY —Three people were injured in a wrong-way crash just before 3a.m. Sunday in Johnson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Honda Civic driven by Cooper Douglas&nbsp;Gobin, 21, Shawnee, was southbound in the #1 lane on northbound Interstate 35 at 119th.

The Honda collided with a northbound 2015 Nissan Altima driven by&nbsp; Amy L . Taylor, 29, Parkville, Missouri and a northbound 2015 Nissan Versa driven by Alemtsehaye Tolesa&nbsp;Geleta, 59, Olathe.

EMS transported Geleta to Olathe Medical Center and&nbsp;Gobin to Overland Park Regional Health Center. Taylor was not transported for treatment of a minor injury. The KHP had incomplete seat belt usage information.

2 hospitalized after wrong-way Kansas crash

MONTGOMERY COUNTY—Authorities are investigating the cause of an ammonia leak Saturday at CVR Energy, 400 North Linden Street in Coffeyille.

At approximately 4 p.m. an ammonia release occurred at the fertilizer facility,&nbsp; according to a statement from Brandee Stephens,&nbsp;Senior Director, Corporate &amp; Governmental Affairs for CVR Partners based in Sugar Land Texas.

Several individuals were transported offsite for evaluation. The Company responded to the incident and and is investigating what occurred.&nbsp; The company on Sunday did not release the number of those transported for evaluation or additional details.

On Saturday night, the city of Coffeyville issue a statement, "The city is aware of the refinery situation. At this time, there are no threats to the public."

Check the Post for additional details expected on Monday.

Several hospitalized after ammonia leak at Kansas nitrogen plant

Hamas releases remaining living hostages as part of Gaza ceasefire

SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

Just before 12:30 a.m. Oct. 8, a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a tan 1997 Chevrolet 1500 near NW Jay Street and North Kansas Avenue, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, it was discovered that the passenger had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest through Shawnee County and illegal narcotics were located.

Frederick D. Anguish, 54, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant and&nbsp;&nbsp;Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into the human body.

Passenger in Kansas traffic stop had a warrant for arrest

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A Kansas City woman was sentenced in federal court&nbsp; for her leadership role in two cases that resulted in more than $500,000 in fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans being issued under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and more than $3,000,000 in stolen Treasury checks, according to the United State's Attorney.

Briauna Adams, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Greg Kays to 11 years imprisonment based upon her guilty pleas to wire fraud, money laundering, and theft of government funds relating to a counterfeit check scheme and stolen United States Treasury checks.&nbsp; The defendant also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering relating to a scheme to fraudulently obtain Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) loans, guaranteed by the SBA under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

According to court documents, Adams rented a townhome in Raymore, Mo., using the name and personal identification information of another person.&nbsp;On July 27, 2024, Adams opened an individual investment account from the Raymore residence.&nbsp; On Aug. 15, 2024, Adams deposited a Treasury check worth $1,445,443.69 in her name to the investment account. Fraud investigators with the investment account company determined the $1,445,443.69 Treasury check was fraudulent and&nbsp;reversed the deposit before suffering a financial&nbsp;loss.

On Nov. 14, 2024, a search warrant was executed on Adam’s rental townhome in Raymore.&nbsp; Approximately 253 stolen Treasury checks were found in the residence.&nbsp; The total value of the checks was approximately $700,000.

Finally, Adams conspired with others to prepare and file fraudulent PPP loan applications on their behalf.&nbsp; Adams filed false PPP loan applications for numerous persons resulting in a loss of approximately $540,302, which she was ordered to pay back in a restitution judgment.

Prison: Kansas City woman for Covid-19 fraud, ID theft

Residents deal with mile-long walks, corner store diets and poorer health as grocers are forced to close unprofitable locations on both sides of the state line

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/thomaswhite/">Thomas White</a>

Phillip Ramsey is a master gardener who’s planting fall produce in one of the community gardens he manages. It’s just two blocks from the Sun Fresh grocery store that operated at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue until it shut down in August.

The retired Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient has lived in the neighborhood for 35 years. He’s seen the area when it was a&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">food desert</a>&nbsp;before and is troubled by the desert’s return.

Ramsey is trying to do his part by growing and giving away more than 1,000 pounds of produce. But he knows that’s only a bandage for a bigger wound. He is worried for his neighbors — often elderly or low-income — who will now have a harder time finding nutritious food.

“I’ve seen an uptick in neighbors needing the service of the community garden,” Ramsey said. “The impact of the store closing is being felt throughout the neighborhood, and we’ll get by because we always get by. But I’m beginning to see resentment set in, and that scares me.”

The Sun Fresh closure is just part of a growing urban food desert and food insecurity problem in the area. Six miles away in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, the Merc Co+op will close at the end of the year, returning that area to food desert status after just five years of operation.

“I live in a food desert if I am not able to get to a full service grocery store easily,” said&nbsp; Kristina Bridges, a research assistant professor in University of Kansas Medical Center’s department of family medicine and community health. Food insecurity is defined as whether “in the past 12 months, have you run out of food before you could get more? If the answer is yes, you have food insecurity.”

Together, the two grocery store closures will hamper thousands of residents in low-income and low-food-access areas that Dina Newman from the Center for Neighborhoods calls “communities of concern.”

Tight profit margins at grocery stores mean that grocers often avoid the risk of investing in these communities of concern. As a result, food desert maps follow disinvestment patterns that resemble historic redlining.

Those living in a food desert or experiencing food insecurity have measurably worse health outcomes including a life expectancy shortened by 2.29 years, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pressroom.cancer.org/releases?item=1237" target="_blank">American Cancer Society researchers</a>. While some like Ramsey work to provide short-term community-level solutions, Bridges says broader long-term approaches are also needed.

With the two local grocery stores closing, new food deserts will emerge.

In the late 1980s, Newman was a single mother without a car. She knows the struggle of navigating a food desert firsthand.

“So if I’m working … I have to plan it out to get to the bus to get over to a store. Then l’m waiting at the bus stop, which is sometimes just a patch of dirt,” Newman said. “Then I have to transfer buses with a full load of groceries. What about my child, are they with me? Am I safe alone after dark? You are juggling all this just trying to get to the grocery store, that’s the challenge.”

She recalled one incident during the winter when an ice storm came while she was shopping. Out of necessity, she put her socks over her shoes in an attempt to get some traction and not fall and spill her groceries.

“This is all your hard-earned money in these groceries, you’ve got to get them home,” she said.

Ramsey says that many people in his neighborhood now have to walk up to a mile or take the bus to get fresh food at places like Aldi or Happy Foods. He says the effort required to get nutritious food means that many with limited means will just turn to more convenient options like corner stores and gas stations.

“I can’t throw a rock without hitting a fried chicken spot,” Ramsey said. “So we’re eating processed food, cheap food that we can get our hands on, because access to fresh healthy food is not an option for us.”

Historic patterns with current consequences

While food deserts and food insecurity touch both urban and&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/09/26/kansas-grocery-stores-closure-rural-healthy-foods-initiative/" target="_blank">rural populations</a>, there is a racial disparity. According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://ers.usda.gov/sites/default/files/_laserfiche/publications/108905/EIB-269.pdf?v=75617" target="_blank">2024 USDA report,</a>&nbsp;8% of white households face food insecurity while the number is 21% for Black households and 16.9% for Hispanic households nationwide.

Notably, that report is the last USDA survey on food security for the foreseeable future. The Trump administration has labeled the report “<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/09/20/usda-terminates-redundant-food-insecurity-survey" target="_blank">redundant, costly, politicized, and extraneous</a>.”If a census tract was redlined as “declining” or “hazardous” in the 1930s Home Owners’ Loan Corp. maps, that translated into a 107% and 149% increase in the likelihood that the same census tract would be a food desert today, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9303837/" target="_blank">2022 study covering 102 U.S. cities</a>.

“It just feels like this is all intentional,” Ramsey said.

Bridges says KU Medical system has been mapping food insecurity among patients since 2017 and sees a strong correlation between rates of Type 2 diabetes, modern food insecurity and historic redlining.

“It’s really no surprise that the bubbles (on the map) overlapped,” said Bridges. “We have big food insecurity bubbles, big Type 2 diabetes bubbles. … They were north, where downtown KCK and the Merc is, and the east side where the Sun Fresh was. …If we pull out our old redlining maps, it’s exactly the same pattern.”

The seemingly structural nature of the problem has led many advocates to use the term “food apartheid” instead of “food desert,” since a desert occurs naturally while food insecurity appears to occur as the result of man-made systems.

“I knew what food apartheid was before food apartheid was a phrase,” Ramsey said. “You go to certain places and the quality of the food is vastly different. … We’re forced to take the scraps and it’s an affront to our personhood.”

The lack of access to nutritious food has hurtful consequences. Chronic diseases like obesity, hypertension and Type 2 diabetes become more common, but so do complications from deficiencies in fiber and good gut bacteria that are primarily found in fresh fruits and vegetables.

Bridges says understanding these connections between food deserts, food insecurity and chronic disease is something that even some doctors need education on. She recalls speaking to a practitioner who said they didn’t believe there was a problem with food insecurity because “his patients were all fat.”

“That completely misses the mark,” Bridges said. “Just the long-term chronic stress of being food insecure or living in a food desert releases cortisol in your body that can cause a host of things … including obesity.”

Economic reality of grocery stores closing

Both the Prospect Sun Fresh and the KCK Merc Co+op faced the economic headwinds of operating a grocery store in a historically disinvested neighborhood. While each faced unique issues with their locations, they shared similar challenges.

Local

Region

Sports

Agriculture