Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
new Congress has work to do.

Graves, a Republican, says reforming the
country’s immigration policy needs to top the list of priorities for this
Congress.

“That’s going to be one of the very top priorities,
getting the border secure and we still have really no good idea of how many
individuals have been let into this country that are dangerous to citizens and
to the public,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Graves says while immigration reform might top
the list of priorities for the incoming Congress, the federal debt cannot be
far behind. Graves says Congress must slow down what he calls runaway spending
and the start needs to be reforming the process used to create a federal
budget.

“The way budgeting is done in Washington, and
this is completely contrary to everybody else’s, you know, their business’,
their home’s budgets, whatever the case may be, but in Washington, even if
there is an increase in what an agency got the year before, if there’s a decrease
in the increase then it’s considered a cut,” according to Graves. “And that just
simply isn’t the case. If you got more than you got last year before, then your
budget has gone up.”

And Graves says budgets must shrink. He says
Congress should begin by putting an end to mandatory spending.

“So, we’re going to have to take a good, hard
look at the way budgeting is done and take a good, hard look at how we can get
into some of this mandatory spending that gets plugged in, again, no matter
what.”

The Treasury Department reports the federal
deficit in the latest federal fiscal year topped $624 billion. The United
States has a national debt of more than $36 trillion.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves:  Congress must tackle border security, budget

The Farmers National Company says there are more motivated land buyers in today’s market than there are willing sellers.

 Land values have remained quite stable in the Midwest despite the pressure from lower net farm income, declining commodity markets, higher interest rates, and increased input costs. 

“There are many factors for buyer motivation, but much of it can be explained by mindset translating to demand,” says Paul Schadegg, senior vice president of real estate operations at Farmers National. “Farm operators are still the primary buyers of ag land, and their mindset revolves around reinvesting in their farm, expanding operations, and utilizing today’s farm equipment fully.” 

The Land location also plays a part in decision-making as it often hasn’t changed hands for generations, and once sold, “It may not be sold again,” he added. Across the industry, land listings are down, on average, by 25 percent from the active market between 2020-2023.

Limited supply and strong demand in farmland market

The American Lamb Board’s 2025 program includes workshops and summits aimed at equipping sheep producers with the necessary tools and resources to profitably grow their operations.

 They’re encouraging producers to begin planning their year by discovering more about several upcoming opportunities, including six targeted grazing workshops on the 2025 schedule. The rapid development of utility-scale solar farms across the country has stimulated a significant need for sheep grazing as a means of vegetation management. 

There are increasing opportunities for sheep grazing contracts in wildfire-prone areas and vineyards. Sheep grazing helps eliminate dried plants that otherwise could become wildfire fuel, and grazing in vineyards and other regions helps to clear weeds while reducing or eliminating herbicide use. 

The ALB Targeted Grazing Workshops provide a unique chance to learn about these paid grazing contracts, which offer significant potential for expanding the sheep flock and enhancing the availability and price competitiveness of American Lamb.

Sheep industry wants 2025 to be best year yet for education

China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 types of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and cotton. 

Reuters says the expanded approvals are intended to boost high-yielding crops, reduce the need for imports, and ensure Chinese food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs awarded safety certificates to the 17 crop varieties, according to a document on its website. 

The approved gene-edited crops include two soybean varieties, and one each of wheat, corn, and rice. China mostly imports GM crops like corn and soybeans for animal feed, while cultivating non-GM varieties for food consumption. Many Chinese consumers remain concerned about the safety of GM food crops. 

A ministry document says the safety certificates for the newly approved varieties are valid for five years, starting from December 25, 2024. China has also approved importing an insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant GM soybean variety from the German firm BASF exclusively as a processing material, the ministry added.

China approves more GM crops to boost food security

An early push for national year-round E15 sales is expected as a new Congress and administration are seated. Legislative efforts fell short in the last Congress but gave national year-round E15 sales new momentum.

Iowa Senator and farmer Chuck Grassley has already been in touch with House Speaker Mike Johnson.

“And I texted to him why we need E15 year-round. And I included in that text that even oil companies would agree to it because it’s very difficult having eight states having one mixture and the other 42 states, another mixture.”

Grassley and other ethanol-state lawmakers sponsored bipartisan E15 legislation in the last Congress, also included in a failed version of a short-term government funding bill.

At the Renewable Fuels Association, CEO Geoff Cooper says year-round sales are needed to soak up a bumper corn crop.

“The quickest way to increase demand for corn and value for corn is to let more of it go into the ethanol industry. And for that to happen, we need to have the marketplace allow more ethanol into the fuel supply. So, that’s where E15 becomes critically important.”

And, despite record or near-record ethanol exports.

“We’re going to need to see even higher levels of ethanol exports and, frankly, higher levels of domestic consumption here through E15 and other higher blends.”

And demand from developing markets like sustainable aviation fuel propelled by a hoped-for 45Z clean fuel tax credit.

Early push for national year-round E15 expected in new Congress, Administration

The Energy Information Administration says ethanol production averaged 1.111 million barrels a day during the week ending on December 27. 

This was the fourth consecutive week-over-week increase, up from 1.107 million barrels a day during the prior week. In the Midwest, production rose to an average of 1.055 million barrels a day from 1.045 million during the previous week. The EIA says West Coast Production increased to 10,000 barrels a day, up from 9,000 barrels the week before. 

East Coast output was unchanged week over week at 11,000 barrels a day, on average. Rocky Mountain Production declined from 14,000 to 11,000 barrels a day. The government report also says Gulf Coast production fell from an average of 28,000 barrels a day to 22,000 barrels. 

Ethanol inventories increased to 23.639 million barrels from 23.074 million a week earlier. That’s the highest level for ethanol stocks since September 13.

Ethanol production grows for fourth consecutive week

The NCTA, or the Rural Broadband Association, released its “2024 Broadband-Internet Availability Survey Report.” 

The group says it capped off a year in which NCTA members made remarkable strides in delivering on the promise of robust and reliable high-speed connectivity in the most rural parts of the U.S. 

Despite operating in rural areas where the average density is less than seven locations per mile, approximately 89 percent of respondents’ customers, on-average, can receive downstream speeds greater than or equal to 100 Mbps, up from 84 percent in 2023. 

More than 76 percent of customers on average have access to Gigabit downstream speeds, an increase from 67 percent in 2023. Upload speeds continue to increase as well. Over 67 percent of respondents’ customers, on average, subscribe to 100 Mbps downstream broadband or better, up from just under 60 percent in the 2023 survey. 

Deployment costs remain the largest expansion barrier.

Scorecard on delivering broadband to rural areas

Dairy checkoff initiatives of 2024 successfully increased dairy access in schools, expanded market share for U.S. dairy products domestically and internationally and supported the industry’s commitment to sustainability. 

Dairy Management Inc. President and CEO Barbara O’Brien says the checkoff is working and achieving a lot in building its next chapter. She outlined the “Now, Next, and Future” checkoff strategies at the joint annual meeting. “All of the successes were made possible by the dedication and hard work of everyone across the checkoff federation,” O’Brien said. “This was a strong year of results as we continue to work with and through others to catalyze action in energizing our trust- and sales-building priorities.” 

The Dairy Checkoff launched the Dairy Conservation Navigator, a resource hub designed to give farm advisors, stakeholders, and conservation professionals science-based information on sustainable practices and technologies. DMI also unveiled its InnovateWithDairy.com tool to help spur industry innovation ideas.

Dairy Checkoff Highlights 2024 Work

The U.S. is on pace to surpass five billion gallons of biodiesel and renewable diesel consumption for the first time. 

That caps a 2024 that saw increased efforts from states to drive adoption, updates to technical standards, growth in soybean crush capacity, and growing public support for clean transportation fuel. Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen says a strong 2024 has set the industry up for further growth in air, marine, rail, and heavy-duty transportation use. “Consumers and corporations are demanding more clean fuel, and they are increasingly turning to biodiesel and renewable diesel for it,” Rehagen said. “Our industry has become a central force in the global effort to curb greenhouse gas emissions.” 

One factor in the improvement is the number of states that implemented clean fuel policies. Updated fuel specs will create opportunities in the new year. Biodiesel and renewable diesel will continue making farms stronger in 2025.

Rapid Growth for Biodiesel and Renewable Diesel in 2024

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says a recent decision putting the Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements on hold is “confusing.” 

Kent Bacus, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, says the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court reversed the ruling it had issued before Christmas and has instead decided to uphold the injunction blocking the Corporate Transparency Act from taking effect. “This means U.S. cattle producers have yet another reprieve from filing beneficial ownership information with the U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCen,” Bacus says. “These court rulings have gone back and forth and continue to add to the overall confusion.”

 He also says NCBA urges all cattle producers to consult with their attorney and tax professional for the latest information in case of more changes. “NCBA is continuing to urge Congress to pass legislation that will permanently protect cattle farmers and ranchers from this burdensome mandate,” Bacus added.

NCBA Reacts to Temporary Relief from CTA

Thanks to a dedicated group of 16 Angus breeders, the Fund the Future Campaign garnered $36,400 for the Angus Fund in fiscal year 2024. 

The funds help support the Foundation’s mission and events like the Beef Leaders Institute and Young Cattlemen’s Conference. The Angus Foundation is excited about the new year and the opportunities it brings. In the new year, an anonymous donor pledged to match the first $30,000 raised, effectively doubling the impact of every dollar donated. “I’m thrilled to watch the campaign expand and see more breeders getting involved in 2025,” says Jaclyn Boester, Angus Foundation executive director. “The simplicity of participation has sparked excitement, with breeders eager to contribute and knowing their donations are making an impact on the Angus breed.” 

The Fund the Future Campaign offers breeders a unique opportunity to give back through annual production sales, consignment sales, bull sales, or even private treaty opportunities.

Angus Foundation is Funding the Future

Newly elected lawmakers seek exemptions for some businesses as challenge to ballot measure awaits action at the Missouri Supreme Court

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

BOONVILLE — In 2022, Heather Overstreet moved her growing&nbsp;<a href="https://topdogtrainingmo.com/" target="_blank">dog grooming</a>, training and boarding business into a converted garage.

It was a milestone for a business she started at age 16 by training dogs for friends of her mother. She innovated on the furnishings, refurbishing a bathtub left behind by the previous owner to use for dog washing. She built indoor kennels with room for 12 dogs and fenced 10,000 square feet outdoors to exercise dogs in daycare and overnight boarding.

But future expansion is on hold, Overstreet said, until she understands the impact of voter-approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, which increases the state minimum wage, on her payroll and customers.

“It not only throws off my math, but it just is an entirely new challenge,” Overstreet said.

Under the provisions of Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage rose to&nbsp; $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, up from $12.30 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation.

Along with increasing the minimum wage, Proposition A requires some employers to provide paid sick and family leave starting May 1. Businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more must provide one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.

Overstreet, who is also a member of the City Council in Boonville, with a population of about 8,000, admits she didn’t pay close attention to the details of Proposition A. She expected a more modest increase and had hoped to hold prices steady in 2025. Instead, she will notify customers of a rate hike, she said.

She needs three employees to cover the hours she is open.

Overstreet hires young people, often for their first job, to care for boarded dogs, and starts them at minimum wage. Over the course of a year, the increase will add $3,247 to employer payroll costs for every full-time minimum wage employee — $3,016 for additional wages and $231 for additional Social Security and Medicare taxes

“With minimum wage rising, that’s at least one extra dog that I need per day, which I guess you could say, is no big deal,” Ovestreet said. “But this is a small town, and I’ve only had that shop for two years.”

Proposition A, placed on the ballot via initiative petition,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed in November</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote with support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, and a coalition of more than 500 business owners.

There was no large-scale opposition campaign prior to the election. But a court challenge filed in early December by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">major business advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. And legislation filed in advance of this year’s session seeks to exempt 96% of private employers from the higher minimum wage.

Randy Vines, co-owner&nbsp; of a St. Louis business that also began as a home-based operation and a backer of Proposition A, said he’s sympathetic to Overstreet’s dilemma but argues that more money in the hands of workers helps the economy.

Other costs can squeeze profits as well, said Vines, who founded STL-Style, which makes merchandise themed to St. Louis for retail and wholesale markets, with his brother..

If the price of T-shirts goes up, for example, that has to be part of his pricing, he said.

“We’re kind of at the mercy of what the markets are doing and what the industry is doing in general,” Vines said. “So when costs go up for manufacturers, we have to, you know, pass that on.”

For most of the time since a federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">established in 1938</a>, there was no Missouri law mandating a separate state rate. In 1990, lawmakers extended the minimum wage to all businesses, including those exempt under federal law.

The first ballot measure setting the Missouri rate above the federal requirement passed in 2006. It boosted the state wage&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ipMinimumWage-38" target="_blank">to $6.50 an hour</a>&nbsp;and required future adjustments based on inflation. The federal rate at the time was $5.15 an hour and had not been changed since 1997.

In 2018, when adjustments had increased Missouri’s wage to $7.85 an hour, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2018-204.pdf" target="_blank">passed a proposal</a>&nbsp;boosting the rate in yearly increments until it reached $12 an hour at the start of 2023.

An inflation adjustment set it at $12.30 an hour for 2024. If Proposition A had failed, the inflation-adjusted wage for 2025 would have been $12.65 an hour, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated in a news release.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a rate that has been unchanged since 2009. The highest inflation-adjusted minimum wage was the Feb. 1, 1968, increase to $1.60 an hour, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm" target="_blank">equal to $14.76 an hour</a>.

Prior to November, opponents argued that increasing the minimum wage would&nbsp;<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/minimum-wage/the-moral-high-ground-and-the-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">cause inflation</a>, job losses and slow the state’s economy. Supporters point to research that calls those&nbsp;<a href="https://mobudget.org/raising-missouris-minimum-wage-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/" target="_blank">assumptions into question</a>, noting that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen faster since the start of 2019 than adjoining states that did not boost their minimum wage.

“Working families are the drivers of the economy,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a news release issued Dec. 30. “We are proud to take another step forward in building an economy that works for all.”&nbsp;

As he is leaving office, Gov. Mike Parson made job gains and low unemployment the top two bullet points in a news release listing the accomplishments of his administration, which began in June 2018.

Missouri added nearly 190,000 new jobs, saw more than $17 billion in new business investment and enjoyed unemployment that was as low as 2.1%, the lowest ever recorded, the release stated.

The impact of the increase will be significant for the economy,&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1411" target="_blank">proponents estimated</a>&nbsp;in filings used by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to write the fiscal summary of the proposal. Based on 2022 data, backers said 330,000 Missourians making minimum wage will get a pay raise, and almost 200,000 earning more than the minimum would likely receive raises because their pay is tied to the minimum. Wage costs in 2026 will be about $850 million more than 2022.

Business groups opposed to Proposition A didn’t mount a campaign to defeat it at the polls. Instead, they are asking the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the election invalid, alleging the ballot language was misleading and incomplete.&nbsp;

And instead of ordering a second vote, the challenge seeks to have the initiative proposal tossed completely for combining the minimum wage increase with the requirement for businesses to provide paid sick and family time.

The court refused to hear the case before the increase took effect. Instead, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC100876%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=205121" target="_blank">appointed Cole County Circuit Judge Josh Devine</a>&nbsp;as a commissioner to take evidence in the election challenge and report his findings by Feb. 10.

That could make it possible for the court to rule by the time the sick and family leave provision takes effect May 1.

By that time, there should be clear signals from lawmakers on whether they intend to step in.

A bill filed by State Rep.-elect Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton, would exempt businesses employing almost half of all Missouri workers from the higher minimum wage.

The bill would exempt seasonal businesses or those&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1326H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">employing 50 or fewer workers</a>. The bill would freeze the minimum wage for those businesses at $12.30 an hour.

Vernetti represents the tourist regions around the Lake of the Ozarks, where he owns a small Italian grocery and is a partner in a baseball/softball complex that hosts tournaments and other events.&nbsp;

Under his bill, the grocery would qualify for an exemption as a small business and the ballpark business would be exempt as a seasonal operation.

“I want to pay employees the most that they can possibly make,” Vernetti said. “I just think the market should dictate it.”

According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm#type=16&amp;year=2024&amp;st=29&amp;hlind=10&amp;supp=0" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, Missouri had 231,753 private businesses in the first quarter of 2024. Of that number, 96% had fewer than 50 workers, employing 46% of the private workforce.

The state minimum wage law does not apply to government jobs. But it would have no effect on state government if it did — in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/24/4-6b-spending-bill-heads-to-governor-house-approves-bill-targeting-medicaid-expansion/">agreed to set $15 an hour</a>&nbsp;as the base wage for all state government jobs.&nbsp;

As a freshman, Vernetti said he knows he will have difficulty getting action on his bill. But he said he’s encouraged by the reaction from other new lawmakers he met on the freshman tour and hopes to get a committee seat that will allow him to push for it.

Proposition A passed overwhelmingly in high-population counties and failed in 79 of 94 counties where fewer than 25,000 votes were cast. That highlights the cultural and economic differences between urban and rural areas, Vernetti said.

“You couldn’t get a person in, say, St Louis city, to look for a job that’s even close to the minimum wage,” Vernetti said. “But in a lot of rural Missouri, those are important jobs. If it continues to increase, businesses are going to have no choice but to cut lower paying jobs altogether.”

A bill with a smaller impact, filed by State Rep.-elect Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would rollback the minimum for&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1457H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">workers younger than 20</a>. The minimum for those workers would be $12.30 per hour.

No bills changing the provisions of Proposition A have been filed in the state Senate.

Attempting to rollback the increase is short-sighted, Vines said. His business pays above minimum wage and has low job turnover even though most workers are part-time employees.

“If you’re at the point where you either have to pay everyone minimum wage and survive barely, or go under paying a little more than minimum wage, your business probably isn’t on stable footing anyway,” he said.

Overstreet, however, said she’s worried that customers will look for other options if she raises prices.

“Dogs are a luxury. They’re not a necessity,” Overstreet said. “I’ve had people leave already because they think I’m expensive.”

Boarding a dog overnight with Overstreet at Top Dog Training costs $40. Daycare costs $30. In much larger Columbia, about 25 miles east of Boonville, overnight boarding can be found starting at $55 and doggy daycare starts at about $40 per day.

“It’s good for them, the people receiving the minimum wage increase,” she said. “But like everything else you do, the rest of us are going to have to raise our prices on services or goods, essential or non-essential, luxury or not.”

The battle over Missouri’s minimum wage didn’t end with November vote

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.

Winter weather cancelations

St. Joseph street crews are busy pushing snow and clearing
streets for travel.

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says conditions are
improving.

“Still, a lot of snow out,” Luster says during a call to the
KFEQ Hotline. “A lot of snow to deal with and now some freezing temperatures
which makes everything harder. Slow going, but the main thoroughfares, you can
travel on them.”

The side streets are hit and miss. Many haven’t been touched,
yet.

The blizzard conditions on Sunday caused vehicles to be
stranded on the Belt Highway. Several had to be removed before street crews
could plow the Belt.

“At one point, we were just tremendously backed up on stranded
motorists and slide offs where we were trying to get crews available to send to
them, but there were some moments there during the day yesterday that it got
really busy with those types of calls and motorists that needed help,” Luster
says.

Luster says, if drivers are careful, they should be able to
make it even as city crews continue to work to clear streets.

“Obviously, we’re not down to bare pavement yet, but they’re
working hard to get us that way.” 

Luster says to prepare before you travel. If you have to get
out, give yourself more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of
distance between vehicles.

St. Joseph got as much as 10 inches of snow during the
blizzard that began late Saturday night and extended into Monday morning.

St. Joseph streets improving in wake of brutal winter storm

Blizzard conditions forced the closing of Interstate 29 in
northwest Missouri from early Sunday morning until Monday morning.

Sergeant Shane Hux, spokesman for Missouri State Highway Patrol
Troop H in northwest Missouri, says as the winter weather wore on, the patrol
decided to close I-29 from north of St. Joseph to Rock Port.

“The roadway conditions were treacherous. I mean, it was not
safe for travel. So that’s why we strived to get the word out there,” Hux tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We were inundated with calls for service. We had
stranded motorists. Matter of fact, the First Christian Church here in Mound
City had to open an emergency shelter just for a place for troopers to
transport people to for safety.”

The patrol closed I-29, both northbound and southbound lanes,
from mile marker 56 north of St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile market 110 near
Rock Port in Atchison County at 5:30 Sunday evening due to deteriorating
driving conditions. It reopened early Monday morning.

Hux, who has been with the patrol for nearly 25 years, says
the conditions were as bad as he can ever remember.

“And we had hills, like for example, on Interstate 29
southbound at the 79 mile marker, they call that Squaw Creek Hill. Semis could
not get up that hill due to the slick conditions,” according to Hux. “Traffic
was backed up there approximately 6 ½ hours until we could get them through and
(it) wreaked havoc getting MoDOT trucks up in there so they could treat that
hill to give those vehicles traction to get up there.”

If you have to get out today, Hux advises you to give yourself
more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of distance between vehicles.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports much of I-29
remains snow covered, though the sunshine today is helping clear the pavement
of snow. MoDOT asks motorists to limit travel on the instate while crews work
to remove vehicles that became stranded during the blizzard.

I-29, closed during blizzard, reopens as MoDOT clears stranded cars

The St. Joseph City Council will vote to approve the contract for new City Manager Mike Schumacher during this (Mon.) evening's council session. 

Schumacher, who most recently served as the Lebanon City Administrator, was chosen from a field of 26 applicants, and emerged as the choice out of four finalists.  

District Four Councilmember Michael Grimm says one thing he learned during interviews with Schumacher, is that Schumacher revealed initially he wasn't even looking for a job 

"But he said when I saw this, my wife and I came up and she loved St. Joe, and I did too, so he said I went ahead and applied for it and if you hire me you hire me, and if you don’t I go back to Lebanon” Grimm tells KFEQ Hotline Host Barry Birr.   

 Grimm says this hiring has the opportunity to be the legacy for this current council 

"Because what we do here is hopefully going to last really far into the future with Mike,” Grimm explains.  “So, this could well be the one thing we did that people will remember us for.” 

Schumacher will be paid $190,000 annually.  If the contract is approved, he will begin work on January 21st.  Though City Hall is closed today, the council will still meet at 5:30 tonight. 

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

St. Joseph City Council set to vote to approve Mike Schumacher as new city manager

Blizzard conditions have moved out of the area. Bitterly cold
temperatures have moved in.

The winter storm nearly paralyzed the Midland Empire, dumping
anywhere from 10 to 12 inches of snow or more on the area. Winds with gusts of
more than 30 miles per hour made visibility difficult at best.

Interstate 29 has reopened after the conditions forced its
closure early Sunday evening into the overnight hours. The Missouri State
Highway Patrol closed I-29 at 5:30 Sunday evening from mile marker 56 north of
St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile marker 110 near Rock Port as travel
conditions deteriorated.

It now has re-opened, both northbound and southbound lanes.

The Missouri Department of Transportation encourages motorists
to avoid traveling today as crews work to clear the roadways across the state.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster on
Sunday afternoon as the winter storm grew fierce and travel conditions grew
worse. The governor urged Kansans to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service forecast mostly sunny skies today
with a high of only 18 today. Wind chills will be between minus-3 to minus-12.

Partly cloudy tonight with a low of minus-1.

The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook for our area.

Bitterly cold this morning throughout northeast Kansas and northwest
Missouri as well as into southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

It is not going to top 20 in our area until Thursday, when the
high is forecast to be 25. We could see a high of 31 on Friday.

Several closures, including St. Joseph schools, today. Click
<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for a full list.

Area recovering from brutal winter storm; I-29 in NW Missouri reopens

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for winter weather cancelations.

Troopers continue assisting motorists on Interstate 29 in NW Missouri.

 MODOT is attempting to clear snow-packed roads. Small towns like Mound City have become parking lots for those who made it off the highway. Monday will not be a good travel day. Stay home if possible!

MODOT continues to clear snow-packed roads in NW Missouri

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Sunday in Daviess County,

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kenworth semi driven by a 62-year-old Berwick, Iowa man was southbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of Pattonsburg.

The semi rear-ended a 2024 Volvo semi driven by a 23-year-old New Britain, Connecticut man. After impact the Kenworth traveled off the road and jackknifed. NTA ambulance transported the Iowa driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. There were no other injuries. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver injured after Davies County rear-end crash

HOLT COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Peterbilt 379 was parked on the east shoulder of northbound Interstate 29 in Mound City.

The truck became a downhill runaway and struck a 33-year-old pedestrian from Neligh, Nebraska.&nbsp; The truck continued off the east side of the road and the trailer struck a light pole.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

Runaway semi strikes and kills pedestrian on Missouri highway

 Rookie Bo Nix set a franchise record by completing his first 18 passes and the Denver Broncos ended an eight-year playoff drought Sunday with a 38-0 rout of the Kansas City Chiefs' bevy of backups.

The Broncos snapped a two-game skid and buried nearly a decade’s worth of futility and frustrations by returing to the postseason party for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season.

They'll visit Buffalo in the wild-card round next weekend after handing the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs their first shutout since Dec. 16, 2012, at Oakland.

Having already secured the AFC’s No. 1 seed and sole first-round bye in their quest for an unprecedented three-peat, Chiefs coach Andy Reid sat Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and a host of other starters.

Carson Wentz got the start at quarterback and fizzled in his first extended action since Week 18 with the Rams last season. He was 10 of 17 for 98 yards and was sacked four times by the league's best pass rush (62 sacks).

Nix threw for four touchdowns, giving him 29 for the season, second-most by a rookie in NFL history, behind only Justin Herbert's 31 in 2020.

He finished 26 of 29 for 321 yards, and his 18 consecutive completions also were the most ever by a Broncos QB. Nix hit Marvin Mims twice, Courtland Sutton (five times for 98 yards) and Devaughn Vele for scores.

Vele's TD was intended for Adam Trautman but ricocheted off cornerbacks Nazeeh Johnson (twice) and Keith Taylor before Vele cradled the catch just before tumbling out of the back of the end zone, giving Nix 17 consecutive completions at that point and extending Denver's lead to 21-0.

That wild conclusion capped an 18-play, 89-yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes, keeping Wentz cooling his cleats on the sideline next to Mahomes, who was decked out in a white hoodie.

After Harrison Butker was wide left on a 51-yard field goal — his first miss in 18 tries at Empower Field at Mile High — Wil Lutz gave Denver a 24-0 halftime lead by nailing a 33-yarder with 3 seconds left.

The Broncos made it 31-0 on Mims' second TD catch late in the third quarter and Audric Estime punched it in from the 1 in the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs won't play again until Jan. 18 or 19, meaning Mahomes, who last played on Christmas Day, and other stars who sat this one out will have at least 24 days between games.

The Broncos are back in the playoffs for the first time since winning Super Bowl 50 after the 2015 season. That’s the longest playoff drought for a team after raising the Lombardi Trophy.

The Broncos' clincher came 3,255 days after Von Miller led them to a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 7, 2016, and their reward as the AFC's seventh and final seed is a trip to Buffalo next weekend to face Miller in the first round of the playoffs.

The Bills were the only other team to beat Kansas City this season, 30-21 in Week 11.

The Chiefs' loss ended their six-game win streak but eliminated the prospect of them having to possibly face Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow at some point in the playoffs. The Bengals, who won their fifth consecutive game Saturday night at Pittsburgh, needed Denver to lose to have a chance to sneak into the playoffs at 9-8.

The Chiefs, who had won 17 of their previous 18 games against the Broncos, were planning on staying in Denver for the night because of a winter storm that also delayed their flight into Colorado for several hours Saturday.

Broncos back in playoffs for first time since 2015 with 38-0 win over Chiefs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- — Blake Craig kicked two field goals in the fourth quarter, his second a 56-yarder with 4:36 left as No. 23 Missouri rallied to beat Iowa 27-24 on Monday in the Music City Bowl.

Missouri trailed 24-14 when the Tigers started the comeback, scoring the final 13 points for the win. Brady Cook threw for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Joshua Manning also ran for a TD to key the comeback. Marquis Johnson added 122 yards receiving and a TD catch.

Missouri (10-3) posted the program's eighth 10-win season. Coach Eli Drinkwitz said the win total is only a piece, with the Tigers starting and finishing the season ranked a great accomplishment for his seniors.

“It’s something that they should take a lot of pride in back-to-back seasons," Drinkwitz said. "Finishing ranked is an unbelievable accomplishment for our program and really, really proud of them.”

Cook, who also ran for 54 more yards, said there was never a decision for himself or fellow senior defensive end Johnny Walker not to play one last game for Missouri.

“We knew we were going to and getting that 10th win and leaving our legacy and going out with a win, going out winning a championship — no matter what the championship is, we won a championship today,” Cook said. "And that’s what we want to do every single year.”

Iowa (8-5) lost its second straight bowl, denying coach Kirk Ferentz a chance to move up the Big Ten ranks. He remains one behind Woody Hayes’ 205 wins at Ohio State for the most overall wins in league history and his 10 bowl wins keeps him tied with Joe Paterno for the most.

The Hawkeyes had two final chances, the last near midfield with 1:54 left.

Walker got his second sack of the game. Missouri made a stop just short of the first on third down, then stopped quarterback Brendan Sullivan for no gain on fourth-and-1 to start the celebration and chants of “S-E-C” from fans.

“It’s disappointing ...,” Ferentz said. “We just didn’t have what it took to get it done.”

The Hawkeyes jumped out to a 14-7 lead with Terrell Washington Jr. catching a 6-yard pass from Sullivan and Kaden Wetjen's 100-yard kickoff return. Kamari Moulton’s 1-yard run gave Iowa a 21-14 halftime lead. Drew Stevens added a 38-yard field goal in the third.

Then Missouri started the comeback. After Manning's TD late in the third quarter. Toriano Pride Jr. picked off a pass by Sullivan. The Tigers tied it up with a 51-yard field goal by Craig with 10:10 left before he kicked the game-winner.

For Missouri, Theo Wease missed the second half with an upper body injury after having five catches for 75 yards and a TD by halftime. It didn’t help that Luther Burden, who had a team-high 61 catches during the season, was on the sideline in his No. 3 jersey watching, having opted out of this game to prepare for the NFL draft.

Local

Region

Sports

Agriculture