Extreme northwest Missouri will be represented by freshman in
the upcoming Missouri House legislative session.

Stanberry farmer and business owner Jeff Farnan won the
Missouri First State Representative District while newcomer Mazzie Boyd of
Hamilton, who has worked in the federal government in Washington, D.C., won the
Missouri Second State Representative District.

Farnan emerged from a crowded Republican primary to run for
the open seat that represents Atchison, Holt, and Nodaway Counties in the
Missouri House.

Farnan overcame the well-fund campaign of Democrat Jess Piper,
who pulled in more than $200,000 in her long-shot bid to break through the
Republican stranglehold on northwest Missouri. Farnan won more than 75% of the
vote.

“It just goes to show that what my beliefs are and what I stand
for is that I represent the people of northwest Missouri, that we kind of have
the same ideology about the issues,” Farnan tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Farnan farms and operates the Spec Shoppe in both Stanberry
and Maryville. Farnan says roads will be a priority of his in the coming
legislative session.

“Definitely, our roads,” Farnan replies when asked about his
legislative priorities. “Our roads are deteriorating right in front of our eyes.
So, I’d like to make sure we get funding for those.”

Farnan also will concentrate on agricultural issues.

“Anything farming, agriculture would be of great interest,”
according to Farnan. “Kind of thinking right now, the fencing laws, I think they
need some work. So, that would be one of my main concerns.”

Boyd also emerged from a Republican primary to breeze to a
victory in the General Election. Only, for Boyd, she took on and defeated a
Republican incumbent, Rep. Randy Railsback of Hamilton. Initially running for
an open seat, Boyd continued her campaign even after redistricting moved her
into a race against a sitting representative. The newly configured Second
District includes Worth, Harrison, Grundy, Daviess, and Caldwell Counties.

Boyd won the primary and then went on to win the General
Election by easily defeating the late Lois Pontius of Ridgeway 82.6% to 17.3%.

“I couldn’t believe it. That was not what we had expected at
all,” Boyd tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It felt really humbling, honestly. I
felt, I think, more humbled during this entire process than anything else.”

Boyd, who at 24 just makes the minimum age for a Missouri
House member, worked for former President Donald Trump’s unsuccessful re-election
campaign. In Washington, Boyd served on the staff of Republican Congresswoman
Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Boyd plans to file legislation that would ban using federal
money to enact Red Flag laws.

“So, right now, I know (President) Biden is trying to figure
out how he can bribe red states like Missouri that have really good 2A (2nd
Amendment) laws and figuring out how he can get red flag laws in the state of
Missouri,” according to Boyd.

Red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection laws,
allow parents or others to file a petition in court to prohibit someone considered
a threat to themselves or others from purchasing a firearm.

Boyd also plans to push for legislation that would ban the use
of puberty blockers and sex transition surgery on minors.

“Right now, children are the most affected in this day and age
and we see such a huge increase of mental health (cases), especially in younger
children,” Boyd says. “These are life-long decisions that are very difficult to
reverse.”

Both Boyd and Farnan are involved in legislative orientation
before the legislative session begins in Jefferson City next month.

Tommy Rezac contributed to this article.

New NW Missouri representatives prepare to take office next month

The Environmental Protection Agency released its draft “set” rule, which sets the annual biofuel blending targets for 2023-2025 under the Renewable Fuel Standard. Soy farmers were initially pleased with EPA’s 2022 volume target, which included the highest-ever number for total renewable fuels and specifically biomass-based diesel since the RFS was created.

 The new proposal goes in the other direction. “This rule slams the breaks on progress being made in biofuel investments and growth,” says American Soybean Association president Brad Doyle. “Instead of continuing to support available low-emission, plant-based fuel sources, EPA has changed course and seems to ignore major investments in and consumer demand for biomass-based diesel and other biofuels that exist right now.” 

The multi-year set rule is supposed to provide consistency and encourage investment in the biofuels industry. ASA says these insignificant volume increases for 2023-2025 could not only stifle growth but also jeopardize the existing biofuels industry.

Soy growers disappointed in EPA RFS proposal

The National Corn Growers Association appreciates Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack’s efforts by traveling to Mexico City to discuss Mexico’s pending ban on biotech corn imports that goes into effect in 2024. Vilsack spoke with Mexican President Lopez Obrador about the importance of finding an acceptable resolution on the matter. 

President Obrador indicated last week that there might be room for compromise, suggesting the country would continue allowing imports of yellow corn used for livestock feed but would block white corn, imported mainly for human consumption. 

However, yellow corn is also food grade and nutritious in hundreds of products consumers enjoy. “Any decision to block biotech crops by Mexico would be illegal under the USMCA agreement,” says NCGA President Tom Haag. “Eliminating white corn will in no way resolve this matter.” Haag also says his group highly appreciates Secretary Vilsack for “going to the mat” on this issue for American farmers.

NCGA: Mexico banning white corn a “non-starter” in negotiations

The Senate passed a bill to avoid a potentially catastrophic U.S. railroad strike and sent the bill to President Biden’s desk for his signature. Crossroads Today says the vote came after mounting pressure on lawmakers to move swiftly. Without action, a strike could have taken place on December 9, which the president said would be catastrophic to the nation’s economy. 

Railroads transport 6,300 carloads of food and farm products every day. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 80 to 15. A separate vote on adding seven days of paid sick leave to the agreement didn’t pass. 

Biden was reluctant to override the vote against the contract by four unions but stressed the rail shutdown would devastate the economy. “I know that many in Congress were reluctant to bypass union ratification procedures, but the consequences would have been too great for working families across the country,” Biden said.

Senate passes bill to avert catastrophic rail strike

Clean Fuels Alliance America criticized the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2023 through 2025 for undercutting investments in biodiesel and renewable diesel capacity. 

The minor increase for biomass-based diesel volumes in 2023, 2024, and 2025 are below the industry’s existing production and ignores the clean fuels industry’s significant investments in new capacity. 

The group says those volumes provide no additional space for sustainable aviation fuel and short-circuit the nation’s carbon emission goals. 

“The volumes EPA proposed ignore the over three billion gallons currently in the market and fail to account for the planned growth of the sector,” says Kurt Kovarik, CFA vice president of federal affairs. 

“The soybean and canola industries invested over $4 billion to bring additional feedstock capacity online in the future.” An additional 2.4 billion gallons of renewable diesel capacity is coming online by 2024, and Kovarik says EPA’s numbers undercut the investments.

Clean Fuels Alliance says EPA proposal underestimates biomass-based diesel

The Environmental Protection Agency released the long-awaited 2023-2025 Renewable Fuel Standard blending volumes. 

The Renewable Fuels Association says the proposal creates a path for sustainable growth in the production and use of low-carbon renewable fuels. 

EPA proposes setting the 2023 RFS requirement at 20.82 billion gallons, of which 5.8 billion gallons will come from advanced biofuels and 15 billion from conventional renewable fuels. 

EPA also proposes an extra 250 million gallons in addition to the standards to address a 2017 D.C. Court decision. For 2024, the proposal is for 21.87 billion gallons, 6.62 billion gallons of advanced biofuels, and 15.25 billion of conventional. 

In 2025, EPA proposes requiring 22.68 billion gallons of total renewable fuels, including 7.43 billion gallons of advanced biofuels and 15.25 billion conventional. “The proposal solidifies a role for the RFS to reduce carbon emissions and enhance our energy security,” says RFA president and CEO Geoff Cooper.

EPA releases 2023-2025 RFS volumes

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association supports the Senate version of the Protect Farmers from the SEC Act, a companion bill to legislation introduced into the House of Representatives by Oklahoma Republican Frank Lucas. 

“The Securities and Exchange Commissions’ overly broad rulemaking has the potential to increase burdens on cattle producers by requiring data that’s impossible to provide,” says NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart. 

“The NCBA is proud to support the act because it ensures that federal regulators don’t overstep their jurisdiction and protects cattle producers from government red tape.” 

The act excludes agriculture from the reporting Scope 3, or supply chain, greenhouse gas emissions under the SEC’s proposed climate disclosure rule. 

While the rule is aimed at large publicly-traded companies, ag operations could be subjected to additional reporting as part of the supply chain for public restaurants and retailers. “We thank Senators Boozman and Braun for focusing on the issue,” Hart says.

NCBA applauds protect Farmers from the SEC ACT in senate

The House of Representatives Wednesday took action to avert a pending rail strike. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on the house floor Wednesday, stated, "A shutdown would grind our economy to a halt, and every family would feel the strain,” while adding, “Small businesses wouldn't be able to get their products to market.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many of them, as I say, farmers.” 

National Farmers Union President Rob Larew says the action is “a positive step toward keeping that chain moving,” referring to the agricultural supply chain’s reliance on rail access. The resolution will now go to the Senate for consideration. 

It will need 60 votes to pass the Senate before arriving at President Biden’s desk for his signature. Pelosi pledged two actions by the House, with the first being the resolution to prevent a rail strike. 

The second action by the House is a separate measure that would give railway employees seven days of paid sick leave per year.

House acts to prevent rail strike

A group of Midwest lawmakers this week introduced the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. 

The legislation would ensure permanent, full-market access to E15, often marketed as Unleaded 88. 

The National Corn Growers Association applauded the legislation. NCGA President Tom Haag says the legislation "will ensure drivers across the country continue to have year-round access to safe, low-cost, low-emission E15." 

Senator Deb Fischer, a Nebraska Republican, and Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, introduced the bill with 13 bipartisan cosponsors. 

Despite EPA approving E15 for use in all 2001 and newer vehicles and a 2019 update to regulations, a 2021 court decision would have ended year-round market access to E15 last summer without the Biden administration using emergency authority to keep E15 in the market. 

Ensuring continued E15 sales year-round keeps a lower-emission fuel choice in the marketplace that costs less, according to NCGA. E15 cuts evaporative, carbon and tailpipe emissions compared to standard 10 percent ethanol blended fuels.

NCGA applauds new legislation resolving E15 uncertainty

McDonald’s this week filed a lawsuit against pork packing companies alleging price fixing. 

The lawsuit names Agri Stats, Clements Food Group, Hormel Foods, JBS USA, Seaboard Foods, Smithfield Foods, Triumph Foods and Tyson foods as defendants in the case. 

Legal documents show McDonald’s claims the defendants and their coconspirators collectively control over 80 percent of the wholesale pork market. 

The lawsuit alleges the defendants entered into a conspiracy from around 2008 or early 2009 through the present to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of pork. 

McDonald's claims defendants implemented their conspiracy by agreeing with their competitors to restrict output and limit production. 

The lawsuit says that the data compiled by Agri Stats is a classic enforcement and implementation mechanism of a price-fixing scheme. Because of the alleged price fixing, McDonald's claims it paid inflated prices for pork during the time frame outlined in the lawsuit, adding, Thus, plaintiff suffered injury and damages due to defendants’ anticompetitive conduct."

McDonald’s files lawsuit alleging pork price fixing

A new report from the Farm Journal Foundation finds that increased U.S. investments in agricultural development and innovation are needed to make global food systems more resilient. 

While climate change impacts agriculture worldwide, its effects are "substantially more severe" in warm regions, including Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. The report says that as much as 80 percent of the world's poor people, who predominantly work in agriculture, live in areas increasingly affected by climate change. 

The new report follows the United Nations' COP27 conference earlier this month, where leaders discussed the impact of climate change on the global food system and solutions to make agriculture more resilient. The report says investing in agricultural sustainability in developing countries is in the U.S. national interest, as it would prevent future food crises, reduce the need for emergency food aid, support stability in developing countries, and potentially reduce mass migration and civil unrest.

Food system investment needed to equip farmers for climate change

BUCHANAN COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Buchanan County&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by Lisa D. Fast, 62, Rushville, was southbound on Interstate 29 in the city of St. Joseph.

The Oldsmobile rear-ended a 2012 Ford Fusion driven by Letun L. Johnson, 44, Kansas City, who was stopped in the southbound passing lane following an earlier crash.

Buchanan County EMS transported Fast to Mosaic Life Care. A private vehicle transported a 17-year-old Kansas City girl who was standing outside the Ford to Mosaic Life Care. Johnson was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver, pedestrian hospitalized after Buchanan Co. crash

DEKALB COUNTY—A Missouri man was injured in an accident just after 3a.m. Friday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Aveo driven by Tyler S. Muessig, 19, Winston, was eastbound on MO 6 two miles east of Weatherby.

The car traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment, returned to the road, overturned and traveled off the north side of the road.

A private vehicle transported Muessig to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after rollover crash

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An annual event in at the Loess Bluffs Wildlife Refuge gives everyone a chance to observe the majesty of the nation's bird, the bald eagle. &nbsp;

Eagle Days returns this weekend, an event that has run for the past 43 years, running tomorrow and Sunday. &nbsp;

Park Ranger Nikki Horne says the event is a outstanding family event that draws large crowds to the refuge every year.&nbsp;

"There's crafts, food for sale, there's videos, all kinds of exhibits related to eagles and other wildlife on the refuge, just a lot of fun packed into one weekend," Horne tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. "We have seen up to 5,000 people visit the refuge on this weekend."&nbsp;

The event will run from 9am to 4pm on Saturday and 10am to 4pm on Sunday at the refuge just outside of Mound City.&nbsp; &nbsp;

During the event guided bus tours of the refuge will also be offered. Horne says one other event during Eagle Days will be the return of the eagle show, this year hosted by the World Bird Sanctuary.&nbsp;

"They'll have the eagles out with them, they're handlers, and so they will just go through their script basically, they'll talk about the history, the changes in populations, how we got to be where we are right now, and bring back that bald eagle population," Horne explains. &nbsp;

Eagle shows will be given every hour on the hour starting at 9am tomorrow and at 11am on Sunday. &nbsp;

Horn says this time of year is a popular time to begin seeing eagles migrate and land at the refuge as they move south.&nbsp;

"Our record is, late December (and) early January, we've had over 833 eagles surveyed on the refuge, which is strictly on about 7500 acres," Horne says. "So, it's a great weekend to not only attend the live eagle show, and read the exhibits, and watch the videos and learn about them, but you can get out on the refuge and see them up close and personal as well."&nbsp;

Get up close and personal with eagles during the 43rd annual Eagle Days

A Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for state representative in
northwest Missouri has died.

The family of Lois Pontius announced that she died Wednesday of
a head injury suffered in a fall.

Pontius, who was from Ridgeway, lost the Missouri Second State
Representative District race to Republican Mazzie Boyd of Hamilton November 8th.

“What a life. And she got to kind of go out on a high note
(running a campaign),” Boyd tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “She sent me a really
nice email after the election and I thought that was super classy of her, because
she was always so kind during the campaign.” 

Boyd remembers an opponent who always treated her with
respect.

“And I think that has a lot to say in this day and age when
mostly Republicans and Democrats really can’t even be in the same room,” Boyd
says. “Lois was always very nice. She said very nice things about me. She never
said anything negative.”

Boyd says she had heard Pontius suffered a fall, but had hoped
she would recover.

“I’m sad for her family. I am praying for them. I hope that they
will find peace in this time.”

Unsuccessful northwest Missouri state rep. candidate dies after fall

CALDWELL COUNTY—A Missouri teen was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Suburban driven by a 17-year-old Gallatin boy was northbound on Winchester Road just south of Kerr Drive five miles southeast of Cameron.

The driver lost control of the SUV as it began to slide on the gravel roadway. The Suburban traveled off the road and overturned.&nbsp;

Caldwell County EMS transported the driver to Wright Memorial Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after SUV overturns

A vice president with the United States Chamber of Commerce
gives a less-than-optimistic look at Congress during a St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce event.

Ron Eidshaug, who lobbies Congress on behalf of
the Chamber, says he’s not totally pessimistic about Capitol Hill and the
coming divided government.

“The good news is that Republicans and Democrats are going to
have to work together to get something done,” Eidshaug tells reporters afterward.
“So that’s at least a cause for optimism.”

Eidshaug says divided government has some benefits.

“So, the big benefit to divided government is we’re not going
to see anything like the Build Back Better, Inflation Reduction (Act), massive
tax increases on the business community coming through,” according to Eidshaug.
“Divided government is going to force Republicans and Democrats to come up with
bipartisan solutions to solve problems for Americans, for American businesses,
for American families.”

Republicans have retaken the House, while Democrats remain in
control of the Senate and the White House.

Eidshaug says the slim majority in the House will present
likely Speaker Kevin McCarthy of California with some problems keeping his
caucus together to ensure passage of legislation.

Eidshaug says it’s a little too early to envision what the
next session of Congress might be like.

“Certainly, I think the Republicans have indicated they want
to be very aggressive in terms of their oversight approach, but in terms of
legislation, I think we’re going to have to wait and see on some of that stuff.”

Chamber executive sees benefits in divided government

Eastern Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner easily won
re-election this year, his first re-election bid. LaTurner, a Republican who
left the Kansas state Treasurer’s Office to run for Congress two years ago,
says this year’s campaign differed from his first.

“The biggest difference is just knowing the district better
than you did to start with,” LaTurner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Obviously
you campaign hard the first time and get to know folks and get to know the
district, but when you’ve represented the area for a couple of years you really
have a good sense of where people are on the issues. You understand what unique
challenges different parts of the district face.”

Redistricting changed the district a bit, but LaTurner
continues to represent northeast Kansas, as well as all of eastern Kansas
outside the Kansas City, Kansas metro area.

LaTurner hopes to land a spot on the House Appropriations
Committee. He points out a member of the Kansas Congressional delegation served
on the Appropriations Committee for more than 20 years, until 2018.

LaTurner won 55% of the vote two years ago in a hotly
contested contest that drew a lot of national money. LaTurner, though, found
himself in a difficult position when he took office.

“I was a freshman in the minority. And a freshman in the
minority, you’re not able to get a ton of legislative wins, because the
majority controls the schedule, they control the calendar, they control what
bills come to the floor,” according to LaTurner. “And so we were able to pass
legislation, being in the minority, but it’s very difficult to do.”

LaTurner says finding himself in the minority party in the
United States House forced a shift in priorities in which his office
concentrated on providing constituent services.

“Making sure that if you’re a veteran out there, if you have
an issue with Social Security, if you have an issue with your passport,
whatever the case may be when the federal government’s not treating you quite
right, we have been able to really work with our staff making sure that we are doing
that part really well and I think that’s important,” LaTurner says.

LaTurner says constituent services will remain a priority in
his second term. But, now in the majority, LaTurner hopes to have more say on
spending issues as well as agricultural policy.

Congressman LaTurner finds himself in a different position after re-election

MERCER COUNTY—A Missouri woman was injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Thursday in Mercer County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Jeep Wrangler driven by Hannah S. Bruse, 19, Princeton, was east bound on Elliot Road five miles northwest of Princeton.

The driver swerved to avoid a deer. The Jeep traveled off the road, struck an embankment and overturned. A private vehicle transported Bruse to Decatur Co. Hospital in Leon, Iowa. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman hospitalized after she swerves to avoid a deer

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;

The pilot has come in for a landing. In this case, the pilot is the famous aviator Amelia Earhart (or her replica in the form of a bronze statue), and her landing place isn’t an airport — it’s the nation’s capitol.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was recently honored by the State of Kansas by having her statue placed in Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol building.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Statuary Hall is that area of the capitol that displays statues depicting people representing all 50 states. Each state is authorized to send two statues to this collection.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas recently replaced one of its statues with one of Amelia Earhart, who captured the world’s attention as a pioneer in aviation.&nbsp;

With support from the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation, her statue was unveiled in the National Statuary Collection in July, 2022.&nbsp;

Amelia Earhart was born in Atchison on July 24, 1897. She must have been quite the adventurous child.&nbsp;&nbsp;One time she and friends built a homemade roller coaster by greasing boards with lard and suspending them from the top of a toolshed. Amelia made the trial run on this roller coaster in a wooden crate and crashed part way down.&nbsp;

She came up with a torn dress and split lip but a big smile, proclaiming, "Oh! It's just like flying!"&nbsp;

During World War I, she worked as a nurse’s aid at a military hospital and heard the military pilots talk about their flights. Amelia’s interest grew when she attended an airshow in Canada.&nbsp;

In 1921, Amelia Earhart took her first flying lessons. Six months later, she bought her first plane.&nbsp;

Amelia went on to make history: She was the first president of the Ninety-Nines, a women's aviation organization; the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic; first woman to fly solo coast-to-coast; and the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the mainland.&nbsp;

Through her husband, a publisher, she published several books and articles. She designed fashion clothing and had her own luggage line. She received many honors, including the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, before disappearing on an ill-fated attempt to fly around the globe.&nbsp;

So what is Statuary Hall and how did Amelia Earhart come to land there? Statuary Hall goes back to the 1860s when a south wing was added to the U.S. Capitol building. The House of Representatives moved into its new chamber where it still meets today.&nbsp;

The House was debating what should be done with the former chamber that it had vacated. A suggestion came from Rep. Justin Morrill of Vermont. (This was the same congressman who authored the Morrill Act that authorized land grants for public higher education and under which Kansas State University became the nation’s first operational land grant university.)&nbsp;

Morrill suggested that the former House chamber become a place to display statues from each state. His suggestion was adopted. Every state was allowed to have two statues.&nbsp;

One might ask, who were the two statues from Kansas? Would you guess, George Glick and John J. Ingalls? When I led capitol tours years ago, our visitors would ask,&nbsp;&nbsp;“Who are those guys?&nbsp;&nbsp;Never heard of them.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

I learned that George Glick was a one-term governor of Kansas and John J. Ingalls was a long-time Senator during the late 1800s.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In 2003, Kansas became the first state to change its two representative statues. The Kansas Legislature voted to replace Glick and Ingalls with statues depicting Dwight D. Eisenhower and Amelia Earhart, provided the statues were funded with private money.&nbsp;&nbsp;Ike was placed there in 2003 and Amelia followed in 2022.&nbsp;

The Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation paid for the statue of Amelia. The foundation is also working toward opening an aviation museum in her honor. That would be a wonderful addition to the rural community of Atchison, population 10,885 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation">www.ameliaearharthangarmuseum.org/foundation</a>.&nbsp;

This pilot has come in for a landing – that is, landing a spot in the Statuary Hall collection in Washington DC.&nbsp;

We commend the Atchison Amelia Earhart Foundation for making a difference by honoring her legacy. I hope Amelia’s ideals keep flying high.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Amelia Earhart 

CINCINNATI (AP) — Patrick Mahomes had only lost to one quarterback three times — until Sunday.

Mahomes fell to 0-3 against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, including playoffs, when Burrow rallied his team to a 27-24 victory.

Tom Brady is the only other QB with three wins over Mahomes, but he also has three losses.

Burrow has beaten the Chiefs three times in this calendar year alone. Cincinnati won 34-31 on Jan. 2, then prevailed 27-24 in overtime in the conference championship game four weeks later to send the Bengals to the Super Bowl.

This time, Burrow engineered a go-ahead touchdown drive after Cincinnati (8-4) forced a fumble from usually reliable tight end Travis Kelce.

“They just have a well put-together team,” Mahomes said. “You saw the offense — even though it has playmakers, they'll take their time and utilize the clock.”

None more so than on the final drive, when Burrow converted two third downs — including a 14-yard throw to Tee Higgins on third-and-11 — to ensure Mahomes wouldn't get the ball back.

“They have a great quarterback,” he said. “A guy who has won a lot of football games, even if that was in college. And now he's won a lot of football games in the NFL. He's someone who competes to the very end, too.”

Chiefs coach Andy Reid doesn't think the Bengals' recent success against his squad is anything extraordinary.

“I think it's (just) two good football teams playing each other. We've got to take care of business down the stretch," he said.

“It's part of the NFL, you know,” Kansas City linebacker Willie Gay said. “They're not doing anything we haven't seen. You win some, you lose some. Unfortunately, we've lost the last three we've played against this team. I'm sure we'll see them again.”

Burrow is the only quarterback to face Mahomes multiple times and be undefeated in head-to-head matchups, including the playoffs. The level-headed Burrow doesn't get too worked up over statistics like that.

“It just felt like another regular-season game. It didn’t feel any different," the third-year quarterback said.

Bengals receiver Tyler Boyd said the wins over Kansas City show the quality of the team Cincinnati has built.

“It's a message to all the other guys who doubted us and think we had a lucky year last year,” Boyd said. “Nah, we're here to stay, we're here to keep winning, and we're here to fight for another Super Bowl.”

The Chiefs are eager for another shot at the Bengals.

“The good news is,” safety Justin Reid said, “we have a lot of football left to play in December, and I'm sure we're going to see those guys again come January.”

The Chiefs (9-3) are on the road to face Denver (3-9) this Sunday at 3:25 central. The game will be on KFEQ (680, 95.3) and Q Country 92.7 FM in St. Joseph.

Burrow tops Mahomes again, rallies Bengals past Chiefs 27-24 Sunday

COLUMBIA, MO- The East Buchanan football team accomplished a feat that hasn't been done in almost a decade by a public school in Class 1, repeated as state champions.    

The last time a public school in Class 1 won back-to-back championships was 2007-08, when Orrick completed the hard task.  But East Buchanan put on a clinic, defeating Adrian 42-0 on a chilly Saturday evening at Faurot Field on the campus of the University of Missouri, clinching the title.   

East Buchanan Head Coach Dan Ritter says this championship doesn't feel much different from last years, in fact, he says it almost feels like deja vu.  

"You know, the same team, same weather, same experience, but the way we were able to handle ourselves, have confidence going in knowing we've done it before, it did feel a whole lot different," Ritter tells reporters in a postgame press conference. "There was a whole lot less nerves at least for me, and then you could see it on the players, they had confidence going into this game, and that's something you really like to see as a coach when you know your players are coming in ready to go." 

After Junior quarterback Gage Busby threw an interception on the first drive of the game, possession went back and forth until the third drive of game for the Bulldogs, when Junior running back Trevor Klein broke free up the middle for a 42-yard touchdown run, scoring the first touchdown of the game with 3:24 left in the first quarter.  

Busby says after throwing that interception on the first drive, it was words from assistant coach Colby Rapp that helped him turn the tide around, telling Busby to go out and get control of the huddle.  

"We're doing the right things, we just weren't executing, and I got to step up and be a leader for my team," Busby says. "And I just got to go out there and continue to let my guys make plays." 

East Buchanan would put up three more scores in the second quarter, the first coming after their longest drive of the game, a 12 play 74-yard drive that consumed almost five minutes of clock, ending with a Klein one yard touchdown run.    

Busby would find Junior wide receiver Aidan Hensley for 35-yard touchdown to extend lead to 21-0, and then at the end of the quarter, with 20 seconds left, Klein would score his third touchdown of the day rushing in from two yards out.  East Buchanan led at halftime 28-0.  

Busby would go on to throw two more touchdowns in the third quarter, a 41-yard score to Klein and an 82-yard touchdown pass to Senior wide receiver Adam Stephen Engnes, pushing the lead to 42-0, which would push the game to running clock until the end as the Bulldogs hoisted the trophy again.

The East Buchanan defense was clicking on all cylinders once more, the Bulldogs forced three interceptions on the day.  Senior linebacker Rylee Parker led with seven tackles while Senior defensive tackle Ethan Bailey and Klein each had one sack.  Hensley hauled in two interceptions on the game, his final one ultimately sealing the game, while Klein picked Adrian off once. 

On offense Klein had 221 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns.  Busby threw for 312 yards on 14 of 19 passing and threw three touchdowns and one interception.  His leading receiver was Stephen Engnes with four catches for 143 yards and one touchdown.  

For many of the Bulldog juniors, winning a championship has been a dream a long time coming, Junior offensive and defensive lineman Barrett Veatch says many of them have talked about it since first grade 

"Every game that we played we took serious, even if it was youth," Veatch says. "We talked about it whenever we were little how awesome it would be to go to state, but we never really talked about going to state two times, so it means the world to us, the community, and everybody." 

East Buchanan finishes the season 14-1, bringing home just the second football state championship in school history.  The Bulldogs will be without eight seniors next year, but bring back 16 juniors, which includes both Trevor and Nick Klein, Busby, Hensley, Veatch, Chase Meers, and Wyatt Parker among others, all with two years of championship experience.

East Buchanan champions of Class 1 again, a feat over a decade in the making

JOPLIN - The Missouri Western women's basketball team led by as many as eight points in the first half and led 65-59 with 3:20 to play, but. No. 5 Missouri Southern (9-0) ended the game on a 16-4 run and edged the Griffons 75-69 on Saturday afternoon in Joplin.

The Griffons (6-3, 1-1 MIAA) overcame a 10-point deficit in the second quarter, and led 47-45 entering the fourth, but 19 turnovers proved costly in the narrow defeat.

"We gave them the game," Missouri Western women's basketball coach Candi Whitaker said. "They made plays, but we made so many mistakes in those last three minutes on both ends of the floor. I'm disappointed for our team, because I thought they really handled how physical this game was."

There were a lot bright spots for the Griffons in the first 37 minutes. Missouri Western outrebounded MoSo 48-40, the Griffons blocked four shots and outscored MoSo in the paint 36-32.

Junior Brionna Budgets led Missouri Western in scoring with a game-high 19 points. Fellow junior Connie Clarke tallied her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and a season-high 16 rebounds.

Junior Mary Fultz was also solid with 10 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Kassandra Caron came off the bench and finished with six points on two made threes - her first points as a Griffon.

Missouri Southern sophomore guard and All-American Lacy Stokes was held to nine points on 3-of-18 shooting through the first three quarters, but she scored nine in the fourth quarter to end with 18 points, six assists, four rebounds and three steals.

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