The Missouri Highway Patrol is investigating a reported road rage incident involving shots fired this (Wed.) morning. 

Highway Patrol officials report that around 8 am this (Wed.) morning, the St. Joseph Police Department received a call reporting a road rage incident on northbound I-29 near mile marker 49.  The suspect struck the victims vehicle with a firearm.  The suspect, a 27 year old Savannah man, has been taken into custody. 

No injuries were reported in the incident. The investigation continues.

MSHP: Suspect arrested after Buchanan Co. road-rage incident

The latest report on foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture land shows that nearly 46 million acres of U.S. farmland were held by foreign investors in 2023. That represents 3.6 percent of total privately-held agricultural land. This marks a 1.58-million-acre, or nearly 4 percent increase from 2022 and a 12 percent rise since the American Farm Bureau’s last analysis in 2021. 

Foreign ownership of U.S. agriculture land increases

Researchers have been updating the map of known soybean cyst nematode distribution regularly since 2000, and with each update, the threat spreads. The latest update, spearheaded by Greg Tylka, a nematologist from Iowa State University, reveals 31 counties in ten states reporting SCN for the first time between 2020 and 2023. In Canada, ten rural municipalities in Quebec and three counties across Manitoba and Ontario reported SCN for the first time during that three-year span. 

SCN continuing spread renews focus on threat

According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers, sales of agricultural tractors and combines fell in the United States during the month of December when compared to a year ago. U.S. sales of agricultural tractors fell more than 11 percent, while combine sales fell by 26 percent year over year. AEM Senior Vice President, Curt Blades says, “December’s sales of ag tractors and combines follow patterns we saw throughout 2024, which reflects softness in the market,” and  “While the year has been marked by high interest rates and uncertainty throughout the overall ag economy, AEM is looking forward to the potential in 2025 and will continue to advocate for policies focused on positively impacting the industry.” 

Canada’s sales of ag tractors dropped just over 3 percent, while combines fell by more than 37 percent in December when compared to the previous year. The biggest December drop was in 100-plus horsepower tractors, down 27 percent from 2023.

2024 tractor and combine sales close year in a slump

The government released short-term guidance on accessing clean fuel tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act. However, the announcement fell short of finalizing the program’s details. Reports say biofuel groups were hoping for more clarity on the tax credits for fuels that help combat climate change. The groups are hopeful that more complete guidance will provide a pathway for corn-based ethanol to expand its market as a sustainable aviation fuel feedstock. 

Treasury department releases partial 45Z guidance

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/camikoons/">CAMI KOONS</a>&nbsp;-

The U.S. Department of Agriculture finalized a third regulatory reform under the Packers and Stockyards Act, with the latest regulation giving greater stability and fairness to chicken farmers working for major meat companies, according to an announcement Tuesday.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a press conference Monday the regulation came from “the ground up” and reflects changes that poultry farmers across the country have said they needed.

“This rule basically addresses many of the concerns that we’ve heard from rank and file producers who just simply want a fair shake,” Vilsack said. “They don’t want the field necessarily tilted in their direction, they just don’t want to have to work uphill.”

The regulation limits some of the variability within the poultry tournament system, a system where growers are ranked against one another to determine pay. The new rule stops companies from deducting from a grower’s baseline pay because of their placement in the tournament system.

The rule sets that no more than 25% of a grower’s total compensation can be based on the tournament system and requires greater stability, and information, on the inputs producers receive.

The rule, according to Vilsack, will also provide producers with “key information” on the nature and extent of capital investments that a company would require a contract grower to make in order to extend a contract.

“This is a strong rule and a good rule, and it’s a rule that bubbled up from the ground up, not the top down, and I think those kinds of rules, ultimately, are successful and the ones that are preserved,” Vilsack said.

USDA has made two other rules to strengthen fairness and transparency under of the Packers and Stockyards Act during the Biden administration, including another poultry-oriented rule&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2023/11/08/usda-announces-progress-further-competition-agriculture-level-playing-field-farmers" target="_blank">finalized in 2023</a>&nbsp;that mandated large processing companies give “critical information” to their poultry growers related to earnings, flock placement and protocol for sickness or natural disaster.

The other&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2024/03/05/usda-announces-next-major-step-promoting-competition-agriculture-and-advancing-economic-opportunity#:~:text=The%20final%20rule%20Inclusive%20Competition,retaliation%20and%20deception%20in%20contracting." target="_blank">rule prohibited discrimination and banned companies from retaliating</a>&nbsp;against farmers who communicate with government agencies or join grower associations.

Vilsack said USDA has also strengthened partnerships with state attorneys general and the U.S. Department of Justice to better enforce the Packers and Stockyards Act.

“We try to be responsive to the field, to the ordinary folks out there working hard every day, trying to make a living and trying to take care of their family, trying to make sure their their operation remains profitable in a tough time, and that they’re in a position to be able to turn it on to the next generation in better shape than they found it,” Vilsack said, reflecting on the work of USDA during the Biden administration.

USDA additionally announced Tuesday the withdrawal of a fourth rule, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/06/28/2024-14042/fair-and-competitive-livestock-and-poultry-markets" target="_blank">Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets</a>, which it had proposed in June 2024 and would have defined general practices that were either unfair or in violation of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

Vilsack said the department chose to withdraw the rule, rather than leave it to be finalized by the incoming administration, because it was a very complex rule that could have been “fundamentally” changed by a couple of tweaks.

“If there is an intent to do that,” Vilsack said, “then it seems like it ought to start from the beginning of the process, not at the end of the process.”

This story was originally published by the&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/briefs/usda-finalizes-packers-and-stockyards-reform-to-help-chicken-farmers/" target="_blank">Iowa Capital Dispatch</a>, a States Newsroom affiliate.&nbsp;

USDA finalizes packers and stockyards reform to help chicken farmers

The USDA’s Farm Service Agency is reminding producers, including dairy producers impacted by H5N1, that the deadline to apply for assistance through the ELAP Program is January 30. 

The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish Program funds are for losses due to specific adverse conditions that occurred in 2024. 

“The ELAP program provides an important financial safety net, helping our producers rebound from weather and disease impacts that are out of their control and not part of their operation’s ordinary risk profile,” says Zach Ducheneaux, FSA administrator. “These events threaten producers’ economic viability, so it’s important that USDA provide support.”

 ELAP provides relief to eligible producers to assist with losses that aren’t covered by other FSA disaster programs. Producers wanting to apply for ELAP assistance for calendar year 2024 should contact the FSA at their nearest USDA Service Center by January 30. 

To find a Service Center, visit farmers.gov.

Disaster assistance application deadline approaching

The USDA will begin rebuilding its bird flu vaccine stockpile to make it match the current strain of the virus running through commercial flocks and wild birds. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the outbreak started in 2022 and has killed over 130 million birds, affecting commercial, backyard, and wild birds in all 50 states.

 In a press release, USDA says the U.S. had built poultry vaccine stocks after the last major outbreak in 2014-2015. Bird flu is also affecting U.S. dairy cattle herds and infected almost 70 people. Most of the exposed humans are farm workers who’ve been directly exposed to sick cattle or poultry. 

Egg and turkey farm groups have been calling for a vaccine, citing the severe economic toll it has taken on farmers after wiping out their flocks. In December, USDA reported infected dairy herds in California and Texas.

U.S. to rebuild bird flu vaccine stockpile

Farm bill work hasn’t even started, but the new Senate GOP majority already has SNAP and the related Thrifty Food Plan in its crosshairs. 

The farm bill food stamp fight that blocked a Senate deal last year is showing its teeth again, but now with unified GOP government control that could yield the first budget since 2016.

Senior Senate Republican and new budget panel member John Cornyn could play a key role in fashioning spending cuts this year, including for farm bill programs Democrats fought for last year.

“By simply reducing payment errors for SNAP payments, for example, we could save an estimated 100 billion dollars. By implementing a real work requirement for means-tested programs like Congress did back during the Clinton presidency, we could save an incredible amount of money for the American people.”

The House Ag Committee tried last Congress and earlier to tighten SNAP requirements and, in a new farm bill push, to end secretarial discretion to boost benefits. Texas conservative Cornyn touched on that.

“Or we could repeal the controversial 2021 Thrifty Food Plan that would save as much as 300 billion dollars. You know, we’re talking about real money, Mr. President.”

Republicans slammed Ag Secretary Vilsack for upping pandemic SNAP benefits under the plan by some $250 billion without Congressional approval. Democrats claimed he had that authority under the 2018 farm bill.

But the committee-passed House GOP farm bill backed by a handful of Democrats would have allowed only inflationary SNAP increases.

GOP again targeting SNAP, thrifty food plan for savings

Early indications are that U.S. farmers will increase planted grain acres this year despite continuing low prices. 

That’s according to a survey done by Farm Futures magazine. In the survey conducted in December, farmers in major corn-producing states seem swayed by an ongoing corn rally. However, more than half of the responding farmers plan no change in their crop mix. 

“In light of the corn market’s rally to six-month highs in late 2024 and early 2025, it makes sense that many farmers in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and other top-producing states plan to ramp up their corn planting this year,” says Senior Editor Bruce Blythe. 

One factor that could change those plans is the soybean future prices.

 “A key question is whether soybean acres increase or decrease, given the outlook for heavy global supplies and weak prices,” Blythe said. 

Farmers also voiced continuing concerns about getting a 2025 Farm Bill in place.

Farmers may shift grain acreage in 2025

The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance announced an agreement on a new six-year contract. The agreement heads off the possibility of a port strike on the East and Gulf Coast ports. 

“We’re pleased with the tentative agreement, subject to ratification, which averts a work stoppage on January 15,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing the ports.”

 The two sides have agreed to continue operating under the current contract until the ILA can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote for its members. The U.S. Maritime Alliance membership also has to ratify the agreement. 

“The adoption of automation and technology was the most contentious issue between the two parties,” says Mike Steenhoek, executive director of the Soy Transportation Coalition. “We’re pleased with the agreement.”

New contract agreement means no East or Gulf Coast port strike

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 8a.m. Wednesday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy 2500 driven by a 38-year-old Plattsburg man and a 2017 Dodge Durango driven by a 33-year-old Cameron woman were eastbound on MO 116 at Vandeau Road two miles east of Plattsburg.

The SUV stopped to wait for a vehicle to turn northbound.&nbsp; The Chevy cleared a hill crest and struck the Dodge. Tri-County EMS transported the SUV driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The pickup driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. woman injured after pickup, SUV crash

The United Way of Greater St. Joseph is asking for volunteers to help get into St. Joseph elementary schools to read with children.  

United Way Reading Adventure, a program launched in 2011, works to help students maintain and improve their reading skills.  

Director of Community Investment Jodi Flurry says the program began as a summer reading program but has grown in recent years.  

"Probably about 2013 we expanded into reading with school age children in the schools during the school year, so that's what we're here to recruit volunteers for right now, is we need volunteers to read with children in the elementary schools here in the St. Joseph School District," Flurry tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. 

Flurry says after serving five St. Joseph schools in the fall, starting on the 27th volunteers will go into nine elementary schools.  

"This is our first time we've ever been able to reach all of the St. Joseph School District elementaries with United Way Reading Adventure, so that means we need a lot of volunteers," Flurry says. 

Volunteers will help students read at Coleman, Ellison, Gene Field, Hyde, Lindbergh, Oak Grove, Parkway, Pickett and Skaith elementary schools.  

Flurry says this program is an easy way to start if you've never volunteered before or are looking for a volunteer opportunity with a short time commitment.  

"Most reading sessions last an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes, that's total, the entire amount of time that you are on site at a school, so it's a short time commitment," Flurry explains.  "And you volunteer for the sessions that work for you, so maybe you want to read at Lindbergh Elementary School, but one of the days you have a doctor's appointment, that's fine, you just don't register for that session it's based on the availability of the volunteer." 

To volunteer to read you can contact Flurry at the United Way offices or register online.  Books can also be donated to be given to students through the program. 

The program will begin on January 27th with the Oak Grove first grade class. 

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

St. Joseph reading program expands to all elementary schools; needs volunteers

St. Joseph is
wrapping up several capital improvement projects spurred by federal COVID-19
recovery funds.

Fourth District
Councilmember Michael Grimm says the council intends for the improvements to
make an impact, such as improvements soon to come to Krug Park.

Grimm says the
park in north St. Joseph will be undergoing a transformation.

“The castle will
be redone. The inside will be set up so that if vendors want to use that for
say a wedding or a picnic of some sort, (for) a company, it’ll be set up so they’ll
have refrigeration and they’ll have heating and cooling,” according to Grimm.

St. Joseph is
spending a total of $10 ½ million on the renovations at Krug Park. Some of the
money comes from the federal funds, some from capital improvement money, and
some from the parks sales tax.

St. Joseph has
received a total of $39 million in federal COVID-19 money. The previous city
council distributed $18 million to non-profits and charities. The current city
council took a different take and decided to spend the money on capital
improvements.

Grimm believes
residents appreciated the new focus.

“I think the
people of the city realize that we’ve got a lot of problems and we can help
rectify some of that, whether it be Civic Arena or whether it be City Hall. We’re
spending a lot of money at City Hall.”

Money spent on
upgrading City Hall comes just before it celebrates its 100th
anniversary in 2027.

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

New focus spends federal funds on St. Joseph capital improvement projects

The court sided with former state vendor EngagePoint, which was hired to help implement the state’s public benefits case management system

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Western District of Missouri Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a $23 million ruling against the Department of Social Services for breach of contract.

The appeals court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=216533" target="_blank">sided</a>&nbsp;with EngagePoint, a technology company that sued the state in 2016 alleging it was owed millions for work it conducted but was never paid for. The company was hired to help implement the state’s software system for managing public benefits cases, including Medicaid.

The state in 2017 countersued EngagePoint for breach of contract.

In&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/16/former-state-vendor-awarded-23m-in-lawsuit-over-missouri-medicaid-system-implementation/">2022</a>, Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem ordered the state to pay a little over $4 million that the company argued it was owed, and a jury awarded $18.9 million on additional claims.&nbsp;

The state challenged the constitutionality of the award for extra work, along with the award for interest payments and a specific claim for repayment — arguing those were all outside the scope of the contract. The state also argued one of the jury instructions violated part of the contract and led the trial court to err in its decision.

On Tuesday the appeals court sided with EngagePoint on all four points, arguing the award was justified under Missouri law.&nbsp;

“EngagePoint performed substantial additional work at the state’s direction,” the court noted.

Neither the Department of Social Services nor the attorney general’s office responded to requests for comment. Chris Moreland, a spokesperson for the Office of Administration, declined to comment and said the office is currently reviewing the court’s decision.

EngagePoint, a Florida-based firm,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/engagepoint-awarded-eligibility-enrollment-and-case-management-system-contract-by-state-of-missouri-213209911.html" target="_blank">was hired by the state in 2013</a>&nbsp;as a vendor to implement the Missouri Human Services Eligibility, Enrollment and Case Management System, a comprehensive, fully-integrated system for Department of Social Services’ programs, like Medicaid.

EngagePoint was hired over competitors such as IBM, and alleged in its lawsuit that the state ignored the company’s advice and licensed a software known as Cúram directly from IBM. The state later held EngagePoint accountable for flaws with the software, which was “unstable and not functionally ready.”

The state directed EngagePoint to perform extra work to correct issues with&nbsp;Cúram&nbsp;and integrate it into the case management system, according to Tuesday’s decision.

IBM was eventually hired to complete the contract after EngagePoint was terminated by the state in May 2015. At least $37 million was owed to the company, EngagePoint argued in its 2016 lawsuit.

The state argued EngagePoint sought “money for work not performed” and that the company breached its contract and “repeatedly failed to deliver, and those failures cost the state tens of millions of dollars,” or a total of roughly $84 million.

As a result, the state was justified in terminating its contract and hiring IBM, it argued.

“From January of 2014 forward, EngagePoint’s failures brought the eligibility determination and enrollment operations of the State’s Medicaid program to the brink of dysfunction,” the state wrote in its 2017 counterclaim, arguing overtime work of temporary staff was one of the only reasons that operations remained in place for nearly 18 months through a manual by-pass system.

DSS and Office of Administration officials highlighted those issues and placed blame on EngagePoint in 2015 legislative hearings scrutinizing the backlog and delays in the Medicaid system,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/2015/aug/26/mo-house-committee-examines-new-medicaid-system/" target="_blank">the Jefferson City News Tribune reported at the time</a>.

The Missouri Eligibility Determination and Enrollment System that EngagePoint was hired to implement continued to come under scrutiny as part of the Department of Social Services’ delays in enrolling newly eligible participants under expanded Medicaid. The state cited updates to the state’s Medicaid system to make eligibility determinations&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/08/11/missouri-to-accept-medicaid-expansion-applications-full-approval-likely-weeks-away/">as the reason applications wouldn’t be processed</a>&nbsp;for 60 days after the state&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/08/10/judge-orders-state-to-immediately-allow-missourians-to-enroll-in-expanded-medicaid/">was court-ordered to implement expanded Medicaid</a>&nbsp;in 2021.

In 2022, the federal government initiated a formal&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/09/federal-government-steps-in-to-help-pull-missouri-out-of-medicaid-backlog/">mitigation plan</a>&nbsp;with the state to get the processing time of Medicaid applications down. Wait times improved then worsened: Last summer, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">again intervened,</a>&nbsp;saying it was concerned the state was not doing enough to “achieve and sustain” compliance with federal rules on Medicaid. The federal government said in the May letter it was concerned “particularly given the prolonged period of the state’s noncompliance.”&nbsp;

Medicaid applications for low-income Americans are required to be reviewed within 45 days,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">but early last year</a>&nbsp;72% of Missouri applications took more than 45 days to process, per federal data.&nbsp;

The numbers appear to have improved: The average processing time for low-income Medicaid applications was down to 16 days in November, according to the most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/1124-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf" target="_blank">state data</a>. According to the most recent&nbsp;<a href="https://www.medicaid.gov/resources-for-states/downloads/medicaid-chip-unwinding-oper-snap-july2024.pdf" target="_blank">federal data</a>, which covers July 2024, 27% of applications in Missouri were processed in violation of the federal limit.

HHS Technology acquired EngagePoint’s claims for the contract dispute lawsuit and was substituted as the plaintiff. It&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/17/missouris-department-of-social-services-sued-for-alleged-sunshine-law-violations/">sued DSS in another case in 2023</a>, alleging the state violated Missouri’s Sunshine Law. Late last year, a judge sided with HHS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/sunshine-law-violations-by-social-services-agency-will-cost-missouri-120000/">ordering the state to pay $120,000.</a>&nbsp;According to online court records, Missouri filed its notice of appeal in that case in December.

Appeals court upholds $23M judgment against Missouri DSS in contract dispute

DEKALB COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Chevy Impala driven by an 84-year-old Albany man was westbound on MO 6 just west of Weartheby.

The driver became blindsided by the sun. The car traveled off the road and overturned.

DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported the driver and an 87-year-old female passenger to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man, woman injured after car overturns

St. Joseph leaders have targeted housing
as a real need if the city is to grow.

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President
Natalie Hawn says the Chamber is working with the city on a housing initiative.

“We have a study that will be rolling
out, hopefully about the first of April, that will be an info housing study.
And really what that is going to be designed to do is to look at areas of town
that have potential for redevelopment,” Hawn says. “So, not necessarily looking
at areas that are already getting development, like a Greystone, but looking at
areas in maybe midtown that are really on the cusp of having potential for redevelopment.”

Hawn says a Housing Task Force will be
reviewing ways to attract developers willing to take on the redevelopment of
entire blocks, rather than individual houses. Hawn says several sections of the
city have a lot of potential for redevelopment.

Hawn says housing is a vital piece in the
development of downtown St. Joseph.

“We have to have more market-rate housing
downtown if we ever want to continue to grow downtown,” according to Hawn. “So,
you’ve got to create the walkability. So, you have to have projects like the
market and the Children’s Discovery Center to get people downtown, but then you
also have to have housing, where you have people that are everyday; that’s two
blocks from their house, that’s where they go for their coffee or for their
groceries or whatever it might be.”

Hawn says the task force will be working
with a consultant to pinpoint areas ripe for development.

“We can then put a playbook together to go
after some developers who are developing, but maybe don’t necessarily see the
potential in downtown or midtown and with the help of community resources as
far as like helping navigate the process, make it easier for them, really
helping make it a win-win for our community,” Hawn says.

St. Joseph city leaders hope to develop housing in 2025

Temperatures remain extremely cold, and at times below freezing, which can threaten the water pipes in your home.  

To help prevent the danger frozen pipes could cause, Missouri American Water is giving residents tips to avoid the disaster that could cause. 

Spokeswoman Christie Barnhart says newer homes don't need to shut off their water if pipes freeze, but if you live in an older home. 

"It might not be a bad idea to shut the water off and then periodically check," Barnhart tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "Just because if you have older pipes and you know that you do, and that water comes back on and the pipe bursts, obviously that can accumulate in the home very, very quickly." 

Barnhart says there are a few simple steps people can take to help prevent frozen pipes.  

"The first thing, and I actually did this myself before the cold snap, is I went to a home improvement store and basically purchased some inexpensive wrap for my pipes, there are certain areas of my home that are cooler than others and I wrapped those pipes," Barnhart explains.  "And then I started leaving the cabinet doors open so the pipes could get exposed to warmer air in the house." 

Another tip from Missouri American is to let a small trickle flow from the faucet while temperatures are below freezing.  

Barnhart says while homeowners worry how that could impact on their water bills, that is far less expensive than having pipes burst. 

"Not only are you looking at, if your pipes burst, a higher water bill, which we do have a program where after repairs are made your bills can be adjusted," Barnhart says.  "But it's the mess and the inconvenience of not having water, having water standing in your home, water is very damaging to homes if its standing for any period of time." 

Barnhart says letting that water trickle from the faucet is one of the top three things people can do in terms of prevention 

Simple steps can keep your pipes from freezing

Two St. Joseph
elementary schools welcomed students back today after faulty heating systems forced
the cancelation of classes on Monday.

St. Joseph School Superintendent
Gabe Edgar says issues weren’t confined only to Edison and Eugene Field.

“We actually had
five schools that faced some issues in regards to the heat,” Edgar tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Fortunately, in three of those, we got to have in-person
classes and unfortunately, two of those we had to cancel.”

Maintenance
personnel were able to get the heat working enough at Central High School,
Robidoux Middle School, and Spring Garden Middle School to hold classes, though
Edgar joked that the buildings were pretty cool to start the day.

Repairs took too
long for Edison and Eugene Field to hold classes. The heat is on today and both
schools are holding classes.

Edgar says that in
each school the heating systems just aren’t equipped to handle such cold days.

“It’s just a unit
that does not work when it gets below 20 degrees,” according to Edgar. “Why
they were put in, I can’t answer that question. But, in April of 2024 you know we
did pass a bond issue and some of those dollars will be put towards that.”

Edgar says that
while it takes no time for the temperature in the school buildings to dropped,
it takes quite a while for the temperature to get back up to a range acceptable
for students to return to class.

Two St. Joseph elementary schools closed Monday reopen

Missouri is just one of the GOP-dominated states where voters chose to make significant boosts to the minimum wage this year

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">KEVIN HARDY</a>&nbsp;

The minimum wage will increase in nearly half the states this year even as the federal wage floor remains stuck at $7.25 per hour.

In many states, the minimum wage is automatically adjusted upward as inflation rises. But voters in several states, including deeply red ones such as Alaska and Missouri, chose in November to significantly increase their minimum wages this year.

Michigan will see its minimum wage jump from $10.33 to $12.48 on Feb. 21 after&nbsp;<a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2024/07/31/minimum-wage-to-increase-after-the-michigan-supreme-court-strikes-down-legislative-maneuver/" target="_blank">the state Supreme Court concluded</a>&nbsp;the legislature subverted residents when it adopted but then significantly amended voter-initiated ballot measures in 2018 to raise the minimum wage and mandate paid sick time.

Michigan’s wage floor is set to rise to $14.97 by 2028 — more than double the federal minimum wage, which has not increased since 2009. That’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">the longest period without a federal increase</a>&nbsp;since Congress first set a minimum wage in 1938.

A total of 30 states and the District of Columbia have set their own minimum wage higher than the federal rate. And 67 localities — including Denver; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Los Angeles — have raised their minimum wage above the state minimum,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-tracker/" target="_blank">according to the Economic Policy Institute</a>, a left-leaning think tank.

Currently, 10 states have a minimum wage of $15 or higher: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington.

Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri and Nebraska are on track to reach the $15 benchmark in the coming years. Such movement in red states should prompt Republicans who control Congress and the White House to move the national wage floor, argued Richard von Glahn, the political director at the labor advocacy group Missouri Jobs with Justice.

“We should have Republican legislators looking and seeing what their own voters are telling them and say, ‘You know, maybe they’re on to something here and maybe I should follow their lead,” he said.

Von Glahn led a successful campaign to raise Missouri’s minimum wage from 2024’s rate of $12.30 to $15 per hour next January through a November ballot initiative that also guaranteed sick leave for many workers.

While a tight labor market forces many employers to pay above minimum wage to compete, von Glahn noted many workers still earn at or near the lowest legal rate. The Economic Policy Institute&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/nearly-half-of-u-s-workers-will-live-in-states-with-at-least-a-15-minimum-wage-by-2027-alaska-and-missouri-became-the-latest-states-to-enact-a-15-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">estimates that more than half a million Missouri workers</a>&nbsp;will see raises as the state’s minimum wage increases.

“That sort of proves the point as to why this is so necessary, why these guardrails are so important,” he said.

For Kaamilya Hobbs, the Missouri law means she can expect at least an extra 31 cents per hour once she returns to work at Arby’s following maternity leave.

This year’s new minimum wage of $13.75 isn’t enough to live comfortably in Kansas City, she said. But every bit helps her afford the basics, such as diapers and baby formula.

“It won’t be a huge difference. But it’ll still be a little bit of something for us,” said Hobbs, 33, who is also an organizer for a group advocating for low-wage workers.

Inflation has significantly eroded the buying power of the stagnant federal minimum wage. Advocates say raising the wage floor helps low-wage workers cover the rising cost of essentials and boosts the economy by putting more money into the pockets of people who are likely to spend it. But many employers, especially retailers and restaurants, counter that raising the minimum wage forces them to cut workers or raise prices.

In December, President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider a national increase in the minimum wage. Trump won 19 of the 20 states — all but New Hampshire — still subject to a $7.25 minimum wage.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/video/trump-says-he-would-consider-raising-the-federal-minimum-wage-226490437864" target="_blank">In an NBC News interview,</a>&nbsp;he acknowledged the $7.25 rate was “a very low number,” but said raising the minimum wage too much would decrease employment.

“There is a level at which you can do it,” he said, without specifying a number.

Earlier this month, Alaska’s minimum wage went up 18 cents thanks to an automatic inflation-based bump.

But the state’s current $11.91 rate will increase to $13 this July, thanks to the passage of a November ballot measure. Under the measure, the wage will increase to $14 in July 2026 and $15 in July 2027, followed by inflation-adjusted increases starting in 2028.

<a href="https://www.elections.alaska.gov/doc/oep/2024/Ballot%20Measure%201_Eng.pdf" target="_blank">The ballot measure</a>&nbsp;drew fierce opposition from business groups but won approval by 58%-42%. The new law also mandates employers provide up to seven paid sick days per year — a major concern particularly in seasonal industries, including tourism.

Before November’s election, members of the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association said passage of the ballot measure would result in higher prices and lead to layoffs and reduced hours for workers, said Sarah Oates Harlow, president and chief executive officer of the organization.

The minimum wage hike will particularly hurt smaller businesses, she said, and those with tipped workers such as servers and bartenders. Alaska is among seven states that don’t allow employers to pay tipped employees less than the minimum wage, meaning many of those workers are already making well above the state’s wage floor, she said.

“I guarantee you we will be seeing prices going up across the board,” she said. “Groceries are going to be more expensive. Eating out is going to be more expensive.”

But Mark Robokoff, who owns the pet supply store AK Bark in Anchorage, sees a higher wage floor as good for business. He said the minimum wage increase will put more money into the pockets of his customers.

“It’s not like there’s no benefit to this cost,” Robokoff said.

To attract the best staff, he said, employee wages start at $17 per hour. But he expects to ratchet that figure up as the state’s minimum wage increases.

“That’s why it needed to be a law,” he said. “It only works if we all do it. Then we all get more revenue and pay our employees a little bit more.”

<a href="https://stateline.org/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>&nbsp;is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@stateline.org">info@stateline.org</a>.

Minimum wages are increasing in nearly half the states this year

Kehoe’s executive orders will position Missouri ‘to assist with immigration enforcement when called upon by President Trump’s administration,’ said Attorney General Andrew Bailey

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

Task forces to arrest people with outstanding warrants and immigration enforcement training for the Missouri State Highway Patrol are among the actions Gov. Mike Kehoe ordered Monday as part of a program to combat crime in Missouri.

Kehoe made controlling crime a centerpiece of his campaign for governor, and he signed the executive orders just minutes after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/13/new-missouri-governor-focuses-on-crime-education-tax-cuts-in-inaugural-address/">taking the oath of office</a>&nbsp;for his four-year term. As he introduced the proposals, he said his package would have two more phases — legislation filed in the General Assembly and proposals he will unveil Jan. 28 when he delivers the annual State of the State address.

Flanked by Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who began his first full term in office Monday, and several top police officials, Kehoe said he wanted to address crime immediately.

“We’ve said for months that we were going to work very hard putting this together,” Kehoe said,“and I just wanted to get some things moving as quickly as we could.”&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025" target="_blank">six orders signed Monday</a>&nbsp;will:

Kehoe, citing demands on his time for post-inauguration activities, declined to answer questions about his actions, leaving those duties to Bailey.

The action on outstanding warrants, Bailey said, is intended to bring 17,600 wanted for felonies people into court.&nbsp;

“No longer will we wait until they are caught in a traffic stop, no longer will wait until they appear,” Bailey said. Now the state will be using its resources to coordinate with the locals to go after these individuals that are fleeing from justice.”

Incoming President Donald Trump has promised an immense crackdown on immigration, including&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/23/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/">deportation of all undocumented people</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. The two orders dealing with immigration would position Missouri “to assist with immigration enforcement when called upon by President Trump’s administration,” Bailey said.

The state experienced 1,300 fentanyl overdose deaths in 2024 and 1,100 cases of human trafficking, which Bailey said are both tied to undocumented immigrants to the state.

“Being at the crossroads of the nation with an extensive interstate system has made us prone to drug and human trafficking,” Bailey said.

The task force on probation and parole issues will look at whether offenders who should not be released are being set free and how to address personal problems that lead to crime, Bailey said.

During 2023, the most recent year with a full report on&nbsp;<a href="https://doc.mo.gov/media/pdf/offender-profile-fy23" target="_blank">incarcerated and supervised</a>&nbsp;offenders, Missouri had a prison population of 23,595 and more than 52,000 people on probation or parole.

During the year, the department released 2,644 people on probation and 8,050 on parole. The department received 4,811 people who had their probation revoked and another 4,264 who were returned after violating their parole.

“At the end of the day, we need to make sure we’re paroling the right people that are suitable for rehabilitation and are not a risk for recidivism, and not paroling people so quickly that we are we lose the credibility in the criminal justice system because we have a catch and release policy,” Bailey said.

He declined to predict whether the task force would result in more people behind bars.

“What you would find out as you look at incarceration rates across the state of Missouri, both at the local and state level, is that they’ve plummeted in the past few years,” Bailey said. “It’s not about locking everyone up. It’s about locking up the bad guys.”

Mo. Gov. issues orders to track undocumented migrants, boost trooper pay

The Kansas City Royals officially reunited with pitcher Michael Lorenzen on a one year deal Wednesday.&nbsp;

According to a source the deal is worth a guaranteed $7 million with a mutual contract option for 2026. Lorenzen will make $5.5 million this season as part of the Royals’ pitching staff, and the mutual option is worth $12 million with a $1.5 million buyout if the club declines. There are also performance incentives in the deal.

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