The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office has received a state grant that will help create a new position to combat impaired driving.  

Captain Mike Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers.  

Hess says over the past three years there has been a significant amount of impaired driving arrests 

"That was just through patrol regular activities, there wasn't a focus per say, with those numbers being so high we decided we need a focused person or unit which is what we're moving towards," Hess tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin.  "Our numbers alone, last year we had 94 DWI arrests, the year before we had over 150." 

Hess says that's just the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office.  He adds that in 2023, four officers between the Sheriff's Office, the St. Joseph Police, and the Missouri Highway Patrol had over 450 DWI arrests. 

Hess says often these impaired drivers might think they are fine driving a short distance, or perhaps have even made the drive before while impaired 

"I think statistically the average DWI arrest has driven up to 80 times prior to their first arrest, meaning 80 times impaired on some level," Hess explains. 

Hess says your odds of encountering someone that is driving impaired is quite high, especially on the weekend 

"On the weekdays, think about this, between 10am and 1pm, one in 13 drivers are legally drunk, and that's during the weekdays," Hess points out. 

Hess says the new position will simply have one goal in mind 

"We want to just get impaired drives off the road and it's not necessarily about anything other than making the roadways safer, period that's it, nothing else that's our focus," Hess says.  "To keep the community safe, make the roadways safer for everyone to travel on, and reduce impaired crashes, because if we can reduce that maybe we can reduce the fatality crashes or injuries that effect people's lives." 

Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers. The new position must go into effect by October 1st. 

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

State grant helps Buchanan County combat impaired driving

September corn closed down 3 1/4 cents and December corn was down 4 1/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 8 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 6 1/2 cents. September KC wheat closed down 10 1/2 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 9 1/2 cents, September&nbsp; Minneapolis wheat was down 18 cents.

September corn closed down 24 1/4 cents and December corn was down 24 3/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 52 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 42 cents. September KC wheat closed down 13 3/4 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 7 cents and September Minneapolis wheat was down 32 cents.

The market feature for Friday was the release of the July WASDE and Crop Production report from USDA. The report came in mostly in line with trader and analyst expectations with a few curveballs from the government. Overall, despite some of the estimates certainly having a bullish twist, market reaction was one of intense skepticism especially regarding the lower production estimates from USDA for the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops amid the rainy forecast for mid to late June. Moving forward, it will be a very interesting dynamic to watch the ongoing bearish weather trade go up against long-term support as row crops trade among and in a few instances beyond their 2025 lows into mid-summer.

What a day, what a day, what a day! The live cattle complex, upon seeing some light trade finally develop in the fed cash cattle market -- traders took one look at what the prices were of the cash market and opted to shoot the live cattle contracts mostly $2.00 to $3.00 higher. A light trade developed this morning in the North at $380, which is $10.00 higher than last week's weighted average in Nebraska. Some Southern live cattle have traded at $228 to $230, which is $4.00 to $6.00 higher than last week's weighted average. From a sheerly fundamental aspect, the power in this week's fed cash cattle market far outweighs the bearish note of the seasonal decline in boxed beef prices, which is why traders are willing to propel the contracts higher.

It was another exhilarating day for the feeder cattle complex as the market traded higher thanks to the continued support of strong market fundamentals, and the sheer willingness of traders to remain engaged in the marketplace. All throughout the week, the feeder cattle complex was well supported. Buyers have aggressively been procuring calves in auctions throughout the countryside, but upon seeing the fed cash cattle market trade higher -- the feeder cattle complex grabbed another bullish factor and opted to continue to trade higher.

The lean hog complex traded lower into Friday's close as pork cutout values were slightly lower and there simply isn't enough trader support to push the contracts higher at this point. It's likely that the market continues to trade in this sluggish manner into early next week.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/11151446/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

Commodity markets daily recap

USDA says per capita total U.S. food spending increased 3.2 percent from 2023 to 2024, slightly outpacing the 2.3 percent increase in food prices during the same period. That showed a stronger demand for food despite higher prices. However, national trends in sales mask uneven growth across multiple U.S. states. Three states showed a decrease in per capita food sales, with New Hampshire dropping the most at two percent in 2024. 

This was driven by a 6.6 percent increase in sales at grocery stores, supercenters, and other food-at-home stores. West Virginia and Kansas were the only other states where total per capita food sales declined, dropping by one percent and 0.2 percent, respectively. Per capita food sales increased the most in Washington, D.C., rising ten percent, and were driven by food away from home sales. Other states with high growth included New York at 5.9 percent and California at 5.5 percent.

Food spending increases from 2023-2024

A new case of New World screwworm appeared this week, only 160 miles from the Mexico-U.S. border. USDA had previously announced a risk-based phased-in port reopening strategy for cattle, bison, and equine from Mexico that began on July 7. The new case raises significant concerns in the U.S. and compromises the outlined port reopening schedule for five ports in the southern U.S. 

In order to protect American livestock and the nation’s food supply, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has ordered the closure of livestock trade through southern ports of entry effective immediately. “The U.S. promised to be vigilant, and after detecting the new case, we are pausing the planned port reopenings to further quarantine and target this deadly pest in Mexico,” Rollins said. “We must see progress in multiple Mexican states in order to reopen livestock ports along the southern border.” Aggressive USDA staff monitoring allowed the U.S. to take quick action.

Rollins shuts down southern ports again

September corn closed unchanged and December corn was up 1 cent. August soybeans closed up 3 1/2 cents and November soybeans were up 6 1/2 cents. September KC wheat closed up 10 3/4 cents, September Chicago wheat was up 7 1/2 cents, September Minneapolis wheat was up 1/4 cent.

It was another session featuring futures squaring ahead of Friday's USDA release with row crop markets holding even to slightly higher for the most part. Wheat markets led the way higher, showing some life on the Kansas City board following Wednesday's reversal near contract lows. The thing most traders are anticipating on Friday's USDA release is how traders will react if adjustments are in fact at least temporarily bullish in direction. Given that weather and thus far strong crop conditions have really been the sole focus of bearish traders through the past few weeks, it will be interesting to see if Friday's estimates are taken with a grain of salt.

The live cattle complex&nbsp;traded mixed into Thursday's close, seeming to again hold its breath until there's an understanding of the direction fed cash cattle prices are going to trade this week. A few bids are on the table at mostly $223 in the South, but a regional packer is currently bidding up to $227. But with asking prices firm in the South at $228 to $230, still no cattle have traded yet. And the North remains incredibly quiet with no bids or asking prices having been posted just yet. Upon seeing that boxed beef prices are lower again today, it's safe to say that the seasonal downward trend of the third quarter for boxed beef prices has been set into motion.

With the USDA's updated announcement that the US border is again closed to Mexican imports, the feeder cattle complex again gained another leg up and traders are continuing to support its higher trend. We know that domestic supplies are tight, and buyer demand remains red hot, which is why traders remain confident in continuing to push the contracts higher.

Pork cutout values may be higher, but the lean hog complex went lower in part due to the slight downturn of exports having a negative impact on trader's minds as the contracts traded fully lower into Thursday's close. The carcass price was realistically able to print higher this morning because of the heavy lifting done by the belly which jumped $4.51 higher, and the ham which jumped $4.24.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/10152320/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

June runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City, Iowa, was 3.3 million acre-feet, 60 percent of the average. The updated 2025 calendar year runoff forecast for the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City is below average. Mountain snowpack melted more rapidly than normal, and all reaches except the Sioux City reach experienced below normal precipitation during June,” said John Remus of the Army Corps of Engineers. “The June runoff was less than forecast, and dry conditions will continue in July.” 

The June 2025 runoff forecast above Sioux City is 19.1 million acre-feet, 74 percent of the average and slightly lower than last month’s forecast. System storage on July 1 was 52.1 million acre-feet, four million below the top of the carryover multiple-use zone. The monthly study indicates that the winter release from Gavins Point will likely be at the minimum rate of 12,000 cubic feet per second. 

June Missouri River runoff far below average

All summer, Farmers for Free Trade has been on the road and holding events called Tariff Town Halls in half a dozen states. The events all brought together farmers, business leaders, economists, and trade experts to spotlight how newly-imposed tariffs are already harming the communities that grow and make American-made products that power local economies and are in demand around the world. At each stop, farmers and experts shared new data, on-the-ground stories, and growing urgency. 

Just days before the Fourth of July, agricultural leaders at a town hall in Little Rock, Arkansas put it bluntly: “I’ll tell you this much as a producer. Between 20 and 30 percent of the producers in the United States would be out if this doesn’t change between now and December.” On a per-state basis, Texas businesses paid $934 million more in tariff costs. North Carolina also saw a 190 percent spike in its tariff costs. 

Farmers for Free Trade sounding economic alarm regarding tariffs

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/09142119/30001-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> to listen to audio

September corn closed up 1 1/4 cents and December corn was up 1 1/4 cents. August soybeans closed down 12 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 10 1/4 cents. September KC wheat closed up 1 1/2 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 3/4 cents, September MIAX Minneapolis wheat was up 1 3/4 cents.

The U.S. Dollar Index is up 0.01 at 97.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 141.0 points at 44,653.0. August gold is up $3.80 at $3,320.70, September silver is down $0.16 at $36.59 and September copper is down $0.1520. August crude oil is up $0.03 at $68.36, August ultra-low sulfur diesel is down $0.0330, August RBOB gasoline is up $0.0029 and August natural gas is down $0.131.

September corn futures traded 1 1/4 cents higher on Wednesday to $3.99 1/4. New-crop December futures were up 1 1/4 cents to $4.15 1/2. It was a marginal recovery for corn on Wednesday as prices managed to bounce of daily lows, but September futures failed to regain support above $4.00 and December remained below former support near $4.20 as traders clearly remain tentative about exiting short positions ahead of the USDA report Friday, but more importantly ahead of what remains a friendly weather outlook for corn pollination through the middle part of July.

The Energy Information Administration released their weekly Petroleum Status report early Wednesday, pegging ethanol production in the U.S. at 1.085 million barrels per day (mbpd), snapping a three-week decline. Ethanol production through the first few days of July remains a steady 3.7% ahead of the 2023-24 corn marketing year. Ethanol stocks were reported at 24 million barrels, down slightly from the previous week, but up 1.5% from the same period in 2024. Ahead of the USDA report on Friday, I am still forecasting slightly less corn used for ethanol in 2024-25 than USDA, at 5.450 billion bushels (bb) versus USDA at 5.5 bb. However, it must be mentioned that there is wide variability in ethanol production and subsequent corn usage through July and August historically, so I would not be surprised to see USDA leave their estimate unchanged in Friday's release.

Despite the clear pricing in of a higher than trend yield for 2025, it is unlikely given the history of the July WASDE that USDA will change the corn yield on Friday. That along with slightly less acreage thanks to the update at the end of June, should leave 2025 production less than previously estimated. The biggest changes to the balance sheet will come from the 2024-25 ending stocks, of which I remain nervous that increases may come eventually due to less feed, residual and ethanol usage than currently being forecasted. The good news is that potential for increased exports still remains, which should partially offset any reductions to other categories either in Friday's report or subsequent reports. Still, the bottom line is that for Friday, new crop ending stocks are expected to be estimated at quite a bit lower than in the July 2024 WASDE report.

For corn technicals, the relative strength index on December corn is showing the potential for a diverging bottom pattern, essentially meaning the drop in prices this week has less momentum than the previous drop seen over late June. This could be a signal that traders are growing satisfied with their risk profile and heavy short positions heading into the crucial weather period for corn pollination. Immediate support is seen just below $4.10 for December futures, while the bullish target remains to reclaim support above $4.20.

The DTN National Corn Index finished Tuesday at $3.85. Wednesday's futures close and implied corn basis of 13 cents under the September board would indicate the index on Wednesday afternoon to be near $3.86.

August soybeans fell another 12 1/4 cents on Wednesday to $10.09. New-crop November soybeans were down 10 1/4 cents to $10.07 1/4. The August soybean contract has given up 46 cents of value through the trading week thus far as traders are apparently seeing enough reason in the good weather to remove risk premium from the market despite the relatively low acreage for soybeans in the U.S. as compared to last year. Concern over export demand next year is certainly playing a role in the bearish price action this week.

For Friday's WASDE, the average trade estimate for 2024-25 soybean ending stocks is for a slight increase to 358 million bushels (mb). I am torn at this point between the surprisingly high June 1 stocks of 1.008 bb, and ahead of pace crush and exports. It would appear if there were a surprising drop in demand, it is coming from the residual category currently. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised to see stocks hold near 350 mb in Friday's report. As for new crop, I find it also unlikely that we will see any change to the yield, so most likely any changes to 2025-26 carry out will be a result of the aforementioned adjustments to beginning stocks (2024-25 ending stocks) for the marketing year. The average trade estimate ahead of Friday is for 304 mb of soybean ending stocks for 2025-26, as compared to the estimate in 2024 of 435 mb.

For soybean technicals, November futures broke support at $10.15 en route to the lowest close for the contract since April 10. $10.00 is likely the next round of support above the tariff induced plunge to $9.80 seen in early April.

The DTN National Soybean Index finished Tuesday at $9.68. Wednesday's futures close and implied soybean basis of 53 cents under the August board would indicate the index on Wednesday afternoon to be near $9.56.

Wheat futures were mixed to slightly higher on Wednesday with September Kansas City prices trading 1 1/2 cents higher to $5.24. Chicago futures were fractionally lower on their September contract, while MIAX Minneapolis September futures traded 1 3/4 cents higher.

Friday's WASDE report will include USDA production estimates for the winter wheat crop, which is over 50% harvested as of the beginning of the week. The Dow Jones survey of analysts is on average calling for a decrease in production as compared to the June WASDE and NASS Crop Production reports. Assuming the June 1 stocks estimate released on the June 30 of 851 mb is accurate, the expectation is that 2025-26 wheat stocks will also decrease modestly with the average trade estimate calling for a 5 mb decline to 893 mb.

On the world stage, I will be interested to see how USDA sees China's winter wheat crop after a spring full of speculation regarding the drought conditions experienced in several key growing regions in northeast China. Beyond that, Russia and the EU will also be of key interest to traders, given the reversal in opinions regarding the Russian crop after a very poor start to the growing season, thanks in large part to timely rains this spring.

The Mexican government has started construction on a $51 million facility in southern Mexico as part of an effort to combat the New World screwworm that’s disrupted Mexican cattle exports to the U.S. Mexico’s agriculture ministry said the plant is a joint project with the U.S. and will produce 100 million sterile screwworm flies per week once completed in the first half of next year. 

The release of sterile flies reduces the population of wild flies and is a key tool in helping to control the damaging pest. The U.S., which is Mexico’s largest trading partner, is paying $21 million of the cost, and the U.S. is spending $30 million. The U.S. also has plans to open a sterile fly dispersal facility in Texas as part of the ongoing battle against screwworm. The pest carries maggots that burrow into the skin of living animals, causing serious and often fatal damage.

Mexico is building a sterile fly plant

Clean Fuels Alliance America CEO Donnell Rehagen testified during the Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Hearing on Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2026 and 2027. Multiple Clean Fuels staff and member companies also testified, thanking EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and EPA staff for proposing a much-needed step-change in the RFS Biomass-Based Diesel obligations. 

Clean Fuels also encouraged the agency to maintain the proposed volumes as it addresses outstanding small refinery exemption petitions. “Our industry has made substantial investments over the past several years in biofuel production, feedstock supply, and distribution infrastructure,” said Rehagen. “We supplied more than five billion gallons of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and SAF to the U.S. market in 2024, and we are poised to deliver even more by 2026.” Rehagen also said that the markets have reacted in a positive fashion since the rule came out, but uncertainty around small refinery exemptions is still looming over the industry. 

Clean Fuels testifies on EPA’s 2026-2027 RFS rule proposal 

September corn closed down 5 1/2 cents and December corn was down 6 1/2 cents. August soybeans closed down 10 1/4 cents and November soybeans were down 3 1/4 cents. September KC wheat closed down 5 cents, September Chicago wheat was down 3/4 cents, September Minneapolis wheat was down 7 1/2 cents.

Grain markets were lower again on Tuesday as traders are solely focused for the time being on good weather for the growing spring planted crops. It is also safe to say at this point that the crops are passing the "eye test" with USDA giving the corn crop its highest early July rating since 2018. In outside markets, it was a much quieter tone Tuesday compared to Monday as investors and traders seem to have been somewhat calmed by the extension of the tariff cutoff by the Trump administration to Aug. 1, but ongoing trade negotiations will be an important factor for the balance of July. For energy markets, crude oil is working towards a second session higher to start the week despite the announced OPEC+ production increase for August reported over the weekend. Unfortunately, for ag markets, the firmer energy prices did little to prop commodity prices, as currently, weather trade is trumping all.

The live cattle complex's momentum hasn't waned as the contracts traded even higher into Tuesday's closing bell. The spot August contract could begin to feel some resistance pressure as the market is nearing the all-time high made earlier in June. Thankfully, boxed beef prices were higher again this morning, which is adding another bullish gust to trader's already ambitious push. However, it's yet to be seen what fed cash cattle prices are going to do this week. Asking prices are noted at $226 plus in the South, and it has been noted that cattle in western Iowa are priced at $240, but no trade has developed just yet. And given that packers have supplies built up around them, it's likely that prices will be steady at best.

Up, up and away! The feeder cattle complex successfully reached new contract highs as the market is being flooded with support. Buyer demand remains ample in the countryside and thanks to the added technical support of traders willing to invest in the futures complex -- dare I say it's almost been easy for the market to trade higher?

The lean hog complex did not receive the same level of support that the cattle complex did, but with the wild price swings seen lately in pork cutouts, you can hardly blame traders for being cautious. If demand happens to stabilize, then there's a chance that the futures complex could establish some footing in the marketplace and that cash demand may improve.

Click <a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/07/08145740/web-closing-markets.mp3">HERE</a> for audio

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

DEKALB COUNTY—One person died in a house fire Sunday in Cameron.

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police along with fire crews and EMS responded to 911 call for a fire in a home at 424 N. Nettleton Street in Cameron, according to a media release from Cameron Police.&nbsp; 

The caller indicated a possible victim trapped inside the home. Another caller reported hearing an explosion within the home.

Cameron Police were first to arrive and observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the front porch area of the home. During this time, a good Samaritan was able to break a window and rescue a child from inside the home.&nbsp;

Despite the swift response and efforts from Cameron Fire crews, the home became fully engulfed. There was one fatality. Police have not released the name or additional details on the victim. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office with assistance from the Cameron Police Detectives.

1 dead, Good Samaritan rescues child from house fire

With just one week left until the Kansas City Chiefs again report to St. Joseph for Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp, "Welcome Chiefs" signs are once again available to welcome the team to town. 

Signs will be available to the public for free on Tuesday, July 15, from 11am-5pm while supplies last at the Visitors Center at the East Hills Library and Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. 

There will be a limit of two signs per person on Tuesday to allow as many residents and businesses as possible to have an opportunity to pick them up. Any signs remaining after Tuesday will be available during regular business hours at both locations.

The St. Joseph Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau recommends people put out any saved signs from previous years to maximize the visibility of signs around town.

Get your Welcome Chiefs sign Tuesday as Training Camp nears

Nearly 73 million workers fall under such laws, a new report said.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Across most of the South and Midwest, state laws bar local governments from requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, effectively stripping cities of the power to enact their own labor protections.

Nearly 73 million workers live in the 18 states that now have such preemptive laws, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalpartnership.org/report/nearly-73-million-workers-live-in-states-that-block-local-communities-from-making-progress-on-paid-sick-days/" target="_blank">new report</a>&nbsp;from A Better Balance, a legal advocacy organization focused on workplace rights, and the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families, a nonprofit advocacy group.

“Local leaders know what’s best for their communities. To take away the decision-making power from local communities on this issue and others is very, very concerning,” said Feroza Freeland, policy director of the Southern office at A Better Balance, and one of the report’s authors.

Among the 18 states included in the report was Missouri. The legislature passed a measure in May to&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB567/id/3166038" target="_blank">repeal</a>&nbsp;paid leave requirements voters had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/01/missouri-paid-sick-leave-law-now-in-effect-though-legislative-challenges-still-loom/#:~:text=Under%20the%20law,least%2056%20hours." target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;in November that expanded access to paid sick leave for about 728,000 workers who lacked it. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday signed the statewide repeal into law. Local paid sick leave laws have been banned in Missouri since 2017.

Kehoe in a statement called the paid sick leave mandates “onerous,” saying they dictated when and how sick leave was provided and had “burdensome” recordkeeping and compliance obligations.

Nationwide, about 27 million workers don’t earn paid sick days, the report found. Many of them work low-wage and part-time jobs, and they’re disproportionately likely to be women, younger workers and people of color, according to the report.

“Folks are facing impossible choices between their own health — or the health of their children — and continuing to earn a paycheck to pay bills and put food on the table,” Freeland told Stateline.

In the absence of federal laws guaranteeing paid sick leave for workers, more cities and local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/paid-sick-time-laws/" target="_blank">have passed their own</a>, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

But lawmakers in 18 states, mainly in the South and Midwest, have done the opposite, the report found. GOP legislators have said such paid leave requirements&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20financially%20burdensome%2C%20just%20short%20of%20devastating%2C%20and%20its%20regulatory%20requirements%20are%20extremely%20difficult%20for%20single%20unit%20operators%2C%E2%80%9D%20Buddy%20Lahl%2C%20CEO%20of%20the%20Missouri%20Restaurant%20Association%2C%20told%20The%20Independent%20Tuesday." target="_blank">create financial hardship</a>&nbsp;for employers, particularly for smaller businesses.

Over the past decade, in GOP-led states across the country, Republican lawmakers have tried to limit the policymaking power of Democratic-led urban centers on issues ranging from immigration to voting rights to LGBTQ+ matters.

While all of the states that preempt local paid sick leave laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition" target="_blank">Republican-led</a>, many conservative-led states in the Mountain West don’t have such laws.

Katherine Gallagher Robbins, a senior fellow at the National Partnership and another author of the report, said that’s because Western states tend to have more of a libertarian bent. And she said preemption laws in the South have their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/preemption-in-the-south/" target="_blank">roots</a>&nbsp;in historically racist standards that undervalue Black workers.

More than half the Black labor force — 56% — lives in one of the 18 states that prohibit local paid sick time protections, the report said.

Freeland also pointed out that the paid sick leave issue impacts not just urban centers, but rural communities as well. Many people without paid sick leave work in physically demanding jobs such as manufacturing and farming.

The report’s authors say that paid sick leave laws can help reduce the spread of illness, increase employment and wages, particularly for women with child care responsibilities, and can help recruit and retain workers.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the scope of the new Missouri law. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@statline.org">avollers@statline.org</a>.

18 states now stop cities from enacting paid leave standards

KFEQ Week in Review

While the InspireU Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph has had a successful beginning, staff continue to develop new programming to draw people in. 

Director Katherine Patterson Paronto says while the museum has seen nearly 50 thousand visitors in the first six months, programming has been developed nearly every day, such as music and movement every Tuesday 

"We try and do two in a day, there's one for toddlers in the morning and one for older kids in the afternoon, so you can come and have a low stress music and dancing kind of an activity," Patterson Paronto says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "We also do interactive story time once a week as well, and then bubbles on the rooftop as well, that's Thursdays." 

And Patterson Paronto says starting on Tuesday they will launch a new program, the Inspired Concert Series 

"And we're starting off with Mr. Stinky Feet, who has a following, on the 16th we're going to have an afternoon concert with him," Patterson Paronto says.  "And if it's cool enough we'll have it on the roof, otherwise we'll have it in the space." 

Patterson Paronto says her staff is continuing to explore new programs to bring to the museum all the time and hope to have new opportunities this fall. 

As summer winds down, kids will be heading back to school, and the museum wants to send them back by having some fun first.  

Patterson Paronto says next month ahead of back to school the museum will host a Back-to-School bash 

"We plan on having all the favorite activities out all at once, so if you ever missed something you'll be able to do that," Patterson Paronto explains.  "And then we'll have other programming in the space, we just plan on having one big party to end the summer with a bang." 

The back-to-school bash does not have a date yet but will be held next month at the museum.  

InspireU is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sundays from noon to 5pm.  You can find more information on tickets on their website. 

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

Off to fast start, InspireU aims at keeping kids coming back

The new law will expand on efforts by the state’s education department to improve literacy in K-12 schools

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

Missouri lawmakers have banned educators from leaning on a model of reading instruction called the “three-cueing” method as part of a bipartisan education package signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday.

The law mandates that three cueing, which teaches students to&nbsp;<a href="https://fivefromfive.com.au/phonics-teaching/the-three-cueing-system/" target="_blank">read using context clues</a>, can be used to supplement lessons, but phonics should be the majority of instruction.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican and sponsor of the legislation, told The Independent that the law builds on prior legislative efforts and work from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“We’ve come to the realization that phonics is crucial,” Lewis said. “The three cueing system, when used as the primary source, evidence shows a decrease in the amount of learning that occurs, and for that reason, we want to use it less.”

Three cueing is widely criticized for encouraging kids to make guesses when reading and doesn’t show how to sound out words, which is important for understanding complicated texts.

Missouri isn’t the only state to ban three cueing. By the end of 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-states-are-taking-aim-at-a-controversial-early-reading-method/2025/04" target="_blank">at least 11 states</a>&nbsp;had explicitly banned the method.

The problem with three cueing, which once was lauded as an alternative to phonics, came to public attention when American Public Media reporter Emily Hanford&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-reading" target="_blank">investigated reading instruction</a>&nbsp;and later launched the podcast series “<a href="https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/" target="_blank">Sold a Story</a>.”

The series&nbsp;<a href="https://theweek.com/education/science-of-reading-battle" target="_blank">armed those backing the “science of reading” in a longstanding war</a>&nbsp;between phonics instruction and context-clue-based models and state laws followed — including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/BTS_Web/Summary.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;SummaryID=52&amp;BillID=71259862" target="_blank">literacy bill</a>&nbsp;passed in Missouri in 2022.

The 2022 legislation required state education officials to create a teacher preparatory course on literacy. DESE, in turn, launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-read-lead-exceed" target="_blank">“Read, Lead, Exceed” initiative</a>, including instruction for educators.

As of this spring, 429 school districts and over 8,600 educators have had training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS.

“It is pretty intense training,” Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told The Independent. “It creates an opportunity for the teachers to use that science of reading, that evidence-based best practices on how you teach reading.”

The training and other science-backed materials provided by the department are not mandatory but participation has been encouraging, Eslinger said.

She expects elementary literacy rates to rise as a result of the training and other efforts since 2022, like literacy coaches the department hired.

With a charge to ban three cueing as the primary form of reading instruction, Eslinger said the department will continue to push best practices.

“We are not going to police this,” she said. “We are going to show good practice and give support to good practice, so it just bolsters what we’re doing.”

As part of a checklist school districts provide annually to the department, they will be required to confirm that they are not using three cueing as a primary instructional model.

“The work that our literacy teams are doing in the state is all being very well received. (Educators) are wanting more and more,” Eslinger said. “It is not because it is mandated, it is because it works.”

Missouri lawmakers ban controversial reading instruction model as primary method

Missouri Western
State University officials want to supply area businesses with the workers they
need even as the university attempts to forecast the workforce needs of the
future.

Provost Jay
Johnson, the Vice President of Academic Affairs, says universities no longer
can be satisfied with just churning out students with four-year degrees.

“We do need to
have degrees that are focused in that direction,” Johnson tells KFEQmmunity. “We
also need to provide some real-time continuing education and upskilling,
credentialing, those types of things. And that’s we really started doing.”

Johnson says the
university has adjusted its offerings to provide more than just the traditional
under graduate degrees. But Johnson admits predicting the workforce needs of
the future is difficult.

“That’s been even
more complicated with just the immediate impact of AI,” Johnson says. “We’re
trying to figure out what that’s going to do for the workforce, because they’re
talking about how that is going to change the nature of work really in the next
five years.”

Johnson says
Missouri Western has adjusted to provide training opportunities for area
businesses to give their employees additional skills. Programs at the Houlne
Center for Convergent Technology, which Missouri Western runs in conjunction
with North Central Missouri College, offer a wide range of choices, from formal
degrees to certifications.

Johnson says
Missouri Western is very attune to meeting the needs of area businesses.

“But we also have
to make sure we’re reading the tea leaves just in the nation, because what is
affecting elsewhere is going to eventually get here or what’s affecting here is
eventually going to get elsewhere,” according to Johnson. “And so, we have to
make sure that we’re in front of all of that stuff, but it’s hard being all
things to all people.”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

MWSU looks to prepare students for the workforce now; and in the future

The St. Joseph Mustangs had their eight game winning streak snapped, falling in game one of a doubleheader with the Jefferson City Renegades 4-2, but bouncing back to win game two 12-6.&nbsp;

In the opener to the day of the two seven inning games, the Renegades got to Mustangs starter Aron Harrington, scoring two runs in the first inning as&nbsp;P.J. Green doubled in both runs, driving in&nbsp;Jack Dunn and Braydn O'Neal.&nbsp; Jefferson City extended the lead adding one run in the second on a home run by&nbsp;Will Bachman, and scored their final run in the third inning with an RBI single by&nbsp;Maddox Meier scoring&nbsp;Alex DiGicianto.

Trailing 4-0 entering the fourth the Mustangs scored both their runs, the first coming thanks to a sacrifice fly by Justin George, driving in Trevor McCollum and moving Darius Freeman to third, before Luke Bies singled to score Freeman.&nbsp;

Harrington took the loss pitching 4 1/3 innings and giving up all four runs on five hits, striking out six and walking four.&nbsp; East Buchanan alum Gage Busby pitched 2/3 of an inning giving up a hit, a walk, and striking out one, while Benton alum Chris Coy pitched one inning surrendering a hit with one strikeout.&nbsp; At the plate in game one, Freeman was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk. and a run scored.&nbsp; Easton Phillipe was 2-for-3 with a double.&nbsp;

Things fared much better for the Mustangs in game two, though they did have to come from behind again.&nbsp; But not before they took the lead in the top of the first inning as Northwest Missouri State's Parker Griffith singled home Freeman for the opening score. In the bottom half of the inning, the Renegades took the lead, first tying the game as&nbsp;O'Neal scored when&nbsp;Drew Vonder Harr.&nbsp;&nbsp;Karson Durnin doubled later in the inning to give them the lead, driving in&nbsp;DiGicianto.

The Renegades extended the lead in the second inning on an&nbsp;O'Neal that scored Green.&nbsp; The Mustangs were able to cut the lead back to one run in the third, Griffith reaching first on an error allowing Jack Mosh to score unearned, but in the bottom half Jefferson City got the run back as&nbsp;Tyler Towe doubled this time, driving in Durnin for the 4-2 lead.&nbsp;

After a scoreless fourth, the Mustangs snatched the lead back with a five run fifth inning, cutting the lead back to one again thanks to Griffith with an RBI single, scoring Mosh, and then tying the game on a single by Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall that brought home Griffith.&nbsp; St. Joseph took the lead thanks to a bases loaded walk to Lafayette alum Jayden Little that scored Phillipe. and extended the lead with a two RBI single by Bies, driving in Coy and Gall for the 7-4 lead.&nbsp;

In the sixth inning, the Mustangs added three more runs, two coming on a single by Coy, scoring Griffith and Mosh, before Coy scored on an RBI single by Little.&nbsp; The Renegades added their final two runs in the bottom half of the inning, the first scoring on an error as&nbsp;Conner Flieg came home, and the final run coming with a sacrifice fly by&nbsp;DiGicianto, driving in Green to trim the lead to 10-6.&nbsp;

In the seventh, St. Joseph scored the final two runs again thanks to a bases loaded walk with Mosh scoring, and Coy reaching on a fielders choice and bringing home Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart.&nbsp;

Landon Reith earned the win in game two pitching five innings and giving up four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out five.&nbsp; At the plate, Gall was 3-for-5 with an RBI.&nbsp; Griffith was 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs while Coy was 1-for-4 with a walk and three RBIs.&nbsp;

The Mustangs are now 30-6 on the season and 24-5 in the MINK League.&nbsp; They are off on Monday and are back in action on Tuesday continuing their road trip, taking on the Sedalia Bombers.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mustangs split doubleheader with Jefferson City on road

The St. Louis Cardinals avoided being swept by the Atlanta Braves winning 5-4 at Busch Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and entered the All Star Break at 51-46 record within shouting distance of a Wild Card spot.

The game was a long one, with&nbsp;two rain delays that totaled 4 hours, 2 minutes.

The Cardinals took the lead in the bottom of the second inning.&nbsp; Masyn Winn led the inning off with a walk, and stole second base, before scoring on a single by Victor Scott II.&nbsp; The Braves though tied it up the next inning, scoring in the third inning, three straight singles by Nick Allen, Jurickson Profar, and Matt Olson, with Olson's hit driving in Allen for the tying run.&nbsp;

The game went into it's first delay in the bottom of the third, once it resumed Atlanta took the lead in the fifth inning, scoring two runs again thanks to a Olson, another single driving in Michael Harris II and Profar, just before the game again went into a rain delay.&nbsp; After waiting through the delay, St. Louis stormed back to tie the game again.&nbsp;

Scott II walked to lead off the top of the bottom half of the fifth inning, and with two outs, Alec Burleson singled before Willson Contreras hit the game tying double, dropping it between two defenders, driving in both runners.&nbsp; With the go ahead run in scoring position though, Thomas Sagesse lined out to right field to end the inning.&nbsp;

In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cardinals took the lead back for the first time since the second inning, as José Fermín hit his first career home run, a two run shot to left field that scored Masyn Winn who led off the inning with a single.&nbsp; Atlanta scored their final run in the next inning, Harris II scoring on a fielding error after leading off the inning with a double.&nbsp;

Gordon Graceffo earned the win in relief, improving to 3-0 on the season, pitching 1 2/3 innings and giving up one run on one hit while striking out three.&nbsp; Ryan Helsley earned his 19th save pitching one inning and giving up one hit, walking one, and striking out one. At the plate, Burleson was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.

St. Louis is now off until Friday for the All Star Break.&nbsp; They are back in action on Friday in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.

Cardinals slow Braves momentum heading into All Star Break

Behind yet another strong performance from St. Joseph's Noah Cameron and a walk off hit by Nick Loftin, the Kansas City Royals avoided being swept by the New York Mets winning 3-2 as both teams head into the All Star break.&nbsp;

The Royals put up two runs in the second inning to back Cameron's strong performance after he shut down the Mets through two innings.&nbsp; Maikel Garcia doubled to lead off the inning and Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch before both runners advanced on a groundout by Jac Caglianone.&nbsp; With one out, John Rave laced a double down the right field line to drive in both Garcia and Perez to give Kansas City the lead.&nbsp;

Cameron stayed in command keeping the Mets off the scoreboard until he was pulled from the mound with two outs in the seventh inning after giving up a single to&nbsp;Luisangel Acuña, and was replaced by John Schreiber who forced Francisco Lindor to groundout.&nbsp; Lucas Erceg continued to mow down New York in the eighth, before the Royals brought on All Star closer&nbsp; Carlos Estévez in the ninth.&nbsp;

Which unfortunately for Cameron, was when the wheels fell off earning the Central alum a no decision, as&nbsp;Estévez gave up a double to&nbsp;Ronny Mauricio and then surrendered a triple to pinch hitter Jeff McNeil.&nbsp; After Brett Baty grounded out, McNeil scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Jared Young.&nbsp;&nbsp;Estévez got out of the inning though and set up the Royals for their second walk off victory of the homestand.&nbsp;

Perez struck out to open the inning, but Tyler Tolbert who had replaced Caglianone defensively singled, and then stole second base, before Loftin hit a single into left field to drive the speedy outfielder in for his second walk off hit of the homestand.&nbsp;

Estévez earned the win, despite the blown save, giving up two hits and two runs in one inning.&nbsp; Cameron pitched 6 2/3 innings giving up seven hits and walking two, matching his career high in strikeouts with eight.&nbsp; It was Cameron's seventh quality start in 12 MLB starts,&nbsp; only one Royal in history had more qualty through 12 G, and that was José Rosado with eight in 1996.&nbsp;

At the plate, Jonathan India was 2-for-4.&nbsp; Rave was 1-for-2 with a double and the two RBIs, while Loftin was 1-for-2 with an RBI.

With the All Star Break, the Royals are now off until Friday when they travel to take on the Miami Marlins.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Royals avoid series sweep with 3-2 win going into All Star break

The St. Joseph Mustangs matched their second longest winning streak of the season, beating the Nevada Griffons for a second day in a row 8-2 at Phil Welch Stadium to end a three game homestand, pushing their win streak to eight games.&nbsp;

Nevada opened the scoring in the first inning&nbsp;Bryce Humphrey grounding out to shortstop and Benton alum Chris Coy, driving in&nbsp;Trae Burton, but from there starting pitcher Ian Dittmer would settle in, not allowing another run before being replaced to start the fifth inning.&nbsp;

While Dittmer left with a no decision, he did leave with the lead after the Mustangs scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take the lead.&nbsp; Lafayette alum Brayden Luikart singled to open the inning and advanced to second on a throwing error, but the bases ended up loaded after Dom Felix and Justin George were both hit by pitches.&nbsp; Bishop LeBlond alum Frank Gall brough home the tying run on a fielders choice, George getting thrown out at second, and Luikart scoring.&nbsp;

The bases were reloaded as Coy was hit by a pitch, the third hit batter of the inning, and a run would score on yet another hit batter with Lafayette alum Jayden Little getting hit by a pitch to give the Mustangs the lead as Felix came home.&nbsp; The bases still loaded, Northwest Missouri State's Parker Griffith singled to drive in two more runs and extend the lead, scoring Coy and Gall, and moving Little to second.&nbsp; A double steal and a walk to Tyler Gundelfinger loaded the bases again, and Central alum Logan Miller reached on a fielders choice to drive in Little to give St. Joseph a 5-1 lead.&nbsp;

The Griffons scored their final run in the fifth inning as East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt took the mound and loaded the bases hitting three consecutive batters before with out Nick Kaelin reached on a fielders choice, driving in Burton who scored on an error by the first baseman Little.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Mustangs added one run in the sixth inning on a sacrifice fly by Miller, driving in Little, and scored their final two runs in the seventh inning with a two RBI single by Gall, bringing home George and Felix, Felix having singled to open the inning and George being walked.&nbsp;&nbsp;

It was a rough day command wise for both Mustangs and Griffons pitchers.&nbsp; Combined pitchers hit 15 batters.&nbsp; Griffons starter Lucas Snyder hit seven batters.&nbsp; Both Dittmer and Whitt for the Mustangs hit three batters.

Whitt earned the win pitching three innings and giving up no hits and one unearned run while striking out five.&nbsp; At the plate, there wasn't much hitting as the Mustangs had just five hits and the Griffons had three.&nbsp; Gall was 1-for-5 with a stolen base and three RBI's.&nbsp; Griffith was 1-for-1 with a walk, a stolen base, and two RBIs

The Mustangs are now 29-5 and 23-4 in the MINK League.&nbsp; They travel next for a four game road trip, starting on Sunday in the capitol city taking on the Jefferson City Renegades in a doubleheader.&nbsp; The first game will begin at 4pm with game two starting at 7pm.&nbsp; Both games will be seven innings.

Magic number eight, Mustangs keep winning beating Nevada 8-2

The St. Louis Cardinals tied up the game the game late with the Braves after blowing a lead in the eighth inning, but a ninth inning run off closer Ryan Helsley was all Atlanta needed to beat St. Louis 7-6 on Saturday afternoon at Busch Stadium.&nbsp;

For the first time in his career batting in the three hole in the lineup,&nbsp;Ronald Acuña Jr. gave the Braves the lead in the first inning with a solo home run into the Atlanta bullpen.&nbsp; Two more runs scored in the second inning, the first again coming on a home run as former Cardinal Marcell Ozuna led off the inning with a blast to left center field.&nbsp; After Ozzie Albies singled, he advanced to third base on a single by&nbsp;Nacho Alvarez Jr., and then scored on a groundout&nbsp; by Michael Harris II.&nbsp;

Trailing by three runs, the Cardinals tied up the game in the bottom half of the second with three runs of their own.&nbsp; Yohel Pozo doubled to lead off the inning and moved to third base as Lars Nootbaar grounded out all before finally scoring on a single by&nbsp;Thomas Saggese.&nbsp; With Saggese on first base, Nolan Gorman evened the score with a two run home run to right center, his ninth home run of the year, to make it 3-3.&nbsp;

The Cardinals took the lead in the sixth inning thanks to another home run, this time a solo shot by Pozo to left center field with two outs.&nbsp; In the seventh the Redbirds extended the lead as All Star Brendan Donovan singled to drive in Gorman, who had singled earlier in the inning with one out after Saggese struck out to open the frame.&nbsp;

In the eighth inning, reliever Phil Maton blew the Cardinals lead, giving up another home run to the Braves, a three run home run to Sean Murphy, driving in Jurickson Profar who doubled to lead off the inning and&nbsp;Acuña Jr. who walked.&nbsp; St. Louis saved Maton though, tying up the game in the bottom half of the inning thanks to a wild pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Garrett Hampson who pinch ran for Alec Burleson after his one out walk.&nbsp;

Even with the game tied, St. Louis turned to closer Ryan Helsley to hold the tie in the ninth inning.&nbsp; But Alvarez Jr led off the inning with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Harris II, before advancing to third base with a single by Drake Baldwin, eventually scoring as Profar grounded out to give Atlants the 7-6 lead.&nbsp;&nbsp;Raisel Iglesias came on in the bottom of the ninth for the Braves and retired the Cardinals 1-2-3 for his 11th save of the season.&nbsp;

Helsley fell to 3-1 on the season taking the loss giving up two hits and one run in his one inning of relief.&nbsp; At the plate, Gorman was 2-for-5 with the home run and two RBIs.&nbsp; Pozo was also 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and one RBI, while Donovan was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI.&nbsp;

St. Louis and Atlanta wrap up their series and the first half of the season tomorrow.&nbsp; Sonny Gray (9-3, 3.51 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals while the Braves starter is listed as TBD.&nbsp; First pitch is at 1:15, coverage will be joined around 1:05 on KY 102 (102.5 FM).&nbsp;

Late run gives Braves hard fought win over Cardinals 

Relying on their bullpen to carry them through the game, the Kansas City Royals fell in a pitchers duel with the New York Mets, losing 3-1 at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;

With Michael Lorenzen scratched from his start due to illness, Angel Zerpa started the game, and pitched just one inning before Jonathan Bowlan took the mound in the second inning for the Royals.&nbsp; Bowlan allowed just one hit, a double to Luis Torrens, through the second and third innings before the Mets found the scoreboard in the fourth.&nbsp;

Francisco Lindor singled off Bowlan to start the fourth inning, and stole second base to get into scoring position, but would not need much to score as Juan Soto smashed a ball 435 feet to right field to give New York a 2-0 lead.&nbsp; &nbsp;Bowlan recovered from the home run, getting Pete Alonso to lineout, before giving up a single to Mark Vientos, but then forced Jeff McNeil to flyout and struck Tyrone Taylor out.

John Schreiber replaced Bowlan in the fifth and pitched two scoreless hitless innings, striking out two, before he would be replaced by Steven Cruz who also added a hitless inning of relief from the bullpen.&nbsp; &nbsp;The Royals did add their one run in the sixth inning with back to back doubles by Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sam Long surrendered no hits in 2/3 of an inning, striking out two as well, but did walk one before being replaced by Lucas Erceg who finished out the eighth inning.&nbsp; In the ninth inning Erceg surrendered the final run to the Mets, giving up a double to Alonso who would score after a single by McNeil.

Bowlan took the loss, falling to 1-2 on the season, pitching three innings and giving up four hits and two runs while striking out four.&nbsp; At the plate, India was 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI as Kansas City had just four hits on the afternoon.

Kansas City and New York wrap up their series tomorrow before the All Star Break.&nbsp; Noah Cameron (3-4, 2.56 ERA) pitches the first half finale for the Royals against Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.29 ERA) for the Mets.&nbsp; First pitch is at 1:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 12:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).&nbsp;

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