Nearing the end of the regular season as it's Week 6 in Missouri and Week 5 in Kansas and it is now in the books. Below is a list of all of the games played with scores, and coaches interviews in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!

Tune into KFEQ Radio (680AM, 95.3,FM 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night of the regular season from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!

Savannah 47 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Cameron 6 (2-4)

Maryville 30 (5-1)&nbsp; &nbsp; Benton 14 (2-4)&nbsp;

Chillicothe 35 (2-4)&nbsp; &nbsp; Lafayette 0 (0-6)&nbsp;

Bishop LeBlond 58 (2-4)&nbsp; &nbsp;Kansas City (KS) East Christian 20 (1-5)&nbsp;

East Buchanan 49 (3-3)&nbsp; &nbsp; Hamilton 14 (1-5)

Mid-Buchanan 41 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Lathrop 7 (4-2)

 North Platte 70 (5-1)&nbsp; &nbsp;Plattsburg 16 (0-6)

 Lawson 51 (4-2) vs West Platte 27 (3-3)&nbsp;

Trenton 69 (1-5)&nbsp; &nbsp; Milan 0 (0-6)&nbsp;

South Harrison 53 (5-1)&nbsp; &nbsp;Maysville 6 (1-5)&nbsp;

Brookfield 20 (5-1)&nbsp; &nbsp;Gallatin 15 (4-2)

Putnam County 41 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Polo 14 (3-3)

Salisbury 56 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Marceline 16 (3-3)

Albany 56 (2-4)&nbsp; &nbsp; North Andrew 22 (2-4)&nbsp;

 Worth County 72 (5-1) vs St. Joseph Christian 26 (3-3)

Pattonsburg 58 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;King City 42 (5-1)&nbsp;

Stanberry 63 (2-4)&nbsp; &nbsp;Princeton 48 (0-6)

Rock Port 70 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;De Kalb 6 (0-6)

South Holt 64 (3-3)&nbsp; &nbsp;Stewartsville- Osborn 30 (0-6)&nbsp;

 Nodaway Valley 52 (6-0)&nbsp; &nbsp; Platte Valley 0 (2-4)&nbsp;

Mound City 44 (5-1)&nbsp; &nbsp;East Atchison 28 (2-4)&nbsp;

Central 32 (4-2)&nbsp; &nbsp;Oak Park 29 (2-4)&nbsp;

Kansas City-Washington HS 82 (5-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Atchison 44 (3-2)

Topeka-Hayden HS 51 (5-0)&nbsp; &nbsp;Hiawatha 0 (1-4) 

 Troy 36 (4-1) vs Highland-Doniphan West HS 0 (0-5)

Riverside 51 (4-1)&nbsp; &nbsp;Horton 0 (0-5)

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

High School Football Scoreboard for Oct. 3rd

KFEQ Week in Review

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp;2025 Vitacci moped driven by a 45-year-old Plattsburg man was northbound on Town and Country Drive at Brandy Wine Court in Plattsburg. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

Tri-County Ambulance transported the driver to Liberty Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured in moped accident

The Show Me St. Joe Experience has wrapped up its final tour of this year. 

St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesperson Christian Mengel says the experience gives residents a guided bus tour around their own city 

"You get driven around, the transportation is covered for you, we have a step on guide that points out all the architecture and the history when you’re going from point to point,” Mengel says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “Each place that we go into there’s a guided tour that tells you maybe some things that you didn’t necessarily know about it, because maybe you’ve been in a certain museum a few times, but maybe you’ve never had a tour from the director of that museum.” 

The bus tours are given three times throughout the year, giving residents the chance to become better advocates for the city by seeing it through a visitor’s eyes.  

Mengel says the tour is kind of like speed dating with the city’s attractions 

"Because you spend just enough time at each place to understand ok here’s what I need to go back for, or when somebody asks me what they need to do and see in town, here’s the suggestions I can make based on what I already know about that person, what their interests are,” Mengel explains.  “And so, you actually end up being a better advocate for the visitor industry.” 

Mengel says at the end of the tour you're much more informed than you probably were before, to be able to give people more advice of places to go when visiting St. Joseph.

Mengel says reviews of the tour are always positive, with the only negative being not having enough time, which he says really speaks to what we have here 

"That a full day is not enough to really experience everything, and I think that that’s the message that we get across to people that maybe don’t believe there’s a visitor industry when they say oh there’s nothing to do or see here, it’s wrong to think that way really,” Mengel says. 

The last tour of the year was held at the end of last month, but you can contact the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau for more information on future events. 

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

Show Me St. Joseph helps residents become better advocates for tourism

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SECOND%20REVISED%20SUMMARY%20STATEMENT%20FOR%20HJR%2073.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3687540" target="_blank">latest version</a>&nbsp;of ballot language for a proposed abortion ban states the amendment would repeal a 2024 amendment after a Cole County judge said he had to be more specific.

The portion revised under court order now reads:

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

The previous ballot language used the word “amend” rather than “repeal.”

On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Daniel Green said that Hoskins’ first attempt was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-judge-orders-revised-ballot-language-repeal-abortion-rights/">“insufficient and unfair”&nbsp;</a>because it didn’t make clear that a current constitutional amendment would be repealed. Hoskins was charged with rewriting the ballot language after Green ordered that the initial wording by lawmakers also did not alert voters that<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-orders-revisions-to-ballot-language-for-missouri-abortion-ban-proposal/">&nbsp;it would repeal the voter-approved amendment.</a>

Like the previous attempt, the language does not explicitly state what is in the section of the constitution to be repealed. That was a key point in the arguments filed over the first effort, with opponents of the amendment saying the ballot language should say it would reinstate a ban on most abortions and attorneys for Hoskins telling Green voters could easily look it up if they wanted to know more.

The<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">&nbsp;proposed amendment drafted by Republican lawmakers</a>&nbsp;will appear before voters in November 2026, two years after<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">&nbsp;Missourians codified the right to reproductive health care&nbsp;</a>—&nbsp;including abortions up until fetal viability —&nbsp;in the state constitution.

Green previously ruled that the remaining bullet points are now acceptable. Hoskins did not make any changes to the summaries, which read:&nbsp;

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

Under a new law enacted this year and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/24/judge-rules-unconstitutional-law-missouri-attorney-general-special-appeal-power/">upheld in a separate case by Green</a>, Hoskins has three attempts to submit ballot language that satisfies the court. If after that, Green still finds the language insufficient, the judge will rewrite it himself.

Hoskins was also responsible for writing the fair ballot statement that appears in polling places and on the office’s website that summarize what both a “yes” and “no” vote mean.

Green previously told Hoskins to rewrite the “fair ballot language” summary posted to the secretary of state’s website, calling the old language misleading for also failing to state abortion would be banned in most cases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hoskins’ latest ballot statement makes just one change by again swapping “amend” out for “repeal.”

This latest summary also states that a “yes” vote would guarantee women’s medical care under specific scenarios, including ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages, and allow abortions in the first 12 weeks festation in cases of rape or incest. It would also ban gender-affirming health care for minors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

A “no” vote, Hoskins wrote, in part, would “limit abortion” to specific scenarios.

Prior to the passage of the 2024 abortion rights amendment, nearly all abortions were illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions for medical emergencies. The new proposed ban would broader access slightly to also allow abortions for survivors or rape or incest up to 12 weeks gestation, though it’s not yet clear if or how a survivor would need to prove the assault in order to receive medical care.

Missouri secretary of state submits second attempt at abortion ban ballot language

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

Transport 360, LLC has issued an invitation for
bid for the purchase of a material handler for the St. Joseph, MO Port
Authority Terminal located at 1616 Stockyards Expy., St. Joseph, MO 64501. 

A pre-bid meeting with optional attendance is
scheduled for Wednesday, October 9, 2025, at 1:00 pm (CST),&nbsp;located at the
project site. Final bids will be due on October 24, 2025 at 2:00 pm (CST). For
complete project details,&nbsp;please contact Aaron Khouri at <a href="mailto:AaronKhouri@Transport360.org">AaronKhouri@Transport360.org</a>.

Transport 360, LLC will receive sealed bids for the procurement of
a material handler until 2:00 PM CST on 10/24/2025 at Transport 360, LLC, 1616
Stockyards&nbsp;Expy. – St. Joseph, MO 64501, or by electronic submission to <a href="mailto:AaronKhouri@Transport360.org">AaronKhouri@Transport360.org</a>, at
which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bidders are invited to submit proposals for the supply of the
following equipment and services: Large dry bulk material handler as well as
transportation of the machine from origin to 1616 Stockyards Expy. – St.
Joseph, MO 64501.

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting and site inspection will be held
on 10/9/2025,&nbsp;1:00 PM CST at 1616 Stockyards Expy. – St. Joseph, MO 64501.
&nbsp;

Electronic Contract Documents may be obtained by contacting Aaron
Khouri at (901) 409-3962 or <a href="mailto:AaronKhouri@Transport360.org">AaronKhouri@Transport360.org</a>.
No deposit is required. Documents will be provided via email.

Contractors must pay workers no less than the minimum wages set by
the Missouri Division of Labor Standards Annual Wage Order. Additionally, they
must ensure equal employment opportunity by prohibiting discrimination based on
race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin, age, or ancestry.

Contractors must comply with Missouri’s E-Verify law and OSHA
10-hour construction safety training requirements for all on-site employees
within 60 days of beginning work.

Failure to substantially complete the project by November 21st,
2025 will result in liquidated damages of $750 per calendar day beyond the
deadline.

Transport 360 reserves the right to reject any or all Bids or to
waive any informality in the bidding. Bid awards will be made to the lowest
responsible bidder,&nbsp;considering conformity with specifications, delivery
terms, quality, serviceability, experience, and performance history.

Bids may be held by Transport 360 for a period not to exceed 45
days from the date of opening for the purpose of reviewing and investigating
qualifications prior to awarding the Contract

Transport 360 invitation for bid for material handler St. Joseph Port Authority

Clean Sweep began
Wednesday and runs through the 7th, allowing St. Joseph residents to
dump unwanted items at the landfill for free.

Fourth District Councilmember,
Michael Grimm, says Clean Sweep helps with the city council goal of beautifying
St. Joseph.

“From out
standpoint, it helps clean up the city,” Grimm tells KFEQmmunity. “This
council’s been big on trying to work on things to clean up the city and this
just helps us along if you get rid of all that old lumber that you’ve had
laying outside your house.”

Residents can dump
only six tires. Yard waste needs to be separate from trash. Toxic or hazardous
waste will not be accepted. Only automobiles, pickups, and two-wheel trailers
may be used. Just one vehicle per IC is allowed at a time. No company vehicles
are allowed.

Grimm says it is
no surprise that a recent survey of city residents ranked code enforcement and
cleaning up the city as their top priority.

“And it always is,
you know,” according to Grimm. “They do this survey maybe once every couple of
years and I’ve seen it for the last 15 years and it’s always been in the top
five; is cleaning up our city.”

Residents should
notify the gate attendant at the landfill they’re using the Clean Sweep program
and must present a St. Joseph personal property tax receipt and photo ID.

The city landfill,
located at 9431 South East 50th Road, is open Monday through Friday
7am to 4:30pm; 7am to 2pm on Saturday.

Click <a href="https://www.stjosephmo.gov/298/Clean-Sweep-Program">HERE</a> for more on Clean Sweep.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Time to clean up:  Clean Sweep underway in St. Joseph

CLINTON COUNTY—Five people were injured in an accident just before 7p.m. Thursday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Honda CRV driven by a 59-year-old Jefferson City woman was eastbound on MO 116 at U.S. 169 three miles south of Gower.&nbsp; The driver ran the stop sign. The Honda struck a southbound 2023 Ford Mustang driven by a 32-year-old Smithville woman. After impact the Mustang struck a northbound 2024 Chevy Traverse driven by a 61-year-old Kansas City, Missouri woman.

Buchanan County EMS transported the Mustang driver and a 13-year-old passenger in her vehicle to North Kansas City hospital. Tri-County Ambulance transported the Honda driver, the Chevy driver and a 63-year-old passenger in her SUV to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. All five were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

4 adults, 13-year-old hospitalized after 3-vehicle crash

State Senate Democratic Leader Doug Beck says Gov. Kehoe should not have authorized a deployment just hours before the federal shutdown

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

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s decision to deploy Missouri National Guard soldiers to support immigration enforcement “makes no sense” because they will not get paid until the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/30/repub/midnight-federal-shutdown-edges-closer-as-us-senate-fails-to-agree-on-spending-bills/">federal government shutdown</a>&nbsp;is resolved, the state Senate’s Democratic leader said Thursday.

On Tuesday, Kehoe announced that soldiers from the Guard would, on a volunteer basis, be assigned to provide administrative, clerical and logistical support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing facilities in the state.

The shutdown started a few hours after Kehoe announced the deployment.

“Everybody knew that was coming, and to me that makes no sense,” Beck said.

Spokeswoman Gabby Picard said that there will be up to 15 soldiers on duty at any particular time until authorization ends on Sept. 30, 2026.&nbsp;

ICE continues to work while most of the government is shut down because the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/03/repub/breaking-us-house-passes-massive-tax-break-and-spending-cut-bill-sending-it-to-trump/">budget bill approved in July</a>&nbsp;funded the agency&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/blog/what-government-shutdown-2025-means-immigration-system/" target="_blank">with $29.9 billion for enforcement</a>&nbsp;and $5 billion for detention through September 2029.

When on federal deployment, members of the Guard are paid on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dfas.mil/MilitaryMembers/payentitlements/2025ACPayDay/" target="_blank">same schedule</a>&nbsp;as active-duty personnel, with the next pay date being Oct. 15. No active duty military will receive pay until the shutdown is resolved.

The Tuesday news release said Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth approved assigning Guard personnel to ICE facilities on July 25, allowing them to be paid from the federal treasury.&nbsp;

“The Missouri National Guard is uniquely equipped to provide this essential administrative support, and we are confident their contributions will be invaluable to immigration enforcement efforts,” Kehoe said in a news release.

While all the soldiers taking on the duty are doing so as volunteers, they expected to get paid, Beck said.

“I’m sure, when they did this, they didn’t know that they’d be doing it possibly for free for a while,” Beck said. “I’m assuming they’ll be made whole at some point, but I’m sure they got bills just like everybody else.”

In response to Beck’s criticism, Picard said the decision to assist ICE wasn’t made hastily.

“Planning for this activation has been ongoing for weeks, and has nothing to do with the unfortunate political games of the Democrats in Washington that have caused a government shutdown,” Picard said.

The deployment has also drawn criticism from labor unions and the ACLU..

Lenny Jones, vice president and state director at the Service Employees International Union-Healthcare, said in a news release that the deployment is part of an increasingly authoritarian government.

“This is just another power grab used to silence and intimidate people who disagree with the administration’s anti-American policies,” Jones said.The ACLU said the deployment diverts resources from disaster recovery and other needs.

“National Guard troops should be reserved for genuine emergencies, not deployed to suit the president’s political whims,” Naureen Shah, director of policy and government affairs for the ACLU’s Equality Division, said in a news release.

The deployment should be unneeded because ICE has been hiring large numbers of new employees, Beck said.

“You tell me they can’t keep up with the paperwork?” Beck asked.

The standoff in Washington is over the health care subsidies for marketplace health plans that are ending under the budget reconciliation bill passed in July. Democrats are demanding they be restored, while Republicans insist the government must be reopened before they will negotiate.

Beck said he wants Democrats in Congress to hold their position.

“At the end of the day, the Republicans control everything, all three branches of the government,” Beck said. “So the question you have to ask yourself is, why did they let it get to this point?”

Missouri Guard troops assigned to duty with ICE working without pay during federal shutdown

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

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

It was a slow day to close the week for futures markets as the U.S. government shutdown is in its third day, resulting in a lack of government reports to influence traders. The late week rally across row crop futures gradually exhausted itself through the session Friday, led by soybean futures, which eventually settled over a dime lower than the daily high on the November contract. Outside markets leaned positive to close the week with the Dow Jones Industrial Average accelerating weekly gains to a fresh record on Friday. Investors are currently showing no major concerns regarding the government shutdown, focusing instead on an expected rate cut in the Fed's meeting late this month. Energy markets ended the week higher, with crude oil futures narrowly avoiding five straight lower sessions amid support in the low $60 per barrel range.

The live cattle complex battled through, as the market continues to feel stalemated, not seeing the support it needs to drive the contracts much higher. Between weaker cash cattle prices and lower waning boxed beef prices, the market is stuck trading steady/somewhat lower as there's not enough support to do anything different for the time being, but the market found enough for all contracts to finish in the green. Before the week ends, there should still be some more cash cattle trade to develop; however, there's only been a thin movement in the North so far, and virtually no movement yet at all in the South. Asking prices are noted at $235 to $237 in the South and $362 plus in the North.

The feeder cattle complex was back to trading moderately higher as traders are currently willing to mildly support the contracts. The live cattle complex ended giving enough support and the market was able to maintain the mild rally through the day's end.

The lean hog complex is finally seeing support work its way into the market as pork cutout values were higher, and trades allowed the contracts to trade mildly higher as well. The biggest factor helping drive the carcass price higher this morning is the belly's $6.82 jump, and the picnics $4.24 gain as well.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/03140156/30001-markets-230pm.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The Renewable Fuels Association applauded California Governor Gavin Newsome for signing Assembly Bill 30 into law. AB30, which passed unanimously out of both the Assembly and the Senate, immediately legalizes lower-cost E15 fuel in the Golden State. Prior to the signing, California was the only remaining state in the nation where E15 sales weren’t allowed. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said, “California is on the road to lower gas prices and a cleaner future for families across the state,” and “Many other states have already seen the benefits of E15, including healthier air, better engine performance, and costs savings at the pump.”

 California drivers are about to experience those same benefits for themselves, and RFA thanked Governor Newsom for voicing his support for E15 through the legislative process. Recent studies have shown that E15 could save California drivers $2.7 billion annually, or about $200 per household, while significantly cutting tailpipe pollutants. 

California governor signs E15 bill

The U.S. federal government shutdown will stop some payments to farmers and also delay access to federal farm loans. Reuters said it’s one more blow for producers already struggling with low crop prices, record-high debts, and a trade war at the height of the fall harvest. Republican and Democratic lawmakers couldn’t agree on a plan to fund the federal government, and this will last until one party gets enough votes for its funding plan. 

“Even short interruptions in payments could deepen farmers’ economic turmoil,” said Chad Hart, an agricultural economist with Iowa State University. “After all, it costs money to run those combines at harvest.”  While administration of nutrition programs and food inspections will continue, much of USDA’s other work will cease. That includes processing farm loans and making payments to farmers, including billions in disaster aid. It will also not process annual commodity and land conservation payments typically issued by October. 

Shutdown halts some payments and loans to farmers

December corn closed up 5 1/4 cents and March corn was up 5 1/4 cents. November soybeans closed up 10 3/4 cents and January soybeans were up 10 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 3 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 5 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 3 1/2 cents.

U.S. crop prices again shook off a shaky start to the session on Thursday, with the soybean market leading the way higher as traders continue to look ahead to the month-end summit between Presidents Trump and Xi as a reason for optimism and a reason to remove short-side risk out of portfolios amid shrinking soybean supply side ideas as well. Corn and wheat futures were mainly along for the ride on Thursday but also managed to put together modestly higher sessions. Outside markets were overall a negative weight on agricultural prices for Thursday, with mixed equities as the Dow Jones pushes back toward record highs while the S&amp;P reversed off record highs on Thursday as well. The U.S. Dollar Index was firmer on Thursday while energy markets fell again, breaking support near $62 per barrel to trade to the lowest level since late May.

Without any substantial fundamental support having developed in the complex this week, the live cattle contracts were yet again trading lower. And yes, the spot December live cattle contract was again trading below its 40-day moving average as traders continued to look around for immediate support -- but came up short handed from both a fundamental and technical sense. Asking prices are noted in the South at $237 to $240, and at $363 plus in the North. No new trade has developed following the light business that transpired on Wednesday where some dressed cattle in Nebraska sold at $360 -- $5.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Some bids are on the table at $230 to $233 live in Kansas, and $230 live in Nebraska and $357 to $360 dressed.

Following in the live cattle market's footsteps, the feeder cattle complex also traded lower as traders continue to struggle to find enough support to justify trading higher. Not to mention, adding only more kindling to the feeder cattle market's reasons to trade lower, the market did close lower Wednesday afternoon after traders decided they didn't possess enough support to be edging up against the market's resistance thresholds.

The lean hog complex continued to scale lower and lower as the market again left without enough support to help traders put a bottom in the downward spiral that the market's currently been on. Pork cutout values are again lower this morning with the picnic being the market begging hindrance as it alone is done $6.62.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/02135955/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The White House Office of Management and Budget requires the USDA to maintain a plan for agency operations in the absence of appropriations. The plan shows a total of 85,907 USDA employees on board before the government shutdown took place on Wednesday morning at 12 am. According to the plan, a total of 42,256 agency employees were placed on furlough. 

The plan shows that the work getting paused during a shutdown includes most of the Risk Management Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, Food and Nutrition Service, and other segments of the agency. The shutdown particularly affects employees who work face-to-face with farmers. More than 6,000 of the 9,000-plus Farm Service Agency employees are going on furlough. By comparison, just 533 of the 7,600-plus people working at the Food Safety and Inspection Service, which regulates meat and poultry processing, are to be furloughed. Pesticide registration work at the EPA will continue.

Over 40,000 USDA employees furloughed by shutdown

Tens of thousands of FFA members, advisors, alumni, and supporters from across the country will gather in Indianapolis for the 98th National FFA Convention and Expo. This celebration of agricultural education and leadership takes place from October 29-November 1. “This year’s convention is more than just an event; it’s a celebration of our members’ dedication and a launchpad for the next generation of leaders,” said Christine White, chief program officer for the National FFA Organization. 

“It’s a time where we honor the hard work of today and ignite the spark of inspiration for tomorrow, empowering a community that will shape the future of agriculture and innovation for years to come.” Last year, over 71,000 people attended the event, which is the largest annual gathering of FFA members. Attendees will participate in award ceremonies, explore careers, do hands-on service projects, and more. FFA members will participate in a variety of competitions.

Celebrating leadership and agriculture at the National FFA Convention

December corn closed up 1 cent and March corn was up 3/4 cents. November soybeans closed up 11 1/4 cents and January soybeans were up 10 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 2 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 1 1/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 5 3/4 cents.

U.S. crop markets were en route to another lower finish Wednesday, with corn and wheat futures in particular continuing to trade the fallout from bearish Sept. 1 stocks reported by USDA on Tuesday. However, the tide quickly turned shortly after noon when President Trump posted on Truth Social he will meet with Chinese President Xi in four weeks, and soybeans will be a "major topic of discussion." This ultimately sent soybean futures surging over a dime in the last hour plus of trade and ultimately 19 1/4 cents higher than the daily low, pulling corn futures higher as well. Outside markets Wednesday were mixed, as the featured macroeconomic news was the government shutdown which took effect late Tuesday/early Wednesday. Equity markets turned higher after ADP's September employment report indicated a slowing labor market and pointed toward another rate cut in the next Fed meeting. Energy markets were lower after Wednesday's Petroleum Status report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) showed a general building of crude and crude product inventories in the U.S. and ahead of this weekend's OPEC+ production meeting.

Despite the U.S. government shutdown, the live cattle complex trudged on with business as normal. The live cattle contracts traded fully higher into Wednesday's noon hour, with yet again the market's deferred contracts seeing the biggest day-over-day gains. But even so, the spot December contract was still trading slightly below the market's 40-day moving average, which continues to be a threshold the market is struggling to conquer and the contracts finished the day no better than mixed. Still no cash cattle trade has developed but asking prices are now noted in the South at $237 to $240 but are still elusive in the North. With no packer interest having developed yet, it's likely the week's trade will be delayed another day if not two.

The feeder cattle complex was also scaling higher into Wednesday's noon hour as the market points to the corn complex's continued decline as a slightly bullish factor. The market is growing closer to resistance levels which could cause traders some angst, but traders were content to scale the contracts higher until the reversal in the grain complexes, that triggered some late session selling and the feeder contracts finished in the red all but a few far deferred contracts.

The lean hog complex continued to struggle as the market is currently trading below support at $87.00 in the spot December contract -- which has been a threshold the market has respected since early September. And again, adding to the market's disappointment is the fact that pork cutout values were lower once again today.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/10/01144403/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The USDA’s Grain Stocks Report showed corn stocks down 13 percent from last year, soybean stocks are eight percent lower, and all wheat stocks are up six percent from 2024. Old crop corn stocks in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 1.53 billion bushels, down 13 percent from September 1, 2024. Both on-farm and off-farm stocks were down from last year. 

Old crop soybeans stored in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 316 million bushels, down eight percent from September 1, 2024. Both on-farm and off-farm stocks were lower. All wheat stored in all positions on September 1, 2025, totaled 2.12 billion bushels, up six percent from a year ago. Based on the 2024 end of the marketing year analysis, corn for grain production was revised up 25 million bushels from the prior estimate. 2024 soybean production was revised up 7.7 million bushels from the previous estimate. 

Corn and soybean stocks are lower

In the event of a government shutdown that has now come to fruition, the USDA says it’s taken steps to be ready. Back in the 2018 federal shutdown, Food Safety and Inspection Service meat inspection and laboratory testing personnel continued to work. USDA says it is prepared for all possible contingencies covering operations, including critical services and support programs. Two people with direct knowledge of the agency’s plans said that USDA employees may face more layoffs. 

The department submitted its tentative shutdown contingency plan to the Office of Management and Budget, and it does include a reduction-in-force provision. No further details were provided on which employees could be cut, but the two people said the rest of the proposal largely mirrors USDA’s typical shutdown contingency plan, last updated during the Biden administration.

USDA ready for government shutdown

December corn closed down 6 cents and March corn was down 6 1/2 cents. November soybeans closed down 8 3/4 cents and January soybeans were down 9 1/2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 10 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 11 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 6 1/2 cents.

Grain markets were under pressure through Tuesday's session with selling intensifying on the release of overall bearish quarterly Grain Stocks and Small Grains Summary reports from USDA. Outside markets also leaned negatively on ag futures on Tuesday, with crude oil futures retreating to start the week back toward 2-month support near $62 per barrel. Meanwhile, equities were lower on Tuesday as well as investors weigh what a potential government shutdown could mean for markets moving forward, with bearish concerns being the potential for interference with the Federal Reserve's path to rate cuts, as well as job market concerns amid the potential for layoffs at the federal level.

Although the market started the day off weaker, the live cattle complex collectively advanced its position and traded slightly higher into Tuesday's closing bell. Unfortunately, the market continues to stagger around its 40-day moving average in the spot December contract as traders don't know which way to truly push the market just yet. On one hand, they look at the market's immediate fundamentals and are disappointed to see fed cash cattle prices and boxed beef prices continuing to drift lower as they typically do seasonally. But on the other hand, traders have also recognized that from a 10,000-foot view perspective, the market is still incredibly bullish with herd supplies at a multi-decade low, and the fact remaining that supplies can't be rebuilt overnight. Still no cash cattle trade has developed and it's not likely that any trade develops until Wednesday at the earliest. Bids and asking prices remain elusive at this point too.

The feeder cattle complex was not being as cautious as the live cattle market, as its contracts were confidently trading $3.00 higher into Tuesday's noon hour. And with the feeder cattle complex not up against immediate resistance pressure, it's likely that even if the live cattle market does weaken, the feeder cattle contracts should be able to maintain their momentum for the short term.

It was a painful morning for the lean hog complex as the market continued to break lower. Seeming unable to maintain the gains made just last week, the lean hog complex is continuing to back away from the highs scored late last week as fundamental support isn't as strong as traders need it to be.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/09/30144122/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Mo. U.S. Senator questions approval of another generic abortion pill

KANSAS CITY——Authorities are working to determine the cause of an apartment fire in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just after 5a.m. Friday, the Kansas City Fire Department&nbsp;responded to a reported apartment fire&nbsp;in the 2400 block of E 9th Street, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 Crews reported heavy fire from a 3-story apartment building on arrival, with fire through the roof of the structure.&nbsp;Offensive operations were initiated with four handlines being advanced into the structure.

During searches, KCFD companies found 3 victims and brought them out safely. Additional searches came back "all clear."&nbsp; Crews did pull out of the structure and went defensive for a short period while they used the aerial to extinguish fire on the upper level. Companies did return inside with handlines to continue with search and overhaul. The&nbsp;fire&nbsp;was brought under contro lat 5:40 a.m. Red Cross was ordered for 2 adults and 1 child. There were no injuries.

Crews rescue two adults, child from KC  apartment fire

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/akaminski/">ANNA KAMINSKI</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Kansas has been quietly building a pot of more than $26 million that can be used for attracting professional sports teams to the state, giving the state an edge in its “border war” with Missouri.

Totaling more than $26.2 million and counting, those funds are for&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/04/02/kansas-sports-wagering-bill-earmarks-80-of-state-revenue-to-pro-sports-stadium/">the Attracting Professional Sports to Kansas Fund</a>, which can be used to woo any professional sports team, including the Missouri-based Kansas City Chiefs or the Kansas City Royals, to Kansas.

For years, Kansas has been trying to sway the region’s NFL and MLB teams to cross the border. Lawmakers in both states,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/06/14/pure-emotion-frequently-drives-debates-on-sports-stadium-deals/">motivated by pride and potential revenue</a>, have lobbed tax incentives, construction fund packages and seemingly arbitrary decision deadlines at the teams.

The addition of millions of dollars to cover costs that haven’t already been bundled in other proposed deals bolsters Kansas’ case, especially after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/missouri-governor-allows-more-spending-property-tax-cap-as-he-pursues-stadium-deal/" target="_blank">Missouri lawmakers approved a stadium incentives package</a>&nbsp;earlier this year. In July, Kansas lawmakers approved&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/07/07/kansas-lawmakers-extend-deadline-for-chiefs-royals-to-accept-stadium-incentives/">a deadline extension</a>&nbsp;until the end of the year for the Chiefs and the Royals to accept&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/06/21/kansas-gov-kelly-signs-bill-to-poach-kansas-city-chiefs-royals-from-missouri/">hundreds of millions of dollars in stadium incentives</a>.

At a recent legislative hearing, Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, examined how Kansas has amassed millions for professional sports teams without much attention.

“If you read that statute very carefully, it draws some questions,” he said.

The law says the fund can be used to pay the principal or interest costs on any state or municipal bonds, “which shall include any such financing structured as pay-as-you-go, issued to fund the construction, rehabilitation, revitalization or expansion of a professional sports team’s primary facility or any other ancillary development to such primary facility.”

In other words, Thompson said, the purpose of the fund is “so we can help a professional sports team make a profit, get a stadium and come to Kansas.”

“I’ve never seen any evidence that these things pay for themselves, that taxpayers will receive a reduction in tax rates,” he said.

Research has shown that funneling taxpayer money into sports stadium and arena projects a&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/02/20/more-taxpayer-money-benefits-pro-sports-owners-amid-stadium-construction-wave/" target="_blank">poor public investment</a>.

Attracting economic development, and the border war itself, goes beyond professional sports. In 2019, Kansas’ Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson, current Gov. Mike Kehoe’s predecessor, declared a truce. The two states vowed to temporarily halt the practice of recruiting businesses to cross the state line without job creation, in theory halting the border war.

But that did not include Kansas City’s professional sports teams,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/20/missouri-lawmakers-criticize-kansas-attempt-to-poach-royals-chiefs/" target="_blank">Kelly told the Missouri Independent</a>&nbsp;in June 2024.

That was the first sign of the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/02/kansas-v-missouri-stadium-battle-shows-how-states-are-reigniting-border-wars/">truce’s disintegration</a>. Kansas City, Missouri’s City Council formalized an end to the truce this September. The council&nbsp;<a href="https://kansascity.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7665739&amp;GUID=ACBC7B2E-02E1-43B2-84F4-50D0BD396B54" target="_blank">repealed</a>&nbsp;a 10-year moratorium on tax incentives for job creation inside city limits that was passed in response to the truce. The truce expired in August.

Sports gambling dollars make up a relatively new revenue stream for Kansas. The state legalized sportsbooks in 2022 and could&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/09/25/kansas-legislators-look-for-bigger-payout-from-sportsbooks-with-contracts-set-to-expire/">consider modifying regulations</a>&nbsp;that govern books in the 2026 session.

The way sports wagering is regulated in Kansas allows gaming facility managers to keep 90% of revenues. The state gets 10%. Of that portion, the first $750,000 is deposited into the White Collar Crime Fund, which supports investigations of illegal wagers.

Once the white collar fund takes its allotted portion, 2% of what remains goes toward the Gambling Addiction Grant Fund, and 80% to the attracting professional sports coiffeur. In fiscal year 2024, about $8.7 million was deposited into it.

The state hasn’t yet used any of the $26 million, according to Megan Stookey, a spokesperson for Senate President Ty Masterson, who is running for the Republican nomination for governor.

If recruitment efforts don’t succeed, the funds will be reappropriated as the Legislature sees fit, she said. The Legislative Coordinating Council, which is made up of legislative leadership, is the body that could publicly consider any potential deals between the state and a professional sports team while the Legislature is not in session.

“Kansans can expect discussions to progress,” Stookey said in an email, “with the LCC prepared to review any proposals in the (time) prior to the deadline.”

Patrick Lowry, a spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Commerce, said the agency “continues to conduct a careful analysis of costs and benefits as part of discussions to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the region while maximizing growth opportunities for Kansas.”

Echoing nearly identical comments given to reporters in the past, Lowry said “all major economic development projects require discretion and confidentiality,” and he declined to comment on negotiations or agreements.

Kansas has amassed a $26 million fund from sports gambling revenue to help woo Chiefs, Royals

MORGAN COUNTY —Two Kansas teens were injured an accident just before 6p..m. Friday at Lake of the Ozarks.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Sea-Doo Spark driven by a 13-year-old Wichita girl was traveling at the&nbsp;58.6 mile mark of the Osage Arm of the lake. The watercraft side swiped a Sea-Doo Spark driven by a 15-year-old Wichita girl. Both drivers were ejected.&nbsp;

Mid-Missouri EMS transported the 13-year-old to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of serious injuries. A&nbsp;private vehicle transported the 15-year-old to Lake Regional Hospital for treatment of moderate injuries. The girls were wearing life jackets at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;

2 girls hospitalized after jet ski accident at Lake of the Ozarks

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

Just before 8:30p.m. a sheriff's deputy conducted a traffic stop on a bicycle without a headlamp near NW Taylor Street and NW Grant Street, according to Shawnee County Deputy Abigail Christian.

 During the investigation, it was discovered that the individual had a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. Joshua M. Fisher, 20, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department on requested charges Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant, Bicycle not equipped with a lamp when in use at night. Fisher also had a Topeka bench warrant for his arrest.

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