The following is a list of general highway maintenance and construction work the Missouri Department of Transportation has planned for Northwest Missouri for the week of Jan. 19 - 25.

There may be moving operations throughout the region, in addition to the work mentioned below.

Route F –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Rock Creek Bridge for a bridge rehabilitation project through January 2026.

Gene Field Road Bridge –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;due to damage from being struck by an oversized load. The project was awarded to Clarkson Construction Company. The project schedule is currently being determined.&nbsp;

Route 752 (Alabama Street) –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;from U.S. Route 59 to Sherman Street for an intersection improvement project through February 2026.&nbsp;

Faraon Street – Eastbound right-hand turn lane&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for utility work at Belt Highway, Jan. 21, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

U.S. Route 169 (Belt Highway) – Utility work southbound from Fredrick Avenue to Faraon Street, overnight starting at 8:30 p.m. Jan. 23, to 8:30 a.m. Jan. 24. The southbound driving lane will be closed.

Route D –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement project at the Shoal Creek Bridge through March 2026.

Route W – Brush cutting from Route T to U.S. Route 65, Jan. 20-23, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. The road will be narrowed to one lane with flaggers guiding motorists through the work zone.

Route PP –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Mid-Fork Chariton River Overflow Bridge for replacement projects through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through March 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Puzzle Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through mid-March 2026.

Route O –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Bee Creek Bridge for a replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

Route KK –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Little Chariton River Bridge for a deck replacement project through March 2026.&nbsp;

Route 11 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Badger Creek Bridge, north of New Boston, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

Route 139 -&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the Parson Creek Bridge, north of Meadville, for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through May 2026.

U.S. Route 36 – Bridge maintenance westbound at the bridge over Turkey Creek, Jan. 20-22. The bridge will be narrowed to one lane around-the-clock.

Route K –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the North Fork Crooked Creek Bridge beginning Feb. 19 for a bridge replacement project through the Northwest Bridge Bundle through April 2026.

U.S. Route 71 – Pothole patching both directions from the Iowa State line to Route FF, Jan. 20-23.

Route T –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;at the East Locust Creek bridge due to deterioration. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced in the spring of 2026 through the Northwest Bridge Bundle.

U.S. Route 169 –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge deck replacement project at the Middle Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

Route W –&nbsp;CLOSED&nbsp;for a bridge replacement at the West Fork Grand River Bridge through January 2026.

MoDOT&nbsp; says inclement weather may cause schedule changes to some of the planned work.

Planned roadwork for Northwest Missouri, Jan. 19 - 25

The City’s Trades Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, in the City Hall Council Chambers to discuss the potential adoption of updated building codes.

The City of St. Joseph currently operates under 2018 standards and is considering a transition to the 2024 editions of the International Code Council’s model codes. This update would also include the 2023 National Electrical Code. The city typically reviews these international revisions every six years to ensure local regulations align with current industry standards and safety practices.

The proposal includes updates to the International Building, Fire, Residential, and Property Maintenance codes, among others. While the city uses international models as a foundation, officials noted that the adoption process typically includes minor amendments specifically tailored to meet the unique needs of the St. Joseph community.

The upcoming meeting follows several prior reviews by the Trades Board of Appeals. This session will serve as the final discussion before the board issues a formal recommendation to the City Council.

Members of the public interested in the proposed updates or specific amendments are encouraged to attend the hearing.

Public hearing set for Jan. 21 to discuss new city building codes

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ News 01/19/2026

By SUZANNE KING <a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2026/01/08/why-30-rural-hospitals-in-kansas-and-12-in-missouri-are-at-risk/">The Beacon</a>

Kansas has more hospitals in immediate danger of closing than any other state, according to a recent analysis of the financial health of the country’s most remote hospitals.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://chqpr.org/">Center for Healthcare Quality &amp; Payment Reform</a>, a national policy organization, found that 68 rural Kansas hospitals are at risk of closing, including 30 at immediate risk. Its&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf">analysis</a>&nbsp;also put Missouri among the 10 worst states for rural closings, with 29 rural hospitals at risk of closing, including a dozen at immediate risk.

Nationwide, the analysis found that 756 hospitals — one-third of all rural hospitals — could be in jeopardy, including 323 that are at&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Solutions.html#the-need-for-rapid-action-to-prevent-closures-and-sustain-rural-healthcare">immediate risk</a>&nbsp;of closure. Hospitals that are losing money on patient services and don’t have enough reserves to offset those losses for more than six or seven years are considered to be at immediate risk.

Harold D. Miller, the Center for Healthcare Quality’s president and CEO, said the problem boils down to simple economics. Rural hospitals spend more than they bring in.

Because they are located in remote parts of the country, rural hospitals have fewer patients. But operating costs — like necessary staff and equipment — are the same as for hospitals in more populated areas.

At the same time, the cost of health care continues to climb, workforce shortages&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/24/traveling-nurses-kansas-hospitals/">make it more expensive to fill jobs</a>&nbsp;at rural facilities and much of the financial support that helped them through the COVID pandemic has gone away.

“Costs have gone up and payers haven’t kept up,” Miller said. “The hospital isn’t being paid based on actual cost. More likely it gets underpaid.”

A pessimistic assessment of the financial health of rural hospitals is not new. For years, experts have warned about pending closures. And across the country almost 200 rural hospitals have shut down since 2005, including 19 across&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/08/08/rural-hospitals-missouri-medicaid-cuts-at-risk-2025-closures/">Missouri</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kwch.com/2026/01/07/derbys-rock-regional-hospital-eviction-process-cleared-proceed-judge-decides/">Kansas</a>.

The rural hospitals that have closed their doors since 2012,&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Problems.html#the-magnitude-of-financial-losses-at-rural-hospitals">the Center for Healthcare Quality found</a>, had a median operating loss of 9%. Rural hospitals that stayed open had a median 5% profit margin.

Cindy Samuelson, spokeswoman for the Kansas Hospital Association, cautioned that the report’s dire predictions of 30 Kansas hospitals being on the brink of closing may be overblown. Many rural Kansas communities provide taxpayer support in the form of a city or county levy. Although that funding is not guaranteed, she said it is a good bet that it will continue.

“I really think you’re not going to see 30” hospitals close, Samuelson said. “Those people who live in those 30 areas are going to say, ‘We’ll pay the tax. Health care is important to us.’”&nbsp;

Kansas still has 100 rural hospitals — second only to Texas — while Missouri has 58. But many operate at a loss. And the challenges only seem to be growing.

Recent changes at the federal level are expected to dramatically increase the number of people without insurance&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/19/aca-expiring-tax-credits-health-insurance/">beginning this year</a>. That will likely add to the number of patients hospitals have to treat for free, and it is expected to ultimately lead to more expensive care since people who skip doctors’ appointments or medicine often end up sicker.

Hospitals also are watching what will happen at the state and federal levels to the 340B Drug Pricing Program, which helps many hospitals subsidize the cost of care across their operations. Some lawmakers would like to change the way the program works, which could leave hospitals with another big funding gap.

“It could impact essential services the hospitals provide,” Samuelson said.

While loss of the drug program or reduced government insurance coverage under Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act marketplace will likely mean problems for hospitals, Miller said many rural hospitals will face grim prospects even if none of those changes occurs. Already, he said, they are dealing with the reality that insurance plans aren’t paying them enough to cover their expenses.

Many people assume Medicare and Medicaid are the primary culprits for funding shortfalls, Miller said, but private insurance is actually a bigger factor for many small rural providers.

Private insurance is often the&nbsp;<a href="https://ruralhospitals.chqpr.org/Data4A.html">largest contributor</a>&nbsp;to rural hospital revenue — especially since private Medicare Advantage plans have become increasingly popular. But often hospitals are getting the smallest reimbursements from that sector.

Traditional Medicare plans are required to cover most of the cost of care for the patients they cover, but the same is not true of Medicare Advantage plans, which are sold through private insurance companies and work like any other private plan.

Rural hospitals may fall outside a Medicare Advantage plan’s network, or the plan will quibble about paying for certain procedures or services. That can leave patients without nearby care options and hospitals without funds to cover costs.

All of it contributes to rural hospitals’ funding gaps, Miller said.

“If those private insurers are paying half as much as it costs to deliver services in the hospital,” he said, “that hospital is not going to stay open.”

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kha-net.org/CriticalIssues/FinancialStability/FinanceResources/d175040.aspx?type=view">2024 study</a>&nbsp;from the Kansas Hospital Association found that private insurers, or commercial payers, in the state paid less than payers in neighboring states. That left Kansas hospitals with fewer private dollars to help cover the costs of care for uninsured or underinsured patients.&nbsp;

And because private plans were covering less, patients were left carrying more bad debt, the study found, because they couldn’t afford out-of-pocket costs. Or they were avoiding care when they needed it, which ultimately drives up cost.

The closure of any rural hospital puts people’s health at risk. Not only are patients left with long drives to hospitals in an emergency, they also lose affiliated physician practices, laboratories and imaging services, which often puts preventive care in jeopardy.

“The bottom line for patients if they lose their hospital is that there’s always going to be a larger barrier for them to go seek care,” said Tom Mueller, director of the Kansas Center for Rural Health at the University of Kansas Medical Center. “It’s important to point out that rural folks are happy to drive for the most part. … But, regardless, if you’re talking about a 20-minute drive versus a two-hour drive, you might not go get that thing checked out.”

As a result, chances at early detection are missed. Screenings are postponed or avoided. And people’s health suffers.

Hope for rural transformation funds

Kansas hospitals are waiting for details about the funds the state has been awarded through the new $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Fund, which is being dolled out to states across the country for the next five years.

Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/12/29/medicaid-missouri-rural-health-transformation-hr-1/">will receive</a>&nbsp;$216 million during the 2026 fiscal year, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced, while Kansas will receive $222 million.&nbsp;

Samuelson said the details of exactly what was funded from the Kansas proposal will be announced in coming days. But she expects the programs funded will help hospitals. It won’t mean an immediate influx of money, but it will mean a chance for the state to invest in shoring up rural hospitals.&nbsp;

And the industry hopes the funds will bring structural changes, like addressing root causes of disease, which would make care less expensive. And investing in the rural health workforce.

“It’s going to be changes that will be impactful and hopefully long-lived with regards to transformative care in rural areas,” Samuelson said.

Lucretia Stargell, CEO of Goodland Regional Medical Center and Rawlins County Health Center in northwest Kansas, said she hopes the new transformation fund drives rural hospitals to be more collaborative.&nbsp;

In May, her hospital brought oncology care back to Goodland one day a week by sharing the cost with other rural hospitals. Now cancer patients can see a doctor close to home rather than driving to Hays or other faraway cities.

It’s an example of how rural hospitals can bring care to the patients, Stargell said, but also help patients navigate finding specialist care in other places when necessary.&nbsp;

“Our big audacious goal is to be a medical home for the region, she said. “We want to help coordinate your care. We want to get you to Hays or Salina or Kansas City, but we want you back. It’s a complex world to navigate, and that’s our duty as a hospital to be part of that.”

Hospitals haven’t gotten to the point of being on the brink of closure overnight, and getting back to health won’t be simple either, Stargell said. But taking deliberate steps to create long-term change seems like the best approach, she said.

“If there were a quick fix,” she said, “hospitals wouldn’t be closing.”

Why 12 hospitals in Missouri and 30 in Kansas are at risk of closure

HARRISON COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just before 8a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Ford F150 driven by a 46-year-old Redgeway man was turning north onto E 240 Avenue from E 320th Avenue two and one half miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the pickup. The vehicle began to skid and overturned onto the drivers side.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. He was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after pickup skids and overturns

A Missouri House committee heard proposals Thursday to expand screenings for gifted education and add state funding for gifted students on a per-pupil basis

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>

More Missouri public school students could receive gifted education under two proposals debated by the House Education Committee Thursday.

State Rep. Brenda Shields, a Republican from St. Joseph, is sponsoring a bill that would require schools to screen all students to determine if they qualify as gifted before they reach third grade.

She estimates that there are 20,000 Missouri students that are gifted but not currently enrolled in specialized classes.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1757&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;expands on a state law that requires schools to offer gifted education when at least 3% of their student body is identified as gifted. This requirement began last school year.

“If screenings don’t happen, gifted and talented students aren’t identified,” she told the committee. “If the students are not identified, schools will never reach the 3% threshold to be able to offer a gifted program.”

Gifted students can present as squirrely or distracted in the classroom, Shields said, with thoughts and ideas beyond the basic curriculum. Providing a more enriching education will help both the students and their teacher, she said.

Beth Winton, chair of the Advisory Council on the Education of Gifted and Talented Children, agreed that many gifted students “are not always a pleasure to have in class.”

“The standard grade level curriculum is not designed to meet their academic or emotional needs,” she said. “And regular teachers already have enough demands on their time.”

Committee members largely spoke in favor of the bill, sharing personal anecdotes of their experiences in the classroom as teachers, parents and former students.

State Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar, said gifted education provides a needed challenge for some kids. Kelley, who taught eighth-grade English, said she saw students who were never identified as gifted but could benefit from the program.

“By (eighth grade), they don’t really test very many students at that point. And if they’ve been missed in that window, they’ve already checked out,” she said.

The largest concern came from state Rep. Mark Boyko, a Democrat from Kirkwood, who wondered if requiring schools to start screening by this fall is too tight of a timeline.

“As someone who has been on school boards, I know that drafting a good policy for a district is a process that takes a number of months,” he said. “So I have concerns that the bill starts one school year too early.”

Bolstering Shields’ legislation, a&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1748&amp;year=2026&amp;code=R" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;by state Rep. Scott Miller would ensure districts have the resources to educate gifted students by adding a line to the formula that determines state aid for public schools.

“High-quality gifted programming often includes advanced curriculum, specialized instructional strategies, social-emotional supports with trained educators and individualized learning pathways,” Miller, a St. Charles Republican, told the committee. “These services require additional staffing, materials and professional infrastructure, all of which come at a greater cost than general education alone.”

His bill would fund gifted students 60% higher than the base per-pupil amount. Based on the state’s current per-pupil funding, this means schools would receive an additional $4,287 per gifted student.

This number may decrease if the bill moves along in the legislative process. The committee’s chair, state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican, told Miller the multiplier was “pretty high.”

The bill’s fiscal note estimates it would have an annual cost of nearly $121.5 million, though Miller questioned the accuracy of the estimate.&nbsp;

Lobbyists for education groups such as the Missouri State Teachers Association and the Missouri Association of School Administrators spoke in favor of the funding boost.

“(The state) really does need to have a component in the formula to support gifted students,” said Otto Fajen, lobbyist for teachers union Missouri National Education Association. “That is critical.”

The committee did not take action on the bills Thursday.

Missouri lawmakers seek to improve gifted education in public schools

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

A proposed constitutional amendment sponsored by state Rep. Darin Chappell would hold Missouri to 80-hour work requirements from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act even if federal law change

A plan to add Medicaid work requirements to the state Constitution was debated by a Missouri House committee this week, with Republican lawmakers hoping to put the issue before voters later this year.

The proposed ballot measure, if approved by a majority of Missouri voters, would make it more difficult for the state to reverse federal restrictions on Medicaid eligibility included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress this summer if those requirements change in the future.&nbsp;

“The reality of it is this is coming to Missouri, irrespective of this,” said state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican sponsoring legislation that would propose the change. “This is just saying we should keep it that way.”

Starting Jan. 1, 2027, the federal law will require adults ages 19 to 64 who are covered as part of Medicaid expansion to show that they work, volunteer or study at least 80 hours a month to qualify for the health care program for low-income people. The law also requires states to recertify enrollees’ eligibility every six months instead of once a year.

With Missouri’s Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">requesting an additional $131 million</a>&nbsp;to cover costs this fiscal year of implementing the federal law, state lawmakers debated during the Tuesday hearing of the House Legislative Review Committee whether work requirements would slash MO HealthNet costs or add to the expense of implementing the federal law.

Chappell said the intent of his legislation is “to mirror what has been done at the national level already.” He believes the constitutional amendment would save Missouri money.

“There will be individuals who were not the original intent of Medicaid and choose not to engage in the work requirements that will not have access to Medicaid any longer,” Chappell told The Independent.

Medicaid eligibility changes in the federal law could cause&nbsp;<a href="https://shvs.org/resource/senate-passed-h-r-1-updated-estimates-on-impact-to-state-medicaid-coverage-and-expenditures-hospital-expenditures-including-impacts-by-congressional-district/" target="_blank">130,000</a>&nbsp;Missourians to become uninsured in the next decade, according to one estimate from Princeton University. There were&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/" target="_blank">363,641 MO HealthNet adult expansion enrollees</a>&nbsp;in December, an all-time high, according to data from the state social services department.

The ballot measure described in Chappell’s joint resolution is not identical to changes the federal law makes to Medicaid eligibility. While the measure would require the Missouri Department of Social Services to go back three months in an individual’s employment history to verify that they meet work requirements, the federal law only requires states to check one month prior to enrollment. And Chappell left open how often the department would have to verify that current enrollees are still meeting requirements.

“Some of this is going to have to be departmental capacity,” Chappell said. “I don’t know that it’s every 30 days.”

Democrats insisted the fiscal note attached to the legislation didn’t reveal the full costs of the changes and questioned why lawmakers should amend a section of the state constitution recently changed by a popular vote of Missourians.

Missourians voted in 2020 to expand Medicaid, opening eligibility to people earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though enrollment did not begin until Oct. 2021 because state lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/03/25/republican-lawmakers-vote-down-funding-for-missouri-medicaid-expansion/">refused</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/29/missouri-senate-rejects-funding-for-voter-approved-medicaid-expansion/">fund</a>&nbsp;it.

State Rep. Aaron Crossley, a Democrat from Independence, asked Chappell if he had considered a “trigger law” that would change statute to reflect the federal law, but only as long as the federal law remains in force.&nbsp;

“Why not do that and then say, ‘OK, we’ll go back to what the voters approved a few years ago when federal law likely changes?” Crossley said.

Chappell emphasized that if his bill passes, voters will have final say about the constitutional amendment.

“If we believe in the will of the people, as I certainly do, why are we so afraid to let them speak again, to modify what’s already been said?” Chappell said in an interview with The Independent. “How is that horrible?”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills261/fiscal/fispdf/6310H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;included only the projected cost of putting Chappell’s proposal on the ballot in November, which comes out to roughly $9 million.&nbsp;

But State Rep. Jo Doll, a Democrat from St. Louis, said that if voters approved the measure, the cost to the state would be much higher.&nbsp;

“Where are we going to find the workers?” Doll said. “Because it’s going to take a lot of people to verify that someone has been working for three months prior and every month following.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive budget for fiscal year 2027 recommends a&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy2027-eb-hb-11-social-services" target="_blank">reduction of 238 staff</a>&nbsp;in the state’s social services department, which is in charge of eligibility and enrollment for MO HealthNet. The recommended cut includes a reduction of 173 “income maintenance” staff, who according to a description in the&nbsp;<a href="https://budplan.oa.mo.gov/media/pdf/fy27-dss-appropriation-book" target="_blank">department’s budget request</a>, “determine eligibility for assistance programs.”&nbsp;

In its&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/files/bill_files/f6db0ad8a353a0e88f853707267aadcc.pdf" target="_blank">supplemental budget request</a>&nbsp;for the current fiscal year, the department asked for an additional $9 million in state general revenue and $123 million in federal funds to implement the federal law — partly to pay for income maintenance system updates. The department requested another $530 million to cover the adult expansion Medicaid population.

Chappell underlined that the ballot measure would not affect people exempt from federal work requirements due to disability or pregnancy.

But Crossley, who works in health care and has helped clients apply for Medicaid, said he has seen people lose coverage for administrative reasons that they were legally entitled to.

“If they miss one piece of mail and it’s time for them to renew their Medicaid…[or] they miss that one notification, then they’re off their insurance,” Crossley said.

Chappell acknowledged that some costs of more uncompensated care as more Missourians go uninsured could fall to taxpayers, but he said he believes the constitutional amendment would help people in the long run.

“If we encourage people to go to work, and we change the dynamic of their world view…so that they become part of the working population, I think we’ll see that they’ll increase their money that’s available to them,” Chappell told The Independent. “They’ll create for themselves skill sets whereby they can get employed and thereby have healthcare access through their employers.”

Republicans push to put Medicaid work requirements into Missouri constitution

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Chevy Silverado driven by a 22-year-old Gretna, Nebraska man was westbound on U.S. 136 at Smith Street in Burlington Junction. The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road.&nbsp; The pickup traveled off the north side of the road into a yard and struck a tree, continued through the yard and struck a house. The vehicle came to rest partially in the house.

Nodaway County EMS transported the driver to Clarinda Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Pickup crashed into a house in Burlington Junction

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by a 46-year-old Prestonburg, Kentucky woman was northbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Oregon. The driver lost control of the vehicle on the snow covered road. The pickup spun around and came to rest on its driver's side on the east side of the road.

Atchison-Hot ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Woman hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup crash in the snow

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on Jan. 19, certain St. Joseph city facilities will be closed or operating under different hours.

City offices, along with the recycling center, Remington Nature Center, and JRP Activity Center will be closed.

The landfill will be open from 7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

City of St. Joseph offices to close for MLK Day

Congress on Thursday approved a major bipartisan spending package that funds key energy, environment and science agencies for fiscal 2026, but lawmakers stopped short of including protections for a Colorado research lab sought by some Democrats. 

The Senate voted 82-15 to send the roughly $180 billion “minibus” package, covering the Department of Energy, Interior Department, Environmental Protection Agency and other science programs, to President Donald Trump’s desk. The legislation locks in full-year funding after months of negotiations, rejecting deeper cuts proposed by the administration. 

Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet voted against the legislation after pushing unsuccessfully for an amendment to safeguard the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, a climate and weather research facility. Supporters said the package provides stability for research and environmental programs, while critics raised concerns that it trims some funding and fails to address long-standing agency budget shortfalls.

Congress Passes Spending Package

The U.S. farm economy is showing widening signs of distress as farmers confront a toxic mix of rising production costs, weak crop prices and shrinking credit access, threatening rural communities nationwide. 

For the third straight year, growers are struggling with unprofitable operations amid record crop yields that have helped depress market values for corn, soybeans and other commodities, according to farmers and industry analysts. Reuters reports fertilizer and other input costs continue to climb in 2026, while net farm income is projected to fall sharply, prolonging financial strain on producers. The economic stress is rippling through rural America, with job losses reported in related sectors such as farm equipment manufacturing and meatpacking. 

Tractors and combines are piling up on dealer lots as sales plunge, and some lenders are tightening credit or turning away borrowers in need of operating funds. Bankruptcies are increasing, with Chapter 12 farm filings rising significantly, and many rural residents worry the downturn could deepen without stronger demand or policy support.

Farm Economy Shows Signs of Weakening

March corn closed up 4 1/2 cents and May corn was up 4 1/4 cents. March soybeans closed up 4 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 4 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed up 10 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 7 1/2 cents, March MIAX Minneapolis wheat was up 2 1/2 cents.

March corn closed down 21 cents and May corn was down 21 3/4 cents. March soybeans closed down 4 3/4 cents and May soybeans were down 5 3/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 3/4 cents and March Minneapolis wheat was down 2 1/2 cents.

Markets continued recovery efforts on Friday to close the week with relatively minimized losses in wheat and soybean futures, while Monday's plunge still leaves the corn market with a significant weekly turn lower. Grain markets will be closed on Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Wheat was the flagship of the group for Friday, moving double digits higher on increased weather risk for U.S. crops through the weekend. Outside markets were mixed to close the week, with a firm U.S. Dollar on higher Treasury yields, while energy markets recovered from Thursday's risk-off session.

It turned out to be a grim session for the live cattle complex as most of the contracts were trading $3.00 to $4.00 lower into midday and into the close on Friday. Pinpointing why the market is trading lower to such a notable degree is challenging because, up until this point this week, the market has been solely focused on its strong fundamental position. But part of the market's uncertainty could stem from the fact that Thursday afternoon, eight new cases of New World screwworm were detected in Mexico, or because there's yet to be any cash cattle traded, which causes traders to become anxious. Nevertheless, today's downturn is somewhat out of the blue, following a week of mostly bullish sentiment. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.14 ($361.91) and select up $0.59 ($360.30) with a movement of 53 loads (37.00 loads of choice, 2.54 loads of select, 4.14 loads of trim and 9.53 loads of ground beef).

If you think the downturn in the live cattle complex is steep, don't even take a glimpse at the feeder cattle contracts, as most of them are traded $7.00 to $8.00 lower for the bulk of the session. Unfortunately, given how steep the contracts have declined, it's likely that the market will continue short term downward momentum even though fed cash cattle prices are expected to trade higher.

While the cattle complex plummeted ahead of the weekend, the lean hog contracts were minding their own business, trading mildly higher into Friday's close. It is helpful to note that midday pork cutout values were a tick higher, which continues to lend traders additional fundamental support and help keep the contracts trading higher.

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Commodity markets daily recap

Market estimates show that Brazil surpassed the U.S. as the world’s number one beef producer in 2025. Reports said that happened after Brazil beat output forecasts by hundreds of thousands of tons, easing a global supply squeeze and helping limit a surge in meat prices. Reuters said Brazil was already the biggest beef exporter, with shipments totaling almost $17 billion in 2025. 

Reports said that “Beef production numbers are not due till February, but analysts have recently raised their estimates,” and “Farmers are sending more animals to slaughter and cashing in on high export demand from countries like China and the U.S., where low beef supplies have pushed prices to record levels.” In addition reports also show that beef demand has stayed resilient, despite high prices, and the Trump administration’s overhaul of dietary guidelines putting protein at the top of the food pyramid will likely encourage Americans to buy more meat.

Brazil passes U.S. as top beef producer

New data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers said sales of ag tractors and combines in the U.S. fell in December 2025 compared to the same time last year. U.S. sales of total ag tractors dropped by 15 percent, while sales of combines declined 4.3 percent in December 2025 compared to the year before. Also, Canadian sales of ag tractors were down almost 14 percent, while combine sales jumped by 26 percent in December compared to the prior year.

 "December’s data is the result of economic instability and pressures farmers have been facing for the past several months,” said Association of Equipment Manufacturers Senior Vice President Curt Blades. “Throughout this short-term decline in sales, equipment manufacturers remain committed to supporting farmers with the equipment they need.” Looking ahead to the rest of 2026, AEM remains confident in the industry’s resilience and unique ability to adapt. 

U.S. sales of ag tractors, combines decline in December 2025

Missouri hunters harvested a preliminary total of 301,954 deer during the 2025-2026 season, marking a significant rebound from the previous year, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation.

The season, which concluded Jan. 15 with the close of archery hunting, saw an increase from the 275,656 deer taken during the 2024-2025 cycle. This year’s total included 145,222 antlered bucks, 25,129 button bucks, and 131,603 does.

MDC Cervid Program Supervisor Jason Isabelle said the results met expectations, particularly in southern Missouri where numbers had previously dipped. The 2025-2026 total was slightly above the state's five-year average and represents only the sixth time in Missouri history that the harvest has surpassed the 300,000 mark.

Franklin County led the state in overall harvest with 6,770 deer. Howell County followed with 5,490, and Callaway County rounded out the top three with 5,346.

Archery season alone accounted for 62,203 deer, an increase over the 56,516 taken by bowhunters last year. Jefferson County recorded the highest archery total with 1,571 deer, followed by Franklin County at 1,272 and St. Louis County at 1,076.

The MDC reported four non-fatal, self-inflicted firearms-related hunting incidents during the season. One of those incidents involved deer hunting, while the remaining three occurred during the pursuit of other game.

Missouri deer harvest surpasses 300,000 as 2025-26 season rebounds

March corn closed down 1 3/4 cents and May corn was down 2 cents. March soybeans closed up 10 1/2 cents and May soybeans were up 9 1/4 cents. March KC wheat closed down 5 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 4 1/2 cents.

Corn and wheat futures traded mixed Thursday, again fading from early highs as the weight of added supply in both markets continues to serve as a headwind to rally attempts. Meanwhile, soybean futures enjoyed a double-digit jump on Thursday following a number of supportive news reports, most notably as Brazil's National Supply Company (Conab) reduced their forecast for 2025-26 soybean production in a surprising split from USDA's increase in Monday's WASDE. Outside markets leaned negative, with crude oil staging a sharp reversal after five straight sessions higher on a perceived and at least temporary easing of tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Equities were higher after a two-day profit-taking dip, and the U.S. dollar moved higher for the twelfth time in the past fifteen sessions.

The live cattle complex is back to trading higher following Wednesday's lower close, as once again the contracts are no longer up against immediate pressure. It's very apparent that the market desires to trade higher, but until traders can see immediate fundamental support in the form of stronger fed cash cattle trade, it's unlikely that they'll boldly advance the market until then. At this point, both bids and asking prices remain elusive. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.91 ($360.44) and select up $2.28 ($359.93) with a movement of 99 loads (78.80 loads of choice, 5.89 loads of select, 7.82 loads of trim and 6.15 loads of ground beef).

The live cattle contracts may be mildly trading higher, but the feeder cattle contracts were trading with more vigor as most of the contracts were trading over $3.00 higher towards the closing bell. The market is currently pushing up against resistance pressure, which could cause the market some anxiety later this afternoon.

With pork cutout values up sharply, the lean hog complex had a breakout day. So long as fundamental support remains evident, it's likely that traders will continue to push the contracts higher as they've been patiently waiting for this amount of fundamental support to develop so that they can charge the market higher.

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The USDA confirmed that farmers harvested a record-large crop in 2025, estimated at over 17 billion bushels. Corn stockpiles are also expected to climb to their highest level in eight years, driving corn prices lower. The Renewable Fuels Association said this underscores the pressing need to eliminate the obstacles that are suppressing demand and limiting market opportunities for corn and ethanol alike. “This is a sobering wakeup call about the farm economy and underscores the need for lawmakers to take immediate action to expand markets for American corn growers,” said Geoff Cooper, RFA President and CEO. 

“The fastest and easiest way to shore up the growing supply-demand imbalance in the corn market is to permanently remove the summertime barrier on E15 sales and eliminate obsolete fuel retail infrastructure rules.” He also said these decades-old regulatory barriers are literally choking off demand and shortchanging America’s farmers. 

RFA: More urgency about approving year-round E15

The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still historically high, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady growth, we’re seeing the farmland market stabilize,” said Colton Lacina, senior vice president of real estate options at Farmers National Company. “This isn’t a sign of collapse but a recalibration that reflects current commodity prices, input costs, and regional production conditions.” 

Farmland demand now varies widely by location. Areas with high crop yields, diversified farms, and dependable groundwater continue to attract buyers and maintain steady values. “Farmland values are increasingly determined locally, sometimes down to the township,” Lacina added. “Buyers are carefully assessing soil quality, the percentage of tillable acres, water access, and how a parcel fits into their operations.” Despite mixed signals, market conditions still remain favorable for most sellers.

Farmland values enter a new phase

March corn closed up 2 1/4 cents and May corn was up 2 cents. March soybeans closed up 3 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 3 cents. March KC wheat closed up 2 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was up 2 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was up 1/2 cents.

Corn, soybean, and wheat futures were all higher Wednesday, with speculators and long-side hedgers likely both seeing opportunity to lock in purchases following the early week, post-USDA price drop. However, upside momentum remained very limited as trading volumes eased following Monday's report day spike. Outside markets Wednesday were supportive as well, as we continue to see a rush to outside commodities this week, such as gold and silver, which have moved once again to new records. Equity markets are softer through the middle of the week on a flow of money from stocks (specifically the tech sector) into commodities. The energy market was firm early in Wednesday's trade, with crude oil futures hitting two and a half month highs on geopolitical risk, specifically ongoing turmoil in Iran, although prices eventually reversed lower likely on profit-taking as well as larger week-on-week crude inventories in the weekly EIA Petroleum Status report.

The live cattle complex traded lower into Wednesday's closing bell as traders are confident that they do not possess enough support to push the contracts any higher. On Tuesday, the market was charged with bullishness, but today, traders seem to look at the markets a tick more level-headed, and while they believe that the bullish sentiment is justified, they also know that they need to see immediate fundamental support before they can confidently push the contracts higher in the near term. Still no cash cattle trade has developed. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.34 ($359.33) and select up $0.33 ($357.51) with a movement of 78 loads (52.90 loads of choice, 5.14 loads of select, 12.17 loads of trim and 8.20 loads of ground beef).

And once again, in alignment with the direction of the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts also traded lower Wednesday. Until the live cattle complex trades higher, the feeder cattle complex will likely continue to trade in a cautious, lower manner.

Traders continue to push the lean hog complex higher, with not a lot of fundamental support behind their ambitions. Both cash prices and pork cutout values have been lax this week, but even so, traders continue to aggressively push the contracts.

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KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are investigating another homicide in Kansas City, Missouri.

Just before 2p.m Sunday, patrol officers were dispatched to the 8700 block of Chestnut Circle on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil Dimartino.

As officers arrived they were directed to a parking lot within the apartment complex. There they located a victim later identified as 36-year-old Charles Brown, Jr., suffering from gunshot wounds. Officers began performing life saving measures while KCFD EMS arrived simultaneously. Medics pronounced Brown deceased at the scene.&nbsp;

This is being investigated as a homicide. The officers on scene took a subject of interest into custody pending further investigation. Preliminary information revealed there was a disturbance in the parking lot between several individuals that led to shots being fired and Brown being struck.&nbsp;

If anyone was in the area and heard or saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact Homicide detectives directly at 816-234-5043 or the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information submitted anonymously to the TIPS hotline.

KCPD: Suspect in custody for deadly apartment parking lot killing

In the past decade, more than 50,000 Missouri women sought abortions in Kansas and Illinois. The rare complications suffered are at the heart of arguments over its safety

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">Anna Spoerre</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/kevinhardy/">Kevin Hardy</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

KANSAS CITY — Roughly 1% of the more than 53,000 Missourians who received abortions over the last 10 years in Illinois and Kansas experienced complications, ranging from infection to incomplete abortions to hemorrhaging.&nbsp;

Lawyers for Planned Parenthood and the Missouri Attorney General’s Office are dissecting dozens of Missouri’s Targeted Regulation of Abortion, or TRAP laws, as a judge decides which, if any, should remain in place. The safety of abortion is at the heart of the debate.

As the trial enters its second week on Tuesday in Jackson County, the state is trying to make the case that the potential for complications justifies strict regulations on abortion providers.&nbsp;

“The risks associated with abortion don’t just exist in the abstract,” said Assistant Solicitor General Alexandria Overcash. “Real women, Missouri women have suffered.”

Experts called by Planned Parenthood say that’s not the case. Abortion, they said, presents less risk than many medical procedures, including child birth.

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