For the first time ever, all six classes of high school football, along with 8-man, will battle for a championship in St. Joseph at Spratt Stadium on the Missouri Western State University campus. 

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esley says there will be a high level of football played this weekend, and says look no further than down the road in Platte City 

"They play in the Class 5 championship game at 7’o clock Friday night, they play Carthage another very good team, 13-0 against 12-1,” Esely says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “Their quarterback is a division one signee in Rocco Marriott.” 

Marriott originally signed with James Madison, but just last week flipped his commitment, signing with UCF in the Big 12. 

"That’s all to say very, very high-level talent that will be here in St. Joseph and at Spratt Stadium at Missouri Western this coming week,” Esely says.  “And Rocco’s story is just one of a number of student athlete’s that will compete here this week.” 

Esely says it's exciting to have teams coming from all over the state. 

"They come from anywhere as close as our 8-man teams in Rock Port and Worth County which will be a great championship game on Thursday night, to Platte County which is right down the road, to Kearney, to Lift for Life Academy which is in St. Louis, to Carthage, to Tipton, to Seneca, to Hannibal,” Esely explains.  “So, this championship really encompasses all facets, all areas of the state that will come to St. Joe the spotlight will be on here.” 

The championships had been hosted in Columbia at the home of the Missouri Tigers, Faurot Field, for the last decade, after leaving St. Louis.  

Esely, says the event will bring 14 of the best teams from across the state to Missouri Western to compete 

"I know we have a lot of people in this community who like football, that support high school football, that travel to watch high school football,” Esely says.  “Uh, you don’t have to travel anywhere to watch high school football this weekend, the best seven games are right here beginning this Thursday.” 

The football championships kickoff with the 8-man championship game tomorrow (THU) between Worth County and Rock Port. 

Kickoff is at 7pm.  We will have the game streamed on St. Joseph Post and Maryville Post.  Matt Pike and Nathan Stuedle will be on the call with pregame at 6pm. 

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

St. Joseph ready to host MSHSAA high school championship football

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

St. Joseph Transit announced Thursday the temporary relocation of the Woodbine Transfer Center to 1501 Village Drive, effective Monday, Dec. 8, due to deteriorating pavement conditions at the current facility.

The temporary move will require minor route adjustments, though all scheduled times will remain unchanged. Riders should anticipate normal service levels during the transition and may use an existing bus shelter at the Village Drive location.

St. Joseph Transit plans to begin necessary upgrades during the upcoming construction season. The agency stated these improvements are required to ensure the safe return of buses to the current Woodbine Transfer Center location once the work is completed.

St. Joseph Transit Woodbine Transfer Center Moving Temporarily

A 55-year-old
Gallatin woman, reported missing for days, has been found dead in the Grand
River.

The Daviess County
Sheriff’s Office reports a water rescue operation recovered the body of Julie
Vyrostek from the Grand River early Monday afternoon.

The office says
the family reported Vyrostek missing on November 26th and expressed
concern about her well-being. A search began. It included a Facebook post
requesting help from the public. Her vehicle was found on a field access road
outside of Gallatin, near the Grand River.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Conservation joined the search,
which included searching the river and the land around the river.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Gallatin woman reported missing found dead in Grand River

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

The campaign to repeal Missouri’s newly gerrymandered congressional map says it will turn in signatures to put the issue on the statewide ballot next week.

If enough signatures were collected, the map will be placed on hold until voters decide its fate at the ballot box next year.&nbsp;

“This unprecedented show of grassroots power signals the overwhelming public demand for Missourians to have a say in whether (the map) becomes law,” People Not Politicians, the political action committee behind the referendum campaign, said in a statement Wednesday.&nbsp;

The new map was crafted at the urging of President Donald Trump in order to give Republicans control of seven of Missouri’s eight seats in Congress. To do it, GOP lawmakers broke up the Kansas City-based 5th District represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver.

Soon after lawmakers passed the map, People Not Politicians submitted paperwork for a referendum to the Missouri secretary of state. Since then, the group has raised millions of dollars — mostly from out-of-state nonprofits who don’t have to disclose their donors — and reportedly collected more than 200,000 signatures.&nbsp;

To succeed, a referendum petition must have at least 106,000 signatures from registered voters distributed among six of the state’s eight congressional districts.

From the moment the referendum campaign launched, Republicans have worked overtime to undermine it.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a first-term Republican, announced he would&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/26/effort-to-force-vote-on-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map-hits-roadblock/">not accept any signatures</a>&nbsp;collected before the governor signed the new map into law, a move that would invalidate more than 90,000 signatures. A Cole County judge is scheduled to hear arguments over that decision next week.&nbsp;

Hoskins is also&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/06/referendum-backers-reject-ballot-title-for-vote-on-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map/">in court defending the ballot summary</a>&nbsp;he wrote for the referendum in which he says the map “better reflects statewide voting patterns” and replaces a “gerrymandered” version that “protects incumbent politicians.”

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Republican appointed to the position in September, filed a federal lawsuit arguing that even though the congressional map is a piece of legislation approved by the General Assembly, it should&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/26/federal-ruling-on-missouri-gerrymandered-redistricting-plan-to-come-in-early-december/">not be subject to a citizen referendum</a>.&nbsp;

Hanaway has also accused a company hired by People Not Politicians to collect signatures of&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/12/02/missouri-gop-gerrymandered-referendum-human-trafficking/">bringing undocumented immigrants into the state</a>&nbsp;to assist with the campaign. The attorney general has presented no evidence to support this claim, and the company has adamantly denied it.&nbsp;

The company, Advanced Micro Targeting, filed a federal lawsuit alleging four Republican consulting firms are involved in an effort to pay the company’s employees to abandon their work, turn over any signatures they gathered and badmouth the company —&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/11/21/lawsuit-details-alleged-scheme-to-sabotage-referendum-on-gerrymandered-missouri-congressional-map/">all to sabotage the petition drive</a>.

The Republican National Committee has bombarded Missourians with text messages attacking the referendum campaign. And on Wednesday, the president’s son — Donald Trump Jr. — called People Not Politicians Director Richard Von Glahn a “leftist nut” on social media, drawing a response from the Missouri Republican Party accusing Von Glahn of being a “communist.”&nbsp;

Trump Jr.’s social media post also caused a pile on by accounts that appear to be based overseas.

Missouri campaign to repeal gerrymandered map plans to submit signatures next week

With temperatures plunging to single digits throughout the area, some residents may need a place to warm up.

St. Joseph and Savannah have warming centers in place to help accomodate those that need to get out of the elements.

Director of Community Investments with United Way of Greater St. Joseph, Jodi Flurry, says there are several warming center locations in the city. "For the area, its mainly the public library system, as well as the Salvation Army."

The locations include the Downtown Library, Carnegie Library, East Hills Library, and Washington Park Library. The Rolling Hills Libraries in St. Joe and Savannah also act as warming centers.

Flurry adds, "The Salvation Army also has some availabilty for people to sit and warm up in the mornings."

There are some restrictions on what people can bring into the warming centers, which Flurry says includes but is not limited to alcohol, weapons, smoking and animals. "Service animals are likely allowed, but beyond that, there may be restrictions on bringing in animals."

According to Flurry, warming center hours vary by day and by branch. She recommends calling the warming centers directly for exact hours or to visit the <a href="https://www.stjosephunitedway.org/warming-centers-emergency-shelters">United Way of Greater St. Joseph's website</a>.

Flurry notes most warming centers are ADA compliant and have restrooms and water fountains.

Warming centers offered in St. Joseph and Savannah

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Wednesday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford F150 driven by a 42-year-old Cameron man was westbound on Route HH five miles south of Cameron. The pickup crossed the center of the road, traveled off the south side of the road and struck a tree.

A patrol vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The driver 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.

Mo. man injured after pickup strikes a tree

The city has
adorned City Hall with green and red lighting to celebrate the Christmas season.
The new look actually debuted in conjunction with the opening of the Holiday
Park and South Pole displays at Krug and Hyde Parks.

Fourteen LED
fixtures have been added to City Hall, five each on the north and south sides
of the building and two each on the east and west sides. The new lighting can
be used for a variety of special events and commemorations.

The lighting
project is part of the improvements being made to St. Joseph City Hall as it moves
closer to its centennial celebration in 2027. Sidewalks have been replaced, new
period lighting has been installed along the balustrade facing Civic Center
Park, the fountain on the north side of the building is being regraded and
rebuilt, hallways are being repainted, and elevators are being upgraded, among
other improvements.

St. Joseph City Hall takes on a festive look

St. Joseph police
continue to investigate a shooting at the Pleasant Heights Apartment complex,
now indicating juveniles might have been involved.

The St. Joseph
Police Department reports officers responded to a shots fired call around 1:30
Monday morning in the 3200 block of South 36th Street. Officers
discovered evidence of a shooting, including property damage. No one was harmed
in the shooting.

The number of
juveniles that might have been involved or their ages have not been released by
the St. Joseph Police Department.

St. Joseph police report juveniles might have been involved in shooting

St. Joseph city
officials are advising residents they just might get a knock on the door from
inspectors checking for potential lead service lines.

The City of St.
Joseph reports contractors C.E. Bollmeier, M Con LLC, and John Jackson Plumbing
LLC, working on behalf of Missouri American Water, will visit more than 16,000 St.
Joseph homes and businesses to check for the potential lead service lines. It’s
all part of a federally required program

Missouri American
Water contractors will knock on doors to request a brief inspection of the
water service line where it enters the home or business. Letters will be sent
ahead of inspections. The city adds, though, because contractors go to the
property owner of record, renters might not receive a direct notice.

Anyone with
concerns may call Missouri American Water to verify that crews are legitimate
or email MOServiceLineGroup@amwater.com with inquiries. Contractors will not
force entry. If a resident is uncomfortable, they may request a return visit at
another time.

St. Joseph residents could get a visit from pipe inspectors

Burks Tractor, an Idaho-based dealership, filed a lawsuit against Monarch Tractor of California. The suit accuses the California-based startup of a breach of contract and warranty violations after its tractors failed to operate autonomously. The dealership said the ten tractors it bought via interest-bearing financing for almost $800,000 are defective and didn’t live up to the driver-optional, or autonomous, claims of the company. Burks bought the tractors in early 2024 with the intent of being among the California company’s first retail dealers. 

Burks said Monarch misrepresented the tractors as fully autonomous and not limited by location or time. An article in Farm Equipment Magazine said Monarch attempted to make the units work autonomously but failed, eventually admitting to the limitations but refusing to take back the defective inventory. A November 19 letter from Monarch Tractor’s HR Department to 102 employees warned of pending layoffs while changing the business to software licensing.

Farm equipment dealer sues tractor manufacturer

After a tariff war stalled trade for months, reports showed shipments of U.S. crops headed to China are picking up in number. At least six large cargo vessels are scheduled to fill up with soybeans at Gulf Coast terminals through mid-December. A shipping schedule that was seen by Reuters this week said a seventh U.S. soybean cargo was loaded during the previous weekend and is already headed to China, the first shipment since May. 

While the White House announced that China agreed to buy 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans by the end of this month, Beijing has yet to confirm any details about potential promises to purchase large volumes of U.S. soybeans. USDA data said Chinese importers booked nearly two million metric tons of U.S. soybeans last month for delivery in the 2025-2026 marketing year that ends in August 2026. U.S. sorghum shipments have also restarted to China.

More soybean shipments heading to China

March corn closed down 6 1/2 cents and May corn was down 6 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed down 9 cents and March soybeans were down 9 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3 1/2 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 2 3/4 cents, March Minneapolis wheat was down 4 1/2 cents.

Corn, soybean, and wheat markets fell under technical pressure as the state of post-harvest rallies has entered a period of limbo with traders likely searching for clarity on lingering fundamental questions such as the supply side of the corn balance sheet, as well as the uncertain nature of the demand for U.S. soybeans in China. Prices may remain rangebound but below immediate resistance ahead of the December USDA update due out early next week which may offer insight into some of these areas of concern. Outside markets for Wednesday saw equities trade higher, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average higher now in eight of the past ten sessions and once again closing in on record levels. The U.S. Dollar Index was softer for the seventh time in the past eight business days and remains at the bottom of the monthly range for the Index.

The live cattle complex traded modestly higher into Wednesday's close, thankful to again see stronger boxed beef prices. The market initially opened lower at Wednesday's start, but upon seeing improved fundamentals, traders felt as though there was enough support in the market to justify trading the contracts higher. Still no cash cattle trade has developed, but asking prices are noted in the South at $225, and are still not established in the North. It is assumed that cash prices will be higher this week with the uptick in boxed beef prices and with the board's support. The other factor that could be helping drive the cattle contracts higher is the announcement from Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller that another detection of New World screwworm (NWS) was found in Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, which is approximately 120 miles south of the Texas border. This development could mean that the border will stay closed longer than assumed.

With the live cattle market's support, the feeder cattle complex traded over $3.00 higher into Wednesday's noon hour. It was rather impressive to note some of the sales made Tuesday afternoon at sale barns across the country as some were trading $20.00 to $30.00 higher, with instances as much as $50.00 higher than the week before. That obviously showed up in the CME feeder cattle index as well, which jumped $12.66 to $332.36. Today's support of the futures contracts should only encourage more buying in sale barns this afternoon.

After enduring a couple days of weaker trade, the lean hog complex was back to trading higher as the market is no longer up against immediate resistance pressure. Helping encourage traders to send the contracts higher is also the fact that pork cutout values are a tick stronger.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/03141153/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Farmer sentiment strengthened in November as rising crop prices and improved export prospects pushed the Purdue University/CME Group’s Ag Economy Barometer to 139, the highest level since June. Much of the increase was driven by a sharp 15-point jump in future expectations, even as current conditions held steady. The Future Expectations Index rose 15 points to 144. Financial outlooks improved alongside a 10-15 percent rally in fall-delivery corn and soybean bids, helping offset weaker cattle prices in the livestock sector. 

However, producers remain cautious as capital investment slipped further, and fewer farmers say today is a good time to expand. Long-term farmland value expectations reached a record high, while most corn producers anticipate stable cash rental rates heading into 2026. The survey also showed shifting crop production strategies as growers respond to projected tight operating margins, including lower-cost seed traits, reduced phosphorus applications, and adjustments to seeding and nitrogen rates. 

Future outlook drives farmer sentiment higher

The U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council’s 2025-2026 Corn Harvest Quality Report contained some good news about this year’s large corn crop. The 15th annual survey showed that the 2025 U.S. corn crop is projected to be the largest on record at 425.53 million metric tons, or 16,752 bushels. The crop is also highlighted by the lowest rate of broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) in the report’s history, a remarkable accomplishment for the entire corn value chain. 

This year’s crop, on average, is entering the market with characteristics that met or exceeded each grade factor’s numerical requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade corn. The report showed 87 percent of the samples met all grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 1 grade, and 97.8 percent met the grade factor requirements for U.S. No. 2 grade corn. The report is based on 621 yellow corn samples taken from 12 top corn-producing states.  

Large 2025 U.S. corn crop in excellent condition

A junior at Northwest Missouri State University has received a $500 scholarship named in memory of a Savannah native.

Kiara Schaub, of Savannah, Missouri, is currently studying agronomy with a focus on crop science.&nbsp;She is the daughter of Clint and Shelly Schaub.

The Matthew White Memorial Scholarship is an endowed scholarship awarded to a continuing student at Northwest in an agriculture-related major. 

Information from the university says a scholarship of at least $500 is awarded with preference to graduates of Savannah High School, North Andrew High School in Rosendale and students from Missouri or Iowa.&nbsp;

Matthew White was a student at the university who completed his sophomore year as an agriculture business major when he died in an automobile crash in 2005. White's parents, Steve and Julie, of Savannah, established the scholarship in 2006. Both parents are alumni of Northwest.

Northwest Missouri State University student receives scholarship in memory of Savannah native

Four major North American beekeeping organizations released the first-ever&nbsp;<a href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flink.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com%2Fls%2Fclick%3Fupn%3Du001.uz5lr8pI0chmy5RiAKbVZBdtiEabO92IwH4PjGYuo3iEBrMeKsoMncL8xF-2FkA70J7tM30NIWBI1gPmDMpf8fGg-3D-3DbLLV_op3UltOywoDCTS4XADKtXUyHBeSkoIc-2B3QAtI9Yp7LCcJrJT1Bvq5cVjpx37bKtkI4uWgUdoDm-2Fp-2B1v3TR0ZszdTpGurtVlmYjTnjzRbUTD0Sj765SNTin8W85YkR8iUuD9m-2B8LUA4xBWi-2FkDVUXP5dsP7CyVtEXwpqxz7kUabVvWUkFi-2F3OKObzzzG78capBM6D11MpkUSurKhROlGZHqmrnSfS9HsT-2FQ1paMAt2ZqYZUHrr-2Brk2dB9SILJWJr-2BCZmXzEH22-2B97gkvnUZi-2Bf5eA6JsSpUVv2A-2FCOGvjBwSCvGiJ3rUvVZjTGtewItjAKkAdJWteMfhWA9ZbhwSuT27PtaESup5BTKWm4p9wmKgmo51r-2B6jOL7Y7ijVwsN00&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cchad%40nafb.com%7Cdb5ff0c2d4ef4730966f08de3102f0b1%7C0a0f31dbe88545c9b3cd38cd460b6e25%7C1%7C0%7C639002085906345184%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=vwBR3f95SD%2BkQfwRB%2FWYHeusch6nIWmyd91JMo8x5o0%3D&amp;reserved=0">North American Bee Strategy</a>. It’s a coordinated, continent-wide plan to protect honeybees, strengthen the viability of professional beekeeping, and safeguard food security across the U.S. and Canada.

The strategy lays out four priorities, including improving monitoring, treatment, and research on pest diseases. It also strengthens honey authenticity standards and enforcement to curb fraudulent imports. “The strategy was built by beekeepers and for beekeepers,” said Matt Mulica of the Honeybee Health Coalition.

The four organizations include the American Beekeeping Federation, the American Honey Producers Association, the Canadian Beekeepers Federation, and the Canadian Honey Council. Other priorities include supporting applied research, shared research infrastructure, and streamlined scientific collaboration. The goal is to build a more unified and sustainable honey market across national borders. “This strategy will secure the future of beekeeping,” said Dr. Peter Awram of the Canadian Beekeepers Federation.

New Bee Strategy Protects Pollinators and the U.S. Honey Market

Tyson Foods recently announced the shutdown of its beef processing plant in Lexington, Nebraska. The news followed months of losses in its beef division, driven largely by the smallest U.S. cattle herd in decades.

Dr. Derrell Peel, a livestock market economist with Oklahoma State University, told the Radio Oklahoma Network that the move wasn’t entirely unexpected. With an additional slowdown at Tyson’s plant in Amarillo, Texas, Peel said the combination represents a seven to eight thousand head per day loss of packing capacity, which is about 7.5 to nine percent of total U.S. packing capacity.

The southern plains region is also especially tight due to drought-related issues and the impact of the New World Screwworm, which has restricted the flow of Mexican feeder cattle into the U.S. Peel did say that Tyson heavily invested in updating the Amarillo facility, which means the company likely won’t abandon the beef plant long-term.

The Impact of Tyson’s Beef Plant Closure

The Trump administration anticipates it will be ready to announce an aid package for American farmers within two-and-a-half weeks, as well as a deal on Chinese soybean purchases. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins made the announcement this week but didn’t provide further details.

Reuters reported that the administration has said for months it would issue assistance for U.S. farmers ravaged by low crop prices and trade disputes. “We’ll have an announcement probably in the next week or two on what that’s going to look like,” Rollins told CNBC. But AgWeb’s Monthly Monitor found a divided view on the benefits of trade aid.

Economists responding to the Monitor agreed on two things. One is that U.S. agriculture has become too reliant on ad-hoc payments. They say repeated aid packages distort land values, cash rents, equipment purchases, and overall decision-making. Number two is that they all agree that aid payments will keep fertilizer prices high.

Rollins: Farm Aid Expected within Weeks

March corn closed down 2 3/4 cents and May corn was down 2 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 9 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 8 cents. March KC wheat closed down 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down 3 1/2 cents, March MIAX Minneapolis wheat was down 2 cents.

Traders returned from the holiday break on Monday not quite ready to commit to the bullish momentum that had been built through the low volume Thanksgiving week. Corn, soybean, and wheat markets remain in areas of technical resistance, and while seasonality leans in favor of the bulls, there are a few fundamental concerns serving to keep a lid on prices, such as historically high corn supplies and a still hazy export demand outlook for soybeans. In outside markets, the U.S. dollar continued to slump back toward recent support near 99 on the index which held for Monday. Energy markets were higher for the most part, with diesel prices catching themselves to close last week and start the new week after falling sharply in the previous six sessions.

Markets closed downward today. The livestock complex was trading mixed into midday Monday, as the market hopes to see fundamental support improve in the cattle complex before traders push the cattle contracts much higher, but the lean hog contracts were trading slightly stronger. New showlists appear to be mixed, higher in Kansas, about steady in Nebraska/Colorado, but lower in Texas.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/10204004/30001.mp3">Click HERE for Audio</a>

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>

WASHINGTON — Federal authorities arrested a Virginia man Thursday morning who they say was involved in planting pipe bombs outside the Democratic and Republican national committee offices on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, according to numerous media reports.

The man’s identity has not yet been released, according to reports by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-12-4-2025" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://wsj.com/politics/national-security/fbi-makes-arrest-in-connection-with-jan-6-pipe-bombs-4dcc6183?mod=hp_lead_pos11" target="_blank">The Wall Street Journal</a>&nbsp;that cited law enforcement officials.

The arrest marked a potential breakthrough in the five-year-old case.

The Department of Justice did not immediately respond to States Newsroom’s request for comment.

According to the FBI, the suspect placed pipe bombs near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Eastern on Jan. 5, 2021.

Authorities had publicized several&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/wfo-pipebomb-oct-2025-update-v2.mp4/view" target="_blank">video clips</a>&nbsp;of a masked individual in a gray hooded sweatshirt carrying a backpack to transport the pipe bombs. The FBI offered a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

The suspect is expected in court Thursday, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/04/january-6-pipebomb-suspect-arrest-00676412" target="_blank">Politico</a>.

Man arrested in Jan. 2021 pipe bomb case targeting party headquarters

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a domestic incident in rural Shawnee County.

Just after 11a.m. December 2, the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a domestic disturbance that occurred in northwest Shawnee County, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. A 44-year-old female victim walked into the Silver Lake Police Department with a gunshot wound to her hand. 

She was transported to a local hospital by American Medical Response with non-life-threatening injuries.

Multiple law enforcement officers arrived in the 10000 block of NW 54th Street and began searching for the male suspect. At 12:38pm, the suspect was taken into custody.

James I. Morehead, 65, of Silver Lake, Kan., was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Attempted Murder in the 1st degree; intentional and premeditated,&nbsp;&nbsp;Aggravated battery; knowingly use weapon cause great body harm/disfigure/death, Criminal threat, Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia into human body, and Intimidation of witness or victim; prevent reporting of victimization

Sheriff: Kansas man allegedly shot woman in the hand

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 — As a representative of 60 mostly rural Kansas counties, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann said road safety is not an abstract policy concept.

“For me, it’s personal,” the Republican said in recorded remarks at a Wednesday news conference by Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.

Kansas families rely on safe road travel for essentials, including health care, employment, education and “everything in between,” Mann said.

The safety advocates organization Tuesday released&nbsp;<a href="https://saferoads.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-Advocates-Report-ONLINE-fnl1.pdf" target="_blank">a report</a>, outlining why most states, including Kansas, received mediocre grades for road safety and how to address lapses in traffic laws.

This year’s report “makes it clear we still have major challenges on our roadways,” Mann said.

Politicians, advocates, law enforcement and mothers who lost their children in car crashes urged lawmakers during the news conference to shape their 2026 agendas to prioritize improving road safety.

The report rates all states and Washington, D.C., based on the organization’s key safety measures, including laws for seatbelt use, motorcycle helmets, child safety, young driver inexperience, impaired and distracted driving, speeding and red light running.

Red, the lowest ranking, means danger, indicating a state with inadequate road safety laws. Yellow means caution and includes states that have some of the organization’s optimal safety measures. Green signifies a good ranking for states that have enacted and enforced most of the measures.

Cathy Chase, president of the safety advocates organization, said 534 laws across the country need to be advanced to meet the organization’s safety criteria.

Kansas is one of 36 states in the yellow because of its lack of child passenger safety, adult occupant protection and young driver programs, according to the report.

Kansas records almost $3 billion in annual costs because of motor vehicle crashes, the report said. In the past 10 years, more than 4,000 people have died in Kansas traffic incidents.&nbsp;That includes 340 deaths in 2024.

In 2023, more than 40,000 people were killed in the U.S. in motor vehicle incidents. Texas had the most traffic deaths that year at 4,291, followed closely by California with 4,061 people. Both states’ numbers decreased in 2024, according to early estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. D.C. had the fewest number of traffic deaths in both years at 44 people in 2023 and 47 people in 2024.

Annual traffic deaths have decreased across the board in recent years, but 2023’s number is still above 2011’s all-time low of 35,303 deaths.

Nearly one third of 2023’s traffic deaths were caused by drunk driving.&nbsp;

Mann and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire, sponsored this year the End DWI Act, which encourages states to enact laws requiring ignition interlock devices for first-time drunk driving offenses. DWI stands for driving while intoxicated.

The proposed law aims to reduce drunk driving recidivism and keep drunk drivers off the road.Pappas said it’s critical for state and federal lawmakers to have data, and the organization’s report informs efforts to reduce traffic deaths.

“I’m glad that we’re able to pursue a commonsense agenda here in Washington, at a moment where it appears that things are really divided. There’s a lot that unites us, especially when it comes to transportation and infrastructure and safe roadways,” Pappas said.

Kansas congressman highlights bipartisan drunk driving bill as state receives mediocre safety rating

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating a homicide in Kansas City, Missouri have identified the victim as 27-year-old Jerome A. Hawkins, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

Just before 1:30a.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to the 2500 block of Hardesty on an ambulance in route call for service. Call notes indicated there was an individual lying on the ground, unresponsive. 

As officers arrived they located Hawkins on the sidewalk. He appeared to be suffering from gunshot wounds. KCFD EMS arrived simultaneously and pronounced Hawkins deceased on scene. The shooting is being investigated as a homicide and there is no one in custody, according to DiMartino.

KCPD: Man found on the ground died of gunshot wounds 

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Police investigating a fatal Thanksgiving weekend crash have identified the victim as 65-year-old&nbsp;Toby Maestas of Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from Kansas City, Kansas police.

&nbsp;just before 7a.m. Saturday, an SUV driven by Maestro was northbound in the 1300 Block of N 38th Street. The vehicle veered off the road into a parking lot and struck two posts.

First responders pronounced Maestro deceased at the scene.&nbsp; The accident remains under investigation by the KCK Police Traffic division.

Police ID Kansas man who died in parking lot crash

WICHITA, KAN. – A Kansas accountant was sentenced Wednesday to 48 months in prison for defrauding clients of his accounting firm, who were also his relatives, of more than $400,000, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Quintin Flanagin, 45, of Colby pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, one count of bank fraud, one count of false statements, and one count of money laundering.

As a certified public accountant (CPA), Flanagin used his status as a signatory on his clients’ business account and trust account to make unauthorized transactions. Between December 2021 and August 2022, he wrote checks and initiated wire transfers totaling $409,710 to Middle Finger Ranch, a fictitious name that Flanagin connected to his personal bank account. He wrote false verbiage in the memo lines indicating the transactions to be payments for farm operations. 

Flanagin then used the stolen money to help pay for the construction on his new home.

In October 2022, after his victims noticed discrepancies and confronted him, Flanagin took several actions to conceal his crimes including removing Middle Finger Ranch from his personal account. Federal investigators later found a note Flanagin wrote stating that prosecutors couldn’t prove who input the check for processing and that he could likely feign innocence and say his company wasn’t monitoring the account.

“The name of Mr. Flanagin’s fictitious ranch speaks for itself. After stabbing his family in the back, Flanagin lied to their faces. When the victims directly questioned him about accounting inconsistencies, he fabricated convoluted flowcharts and blamed third parties for the fraudulent checks,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “In his hubris, Flanagin thought he could outsmart federal investigators and forensic accountants. He was wrong. My office will continue to use the full force of the federal government to prosecute financial crimes.”

“Mr. Flanagin was entrusted with a fiduciary duty to protect the financial interests of the victims in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office.

“Instead of acting with integrity and in the interest of his clients, the defendant used his position to personally benefit from the scheme. Today’s sentencing reiterates the severity of the case and the seriousness by which the FBI takes financial fraud schemes.”

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated the case.

Kan. CPA, creator of ‘Middle Finger Ranch,’ fraud scheme is going to prison

Mo. U.S. Senator: Why not make healthcare tax free?

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>

The proposed constitutional amendment also includes a ban on gender-affirming health care for minors, a provision opponents say violates a state law requiring amendments only cover one subject

A state appeals court will hear arguments Wednesday over whether Missouri Republicans erred in how they drafted&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/bts_web/bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=13399177" target="_blank">a constitutional amendment banning abortion</a>&nbsp;that voters will see on next year’s ballot.

Last year, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missouri-voters-overturn-states-near-total-abortion-ban/">enshrined the right to abortion&nbsp;</a>in the state constitution.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">The GOP-dominated legislature responded six months later by&nbsp;</a>voting to put a new constitutional amendment on the ballot that would reimpose an abortion ban.&nbsp;

Proponents of abortion rights filed a lawsuit in July arguing that the summary of the proposed abortion ban amendment that will appear on ballots was intentionally deceptive because it failed to state the amendment would repeal the abortion rights amendment. A Cole County judge agreed, in part, and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-orders-revisions-to-ballot-language-for-missouri-abortion-ban-proposal/">ordered Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to rewrite it.&nbsp;</a>

On his second attempt, Hoskins crafted a summary that Judge Daniel Green deemed “fair and sufficient.”&nbsp;

But attorneys representing Dr. Anna Fitz-James —&nbsp;who submitted the language for the reproductive rights initiative petition in 2023 — believe Green was too hasty in giving the language the OK, arguing the current language “fails to tell voters that a right is being eliminated and replaced with fewer rights.”

They filed an appeal of Green’s ruling, which will be argued before the Western District Court of Appeals Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City.&nbsp;

The Missouri Attorney General’s Office, which is representing Hoskins, said the court doesn’t need to determine if the current ballot language is the best wording possible, “but whether it gives the voter a sufficient idea of what the proposed amendment would accomplish.”

“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:

If approved by a majority of voters, the abortion ban amendment would be slightly less restrictive than the near-total ban implemented in June 2022. Unlike the prior ban, it would allow abortions for survivors or rape or incest up to 12 weeks gestation, though it is not clear if or how a survivor would need to prove the assault in order to receive medical care.&nbsp;

All other abortions would be banned, aside from cases of medical emergencies.

Attorneys Chuck Hatfield and Tori Schafer,&nbsp;in briefings to the court of appeals on behalf of Fitz-James, argue the proposed amendment is a “mess” and violates a&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III+++50&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">statute</a>&nbsp;that prevents ballot measures from encompassing more than one subject. They are asking the higher court to remove the amendment from the ballot or re-write the summary.

The crux of the issue, they say, is that gender-affirming health care is separate from reproductive health care. Including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, they say, “logrolls” two unrelated subjects to make the amendment more popular. Gender-affirming health care for minors is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/15/how-missouri-became-a-battleground-over-gender-affirming-care/">currently banned in Missouri,&nbsp;</a>though a challenge to the law is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/24/ruling-upholding-missouri-transgender-care-ban-had-factual-errors-attorneys-argue/">before the state supreme court.&nbsp;</a>

The attorney general’s office on behalf of Hoskins said Fitz-James’ interpretation of the single subject rule is too narrow. Gender-affirming health care, they contend, includes “procedures that frequently render children sterile.”&nbsp;

Fitz-James’ attorneys said assuming gender-affirming surgeries always involve reproductive organs is flawed.

“A wide variety of surgeries accomplish that purpose — from breast augmentation to hair reconstruction—that never implicate a reproductive organ,” they wrote.&nbsp;

Fitz-James’ attorneys argue the current wording “obscures” the fact that the proposed amendment would ban most abortions by making it sounds as if the abortion rights it keeps in place would be new, rather than rights that are already protected.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Most voters, they argue, will have no idea what Article 1, Section 36 of the Missouri Constitution is.&nbsp;

“The words ‘approved in 2024’ are similarly devoid of context or meaning,” Fitz-James’ attorneys wrote in court filings. “Approved by whom? Some random bureaucrat? The legislature? Good Housekeeping? The voter is left to wonder.”

The attorney general’s office argues Missourians should be given more credit when they show up to the polls.

“Voters are certainly intelligent enough to know that ‘random bureaucrat[s]’ and ‘Good Housekeeping’ do not approve constitutional amendments,” the attorney general’s office wrote.

Court filings briefly delved into the use of a semi-colon in the fourth bullet point, with attorneys for Fitz-James lambasting its misuse while the attorney general’s office called on grammar gurus Strunk and White to defend the punctuation.&nbsp;

However the court of appeals rules, the case will almost certainly end up in hands of the Missouri Supreme Court.

Appeals court takes up fight over wording of Missouri abortion ban ballot measure

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will begin next week to block nutrition assistance funding for states led by Democrats that have not provided data on fraud in the program, Secretary Brooke Rollins told President Donald Trump at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

USDA sought data from states earlier this year related to their administration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits, Rollins said Tuesday. She added the data was needed to address fraud that she called “rampant” in the program that helps 42 million people afford groceries.

Most states complied with the request, but 21, mostly run by Democrats, refused, she said. A USDA spokesperson later implied the department was missing data from 22 states.

“As of next week, we have begun and will begin to stop moving federal funds into those states until they comply, and they tell us and allow us to partner with them to root out this fraud and to protect the American taxpayer,” Rollins said.

A USDA spokesperson in an email listed 28 states, plus one territory, from which they said the department has received data.

That would leave the following 22 states, all led by Democratic governors, that have not provided data: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin.&nbsp;

The spokesperson provided some additional details of the initiative, including that the department was targeting administrative funds, and that the next step would be a formal warning.

Blue states sought to protect bad actors, including criminals and immigrants in the country without legal status, “over the American taxpayer,” the statement said.

“We have sent Democrat States yet another request for data, and if they fail to comply, they will be provided with formal warning that USDA will pull their administrative funds,” the spokesperson said.

Court&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.453513/gov.uscourts.cand.453513.109.0.pdf" target="_blank">records</a>&nbsp;show the department sent the states a new request for data on Nov. 28, and asked for a response within seven days, which would be Friday.&nbsp;

The letter was reproduced as part of a suit the 22 states have brought against the administration over the request for SNAP recipients’ data.

It’s unclear what authority Rollins would have to block funding, which Congress has appropriated.

The federal government pays for all benefits for SNAP, which was formerly known as food stamps. It splits the administrative costs with states.

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