With kids out of school on President's Day, and families looking for something to do, it's a perfect opportunity to see the Pony Express Museum for free.  

The museum will be open to all for free for family day, with several fun events throughout the day, along with tours of the museum.  

Executive Director Cindy Daffron says the event has grown over the years from just doing an obstacle course, to now owning to event center which provides a unique experience  

“That thing is going to take you 2000 miles, you'll start right out as if you were in St. Joseph at the stables and travel all through those eight states, but there’s a few encounters along the way, you might find a snake, might do this, might find a horse,” Daffron says on the KFEQmunnity show. “But what it does it allows the families, the Missouri Division of Tourism and Humanities Council gave us money to make it easier for people to go through.” 

“So before the kids went and you couldn’t catch them, so now the families go through and get to learn, and up on the stage is full of animals so if you’ve got young children there is something in there for everyone.” 

Daffron says the fun starts bright and early with a biscuits and gravy breakfast 

“We want to act like we’re Buffalo Bill, so we’ll have a table and you can come from 8am to 10am and have a little biscuits and gravy, a little Sunny D and a coffee, and just enjoy fellowshipping like people would back in the day” Daffron explains.   

“We know a young boy that traveled all the way from Nebraska three years ago when I said we’re doing biscuits and gravy, and he heard it on Spotify and his grandpa said well you know that’s like three hours away and he like I don’t care grandpa I’ve never had biscuits and gravy and I wanna go, I wanna go, he said well you’ll have to get up early, early, and he said well that’s fine, so he walks in and then he left learning.” 

Other events throughout the day include kids learning how to rope like cowboys, quilting, and making buttons.  Lunch will also be provided.  

Daffron says also during the program, the museum will host some kickoff events for the Day Camp that takes place in the summer 

"We’re gonna do things like make a necklace, so they feel like they’ve kind of started camp in some way, well maybe I want to go,” Daffron says.  “And we find out a lot of kids are like oh yeah my friend went now I know what it is, well then they get an application, so people get to do that.” 

Applications will be available on the day for people to sign their children up for day camp if interested.  The museum will be open from 9am to 4pm.

For more information on Family Day, you can visit the<a href="https://www.ponyexpress.org/"> Pony Express Museum's website</a>.

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

Experience the Pony Express Museum for free during Family Day next week

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before noon Wednesday in DeKalb County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Cadillac XTS driven by a 74-year-old Maysville man was westbound on U.S. 36 at taylor Road two miles west of Stewartsville.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the north side of the highway, struck a Chevron sign, a field fence and a tree.

DeKalb-Clinton County ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man injured after car strikes a fence and a tree

The Missouri Western State University School of Fine Arts will host its 19th Annual Jazz Festival starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. Since its inception in 2007 with only four bands, the event has grown significantly, featuring 18 school ensembles this year.

Performances will take place throughout the day in Blum 219 and the Fulkerson Center. Each participating group will perform for a panel of adjudicators to receive written and recorded critiques. Following their sets, the bands will transition into private clinics lasting 25 to 40 minutes, where professional clinicians will provide hands-on instruction to help students refine their technique.

“The primary focus and commitment of this festival is making this an educational and musical experience for students and directors alike,” said Bob Long, director of jazz studies at Missouri Western.

The event will conclude with a 6:30 p.m. concert in the Fulkerson Center featuring the MoWest Jazz Ensemble and guest trombonist David Dickey. The guest appearance is funded by a grant from the Missouri Western State University Arts Society.

The public is encouraged to attend the performances and the evening concert. Admission for the entire day is free of charge.

Missouri Western State University to host 19th Annual Jazz Festival

The St. Joseph Police Department and the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office have announced an upcoming eight-week academy running from&nbsp;March 31st through May 26th.

 This program is designed to be both informative and engaging, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of the day-to-day operations within local law enforcement agencies.

Classes will be held every&nbsp;Tuesday evening from 6:00 pm to approximately 9:00 pm&nbsp;at the Law Enforcement Center, located at 501 Faraon, unless otherwise specified. Each session will be led by certified Law Enforcement Officers from both the City and County departments, offering a look at how teams serve the community.

It was noted that this is not a candidate school for aspiring officers. Instead, it is a community outreach program intended to provide a hands-on experience of departmental operations. Active discussion and mutual learning is encouraged, but this program is not a forum for debating personal grievances or previous enforcement contacts.

Due to the interactive nature of the academy,&nbsp;class size is limited to 30 participants. Law enforcement is requesting that only those who can commit to the full eight-week schedule apply. To graduate, participants must attend at least six of the nine scheduled sessions.

Reasons for not being accepted may include (but are not limited to); Any felony arrest or conviction, any misdemeanor arrest or conviction within the last year, and arrests related to drugs, domestic violence, or other violent acts.

Only the first thirty qualified candidates will be selected.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be honored at a graduation ceremony and presented with a diploma by Chief of Police Paul Luster and Sheriff Bill Puett.

Registration is available <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfs14RD-gP-J0PrYmz_4-Zz7oxmz4xXKgwNboxrVLQQ7_Ghpg/viewform?fbclid=IwY2xjawP4iqxleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFUbW5VTnJSRnZOdDB1cDVVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHrzazT36bifo0hqi94PcjIbWl55nnUedTVLVVs28-ZfcjgI1tONiEd5LDzaQ_aem__w4u1byh00edOd99YfS6kQ">here</a>.

Joint Citizens Law Enforcement Academy announced in St. Joseph

A press release from the Elwood Police Department says on January 15, 2026, Elwood police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle displaying a stolen Nebraska registration tag after receiving information from the Kansas Highway Patrol.

During the stop, officers arrested the following individuals:

- Kyle Wissler was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Stolen Property, and Driving While License Suspended.

- Quetin Elmer was arrested for Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and was also held on an active arrest warrant out of Nemaha County, Kansas.

While processing the case, officers reportedly observed additional items that appeared suspicious and proactively contacted neighboring agencies to determine whether the property was connected to any open investigations. 

As a result, the Hiawatha Police Department obtained a search warrant for the vehicle, leading to the recovery of property connected to a double burglary investigation. Information from this case also assisted the Nebraska City Police Department in advancing their investigation.

Elwood Police stop leads to multi-agency burglary and drug bust

The University of Missouri Extension is offering 'Dining with Diabetes,' a healthy cooking class specifically designed for individuals looking to manage their diabetes through better nutrition. 

This program focuses on proving that healthy meals can be easy to prepare, budget-friendly, and delicious.

Participants have the opportunity to gain practical skills through live recipe demonstrations and comprehensive educational sessions. The curriculum covers:

This course consists of four consecutive Monday sessions. To ensure safety and accessibility, all classes will be held virtually via Zoom.

The Department of Health and Senior Services, says the program is completely free for all participants. However, registration is required to receive the Zoom link and course materials. To register, call Rachel Livesay at 816-324-3147 or <a href="https://pears.io/events/mu/4223/">online</a>.

MU Extension to host Dining with Diabetes: A Free Virtual Cooking Series

KFEQ Morning Sports 

For almost four hours Tuesday, Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe heard arguments on what it means to turn in signatures for a referendum. Opponents of the redistricting plan said allowing it to take effect renders the right of referendum meaningless

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

A Missouri judge is being asked to decide which congressional district map — the one&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/missouri-senate-adjourns-early-after-passing-congressional-redistricting-map/">passed in 2022</a>&nbsp;or the one&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/12/gerrymandered-congressional-map-initiative-petitions-limits-sent-to-missouri-governor/">passed last year</a>&nbsp;— will be in effect when candidates line up to file for office later this month.

For about four hours Tuesday, Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe listened to arguments over the meaning of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++52(a)&amp;bid=31810&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional provisions</a>&nbsp;governing&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++52(b)&amp;bid=31811&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">citizen referendums</a>. He wanted to know why he was being asked to make a decision now about what happens when petitions are delivered when the deadline for determining if there are enough signatures to force a vote is months away.

The first important date on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/calendar/2026cal" target="_blank">this year’s election calendar</a>&nbsp;is the opening of candidate filing on Feb. 24, said Jonathan Hawley, an attorney representing the Jackson County residents who filed the lawsuit.&nbsp;

If the gerrymandered map passed last year by Republicans is used during candidate filing, he said, it will be difficult if not impossible to change when signature-checking is complete in July. That is just days before the Aug. 4 primary.

“If a law could take effect before the people have their say, it would make the referendum power meaningless,” Hawley said.

Attorneys for the state argued the earliest date a law can be suspended by an initiative is when the petitions have been found to include enough signatures to make the ballot.

“Do we assume that submitting an unverified petition and unverified signatures suspends a law passed by the people’s representatives?” asked Louis Capozzi, state solicitor general.

Stumpe asked attorneys to make their final filings by next Tuesday.

Redistricting has become the biggest political war in Missouri in decades. Republicans muscled a gerrymandered congressional map through the Legislature last year under&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/10/after-hearing-from-trump-missouri-gop-muscle-gerrymandered-map-forward-in-state-senate/">pressure from President Donald Trump</a>. The new plan carved up the 5th Congressional District, represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City since 2005, in an attempt to flip it to the GOP.

A political action committee, People Not Politicians, began gathering signatures to force a statewide vote and turned in more than 300,000 signatures on Dec. 9 to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ office.

By then, several court cases were underway and more would follow, including the case that went to trial on Tuesday. Hoskins, going against a century of precedent, declared that the new law took effect Dec. 11 despite the submission of signatures.

For all past referendums, the filing of a petition with enough apparent signatures to make the ballot was all that was needed for a new law to be put on hold until the vote or the signatures count was verified. That is what happened in 2017 after a referendum petition challenging right to work was filed.

Stumpe noted the intensity of the political and legal fights when he asked the attorneys to restrain their rhetoric in court.

“This is an emotionally charged case,” he said. “This is a politically charged case.”

The key legal question Stumpe will have to resolve is whether delivering referendum signatures is enough to prevent a law from taking effect.

The Constitution says that when a law is referred to voters, it does not take effect until they approve it, Hawley said. The filing of the petition pages with an apparently sufficient number of signatures is enough to suspend the law.

Every decision made by Missouri courts on the referendum power, back to one of the&nbsp;<a href="https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/state-v-carter-899764459" target="_blank">earliest decisions in 1914</a>, backs up that argument, he said.&nbsp;

“For the past 100 years, Missouri courts at all levels have safeguarded that right,” he said.

In the 1914 case, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that refusal by the secretary of state and the attorney general to do their duties “did not defeat the referendum so as to prevent the suspension of the act, since the constitutional provision for the referendum is self-executing.”

But the law in 1914 was that petitioners certified the signatures they gathered, Capozzi said. The law hasn’t been referred to voters until the signature verification process approved in 1980 is complete, he said.

The petition must have about 110,000 signatures representing 5% of the 2024 vote for governor in six of the state’s eight congressional districts.&nbsp;

A PAC called Put Missouri First intervened in the case to back up the state’s arguments. Marc Ellinger, attorney for the PAC, said it is unknown whether the petition will have enough signatures.

“Don’t jump to the conclusion that a box of papers stops a law in Missouri,” Ellinger said.

A referendum rests on three legs, Stumpe said: timely filing, legal form and sufficient signatures to make the ballot. He asked Hawley to explain why he should act while signatures are being checked.

“We have to presume the third leg of the stool or the referendum process falls apart,” Hawley said.

It is uncertain what Hoskins has done other than say the law is in effect. As part of the redistricting plan, Democratic voters in predominantly Black areas of Kansas City were shifted into the Republican 4th District and heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County were added to the remaining Kansas City portions.

In the map passed in 2022, Boone County was split between the 3rd and 4th districts.&nbsp;

Hoskins’ office has not delivered the information needed to reassign voters to new districts, Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said Tuesday in an interview with The Independent. Local election authorities cannot change voters to new districts until after the April election, she noted.

Hoskins’ office delivered 2,450 pages with signatures to Boone County.

“We’re almost done” with signature verification, Lennon said.

The case heard Tuesday, while directly about the date the new map takes effect, has side issues that include accusations that it was engineered by People Not Politicians.

After hearing arguments over demands by the state for more information, Stumpe denied the request.

Judge to decide whether Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map is in effect

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for an alleged assault.

Just after 8:30p.m. February 7, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 1400 block Santa Fe Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. An investigation determined that a disturbance had occurred around 10p.m. on Thursday night involving three people who reside together at the residence. 

During the disturbance 63-year-old Nena Dempsey had threatened the other two residents with a handgun and subsequently locked the two, a 56-year-old man and 66-year-old woman, in a bedroom where they remained throughout the night. Dempsey is also charged with striking the 66-year-old woman in the face multiple times on Friday morning.

Police arrested Dempsey on requested charges of aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and battery and booked her into the county jail. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. woman accused of violent attack on roommates

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, in partnership with the American Legion, is officially accepting applications for the 54th Cadet Patrol Academy. 

The joint program is seeking motivated young men and women, ages 16 to 18, to participate in the upcoming 2026 class.

The week-long academy is scheduled to begin on June 7. This immersive experience is designed to provide students with hands-on insight into the world of law enforcement. Throughout the week, cadets will mirror the daily routines and rigorous training of actual Patrol recruits, allowing them to explore various career paths within the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The program will conclude with a formal graduation ceremony on Friday, June 12.

To be considered for the academy, interested students must meet the following criteria:

Prospective cadets can find applications through the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.missourilegion.org/">Missouri Legion website</a> or by visiting their local American Legion Post. For specific questions regarding the academy, contact Corporal Michael Halim at 573-522-7650.

Applications for the American Legion Cadet Patrol Academy are now open

The Route E bridge over West Honey Creek, located southeast of Princeton, is scheduled to close for a total replacement beginning Monday, Feb. 23.

Part of the Missouri Department of Transportation’s (MoDOT) Northwest Bridge Bundle project, the bridge is expected to remain closed through July 2026. Local motorists are advised to plan alternate routes for the duration of the construction.

The existing West Honey Creek Bridge was constructed in 1932 and currently serves roughly 294 vehicles daily. Its replacement is one of 31 aging structures across north central Missouri identified for replacement or rehabilitation under the "poor-condition" designation.

“The Northwest Bridge Bundle is a Design-Build project which will replace or rehabilitate 31 poor-condition bridges,” said MoDOT Project Manager Michael Marriott.

In December 2023, the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded the contract to the Capital – Horner &amp; Shifrin team. Unlike traditional methods, the Design-Build delivery system uses a single contracting team to handle both the design and construction phases.

MoDOT to close Route E Bridge in Mercer County for replacement

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

Row-crop trade was quiet at midweek with wheat futures leading the way higher after successfully holding above trendline support early in the week. Meanwhile, soybeans recovered from early losses to extend the rally while corn futures were sluggish despite larger-than-expected cuts to U.S. stocks in Tuesday's WASDE report, with a seven-year high forecast for reserves still weighing on price potential. Outside markets leaned mostly positive with firm energy markets amid lingering geopolitical risks as negotiations continue between the U.S. and Iran regarding the latter's nuclear program. In other news for Wednesday, January jobs data was much better than expected, with a cut to the unemployment rate and a surge in job creation. This in turn pressured Treasuries and raised yields as the slowing job market through the final few months of 2025 had been an argument for lowering interest rates.

It's almost as if the overarching theme in the live cattle complex as we headed into Wednesday's noon hour was, "Why are we waiting around? We know the market's direction is higher." So where does all this support come from this morning? Good question, because boxed beef prices were mostly lower, there's yet to be any trade in the fed cash cattle market, and the equity markets aren't doing anything that would justify trading notably higher. But if there's one thing we know and understand about the livestock complex, it's that it is an anticipatory market. If traders think the market is bound to trade substantially higher, one may ask, "Why not today?" and they followed through finishing fully higher. Still no trade has developed in the fed cash cattle market and both bids and asking prices remain elusive at this point. Boxed beef prices are mixed: choice down $0.41 ($367.14) and select up $1.19 ($364.09) with a movement of 53 loads (45.12 loads of choice, 3.38 loads of select, zero loads of trim and 4.62 loads of ground beef).

Upon seeing the live cattle contracts trading higher, it didn't take much convincing to get the feeder cattle futures to move higher also. Sales have been noticeably stronger this week in the countryside for both feeder cattle and calves as supplies remain incredibly thin.

Meanwhile the lean hog complex is the same story Wednesday that it's been over the last couple of days as the market continued to scale lower. And with pork cutout values down slightly, the market won't likely change its direction until that is corrected.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/02/11140419/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

A new American Farm Bureau Market Intel Report said Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies increased for the second year in a row, reaching 315 filings in 2025, a 46 percent increase from 2024. The Midwest and Southeast filed 121 and 105 Chapter 12 cases, respectively, far outpacing any other regions. Deep crop losses across commodities common in those two regions have compounded after years of declining receipts and rising expenses. 

Filing for Chapter 12 bankruptcy is a last resort for farmers who have incurred large debts to continue operating with increased flexibility for payments. Midwest states with double-digit filings include Iowa with 18, Nebraska 17, Missouri and Wisconsin each had 16 filings, Minnesota with 13, and Kansas had 11. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City said farmers are taking out larger operating loans and taking longer to repay them. USDA estimates that total farm debt will rise 5.2 percent to a record $624.7 billion this year. 

Farm bankruptcies continued climbing in 2025

The USDA announced the enrollment periods for agricultural producers and landowners to submit offers for the Continuous and General Conservation Reserve Program. The Farm Service Agency is accepting offers for Continuous CRP starting this Thursday, February 12, through March 20, 2026. Enrollment for the General CRP will run from March 9, 2026, through April 17, 2026. FSA will announce the dates for the Grassland CRP signup in the near future. 

“We’re still very close to the 27-million-acre statutory cap, with 1.9 million acres available for all CRP enrollments this fiscal year, so enrollment is likely to be competitive,” said Richard Fordyce, USDA Undersecretary for Farm Programs and Conservation. “It’s not about the total number of enrolled acres, it’s about producers and landowners offering the acres that can best deliver real and lasting benefits to soil, water, and wildlife.” Producers and landowners interested in participating in CRP should contact their local FSA county office. 

USDA announces enrollment periods for 2026 continuous and general CRP 

March corn closed unchanged and May corn was up a 1/4 cent. March soybeans closed up 11 3/4 cents and May soybeans were up 12 1/2 cents. March KC wheat closed up 1 3/4 cents, March Chicago wheat was down a 1/2 cent, March Minneapolis wheat was down 2 1/4 cents.

Soybean futures led the way higher on Tuesday, resuming rallying efforts after a brief pause on Monday. Meanwhile, corn and wheat markets were mixed as USDA made very few changes to U.S. and global balance sheets but did reiterate multi-year highs in grain reserves. Outside markets were mixed for Tuesday with softer energy markets, while the U.S. dollar recovered from the turn lower on Monday.

In trying to wait patiently for the week's fundamentals to shine through the marketplace, the live cattle complex was mixed for the bulk of the session before finishing lower, as traders simply aren't willing to advance the market at this point without first seeing fundamental reassurance develop. It's quite likely the market could enter a sideways trading range until it sees what the fed cash cattle market is going to accomplish this week. Traders don't want to pressure the market's resistance from a technical standpoint, but at the same time they believe in the market's long-term, bullish fundamental outlook, which is why a sideways trend is most likely to be the theme throughout the remainder of the week and until cash cattle begin to trade. Tuesday's WASDE report shared a fruitful outlook for the cattle and beef markets of 2026. Beef production for 2026 was increased by 185 million pounds as fed cattle slaughter is expected to increase, cow slaughter is expected to increase, and carcass weights are obviously higher. Boxed beef prices are mixed: choice up $2.24 ($370.00) and select down $0.82 ($364.53) with a movement of 74 loads (53.35 loads of choice, 4.31 loads of select, 4.17 loads of trim and 11.88 loads of ground beef).

Without a strong presence seen in the live cattle complex, the feeder cattle contracts were also trading mixed into Tuesday's noon hour, before fading and finishing lower. But what remains interesting about the feeder cattle market's behavior is the deferred contracts aren't concerned about what the live cattle contracts are doing and instead traded fully higher, seeming more focused on the market's long-term situation of short supplies for the bulk of today's session.

The lean hog complex was again trading lower as the market seems to be anticipating increased supplies that are soon to hit the market. The last quarterly Hogs and Pigs report unveiled more market-ready supplies than what the industry anticipated, and there were plenty of hogs noted in the heavy weight categories which will meet the consumer in the supply chain at any point in time now. But what also remains true is that while the futures complex may be scaling lower, pork demand over the last two weeks has been noticeably stronger, which one may logically assume is because some consumers are electing to purchase pork as opposed to beef as it's a cheaper protein option.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2026/02/10143131/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a new federal registration for low-volatility Dicamba herbicides in 34 states. This registration will enable U.S. farmers to have access to this important weed control tool in Dicamba-tolerant soybeans and cotton. Bayer is launching the new registration as Stryax Dicamba herbicide, a restricted-use pesticide. “With a federal registration in hand, we’ll begin the process of seeking state approvals,” said Dr. Ty Witten, Bayer’s vice president of commercial stewardship. ”In the weeks ahead, we’ll launch applicator training opportunities and stewardship education to help ensure that growers and applicators have the best experience possible.” 

The registration will enable the use of approved low-volatility Dicamba herbicides in-crop up to seven days pre-harvest in XtendFlex cotton, and up through R1 in XtendFlex soybeans. Bayer said Stryax is intended to help manage glyphosate-resistant broadleaf weeds, as well as other tough-to-control weeds. 

EPA announces new low-volatility Dicamba herbicides

The U.S. will temporarily expand the amount of beef it can import from Argentina, thanks to an executive order signed by President Trump last week. Reports said the move is intended to help lower the price of beef, but the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association said that isn’t accurate. The proclamation increases the in-quota tariff-rate quota for lean beef trimmings by 80,000 metric tons for the calendar year 2026. 

The additional imports will be entirely allocated to imports from Argentina and released into the U.S. market in segments four times through the year, beginning this week on February 13. “The White House said the action is intended to boost supply and make ground beef more affordable for American consumers,” the reports continued. “The proclamation from the White House said the administration is acting in response to historically high beef prices and a prolonged decrease in the U.S. cattle herd.”

U.S. to quadruple beef imports from Argentina

March corn closed down 1 1/2 cents per bushel at $4.28 3/4 and May Corn closed down 1 3/4 cents per bushel at $4.37 and March soybeans closed down 4 1/2 cents at $11.10 3/4 and May soybeans were down 3 3/4 cents at $11.25. March KC wheat closed down 2 1/2 cents at $5.28 3/4, March Chicago wheat was down 1 cent at $5.28 3/4 and MIAX March Minneapolis wheat was up 0.01 cents at $5.7050.

Grain and soybean markets fell Monday, led by soybeans and soymeal as the Argentine rain outlook has brightened and soy premiums in South America fell, making the U.S. less competitive. Soybean oil bucked the bearish trend and rallied along with crude oil.

The livestock complex headed into Monday's noon hour with a mixed tone, as traders desired to push the contracts higher, but needed to see more fundamental support before they would confidently do so. New showlists are higher in Texas, Kansas and mostly steady in Nebraska/Colorado.

The live cattle complex was taking a mixed approach to Monday's noon hour as the market continued to desire to trade higher -- but traders need to see continued fundamental support and reassurance before they'll likely push the market up to or beyond resistance thresholds.

Upon establishing what seems to be a new top last week in the lean hog complex, the market continued to trade lower today as traders question if there's enough support to challenge that new threshold.&nbsp;

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/12/15204004/30001.mp3">Click HERE for Audio</a>

Modern Ag Alliance issued a report on the state of the American farmer, showing that agriculture is facing one of its most challenging periods in a generation. The report said economic pressures and activist campaigns against modern agriculture have created conditions where even the most resilient operations are feeling the strain. 

These pressures extend well beyond the farm gate, giving price instability across the economy for the food, fuel, and fiber that depend on agricultural production. The report shows farmers face profitability challenges, with only about half the farmers expected to be profitable in the past year. Commodity prices have dropped as high as 58 percent since 2022, and cost increases like labor and tariff-related expenses continue climbing. Farm bankruptcies have seen a 60 percent year-over-year increase, surpassing the 2024 total by mid-2025. 

They also said regulatory uncertainty and disconnected policymakers are making a difficult situation even harder.

Modern Ag Alliance Issues a Report on the Modern Farmer

Boehringer Ingelheim announced that the Food and Drug Administration has issued an Emergency Use Authorization for using IVOMEC (Ivermectin) 1% Injection for preventing infestations of New World Screwworm in cattle. 

Under the Authorization, Ivermectin 1% is usable for the prevention of infestations caused by NWS larvae when administered within 24 hours of birth, at the time of castration, or at the appearance of a wound in cattle. It’s not usable in female dairy cattle producing milk for human consumption and calves that will be processed for veal. 

Based on the available scientific evidence, the FDA determined that there is no adequate, approved, and available alternative to the product for preventing NWS in certain cattle at these critical intervention points. “Protecting the health and well-being of livestock is at the core of our mission,” said Steve Boren, the vice president of U.S. livestock for Boehringer Ingelheim.

BIVI Secures Emergency Authorization for NWS Medication

The USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasts that net farm income, a broad measure of profitability in the agricultural economy, is forecast to drop by 0.7 percent to $153.4 billion in 2026 compared to last year. When adjusted for inflation, net farm income is projected to decrease by $4.1 billion or 2.6 percent. Reuters said that the drop comes despite near-record government payments, which will make up almost 29 percent of producers’ bottom line. 

“Agency data said without those government payments, net farm income would drop almost 12 percent to $109.1 billion,” Reuters said. “Government payments are doing a lot of the work to support crop producers.” 

The USDA forecast said producers will receive $30.5 billion in direct support in 2025 and $44.3 billion in 2026, excluding additional payouts from federal crop insurance indemnities. “We haven’t seen these levels since 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 upheaval and trade disruptions during President Donald Trump’s first term,” Reuters added.

Farm Income Will Fall in 2026

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

On February 9, Officer J. Paulakovich assisted the Kansas Highway Patrol in a vehicle pursuit that ended when the suspect’s car struck a citizen’s vehicle. Thankfully, there were no injuries. Officer Paulakovich arrested the suspect and located fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine in the vehicle. 

The suspect had multiple outstanding warrants, including possession of controlled substances, burglary, and parole violations. He was taken into custody and charged.&nbsp; Police did not release the name of the suspect.

Fentanyl and cocaine found after Kan. police chase and crash

WASHINGTON— Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared before the House Oversight Committee Wednesday to answer questions about the release of the Epstein files and other controversies.

🎥Epstein files: Bondi's Oversight hearing erupts into shouting match

By: NICOLAS FIERRO Salina Post

The family of the late Riley Dean Faris, is questioning why no criminal charges were placed on an individual involved in the crash that took away his life.

Riley Faris passed away at age 30 on&nbsp;October 17, 2025 after riding his motorcycle, when he was hit from behind on a Brookville road. The crash happened at approximately 6:53 pm on K-140 Highway at Perry Street. Faris was headed westbound when a 2003 Subaru Forester operated by Kiley Barnett (39) from Kanopolis, hit him from behind.&nbsp;

Barnett was booked into the Saline County Jail that same night with requested charges of No Proof of Insurance, Driving While Suspended (DWS) and Following Too Close. She was then released.

According to Kansas Court records, Barnett has 40 traffic violations.

Colton Faris, brother of Riley <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1DZBboGCVw/">made a Facebook video on February 3, 2026</a>&nbsp;discussing a conversation he had with Saline County Attorney, John Reynolds.

Colton stated his mother got in contact via phone with Reynolds and wondered why they have not received an accident report after five months since the incident.&nbsp;During the phonecall, Colton said Reynolds explained to his mother the charges placed on Barnett and further said "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle."

Colton then called Reynolds on why he made the comment. According to Colton, Reynolds described to him that he thinks there was no evidence to place any sort of murder or involuntary manslaughter charge on Barnett.

"He (Reynolds) said, yes she killed him but it was not criminal. I don't understand that when you don't have a license, you are not supposed to be driving and when you don't have insurance, which is required to drive a car, how killing him is not a criminal offense," said Colton Faris on the video.

Reynolds told Salina Post he did not make explicitly make the comment of "that is just what happens when you ride a motorcycle," but instead was "taken out of context."

He said the context was he explained how "when cars and motorcycles collide, it always ends up bad for the motorcyclist."

Saline County Sheriff's Office on accident report

The Saline County Sheriff's Office told Salina Post why the Faris family received the accident report 3 and one half months later.

According to the Sheriff's Office, reports are available through the <a href="https://www.dol.ks.gov/labor-relations/kansas-open-records-act-kora">Kansas Open Records Act</a>, but with fluid cases (evolving) and cases with the potential to result in criminal charges without a criminal court disposition, are two of the several exemptions to the act.

In this case, the law enforcement agency did not have a court disposition, or any information if criminal charges were not going to be filed by the County Attorney until the week of Feb. 2 - 6, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office wanted to confirm there were not going to be criminal charges filed prior to releasing a narrative report that could potentially interfere with criminal prosecution. 

Once this was learned, the Sheriff's Office encouraged the Faris family to request the case again and the report was disseminated within 48 hours.

"We strive to provide the appropriate information at the appropriate time while adhering to the Kansas Open Records Act," said the Sheriff's Office.

Reynolds stated the charges placed on Barnett were "traffic violations" and not criminal charges.

Reynolds provided details on what happened in the accident.

According to Reynolds, there was a vehicle going southbound leaving Brookville and got onto K-140 westbound. He said the vehicle got right in front of Faris, which caused him to slow down. Barnett coming from behind was headed westbound and once she became aware of Faris slowing down, she had a "very narrowed reaction time, because she closed the gap between him and the vehicle in front," according to Reynolds.

Reynolds said Barnett tried to avoid colliding with Faris during this time.

"By the time she realizes what's going on, she goes to take evasive maneuvers to move over into the other lane to go around Faris," Reynolds said. "She almost missed him."

Reynolds further said he knew this happened, because he not only visited the accident scene, but also by determining the marks on the vehicles, roadway and review of law enforcement body cameras.

"There were two state troopers out there, they came to the same conclusion of the deputies and what I had," said Reynolds.

Additionally, Reynolds said Barnett should have been farther back before the crash. He placed the Following Too Close charge, because the crash resulted in a fatality.&nbsp;

He also said Faris was not wearing a helmet.

For Barnett to have been placed a requested charge of Involuntary Manslaughter, Reynolds stated the following would need to include:&nbsp;

- Killing someone while committing or attempting to commit a felony.   

- During to commission of an unlawful act in an unlawful manner; Or in attempting to commit, or in flight from, an act described in KSA 8-1567.

"I did not see any of these elements in the affidavit filed in this case," said Reynolds.

Petition started to demand felony charges and removal County Attorney

The cousin of the late Riley Faris, started a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-riley-demand-felony-charges-and-removal-of-saline-county-attorney-j-reynolds">petition</a> titled "JUSTICE FOR RILEY: Demand Felony Charges and Removal of Saline County Attorney J. Reynolds."

Stated in the petition, the writer brought up Kansas statutes for upgraded charges on Barnett.

"The charges against Kiley Barnett be upgraded to the highest extent of the law. Under&nbsp;K.S.A. 21-5403, a killing committed unintentionally but recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life is Second-Degree Murder.&nbsp;At a minimum, this must be prosecuted as Involuntary Manslaughter&nbsp;(K.S.A. 21-5405), a Level 5 Person Felony."

Furthermore, it stated Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct for the removal of Reynolds.

The petition currently has over 4,000 signatures.

Barnett is scheduled to appear in court for a status conference on March 25. 

The Saline County court will determine to either take the Barnett case to trial on if she will be convicted for DWS, No Proof of Insurance and Following Too Close.

🎥 Family of Kan. motorcyclist speaks out after no criminal charges in fatal crash

JACKSON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating the death of a baby.

On Tuesday night, Kansas City police were dispatched on a medical call in the 7500 Block of E. 75th Street, according to Jackson County Sheriff Daryl Forte'.&nbsp; First responders were told a 3-month old was bleeding and possibly deceased.&nbsp; The child was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Sheriff Forte'.

A suspicious death is investigation underway.&nbsp; Authorities released no additional details on Wednesday.

Death of 3-month old in Kansas City under investigation

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">Morgan Chilson</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — CoreCivic argued Tuesday for the right to begin holding prisoners in its closed Leavenworth facility, even as the company is working through a local permit process that could make the court case irrelevant.

CoreCivic challenged an injunction in the Kansas Court of Appeals that was made last year by the Leavenworth County District Court. The injunction kept the private prison from taking detainees from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while CoreCivic and the City of Leavenworth fought in court about reopening the company’s prison facility.

Complicating the issue, the two are now working through the city’s planning process as CoreCivic has applied for a special use permit that would allow it to reopen.&nbsp;

“This is a difficult case because it feels like there are all of these slippery parts that are not part of the matter before us,” said Chief Judge Sarah Warner. “There’s a separate lawsuit. There are ongoing administrative proceedings.”&nbsp;

CoreCivic operated a private prison in Leavenworth until 2021 when it lost a contract with the U.S. Department of Justice. In 2025, the company announced it planned to reopen the prison as the Midwest Regional Detention Center and house ICE detainees.&nbsp;

The city required CoreCivic to obtain a special use permit through its planning and zoning process before reopening, which is where the court cases originated last year. The two entities have been fighting it out in court, with CoreCivic insisting it did not need a permit.&nbsp;

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