After evaluation, the Missouri Department of Transportation will keep the Gene Field Road Bridge over I-29 until next spring. 

The bridge was closed on Monday after being struck by an oversized load.  One of the bridge's support girders was badly damaged, causing it to separate from the bridge deck.  Due to this, and the pre-existing condition of the bridge, MoDOT will keep the bridge closed until it can be replaced. 

A project to replace the bridge was scheduled to begin in October of next year, but will now be accelerated to begin in the spring of next year.  Due to an ongoing project by the city of St. Joseph, road traffic is restricted between Karnes and Cook Road and is being detoured

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

Gene Field Bridge closed closed until spring after MoDOT evaluation

Starting today, residents can go into the AFL-CIO Community Service offices, or online, and Adopt a Family in need this Christmas.  

AFL-CIO Executive Director Nichi Seckinger says already nearly 400 applications have come in for the program this year, which is a lot for this time of year.  

Seckinger says the hope is people are being proactive and applying early, but says the reality is, with the state of the economy, they could see more people 

"And we usually rule of thumb is the amount of applications we get in the first two weeks, it’s a crazy way to do it, but multiply that by three and that’s about how many applications we get for the entire season,” Seckinger tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  “And if that is the case, if by the end of this week we have 425, we’ll be looking at over 1,200 families, and all my fingers are crossed that that doesn’t happen because that would set a record for us, but they are coming it at a pretty rapid rate this year.” 

Seckinger says it's just been the perfect storm as of late, with the recent federal government shutdown and the economy, that the number could end up higher that past years 

"Knowing that all those things are in flux going into the holidays, we know people are struggling, I think people who normally don’t have a problem paying bills are struggling some right now,” Seckinger explains.  “So, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised to see an increase in people applying and people that normally have normally not asked for help in the past being the ones who are tacking onto our numbers this year.” 

Seckinger says fear over food stamp benefits could have played a factor.  The recent bill signed by President Trump reopened the federal government and will fund SNAP until September 2026.  

Seckinger says the estimated cost to adopt a child 11 or older is $75 to $100.  The average cost for a child under the age of 10 is $50.  

Seckinger says under the circumstances of comparing to people's normal bills, spending that much money to have an impact on a kid, it's worth it 

"Sometimes these are the only new things they get all year, sometimes some of them haven’t celebrated Christmas every single year, we see that quite a bit with kids,” Seckinger says.  “A parent will apply and say I didn’t apply last year and we ended up not being able to do Christmas, so I made sure to apply this year, and that’s the last thing you want to think of is that there’s kids out there that don’t get to celebrate Christmas and there’s nothing under the tree when they do.” 

To find out more information about how to help with Adopt a Family, you can go online to AFL-CIO Community Services website, or into the offices.

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

Adopt a Family program in need of adopters with larger number of adoptees expected

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News 

St. Joseph city officials have announced that as the Gene Field Road bridge remains closed with Missouri Department of Transportation crews evaluating the situation, new detours have been posted.&nbsp;

The bridge was struck on Monday by an oversize load traveling on Interstate 29, which runs beneath the structure. MoDOT crews are currently assessing the bridge’s condition and determining if repairs are necessary. The bridge will remain closed until MoDOT deems it safe to reopen.

Drivers traveling on the east side of the bridge are advised to travel east on Gene Field Road to Bishop Road, then go north to Cook Road to avoid Woodbine.&nbsp; Woodbine Road remains closed to general traffic daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the ongoing stabilization project. 

Local traffic will continue to have access throughout the duration of that work. The Woodbine project is expected to continue for about three more weeks, weather permitting.

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

New detours announced during Gene Field Bridge closure

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.&nbsp;-&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) announced Thursday that all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in Missouri will receive their full November benefits, following the passage of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5371" target="_blank">FY26 Appropriations Act</a>. , according to a media release from the agency.

President Donald J. Trump signed the act into law on November 12, which restored full federal funding for SNAP benefits.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“With federal funding back in place, our team is moving swiftly to issue full November benefits,” said&nbsp;Jess Bax, DSS Director. “We know how important this assistance is to Missouri households, especially after the uncertainty of recent weeks, and we thank the public for being patient with us as we navigated communicating effectively.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

DSS is taking immediate steps to ensure Missouri families receive their full November benefits as quickly as possible.&nbsp;&nbsp;

DSS is working closely with the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) and the state’s electronic benefit transfer (EBT) vendor to distribute funds to participating families.&nbsp;

For more information or updates about SNAP benefits in Missouri, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts" target="_blank">https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Full SNAP benefits returning for Missouri families following end of shutdown

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an alleged violent attack in Brown County.

Just before 3:30p.m. November 10, Brown County dispatched a deputy to a local hospital to take a report from a victim of alleged battery, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; The deputy obtained suspect&nbsp; information from the victim while at the hospital and then alerted other Brown County deputies. 

A short time later, deputies encountered the suspect, Gerry Rilinger, 43 of Sabetha in Fairview, Kansas.&nbsp; When a deputy approached Rilinger for questioning, he became argumentative, defiant and initiated a scuffle which resulted in Rilinger's arrest.&nbsp; He was then&nbsp; transported to the Brown County jail.

He is being held on a $2 million dollar bond on requested charges of&nbsp; 2nd Degree Attempted Murder, Aggravated Domestic Battery, Aggravated kidnapping, Misdemeanor Battery on Law Enforcement Officers, Felony Battery on a Corrections Officer, Felony Obstruction and Transport an Open Container.&nbsp;

Sheriff: Kansas attempted murder suspect captured

It's been a productive fall sports season at Missouri Western State University, and at least two programs have deep playoff aspirations.    

Athletic Director Andy Carter says MoWest Cross Country had the first ever national qualifier in program history.  Griffon women's soccer is also playing for a chance at the national tournament  

Carter says currently the Griffons are on the outside looking in, because conference tournament winners earn an automatic bid, meaning a higher seed, normally has a better chance, however  

“Since the top three seeds in our conference all lost in the first round of the conference tournament, we’re the highest seed remaining, there’s somebody in a low seed that would not have gotten into that regional tournament if we don’t win somebody’s going to get in and that could be at our demise,” Carter says on the KFEQmnunnity show.  “So, as I told our coach and our players, then it needs to be us, we need to go win the tournament and then earn our way into that tournament.” 

MoWest is the fourth seed in the MIAA tournament and will play Northeastern State today for a trip to the championship game at 3pm   

Volleyball also is on a roll at MoWest.  Carter says the momentum of the volleyball team is in large part thanks to the head coach Jessica Fey (Fi like Wi-Fi] just being able to get her team to play  

"It’s really hard for somebody who's better than the other team to really lose a whole match; they might lose a set and there might be times it doesn’t look good, but this thing plays out they’ve got to beat you three times,” Carter explains.  “And so the best teams just don’t get caught up in the emotion of a bad string of points or a bad set, and that’s what our team has shown is this tremendous resiliency.” 

Fey won her 100th career match on Friday against Central Missouri.  The Griffons are currently on an 11-match win streak.   

MoWest could claim its first MIAA crown since 2017 with matches tonight against Fort Hays State and tomorrow against Nebraska Kearney.  One win would guarantee at least a share of the title, winning both gives the title outright. 

MoWest football wraps up their season on Saturday against Central Oklahoma on Saturday, hoping to wrap up a disappointing season with one more win.  

Carter though, despite the current 3-7 record, he still believes this is one of the best coaching staffs he's worked with in his time as an AD 

"And they’re not all winning at the level we want to win at yet, but they’re people of high character, high integrity, we share the same values of what we want to see in the end result, and sometimes it just takes a little longer in some scenarios,” Carter says.  “I’ve seen things turned around in a year before, and I’ve things that take four years, so a full four years of recruiting, and it just depends.” 

Carter says when you decide to make a change, it has less to do with winning and losing, and more to do with things that the fans are not seeing off the field.  

MoWest and Central Oklahoma kickoff on Saturday at 2pm 

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

Productive fall sports season comes with successes and disappointments

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/robbiesequeira/">Robbie Sequeira</a> <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Missouri, Maine and Vermont are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages

School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019, according to a new study.

The number of drivers has increased by 2,300, or 1.1%, since last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-has-improved-slightly-but-continues-to-stress-k-12-public-education/" target="_blank">according to the Economic Policy Institute</a>, a left-leaning research group. But there are still 21,200 fewer bus drivers than there were&nbsp;in 2019, a decline of 9.5%.

The researchers link the employment gain to higher wages: Average hourly wages are up 4.2% in the past year, the largest jump since the COVID-19 pandemic.

During and after the pandemic, many bus drivers&nbsp;<a href="https://www.adpresearch.com/assets/the-missing-school-bus-drivers-a-look-at-employment-data-before-and-after-the-covid-19-pandemic/" target="_blank">retired</a>, left the workforce or in some cases, died. Districts across the country have had to scramble to find someone to take the wheel — be it substitute teachers, administrators or even parents.

The number of bus drivers decreased by 15% between September 2019 and September 2023,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/blog/the-school-bus-driver-shortage-remains-severe-without-job-quality-improvements-workers-children-and-parents-will-suffer/?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the Economic Policy Institute. Private school bus contractors now account for 38% of the nation’s pupil transportation services, according to the National School Transportation Association.

Other school transportation options,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/09/30/school-ride-hailing-services-may-be-nudging-aside-traditional-buses/" target="_blank">such as ride-hailing services</a>, have helped fill the gap in some places. But&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1811462116" target="_blank">roughly half</a>&nbsp;of all U.S. K–12 students rely on a school bus to get to school.

The report warns that school district budgets are tightening as federal pandemic relief funds&nbsp;<a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/what-comes-next-now-that-pandemic-aid-for-education-has-ended/" target="_blank">have expired</a>, and notes that the Trump administration has delayed some federal K-12 funding in its bid to shrink and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americanprogress.org/article/public-education-under-threat-4-trump-administration-actions-to-watch-in-the-2025-26-school-year/" target="_blank">eventually eliminate</a>&nbsp;the U.S. Department of Education.

The report points to&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://fox23maine.com/newsletter-daily/maine-school-districts-still-struggling-to-find-bus-drivers-education-transportation-brunswick" target="_blank">Maine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://spectrumlocalnews.com/mo/st-louis/news/2025/09/22/some-st--louis-area-school-districts-still-struggle-to-hire--retain-bus-drivers" target="_blank">Missouri</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wcax.com/2025/09/23/pay-boosts-route-cuts-school-districts-deal-with-bus-driver-shortages/" target="_blank">Vermont</a>&nbsp;as states that are dealing with especially severe bus driver shortages. It also notes that a dearth of drivers has a particularly pronounced&nbsp;effect on students with disabilities, and that not having enough drivers can lead to inconsistent bus schedules and routes, which contributes to absenteeism and missed school meals.

Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:rsequeira@stateline.org">rsequeira@stateline.org</a>

This story was originally produced by&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/11/12/national-school-bus-driver-shortage-persists-despite-recent-gains/" target="_blank">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Missouri Independent, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.

National school bus driver shortage persists, despite recent gains

KFEQ Morning News

December corn closed down 11 1/4 cents and March corn was down 11 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 22 1/2 cents and March soybeans were down 20 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 10 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 8 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 5 cents.

December corn closed up 3 cents and March corn was up 2 cents. January soybeans closed up 7 1/2 cents and March soybeans were up 10 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 1/2 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was up 6 3/4 cents.

Row-crop futures moved sharply lower Friday following the release of new USDA data including Crop Production and WASDE reports, along with a listing of all reportable flash sales which went unreported due to the government shutdown through October and early November. I would characterize Friday's reports as mixed overall, with some undeniably bearish estimates but plenty of silver linings to be found if looked for and discussed in further detail below. Outside markets to close the week were choppy with crude oil turning higher following Ukrainian attacks on Russian ports and the seizure of a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, where over a third of world crude shipments are routed. Stock indices were mixed with tech-focused buying pushing the NASDAQ and S&amp;P500 higher while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped.

The live cattle contracts traded slightly higher into Friday's closing bell, despite the fact that the day's fundamentals are lacking a bit with no new cash cattle trade having developed, and what has developed has been lower than last week's weighted average, and boxed beef prices are lower again. So far this week, Southern live cattle have traded at mostly $228, which is $3.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Northern dressed cattle have traded for mostly $351, which is $8.00 lower than last week's weighted average. And while it's looking like the bulk of this week's trade is done with, some more clean up trade isn't out of the question.

Friday's WASDE report shared less than supportive news for the cattle and beef markets of 2025 and 2026. Beef production for 2025 fell by 70 million pounds from the last report in September, as fed cattle slaughter speeds have declined. The same similar trend is also noted for 2026 beef production as now the year is expected to yield 25,490 million pounds, which is down 100 million pounds from September's report. The biggest expected reason for the decline in slaughter speeds for 2026 is because fed cattle processing is expected to remain light, and with cattle spending more time on feed, marketings will be slower for at least the first half of the year. Quarterly steer prices were also disappointing as steers in the fourth quarter of 2025 are expected to average $234 (down $10.00), steers in the first quarter of 2026 are expected to average $242 (down $5.00) and steers in the second quarter are expected to average $248 (down $3.00). Beef imports for 2025 remained unchanged, but exports for the year fell by 10 million pounds.

Although, the feeder cattle complex was trading fully lower earlier this morning, it rebounded and ended trading higher alongside the live cattle contracts. As long as the live cattle contracts continue to trade higher, the feeder cattle market will likely follow in its shadow.

The lean hog complex also found a little technical support, which could be trader moral given that the cattle contracts were trading higher too, or it could partly be because consumer demand is showing more interest today as the midday pork cutout is up $4.68. It's unlikely that any more cash hog trade is going to develop throughout the day.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/14143023/web-closing-markets-2.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins led the largest USDA agribusiness trade mission in the history of the U.S. to Mexico City last week. During the trip to Mexico, 41 U.S. businesses, 33 cooperators and agriculture advocacy groups, six state departments of agriculture, and 150 participants conducted more than 500 business-to-business meetings over three days. This was a critical opportunity for American businesses to further trade ties, and for the USDA to continue its aggressive response to the New World Screwworm in Mexico. 

“Whether it’s securing the Southern Border from illegal immigration, combating the New World Screwworm, or expanding market access for American agricultural products, we are working every day to put American interests first,” Rollins said. Mexico was the top market for U.S. agricultural exports in 2024, with shipments valued at $30.2 billion. Products like meat and meat products, dairy, processed foods, fruits, and beverages constituted almost 50 percent of that. 

Rollins leads trade trip to Mexico City

Late Wednesday, the government shutdown ended as President Donald Trump signed into law a measure that brought the standoff to a close. Trump signed a bill that fully funds the USDA and FDA for fiscal year 2026. It also ends a legal battle over partial or full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for November. The measure also extended farm bill programs that expired on September 30. While two Republicans voted against the bill, six Democrats stepped across party lines to vote in favor of it. 

Reports say that farmers can expect full services to return to their local Farm Service Agency offices, including processing loan applications for farm ownership or home loans that have been frozen since the start of the government shutdown. The Natural Resources Conservation Service is also expected to reopen for business. A report from Politico said that millions of low-income Americans should receive their full food benefits this week. 

Shutdown ends as Farm Bill programs extended

December corn closed up 6 1/4 cents and March corn was up 6 1/4 cents. January soybeans closed up 13 1/4 cents and March soybeans were up 12 3/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 1/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was unchanged.

Thursday was a day of general strength across row-crop futures with the soybean complex once again leading the way higher, specifically with another burst of bullishness in the soybean meal market as prices set new calendar year highs. With the government shutdown officially ended following President Trump's signing of the funding bill, and operations set to ramp up again, Thursday's strength may be a display of optimism that the release of missing data will support the recent bullish swing in crop prices. Grain and oilseed markets will receive a big piece of the puzzle on Friday morning when USDA releases their November supply and demand estimates after six weeks of relatively few updates from the agency.

With some light trade in the South developing at $282 (which is $3.00 lower than last week's weighted average), combined with seeing boxed beef prices trading lower too -- it comes as no real surprise that the live cattle contracts were trading lower into Thursday's closing bell. And some extremely light sales have been reported in Nebraska at $351, but not enough cattle have traded to say that any sort of a trend has been established this week. Without fundamental support rising to comfort traders, it's likely that a downward trend will remain with the market at least today, and potentially into Friday's session as well.

With the fundamentals in the live cattle complex not helping boost bullish sediment, the feeder cattle contracts were once again left to trade lower. And until the live cattle complex finds some support, it's likely that the feeder cattle market will continue to trade lower in its shadow.

With there not being much interest in the cash market and pork cutout values are lower too, the lean hog complex also traded lower into Thursday's closing bell. And until there's an improvement in the market's fundamentals, mainly from consumers in the form of stronger pork cutout values, it's unlikely that the market will find much upward potential.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/13140255">Click HERE for audio</a>

Farmers and their families can learn to recognize stress, manage their well-being, and access resources by attending an upcoming Penn State Extension webinar promoting resilience and mental health in agriculture. “Mending the Stress Fence” will take place from 7–8 pm Eastern time on December 8 and from 9-10 am on December 16. The webinar specifically addresses the unique challenges of farm life by focusing on stress management, balanced well-being, and reducing the stigma around seeking mental health support. 

Organizers pointed out that agriculture is among the most stressful and hazardous industries in the country. Workshop participants will learn the signs and symptoms of stress, how to self-identify stress, how to balance the dimensions of wellness, how to ask open-ended questions that demonstrate care, the warning signs of suicide, and where to find resources to support someone in need. The event is offered at no cost to participants, but pre-registration is required.

Mending the “Stress Fence” in farm country

Chinese purchases of soybeans from the U.S. appear to have stalled only two weeks after the U.S. touted a wide-ranging trade truce between the two countries. Bloomberg said it appeared to show a thawing in relations between the world’s biggest economies. Chinese imports of American cargoes seem to have faltered after a flurry of orders in October. That’s according to traders who asked not to be identified while discussing confidential information with sources. 

“The traders said they were not aware of any new shipments,” and, “The pause is causing significant uncertainty over whether the biggest consumer of American soybeans will be back in the market at a level the White House claimed to expect.” An agricultural broker with StoneX in Singapore said many experts view China’s commitment to purchase 12 million tons of U.S. soybeans this year to be more of a diplomatic gesture than a firm agreement. 

Chinese purchases of U.S. soybeans have stalled

December corn closed up 3 1/4 cents and March corn was up 2 1/4 cents. January soybeans closed up 6 1/2 cents and March soybeans were up 6 cents. December KC wheat closed up 1 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was unchanged, December Minneapolis wheat was up 1/4 cents.

Row crops moved modestly higher Wednesday in another choppy session as corn and soybean prices benefitted from late strength to move back toward recent highs with traders awaiting USDA guidance on Friday in what will be the first Crop Production and WASDE reports since Sept. 12. Meanwhile, outside markets were mixed with lower energy futures, led by a sharply lower crude market on renewed world supply concerns following the monthly OPEC+ report. Stock indices were mixed, with the Dow Jones completing a comeback over the last four sessions to set new record highs on Wednesday. The markets as a whole are expressing optimism that the government shutdown will soon end, with the House of Representatives set to vote this evening on the funding package approved earlier this week by the Senate.

Following Monday's sharp run-up, the live cattle complex is now back to trading in a more cautious manner as traders look around for support and reassurance. No cash cattle trade has developed yet, but asking prices are noted at $232 plus in the South, but asking prices in the North remain unestablished at this point. There's a chance that trade could hold steady this week if the board remains supportive, as holiday demand is right around the corner.

The feeder cattle complex also traded lower as the market looks for some fundamental support to reassure traders that Monday's big jump was justified. It's most likely that the reason why the deferred contracts are trading so much lower is because, in this volatile market, with time, looms risk.

The lean hog complex also traded lower as the market wants to see more consumer support. And until traders see more widespread fundamental support, they'll likely either let the contracts trade sideways or venture a tick lower as the contracts need reassurance.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/12141205/web-closing-markets-1.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

A new poll shows soybean processors likely crushed a record number of soybeans in September as new facilities ramp up operations. That poll took place as market watchers continued relying on private estimates during the government shutdown. According to a note to clients from CoBank, the crush totaled 205.4 million bushels in September. If that’s accurate, that would be a ten percent month-over-month increase, and the highest on record for the month. 

On a daily basis, the poll said crush likely rose 7.8 percent to 6.8 million bushels a day. USDA’s Fats and Oilseeds Report, which is usually released monthly, has been nonexistent for the past two months due to the record-long government shutdown. The National Oilseeds Processors Association said earlier this month that it estimated the September crush at 197.9 million bushels during the month, up almost 12 percent year over year and a record for the month. 

September soybean crush likely sets record

Republican Senators are asking Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior, to follow through on months of evaluation and finally revoke a public lands rule from the Biden era. Critics say the rule restricts uses on millions of acres that the Bureau of Land Management oversees. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, who chairs the Senate Western Caucus, joined 11 other GOP senators in issuing “strong support” in a letter for rescinding the public lands rule that elevated conservation as an official use of BLM lands. 

In September, the Department proposed revoking the rule that was put in place during 2024, and the 60-day comment period recently concluded. One report said the proposal to revoke the rule followed five months of review. “Our constituents live with and rely on the use of Federal lands every day,” the senators wrote. “These working lands are not abstract reserves that need to be locked away.”

Senators want public lands rule revoked

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

In honor of Veterans Day, U.S. banks as well as the bond market was closed on Tuesday. Canadian markets were also closed for Remembrance Day. Naturally, the resulting trade in grain futures was a low volume and stable session. It is likely we will see activity pick up toward the end of the week as traders begin to position around the first WASDE report since early September, which is due out on Friday at 11 a.m. CST. Outside markets were mostly positive influence on ag markets for Tuesday, with energy futures moving higher and the diesel market impressive at its highest price since late June. The U.S. dollar continues to retreat from last week's highs while stocks were mostly positive Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average riding a 3-day bullish wave spurred on by optimism that the government will soon reopen following the Senate's successful vote on the funding package which will now go back to the House for approval.

Live cattle futures traded mixed for the bulk of Tuesday's session, which is a general disappointment following the sharp limit gains Monday, strong triple digit support in feeder cattle futures, and active gains in morning boxed beef values. But the good news in nearby live cattle futures is that prices have bounced back from triple-digit losses seen early in the trading day and ended close to near steady. Which would put prices still sharply higher for the week. Cash cattle is starting with another slow start to the day with some early asking prices starting out around $232-plus in the South, but they are still not established in the North. Significant trade volume will likely be delayed until Wednesday or later. Beef cutouts are expected to be mixed with light to moderate box movement.

Feeder cattle futures continued the Monday rally with active triple-digit gains seen in all contract months for the bulk of the session, only to give most of that back before the closing bell. With prices closing at limit gains Monday, the ability to utilize expanded trade limits creates optimism but also uncertainty within the market. Currently prices are far from reaching the expanded trade limits, which would allow markets to revert back to normal limits Wednesday if markets close near the current levels. Traders are trying to rebound from recent losses, but it is uncertain just how much additional short-term fundamental support remains within the feeder cattle complex.

Lean hog futures remain generally quiet on Veterans Day with narrow trade ranges seen through the complex. At midday, the spot month December contracts remained the only contract trading with a negative value, but the losses were minimal as traders adjusted to the early week rally seen across the complex. Narrow gains seen in spring months focusing on the hope of additional pork demand kindling through the export market. But for now, very few traders are willing to break away from Monday's active gains.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/11142119">Click HERE for audio</a>

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

TOPEKA — Kansas Sen. Mary Ware announced her retirement from the state Senate on Thursday, leaving open a Wichita-area seat ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Ware, a Democrat, did not cite a reason, and her retirement was effective immediately.

“Serving our state and representing the 25th District has been an incredible privilege. I am deeply grateful for the trust placed in me by my constituents and for the opportunity to work on meaningful legislation,” Ware said in a news release through Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes’ office.

Ware, a retail store owner, replaced Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers in 2018 in a precinct committee election. She won reelection in 2020 and 2024 and is departing halfway through her term.

“Mary has been focused on creating a full and safe future for our children since joining the Senate,” Sykes said. “Her commitment to collaboration and progress have made our team stronger. We will miss her dynamic and compassionate leadership. Our caucus wishes her the very best in retirement.”

Ware was the ranking Democrat on Senate committees on commerce and agriculture and natural resources. She also sat on the Assessment and Taxation Committee.

In 2025, she sponsored legislation to require the state library to provide services to people who are blind, visually impaired, deafblind or print disabled. It was introduced but never heard by a committee.

“While my time in the Senate is at an end, I will remain an involved private citizen and an advocate for the people of Wichita in this next era of my life,” Ware said.

Kan. state senator retires, opening Democratic seat ahead of legislative session

EDWARDS COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6:30a.m. Friday in Edwards County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2029 Nissan Pathfinder driven by&nbsp; Rebecca Oberley, 44, Kinsley was&nbsp; eastbound on U.S. 50 highway just north of 110th Avenue. The SUV struck a deer and came to a stop on the eastbound shoulder of the of the highway.&nbsp; Oberley got out to check the damage to the vehicle. The vehicle was in reverse, the driver tripped and the SUV ran over her.

Oberley was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp;McKillip Funeral Home. A 14-year-old male passenger in the SUV was not injured.&nbsp;

Kan. woman run over, killed by her SUV after deer collision

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the University of Kansas Medical Center, and local health departments, announced Friday the official end of the tuberculosis (TB) outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metropolitan area, according to a statement from the agency.

This milestone reflects nearly two years of coordinated public health response, with no new patients diagnosed with Active TB Disease since April 2025 and all affected individuals successfully completing treatment.

“Marking the end of the TB outbreak in the Kansas City, Kansas metro area is the result of the collaborative efforts of the KDHE staff, the CDC, KU Medical Center and the impacted local health departments,”&nbsp;KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said.&nbsp;“The state is fortunate to have qualified medical professionals to be able to handle this and future outbreaks.” &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The outbreak, first detected in early 2024, involved Wyandotte and Johnson counties, resulting in 68 confirmed active TB cases. This made it one of the largest TB outbreaks in the United States in recent decades. Through extensive screening efforts, an additional 91 latent TB infections were identified and treated preventively. More than 650 individuals were evaluated or monitored throughout the investigation.

Response efforts included widespread testing, directly observed therapy to support treatment adherence, and education campaigns to reduce stigma and encourage early reporting. No drug-resistant TB strains were identified, and the risk to the public remained low throughout the outbreak, as TB primarily spreads through prolonged, close contact with someone infectious.

Although the outbreak is over, KDHE continues to encourage vigilance. Kansas reports approximately 50 TB cases annually statewide. Routine surveillance will remain essential to early detection and prevention.

For more information on TB prevention and resources, visit the KDHE Tuberculosis Program’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.kdhe.ks.gov%2F530%2FTuberculosis-TB-Program%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019a8339878f-93f04bd3-4342-4101-9c6a-9418879c02a8-000000/ml1j7kG5ju43MZpRVaZatysoqgF9zIslbJ0C7LHDuoA=431">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/530/Tuberculosis-TB-Program</a>&nbsp;or contact your local health department.

KDHE: Kansas City, Kan. metro tuberculosis outbreak is over

First lady launches new effort to support foster care children

By:<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/jacob-fischler/">Jacob Fischler</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/ashley-murray/">Ashley Murray</a>

WASHINGTON — The record 43-day government shutdown that ended Wednesday night scrambled air travel, interrupted food assistance and forced federal workers to go without a paycheck for weeks.

It also cost the U.S. economy about $15 billion per week,&nbsp;White House Council of Economic Advisers Director Kevin Hassett told reporters Thursday.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the government began to reopen Thursday, officials were working to untangle those issues and others.

But in some areas, the processes for getting things back to normal after such a lengthy shutdown will also take time.&nbsp;

President Donald Trump on Wednesday night&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/health-costs-spike-sour-and-divided-congress-escapes-one-shutdown-face-another" target="_blank">signed a package</a>&nbsp;passed by Congress reopening the government, which closed on Oct. 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a stopgap spending bill.

Flights back on schedule by Thanksgiving?

The Federal Aviation Administration’s shutdown plan, announced last week by Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, was to reduce flights to 40 major airports by 10%.&nbsp;

As of Thursday afternoon, the FAA had not lifted the order restricting flights. But the agency did stop ramping up the percentage of those affected.&nbsp;

The FAA started by asking airlines to cancel 4% of flights Nov. 7. A Wednesday&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/us-transportation-secretary-sean-p-duffy-faa-administrator-bryan-bedford-freeze-flight" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;halted the rate at 6%.

That was enough to cause major disruptions to travel, and it remained unclear Thursday how long it would take to resume normal operations.&nbsp;

In a statement, Airlines for America, the trade group representing the nation’s commercial air carriers, welcomed the end of the shutdown but was vague about how much longer air travelers would see disruptions. The statement noted the upcoming holiday as a possible milestone.&nbsp;

“When the FAA gives airlines clearance to return to full capacity, our crews will work quickly to ramp up operations especially with Thanksgiving holiday travel beginning next week,” the group’s statement said.&nbsp;

The FAA and Transportation Department did not return messages seeking updates Thursday.The reduction in flights was meant to ease pressure on air traffic controllers, who worked through the shutdown without pay.&nbsp;

Many missed work as they pursued short-term jobs in other industries. Duffy said that left the controllers on the job overstressed and possibly prone to costly mistakes.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem sought to reward other federal workers at airports, those employed by her department’s Transportation Security Administration, with $10,000 bonuses if they maintained high attendance records during the shutdown.

Noem handed out checks to TSA workers in Houston on Thursday and said more could come.&nbsp;

Federal workers return, with back pay on the way

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers who had been furloughed returned to the office Thursday and those who had been working without pay will continue their duties knowing their next paycheck should be on time.&nbsp;

All workers will receive back pay for the shutdown, in accordance with a 2019&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/24/text" target="_blank">law</a>&nbsp;that states employees “shall be paid for such work, at the employee’s standard rate of pay, at the earliest date possible after the lapse in appropriations, regardless of scheduled pay dates.”

A spokesperson for the Office of Management and Budget said the White House has urged agencies to get back pay to employees “expeditiously and accurately.”

Agencies will need to submit time and attendance files, and payroll processors can then issue checks. According to the spokesperson, agencies have different pay schedules and payroll processors, and “discrepancies in timing and pay periods are a result of that.”

The office estimates that workers will receive a “supercheck” for the pay period from Oct. 1 to Nov. 1 on the following dates:

Doreen Greenwald, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, said in a statement Wednesday that federal workers across all agencies “should not have to wait another minute longer for the paychecks they lost during the longest government shutdown in history.”&nbsp;

“The anxiety has been devastating as they cut back on spending, ran up credit card debt, took out emergency loans, filed for unemployment, found temporary side jobs, stood in line for food assistance, skipped filling prescriptions and worried about the future. Federal employees should receive the six weeks of back pay they are owed immediately upon the reopening of the federal government,” said Greenwald.&nbsp;

The union represents workers at 38 federal agencies and offices.

States Newsroom&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/shutdown-double-whammy-snap-food-benefits-ending-and-federal-workers-go-unpaid" target="_blank">spoke</a>&nbsp;to several furloughed federal workers who attended a special food distribution event during the shutdown.

The American Federation of Government Employees, one of multiple unions that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/judge-blocks-trump-shutdown-layoffs-citing-political-retribution" target="_blank">sued</a>&nbsp;the Trump administration over layoffs during the shutdown, said its members were used “as leverage to advance political priorities,” according to a statement issued Tuesday by the union’s national president, Everett Kelley.

The AFGE, which according to the union represents roughly 820,000 federal workers, did not immediately respond for comment Thursday.

The shutdown-ending deal reinstated jobs for fired federal employees and prohibits any reductions in force by the administration until Jan. 30.

A statement released Thursday by a group of federal workers across agencies struck a different tone on the shutdown and praised the 40 senators and 209 representatives who voted against the temporary spending bill deal.

“The fight mattered. It changed the conversation. More members of the American public now understand that Trump is shredding the Constitution,” according to the statement issued by the Civil Servants Coalition.

The coalition also noted, “Even though the government is reopening, none of us will be able to fully deliver our agency’s missions. Our work has been exploited and dismantled since January through harmful policies and illegal purges of critical staff.”

The group emailed the statement as a PDF document to an unknown number of government workers and urged them to “channel that frustration toward action” by contacting their representatives.

The government reopening ended&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/shutdown-tug-war-over-snap-benefits-timeline" target="_blank">a drawn-out saga</a>&nbsp;over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which helps 42 million people afford groceries.&nbsp;

The U.S.Department of Agriculture told states in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/benefit-issuance-nov13" target="_blank">Thursday memo</a>&nbsp;they “must take immediate steps to ensure households receive their full November allotments promptly.”

The guidance also noted that states should prepare for another shutdown as soon as next October by upgrading systems so that they could allow for partial payments.&nbsp;

A key point of dispute between the administration and those seeking SNAP benefits was the lengthy time the administration said it would take to fund partial benefits.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-mostly-pay-full-snap-benefits-within-24-hours-shutdown-end" target="_blank">Wednesday evening statement</a>&nbsp;from a department spokesperson said full benefits would be disbursed in most states by Thursday night.&nbsp;

Lauren Kallins, a senior legislative director for the National Conference of State Legislatures, said Thursday&nbsp;“states are all working hard to resume full benefits.”

&nbsp;“But there will likely be logistical challenges, depending on a state’s system’s capabilities and whether the state had already issued partial benefits, that may impact how quickly a state is able to push out” benefits, she wrote.&nbsp;

The program, which is funded by the federal government and administered by states, sends monthly payments on a rolling basis.&nbsp;

That means that the day of the month each household receives its allotment varies. Households that usually receive benefits mid-month or later should see no interruption.&nbsp;

But many of the program’s beneficiaries receive their payments earlier in the month, meaning that, depending on their state, they may have missed their November payments.&nbsp;

Some states, including Democrat-run Wisconsin, Oregon and Michigan, began paying full benefits last week after a Rhode Island federal judge ordered the administration to release full November payments and the department issued guidance to states to do so.

The administration then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to pause enforcement of the Rhode Island judge’s order and reversed its guidance to states, telling them to “immediately undo” efforts to pay out full November benefits.

The Department of Justice dropped its Supreme Court case Thursday.&nbsp;

“Because the underlying dispute here is now moot, the government withdraws its November 7 stay application in this Court,” U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25A539/384355/20251113113250755_25A539%20Rhode%20Island%20-%20Letter.pdf" target="_blank">wrote</a>&nbsp;to the high court.

In the trial court, the administration cited the USDA guidance and said it would discuss the future of the litigation with the coalition of cities and nonprofit groups that brought the suit.&nbsp;

Tourists in the nation’s capital have been shut out of the Smithsonian Institution’s 17 free museums and zoo for most of the federal shutdown.

The institution on Friday will open the National Museum of American History, the National Air and Space Museum and the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, an annex of the Air and Space Museum located at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, according to a message posted on the Smithsonian’s website.

All other museums and the National Zoo will open on a “rolling basis” by Nov. 17.

Multiple public-facing agencies, including the National Park Service and Internal Revenue Service, did not respond to States Newsroom’s requests for reopening information.

National parks were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/national-parks-public-lands-feared-risk-long-term-harm-shutdown-drags" target="_blank">closed or partially closed&nbsp;</a>during the shutdown.

Several IRS services were reduced or altogether cut as the funding lapse dragged on. Those disruptions included limited IRS telephone customer service operations and the closure of in-person Taxpayer Assistance Centers.

Air travel, SNAP benefits, back pay at issue as federal government slowly reopens

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement are working to find the driver&nbsp; responsible for a fatal hit-and-run.

Just before 6p.m. Wednesday, police responded&nbsp;to the 1000 block of Fredericksburg Road where officers found the body later identified as 35-year-old Mary Levingston of Kansas City, Missouri, on the shoulder of the road, according to a media release from the Excelsior Springs Police Department. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Preliminary investigation indicates that she suffered blunt force trauma consistent with being struck by a vehicle. Police have not identified as suspect vehicle or driver.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact police at 816-639-2000 or the anonymous TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Police: Kansas City woman killed in hit-and-run

SALINE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a road rage incident.

Just after noon November 9, a 2015 Dodge Ram driven by Caden Deans, 22, Enterprise, was traveling in the construction zone on Interstate 135 at State Street, according to Salina Police Lt. Andrew Zeigler.&nbsp; The driver was angry with&nbsp;the 28-year-old driver of a 2020 Kia Telluride.

Both vehicles exited on Schilling Road and Deans' pickup intentionally struck the Kia. The impact caused the SUV to roll onto its top. The driver of the Kia was not transported for treatment of minor injuries.

Police arrested Deans on requested charges of aggravated battery, criminal damage to property and reckless driving. He met the requirement for bond and was released from the Saline County Jail just before 5p.m. Sunday, according to online booking records.

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