The United Way of Greater St. Joseph celebrated the end of the public&nbsp;portion&nbsp;of&nbsp;its&nbsp;annual fundraising campaign.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

President Kylee Strough says the campaign has raised a good amount thus far&nbsp;

“To date, $2,335,985 has been pledged to the 2025 United Way campaign,” Strough tells the&nbsp;KFEQmunnity&nbsp;show. &nbsp;“And&nbsp;these are the dollars that will fund allocations to our partner agencies and the programs and services that they do in calendar year 2026.”&nbsp;

Strough says the goal of the campaign is to always do better than the previous year, and so&nbsp;far,&nbsp;it's&nbsp;pacing ahead of where they were this time last year&nbsp;

"So, that is a good sign that we’re pacing ahead, but I will also say that sometimes pacing ahead is simply some accounts turned in their results a little bit earlier than last year,” Strough explains. &nbsp;“So, it&nbsp;doesn’t&nbsp;always mean&nbsp;we’re&nbsp;going to end up raising more in total, it could just be an&nbsp;effect of timing of when things are received.”&nbsp;

Strough says there are still some businesses and past donors that have not gotten donations before they fully know where&nbsp;their&nbsp;campaign ended.&nbsp;

The money raised comes after the pacesetter campaign started off by raising&nbsp;nearly $1 million,&nbsp;raising $970,506.40&nbsp;

Strough says the pacesetter campaign usually give them an idea of what to expect for donations, but says there has been some pleasant surprises this year&nbsp;

"We have seen some growth at places, and I think the most exciting piece of all of this, we love when the dollars grow because the dollars are what fuel the work, but more than that we love when the number of donors grow because that means there are more of us giving what we can and we’re broadening that United Way circle and that United Way family,” Strough says. &nbsp;“And we have seen some donor growth this year.”&nbsp;

Strough says once the total is&nbsp;known,&nbsp;people from the allocations committee will meet to reaffirm where&nbsp;the&nbsp;money is going.&nbsp;

Money raised will be&nbsp;allocated&nbsp;to United Way's 16 partner agencies in St. Joseph.&nbsp;

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

United Way of Greater St. Joseph celebrates successful campaign 

KANSAS CITY, KAN. – A federal judge sentenced a former Kansas credit union manager to 63 months in prison for stealing more than $750,000 from her long-time employer and substantially jeopardizing the safety and soundness of the financial institution, according to the United State's Attorney.

According to court documents, Rita Hartman, 71, of Atchison pleaded guilty to one count of false entries in federal credit union records.

For 30 years, Hartman was the manager of Muddy River Credit Union (formerly Atchison Casting Credit Union and Bradken Federal Credit Union), which served the employees of a foundry located in Atchison, Kansas. 

Hartman’s position gave her control over all aspects of Muddy River’s finances. Between 2007 and 2021, she abused the trust that Muddy River granted her to steal approximately $346,000 in customer cash deposits. 

Hartman also fraudulently credited approximately $430,000 in deposits and loan payments to her or her relatives’ accounts when no payments or deposits had been made. Hartman concealed her conduct by altering ledgers and records and by falsifying information submitted to Muddy River’s regulators. &nbsp;She obstructed efforts to uncover her fraud by submitting fraudulent documents to regulators and delaying a mandated audit. &nbsp;

The defendant’s embezzlement wiped out Muddy River’s capital and rendered it insolvent, ultimately forcing a merger into another credit union to continue operations.&nbsp;

In 2013, the then-Governor of the State of Kansas appointed Hartman to the Kansas Credit Union Council, which advises the Kansas Department of Credit Unions on issues and needs of credit unions. Hartman is also a former mayor and city commissioner in Atchison. A federal judge ordered that during her imprisonment, all of Hartman’s state pension payments be directed towards the $778,361 in restitution she was ordered to pay as part of her sentence.

“For decades, Rita Hartman was a prominent, well-respected figure in Atchison, Kansas,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser. “Instead of living up to the high regard that people in the community had for her, she exploited their trust and used it to perpetuate her embezzlement scheme and line her pockets with stolen funds.”&nbsp;

“The defendant was entrusted with the fiscal responsibility of the credit union’s members. In using the money for her personal benefit, the defendant’s actions were a betrayal of that trust,” said Special Agent in Charge Stephen A. Cyrus of the FBI Kansas City Field Office. “This sentencing demonstrates the FBI’s longstanding commitment to working financial fraud investigations and to hold individuals accountable for their actions.”

Prison for NE Kan. credit union manager's $700K embezzlement scheme

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News 

KANSAS CITY—A former Catholic Diocese executive is accused of stealing more than $150,000 by using church-issued credit cards to buy hundreds of gift cards for personal use, according to the United State's Attorney.

Jeremy Lillig, 44, fraudulently obtained and activated 436 Visa gift cards worth $155,050 while serving as executive director of the Bright Futures Fund and director of stewardship for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City–St. Joseph.

The indictment alleges Lillig bought the gift cards between 2017 and 2021 under the pretense of legitimate expenses funded through a Kauffman Foundation grant, then falsified monthly expense reports to conceal the scheme.

Lillig pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court to one count of wire fraud.

A trial is scheduled for March 16, 2026, before U.S. District Judge Brian C. Wimes.

If convicted, Lillig faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

This article has been updated to correct that Lillig worked for the Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, not for Catholic Charities. We regret the error as previously reported.

Former KC Catholic Diocese executive accused in gift card fraud

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

A newly formed political action committee created to defend the gerrymandered congressional map drawn by Missouri lawmakers received $100,000 this week from national Republicans.

On Wednesday, Put Missouri First reported two $50,000 contributions — one from the National Republican Congressional Committee and the other from the Republican National Committee. It marks the first contributions to the PAC, which was created last week to counter the referendum campaign seeking to put the state’s congressional map on the 2026 ballot.

The Democratic National Committee announced in September that it would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-09-29/democratic-national-committee-will-contribute-to-blocking-missouri-congressional-map" target="_blank">contributing staff and financial resources</a>&nbsp;to bolster a referendum effort.

Matt Belz, a St. Louis attorney serving as treasurer of Put Missouri First, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Missouri’s new congressional districts are part of President Donald Trump’s push for Republican states to revise maps to increase the GOP majority in the U.S. House before next year’s midterm elections.

State lawmakers returned to the Missouri Capitol in September to redraw the map to ensure Republicans have an advantage in seven of the state’s eight districts. The new map carves up the 5th District, based in Kansas City and represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver since 2005, to make it easier to flip the seat for Republicans.

Immediately after the map was approved, a PAC called People Not Politicians filed a referendum to place it on the ballot. The group has until Dec. 11 to turn in at least 106,000 signatures in order to force a vote on the plan. On Wednesday, it said it had already exceeded 200,000 signatures.

The referendum campaign faces a lawsuit filed by Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway claiming it is unconstitutional and numerous procedural hurdles enacted by the secretary of state’s office.

But People Not Politicians has raised more than $3 million in just two months, mostly from out-of-state groups. And it is getting help from the Missouri AFL-CIO, which led the referendum campaign in 2018 that collected 300,000 signatures and repealed the state’s a right-to-work law.

“We’re continuing to gather signatures because Missourians want their voices to be heard. We will not stop collecting or be deterred,” said Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians. “Every attack from politicians trying to silence us brings us more volunteers and more support.”

Of the 27 times a referendum has been placed on the Missouri ballot, voters have rejected actions by the General Assembly all but twice — including 1922, when voters overturned a congressional map passed by the legislature.

National Republicans gear up to fight referendum on Missouri congressional map

PHELPS COUNTY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announces criminal charges against Melvin J. Fincher, 39, of Rolla, MO. Fincher has pending charges in other counties which include Phelps, Dent, Polk, and Nodaway Counties.

On October 24, Fincher was arrested after an investigation conducted by the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control Rural Crimes Investigation Unit with the assistance of area law enforcement.

In July of 2024, the Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control was made aware of suspicious activity involving the sale of livestock and farm equipment in Phelps County, Missouri.

Texas authorities informed investigators in Missouri of a cattle theft investigation, involving 42 head of cattle from a livestock market in Texas. 

The theft occurred between August 10 and 11, 2024, and the total value of the cattle was $71,078.00.&nbsp; After further investigation, it was determined the cattle were received by Melvin Fincher, a resident of Phelps County, Missouri.

During the investigation, and while searching property associated with Fincher, USDA livestock tags were located in the livestock pens on the premises. Identification numbers indicated the tags were issued to the livestock market in Texas where the cattle were originally stolen. 

Additional evidence was collected connecting Fincher to the theft of cattle in Texas.

On December 2, 2024, Fincher was formally charged by the Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney with one count of Stealing Livestock/Wildlife - Prior Offense. Fincher later pled guilty to this charge.

On October 27, 2025, Fincher was sentenced to 10 years incarceration with the Missouri Department of Corrections. The sentence was suspended in execution of sentence, and Fincher is currently serving five years of supervised probation.

Fincher is also facing numerous charges in Dent, Polk, and Nodaway Counties for other related criminal offenses including identify theft, livestock theft, and farm equipment theft

&nbsp;The total value of damages involving these cases exceeds $219,000.00.

If you have any further information regarding these cases, please contact DDCC at 573-526-6122.

Man admits to livestock theft, other rural crimes in Missouri

St. Joseph school officials are
celebrating improvements in the state report card even as they vow to keep
pressing to improve scores.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (DESE) has released its 2025 Annual Performance Report.
Overall, the St. Joseph School District scored 74.7% on the state assessment,
up from 63.2% two years ago.

Assistant Superintendent of Academics and
Education Services, Stacia Studer, says St. Joseph students scored better in
English, but the district wants to see improvements in literacy.

“And so, we did grow in our state assessment
scores. Not the growth that we’d had hope to see. The state has really rallied
around a state initiative called LETRS and that’s professional learning for our
teachers on how students learn to read. And so, we have provided that professional
learning support for our teachers,” Studer tells reporters during a news
conference. “What we realized is that we wanted to ensure that all students are
being taught on grade level.”

St. Joseph did best on Social Studies
with improvement in Math and Science. The school district graduation rate
improved. School officials say that though attendance continues to rebound from
the COVID pandemic years, it needs has room for improvement.

Studer says an emphasis this year is
being placed on reading.

“We want students to be exposed to the
questions that they will face on those state achievement tests,” Studer says. “Really
rally around what those questions look like for our teachers and working on
rigor and depth of knowledge, ensuring that we are teaching at high levels if
questioning, pushing our questioning to get kids to think more critically.”

The St. Joseph School District Missouri
School Improvement Program (MSIP) 6 performance score improved again in the
latest reports, moving from 52.5% in 2023 to 65.3% in 2025. DESE reports St.
Joseph students are approaching state standards in English Language Arts,
Mathematics, and Science. Students are listed as on track with Social Studies.
The test scores of St. Joseph students rose in all subject areas. The
graduation rate rose 2.9% from 2024 to 2025 to 91.9%.

Every high school and middle school
showed improvement. Several elementary schools demonstrated impressive growth,
including a perfect 100% score at Eugene Field Elementary School.

Attendance remains difficult for the St.
Joseph School District with Superintendent, Ashly McGinnis, stating attendance has
not fully recovered from the COVID pandemic, though it has shown improvement.

While acknowledging she wants greater
improvement, McGinnis does say that the overall score is something to
celebrate.

“We haven’t been above 70% since COVD,”
McGinnis notes. “And so, 70% is kind of that mark for accreditation. We’ve gone
through this MSIP 6 cycle, it’s a little complex, but we’ve heard this rumor in
our community we’re going to be at jeopardy of accreditation, we could be losing
accreditation, and that’s just simply not true.”

School officials say they want
instruction in the core subjects to be consistent in all classrooms within the
district.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

St. Joseph school officials celebrate state test score improvements

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect wanted in Buchanan County on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before midnight on Tuesday night an officer on patrol stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in the 1500 block South 7th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The driver of the vehicle, 43-year-old&nbsp; Thomas Nance, was taken into custody on a Buchanan County Missouri warrant for failure to appear in court. 

During the arrest he was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. He was taken to the County Jail and is being held on requested charges of&nbsp;failure to appear in court, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Suspect wanted in Buchanan Co. accused of meth possession

December corn closed down 1 1/2 cents and March corn was down 1 cent. January soybeans closed up 9 1/2 cents and March soybeans were up 8 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed down 3 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 7 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 1 cent.

December corn closed down 4 1/4 cents and March corn was down 2 cents. January soybeans closed up 1 3/4 cents and March soybeans were up 2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 5 1/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 6 1/4 cents and December Minneapolis wheat was up 5 cents.

Row-crop futures caught themselves for the most part on Friday following Thursday's drastic risk-off session. The soybean complex was notably optimistic heading into the weekend with higher soybean, meal, and oil futures following heavy selling on Thursday. Meanwhile, corn futures held mostly steady while wheat futures moved lower again under technical pressure as well as follow-through disappointment in only light volumes being reportedly purchased by China over the past week. Energy prices were mixed Friday with higher crude futures but diesel prices reversing after hitting the highest price since midsummer. Meanwhile, the technical unease remains in the stock market, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropping again Friday for the fourth time this week after low consumer sentiment was reported by the University of Michigan on Friday and investor fears of a tech and AI-driven reversal mount.

After another downward waning week, where the live cattle market traded lower and lacked enough support in either realm (technical or fundamental), the live cattle contracts were finally trading a bit higher as traders have seemed to deem that the market has traded lower enough for the week. No new cash cattle trade has developed throughout the day, and at this point, it's looking like the bulk of the week's trade could essentially be done with. So far this week, Northern dressed cattle have traded mostly at $355 to $362, with most at $360, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average. Southern live cattle traded at mostly $232, which is $4.00 lower than the previous week's weighted average.

Although still cautious, the feeder cattle complex traded slightly higher into Friday's closing bell, seeming to follow in the same direction as the live cattle market. Sales are still feeling a heightened level of anxiousness in the countryside, as a lower trend has been noted for the week in most classes.

Yes, pork cutout values may have been higher this morning -- up over $2.00 higher -- but it's a little too late to have much effect on the lean hog market this week, as traders haven't seen true support and stability from consumers to feel safe in trading the contracts higher. It's likely that this lower trend will continue into the early portions of next week.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/07134322/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

The Fertilizer Institute celebrated the inclusion of phosphate and potash on the just-released Final List of Critical Minerals. Originally compiled in 2018 and then revised every three years, the list is published by the United States Geological Survey and includes mineral commodities critical to the U.S. economy and national security.

Phosphate and potash are now critical minerals

A recent USDA memo sent to state agencies on Wednesday said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participants will get 65 percent of their typical monthly benefits, and not the 50 percent as first stated. This is due to a record-long government shutdown. The change only affects benefits scheduled to be distributed this month and isn’t permanent. Full benefits are expected to resume once the government shutdown ends. 

Reports said USDA is issuing partial benefits this month to comply with a court order requiring USDA to tap into a SNAP contingency fund. “USDA did a deeper analysis and determined that maximum allotments only need to be reduced by 35 percent, rather than 50 percent, to deplete the SNAP emergency fund,” said Patrick Penn of USDA. The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities said USDA’s initial plan would have provided only about $3 billion in benefits and been a cut of about 61 percent.

USDA revises November SNAP distribution plan

December corn closed down 6 1/2 cents and March corn was down 6 1/2 cents. January soybeans closed down 26 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 24 1/2 cents. December KC wheat closed down 17 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was down 19 1/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was up 3/4 cents.

Both financial and agricultural markets faced widespread selling pressure on Thursday with several moving parts to point to as a source of general nervousness across the trade. First, row-crop futures had become very overbought in the short term from a technical perspective with momentum based indicators likely piling into sales as prices turned lower throughout Thursday morning. Second, futures traders tend to want answers now rather than later and with the government shutdown it is very difficult to gauge if China has been buying U.S. soybeans and to what degree and the rapid growing expense of U.S. soybeans on an FOB port basis may have at last caught up with the futures market on Thursday. In other news, Wednesday's hearing by the Supreme Court regarding the legality of the Trump administration's sweeping tariffs has added a layer of volatility to the market, although a decision is still pending in regard to that.

The live cattle complex traded mixed into Thursday's noon hour, and then went to the downside by the closing bell. As traders would like to trade the contracts higher and successfully did so in the deferred months, but the nearby contracts remained under light pressure as there was still some uncertainty milling throughout the marketplace, and ended up getting the better of the market. No new cash cattle trade has developed today, but packers will need to secure more inventory before the week's over. So far this week Northern dressed cattle have traded at mostly $360, which is $2.00 higher than the previous week's weighted average, and Southern live cattle have traded at mostly $232, which is $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average.

The live cattle complex was able to shake the doggishness of the marketplace for a short time, but the feeder cattle complex wasn't as confident as all of its contracts are trading lower into Thursday's closing bell. Unfortunately, feeder cattle sales could likely soften a tick in the countryside as buyers react to the board.

Again today, the lean hog complex&nbsp;was adding another downward leg to its chart as the market lacks support. Yes, cash demand was strong this week, but without consumer demand improving, traders aren't willing to show the complex much interest or support.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/06143006/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity market daily recap

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said the U.S. isn’t ready to open its border once again to cattle imports from Mexico. Despite that, Rollins said Mexico’s efforts to contain the flesh-eating New World Screwworm are progressing well. The border has been largely closed to imports of Mexican livestock since May. Rollins recently traveled to Mexico City to meet with officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, to tell them that the White House is focused on reopening the border. 

“We’re still not in a spot where I’m comfortable opening up the ports, but I think with every day that goes by, we’re getting a little closer,” Rollins said. She wants to know for sure that both countries have overturned every stone, that every nuance is understood, and they’ve deployed every tool in each country’s toolkits. Rollins didn’t give a specific timeline for reopening the southern U.S. border to Mexican cattle imports.

No plan yet to open U.S. to Mexican cattle imports 

After leaders between the two countries met last week, China will suspend retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including duties on some farm goods. While Beijing confirmed that this week, U.S. soybeans still face a 13 percent tariff. Reports said China’s tariff commission of the State Council is eliminating duties of up to 15 percent imposed on some U.S. agricultural goods on November 10. Tariffs of ten percent introduced in response to President Trump’s “Liberation Day” duties will stay in place. 

Traders say that despite the tariff cut, importers looking at U.S. soybeans still face a tariff of 13 percent, which makes U.S. shipments more expensive for commercial buyers compared to Brazil soybean shipments. “We don’t expect any demand from China to return to the U.S. market with this change,” one trader at an international company. “Brazil is cheaper than the U.S., and even non-Chinese buyers are taking Brazilian cargoes.” 

China buys more Brazilian soybeans

December corn closed up 3 3/4 cents and March corn was up 4 3/4 cents. January soybeans closed up 12 3/4 cents and March soybeans were up 14 1/4 cents. December KC wheat closed up 3 1/2 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 4 1/2 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 1 cent.

Crop futures recovered from Tuesday's profit-taking session to trade moderately higher, fueled by confirmation out of Beijing that tariffs will in fact be greatly reduced. Though reports that U.S. soybeans will remain subject to a 13% duty caused a bit of a stir in analyst circles, the market largely ignored this caveat for Wednesday's session, discussed in further detail below. In outside markets, softer energy markets were a bit of a headwind for grain and oilseed futures, while the U.S. Dollar Index has shown signs of a potential top near 3-month highs after five consecutive days higher. Equity markets were firm, snapping a 2-day skid after ADP reported strong payroll totals in a Wednesday morning report.

The live cattle complex continues to dive frantically lower, as yet another level of confidence has eroded from the market. Even though US Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins has indicated that the border isn't going to reopen anytime soon, the live cattle contracts are trading limit lower as there seems to still be some concern around the matter. Some light trade has also developed in the countryside as Northern dressed deals are being marked at $360, which is $2.00 higher than last week's weighted average, but Southern live cattle are trading at $232, which is $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average. But upon seeing the board drift sharply lower, bids have been knocked lower as packers are now just offering $357 to $358 for dressed cattle and $225 for live.

And following in the same manner, the feeder cattle contracts were also trading limit lower into Wednesday's noon hour. Unfortunately, this bearish onset has again pushed the market well below its 100-day moving average, and will likely affect feeder cattle sales in the countryside.

Without enough fundamental support helping the lean hog complex, it comes as little surprise that the market is again trading and finishing no better than mixed. Yes, midday pork cutout values may have been a tick higher this morning, but traders need more reassurance than that.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/05140220/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Three people familiar with the issue say the Trump administration still intends to roll out an initial payment of up to $12 billion for farmers struggling because of the president’s tariff policies. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven said that a program similar to the $28 billion farmer bailout that Trump released during his first term is “all teed up and good to go.” Hoeven did add that it’s being held up by the ongoing government shutdown. 

There is already a great deal of pressure on lawmakers and the White House, who’ve been trying for months to pull together some financial help for farmers while opening up additional trade markets. Farmers are stuck trying to plan for 2026 while facing tariff uncertainty, high production costs for fertilizer and machinery, rising inflation pressure, and other economic challenges. The USDA recently moved $13 billion into an account designed to provide emergency relief for farmers.

White House still planning billions in farmer trade aid

October saw a modest rise in U.S. farmer sentiment as the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index of 129 was three points higher than September’s reading. The slight rise in the barometer was fueled primarily by an increase in the Index of Current Conditions to 130, which was eight points above September’s level. Meanwhile, the Index of Future Expectations rose a single point to 129. Farmers’ appraisal of current conditions on their farms continues to be fueled by record-high profitability in the beef sector. 

At the same time, poor profit margins across all major crop enterprises lead crop producers to provide a more pessimistic view of the current situation on U.S. farms. The Farm Financial Performance Index fell 10 points from September to 78. Despite weakening financial expectations, the Farm Capital Investment Index rose nine points during the month to 62, thanks to the more optimistic outlook from livestock producers. 

A modest rise in farmer sentiment

December corn closed down 2 3/4 cents and March corn was down 2 cents. January soybeans closed down 12 3/4 cents and March soybeans were down 12 1/2 cents. December KC wheat closed up 4 3/4 cents, December Chicago wheat was up 6 3/4 cents, December Minneapolis wheat was down 1 1/4 cents.

It was an all-around risk-off session for row crops Tuesday with the exception of wheat futures, which continued to ride Monday's wave of trade optimism. Soybean futures led the way lower in the first significant corrective price action in what has been an almost vertical move higher between soybeans and soybean meal since the middle of October. It is likely traders and possibly producers looked to reward the rally following Monday's surge higher. Traders may also be feeling some nervousness ahead of the next USDA update in the middle of the month, which may still find large U.S. crops with harvest coming to an end. Outside markets were also mostly negative influence on ag markets Tuesday, with the U.S. Dollar Index firmer for a fifth straight session and directly below 3-month highs. Energy markets were mixed but stalled against topside resistance, while equities were lower, continuing the recent pullback from last week's record levels.

The live cattle complex was back to trading lower, despite Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins saying the U.S. is not ready for the border to reopen just yet; she's also mentioned in other interviews that President Trump is "very focused" on reopening the border. Although the industry knew that at some point the border was going to be reopened, the cat and mouse game of trying to pinpoint when that is going to happen has a negative impact on the market, as one can see in today's trade action. Unfortunately, this headline has once again pulled the spot December live cattle contract back below the market's 100-day moving average. Still no developments have surfaced in the fed cash cattle market, and no bids or asking prices have surfaced quite yet.

The feeder cattle complex took the morning's rumors with the biggest hit as the market has successfully seen prices never reached before, largely because of limited supplies and excellent demand. Cattle producers and traders alike both know that allowing for Mexican cattle imports won't completely end the market's rally and historical prices, but the degree to which it will affect prices is unknown, and that's what scares the market.

The lean hog complex was again sinking lower, as traders are sickened to see demand simply not performing. If the market trades much lower, it commits to trading below the support place at $80.00 in the December contract. The next level of technical support can be found at around $70.00.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/04141200/web-closing-markets.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

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

The U.S. Department of Agriculture told states Friday it was releasing full November funding for the nation’s major food assistance program that helps 42 million people afford groceries, complying with a federal court order issued Thursday.

Payments would be sent to states Friday, the department’s Food and Nutrition Service said in a letter to state directors of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which is funded by the federal government and administered by the states. Patrick A. Penn, the deputy under secretary for food, nutrition and consumer services, wrote the two-paragraph&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/%2520https%253a//www.documentcloud.org/documents/26220869-snap-november-2025-benefit-guidance-update/" target="_blank">letter.</a>

“Later today, FNS will complete the processes necessary to make funds available to support your subsequent transmittal of full issuance files to your EBT processor,” Penn wrote. “We will keep you as up to date as possible on any future developments and appreciate your continued partnership to serve program beneficiaries across the country.”

The move abandons an appeal President Donald Trump’s administration made following&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trump-administration-ordered-pay-full-9b-november-snap-benefits-amid-shutdown" target="_blank">Thursday’s order</a>&nbsp;from Chief U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of Rhode Island. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/71886023/00108363689/rhode-island-state-council-of-churches-v-rollins/" target="_blank">appeal</a>&nbsp;said the government shutdown, and the resulting lack of funding for SNAP, was Congress’ fault and that the department could not be compelled to transfer other funds to pay for SNAP benefits.

The shutdown, which started when Congress failed to pass annual laws by Oct. 1, left SNAP without any appropriated funding for November and beyond. The administration&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/usda-wont-shuffle-funds-extend-snap-during-shutdown-about-face-earlier-plan" target="_blank">reversed its own guidance</a>&nbsp;and declined to use a contingency fund and other accounts within the USDA held more than enough to cover some benefits.

Full November SNAP benefits to be issued by Trump administration despite shutdown

By:<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">Shauneen Miranda</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump’s administration to continue carrying out, for now, its policy requiring that passports only list a person’s sex assigned at birth.

The nation’s highest court paused a lower court order that temporarily barred the administration from enforcing the policy, codified in an executive order Trump signed in January.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/defending-women-from-gender-ideology-extremism-and-restoring-biological-truth-to-the-federal-government/" target="_blank">executive order</a>&nbsp;made it the “policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female” and called on the State Department to “implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder’s sex.”&nbsp;

Under then-President Joe Biden, the State Department&nbsp;<a href="https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/31/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-advances-equality-and-visibility-for-transgender-americans/" target="_blank">allowed</a>&nbsp;people to “select an ‘X’ as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application.”

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26219531-scotus-passports-11625/" target="_blank">the unsigned court order</a>, the majority noted that “displaying passport holders’ sex at birth no more offends equal protection principles than displaying their country of birth — in both cases, the Government is merely attesting to a historical fact without subjecting anyone to differential treatment.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, indicating a 6-3 decision.

Jackson, who authored the dissent, wrote that the court “fails to spill any ink considering the plaintiffs, opting instead to intervene in the Government’s favor without equitable justification, and in a manner that permits harm to be inflicted on the most vulnerable party.”&nbsp;

“This Court has once again paved the way for the immediate infliction of injury without adequate (or, really, any) justification,” she wrote. “Because I cannot acquiesce to this pointless but painful perversion of our equitable discretion, I respectfully dissent.”&nbsp;

In February, the American Civil Liberties Union&nbsp;<a href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.280559/gov.uscourts.mad.280559.1.0_2.pdf" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;against the administration on behalf of seven transgender and nonbinary people over the suspension of the Biden-era policy.

A federal judge in Massachusetts in June temporarily blocked the administration from enforcing the policy. The judge had issued an earlier preliminary injunction in April that applied to six of the case’s plaintiffs.&nbsp;

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit kept in place the district court’s order in September, prompting the administration to ask the Supreme Court to intervene.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Supreme Court OKs for now Trump passport policy that targets trans people

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to pay roughly $9 billion for November SNAP benefits by Friday. Vice President&nbsp; JD Vance criticized the ruling.

(click below to listen to Vice President Vance's comments)

🎥Vice President critical of judge's ruling to fully fund SNAP

WASHINGTON, D.C. —&nbsp;U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford&nbsp; outlined the proactive actions the FAA will take to maintain the highest standards of safety in the national airspace system. This includes achieving a temporary 10 percent reduction in flights at 40 high traffic airports across the country. &nbsp;

Since the beginning of the shutdown, controllers have been working without pay, and staffing triggers at air traffic facilities across the country have been increasing. This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers. This past weekend, there were 2,740 delays at various airports.  &nbsp;

“My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.&nbsp;“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.”&nbsp;

“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,”&nbsp;said&nbsp;Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford.&nbsp;“The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe.”  &nbsp;

The full emergency order can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/FAA-Emergency-Order-11-6-25.pdf">HERE</a>.&nbsp;

A 4 percent reduction in operations will take effect Friday, November 7, ramping up to 6 percent by November 11, 8 percent by November 13, and 10 percent by November 14.&nbsp;

These actions were directly informed by the FAA’s review of aviation safety data, including voluntary, confidential safety reports that pilots and air traffic controllers file. The data indicates increased stress on the system, which increases risk. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Airlines will be required to issue full refunds. They will not be required to cover secondary costs. This is the normal procedure when a delay or cancellation is not at the fault of the carrier.&nbsp;

The order does not require a reduction in international flights. Carriers may use their own discretion to decide which flights are canceled to reach the order’s goal.&nbsp;

Decisions to increase or decrease these flight reductions will be informed by safety data. &nbsp;

The 40 affected high impact airports include: &nbsp;

ANC –&nbsp;Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport&nbsp;

ATL –&nbsp;Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport&nbsp;

BOS –&nbsp;Boston Logan International Airport&nbsp;

BWI –&nbsp;Baltimore/Washington International Airport&nbsp;

CLT –&nbsp;Charlotte Douglas International Airport&nbsp;

CVG –&nbsp;Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport&nbsp;

DAL –&nbsp;Dallas Love Field&nbsp;DCA –&nbsp;Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport&nbsp;

DEN –&nbsp;Denver International Airport&nbsp;

DFW –&nbsp;Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport&nbsp;

DTW –&nbsp;Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport&nbsp;EWR –&nbsp;Newark Liberty International Airport&nbsp;

FLL –&nbsp;Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport&nbsp;

HNL –&nbsp;Honolulu International Airport&nbsp;

HOU –&nbsp;William P. Hobby Airport&nbsp;

IAD –&nbsp;Washington Dulles International Airport

&nbsp;IAH –&nbsp;George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport&nbsp;

IND –&nbsp;Indianapolis International Airport&nbsp;

JFK –&nbsp;New York John F. Kennedy International Airport&nbsp;

LAS –&nbsp;Las Vegas McCarran International Airport&nbsp;

LAX –&nbsp;Los Angeles International Airport&nbsp;

LGA –&nbsp;New York LaGuardia Airport&nbsp;

MCO –&nbsp;Orlando International Airport&nbsp;

MDW –&nbsp;Chicago Midway International Airport&nbsp;

MEM –&nbsp;Memphis International Airport&nbsp;

MIA –&nbsp;Miami International Airport&nbsp;

MSP –&nbsp;Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport&nbsp;

OAK –&nbsp;Oakland International Airport&nbsp;

ONT –&nbsp;Ontario International Airport&nbsp;

ORD –&nbsp;Chicago O’Hare International Airport&nbsp;

PDX –&nbsp;Portland International Airport

&nbsp;PHL –&nbsp;Philadelphia International Airport&nbsp;

PHX –&nbsp;Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport&nbsp;

SAN –&nbsp;San Diego International Airport&nbsp;

SDF –&nbsp;Louisville International Airport&nbsp;

SEA –&nbsp;Seattle–Tacoma International Airport&nbsp;

SFO –&nbsp;San Francisco International Airport&nbsp;

SLC –&nbsp;Salt Lake City International Airport&nbsp;

TEB –&nbsp;Teterboro Airport&nbsp;TPA –&nbsp;Tampa International Airport

FAA's order to cut flights nationwide due to gov't shutdown is in effect

PHELPS COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect for alleged child sex crimes.

On Thursday, the&nbsp;Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announce the arrest of Carl E. Swanson, 41, of St. James.

 Swanson was arrested on November 5, 2025, in connection with a sexual abuse investigation conducted by the Troop I Criminal Investigative Unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

On April 28, 2025, the Phelps County Sheriff’s Office requested DDCC investigate allegations of child sex abuse, involving former Doolittle Police Department Officer, Carl E. Swanson. 

On November 5, 2025, following a lengthy investigation, DDCC investigators arrested Swanson in connection with the alleged incident. 

Swanson was transported to the Phelps County Jail and placed on an investigative hold. On November 5, 2025, the Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Swanson with one count each: 1st Degree-Child Molestation, 2nd Degree-Statutory Rape, and 2nd-Degree Statutory Sodomy. Swanson is being held in the Phelps County Jail, with a $250,000.00 bond.

Local

Region

Sports

Agriculture