A new movie from director Jason Hudson is premiering this weekend at the historic Missouri Theatre.  

Hudson, known for movies filmed in St. Joseph such as Christmas at the Chateau and Accidental Family, has now made a Christmas movie for kids, the Gingerbread Men. 

Steve Marks with Marks Media, the production company that helped make the movie, says the film is a laugh out loud adventure 

"It’s mischief and heart and a reminder that the greatest gift isn’t what we sometimes wish for, because these little boys wish to be big, that’s their wish “Marks says on the KFEQmunnity show. “It’s kind of like the movie, if you’ve ever seen the movie with Tom Hanks called Big, or you saw the movie Elf with Will Ferrell, those two movies it’s like mixing them together with a G rating basically and putting a Christmas twist on it.” 

Marks says the movie was entirely filmed in St. Joseph, with many of the cast and crew from the St. Joseph area. 

"You’ll probably see about three or four hundred people, you’ll go I know that person, because they’re people from St. Joseph, Savannah, and the surrounding area in the film,” Marks explains.  “And of course you’ll recognize all of the beautiful St. Joseph and surrounding area, all the different things we filmed, it’s a lot of fun, but yeah it was definitely filmed here in St. Joseph and created here in St. Joseph.” 

Marks says people who come see the film should expect to have a lot of laughs 

"Kids love it, now you as an adult might think well that was just a little strange here and there, but hey come and see it and you be the judge yourself,” Marks says.  “What we hope will be the takeaway is they’ll walk away with a smile on their face, enjoy it, have some family time and let their hair down.” 

Showings will be held at 2, 5, and 6:30pm at the Missouri Theatre, and you can meet the cast and crew at each show. <a href="https://jomotickets.com/event/gingerbread-men-movie-premiere">Tickets can be purchased online</a>.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

New movie from St. Joseph based production company premiering today

President Trump plans to pay bonuses to
air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during the federal
government shutdown and has threatened docking the pay of those who didn’t.

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves,
the House Transportation Committee chair, says he understands the president’s
frustration, but is hesitant to endorse punishing controllers who called in
sick during the shutdown.

“The problem with something like that is
that you really don’t know the circumstances, the folks, that may not be
eligible for these bonuses,” Graves tells KFEQ. “They may have
actually been sick.”

Graves says air traffic controllers have
a high-stress job and not getting paid during the shutdown didn’t help.

“You know, we’ve got to be careful,
because you just don’t know what the circumstances are,” Graves says.

Graves says a high stress job became even
more stressful during the federal government shutdown as air traffic
controllers had to come to work without getting a paycheck.

“You also can’t fault somebody who’s
trying to make a car payment and a mortgage payment. You don’t know what the
personal circumstance is and they had to go out and get another job for the
time being to try to make ends meet,” Graves says. “I can see both sides of
this to be quite honest with you. I can absolutely see both sides of this.”

Graves says you cannot dismiss the
worries that pile up when the bills come due.

“Whether that’s a car payment or a
mortgage payment or whatever your obligation may be and not getting paid for
two pay cycles. That creates even more stress and more hardship and it just
makes it worse,” according to Graves. “ I think it’s very hard for most folks
to really understand the true gravity of what took place.”

The Trump administration has announced it
will give a bonus to air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during
the shutdown. Those who came to work each day of the shutdown will receive $10,000
bonuses.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Congressman Graves hesitant on plan to punish some air traffic controllers

KFEQ Morning Sports

KFEQ Morning News

As people celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, many will also begin their shopping to get ready for Christmas, taking advantage of deals.  

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says be sure when you leave your car to go into a store, to keep any items you purchase out of sight while you shop 

"If you go back to your car, put them in your trunk or somewhere where they’re out of sight,” Luster says on the KFEQmunnity.  “Don't put that $800 iPad in your passenger seat and leave it to go into the next store, you could just be inviting trouble, you’ll see a lot of people that engage in these thefts it’s a crime of opportunity.” 

Luster says these criminals will walk through parking lots looking for cars with items in plain view to steal from with how crowded lots are during holiday shopping.  

Luster advises shoppers to stay as alert as possible while out doing that holiday shopping 

"Always try to park in well-lit areas, be aware of your surroundings when you’re out there shopping in the holiday season, I think those are very, very important,” Luster says. 

Luster also reminds drivers that during the holiday weekend roads are going to be even busier than normal, so to be cautious and alert while going back and forth this Thanksgiving. 

St. Joseph Police advise to hide gifts as you shop during the holiday's 

HOLT COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Thursday in Holt County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 GMC Yukon driven by a 30-year-old Grain Valley man was northbound on Interstate 29 at Mound City. The SUV traveled off the east side of the road. The undercarriage struck the ground. The vehicle continued northeast, struck an embankment, became airborne and the undercarriage struck the ground a second time. The SUV continued into a field, crossed an airfield, struck a combine, rotated clockwise and struck an aircraft hangar. The impact with the aircraft hangar door caused the door to impact a stationary airplane.

Atchison Holt ambulance transported the driver and a 10-year-old passenger to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man, boy injured after violent SUV crash into aircraft hangar

ATCHISON COUNTY, Mo.—One person died in an accident just before 4a.m. Thursday in Atchison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Toyota MR2 driven by a 44-year-old Union, Missouri, woman was northbound on Interstate 29 one mile north of Watson. The car began to skid. It crossed the center of the road, traveled off the west side of the northbound lanes, rolled into the southbound lanes and the driver was ejected.

The driver was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Minter Funeral Home in Rock Port. She was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman killed in rollover crash on Thanksgiving 

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

Missouri has been working on updating its computer systems to improve how it administers social safety net programs since 2013. New federal rules mean that work will wait until at least 2028

Missouri’s social services department has in recent years been&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-is-still-illegally-denying-food-assistance-despite-court-order/">reprimanded</a>&nbsp;by a judge for illegally denying food assistance and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">scrutinized</a>&nbsp;by the federal government for massive Medicaid application&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">backlogs</a>.

And for more than a decade, the agency has vowed to tackle these problems by overhauling the computer systems that help determine whether people qualify for social safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and Medicaid, the federal health insurance program for low-income people.

But needed technology changes are once again on hold, thanks to a barrage of deadlines mandated by Congress this summer as part of President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” —&nbsp; most notably work requirements and more frequent renewals for Medicaid.

Instead of moving forward with a long-promised modernization of its eligibility software, the Missouri Department of Social Services must focus its time and staff toward meeting sweeping federal deadlines in Trump’s new law. And that means the integrated SNAP-Medicaid system won’t arrive anytime soon.

Plans to combine eligibility software for SNAP and Medicaid into a single, updated system will have to wait until at least 2028, said Toi Wilde, chief information officer for the Missouri Department of Social Services.

“You don’t want this type of huge, major policy shift that you have going,” Wilde said. “Going into a full implementation of a new system would be extremely challenging [during this shift].”

News of the delay inspired dismay among those who have been battling with the department for years to ensure eligible Missourians get access to benefits they are entitled to receive. What’s worse, advocates say, is that delays come as the department is trying to appeal the 2024 federal court&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/09/federal-court-rules-missourians-were-illegally-denied-food-aid-by-the-state/">decision</a>&nbsp;that found its administration of the SNAP program illegally denied food benefits to Missourians.

Katherine Holley, an attorney for Legal Services of Eastern Missouri who assisted plaintiffs in that lawsuit, said her organization’s clients are still struggling to get department staff on the phone to complete required eligibility interviews.

Clients call the department trying to complete their interview, she said, only to hear that there are hundreds of people in front of them in the queue. One client was recently terminated from SNAP, she said, when a document he submitted to the department online got lost.

“I reached out to the agency, and then they found it, and they opened his benefits back up,” Holley said. “But if he hadn’t reached out to us, he would just be without benefits.”

The department’s attempt to combine its systems in 2013 ended earlier this year after a decade-long&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/14/appeals-court-upholds-23m-judgment-against-missouri-dss-in-contract-dispute/">legal battle</a>&nbsp;that cost the state&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/cost-balloons-for-missouri-taxpayers-in-medicaid-contract-dispute/">$92.7 million</a>, including interest.

The department contracted with the software company EngagePoint in June 2013 to build a system to meet requirements in the Affordable Care Act and handle eligibility and enrollment for SNAP and Medicaid.

Missouri didn’t expand Medicaid until 2021, but the 2010 federal law required states to make other changes. States had to start using a new method to measure income to determine Medicaid eligibility for most adults, and they had to update their eligibility and enrollment systems to exchange information with the federal marketplace.

The department had big ambitions for its tech upgrades: “a comprehensive, fully integrated, state-of-the-art automated human services eligibility, enrollment and case management system,” according to its January 2013&nbsp;<a href="http://bids.centerdigitalgov.com/docs/2013/02/Bid_Document__469647400.pdf?id=134847" target="_blank">request for proposals</a>.

But the state terminated the contract three years early, with the new system partially built. Missourians’ SNAP cases stayed in the old system, alongside Medicaid for elderly or disabled Missourians. Only the Medicaid cases subject to new federal income measurement were migrated to the newer system.

Advocates and experts say separate systems can cause problems.

Integrated systems allow people to take fewer steps to apply for and maintain SNAP and Medicaid benefits, which reduces the chance that they’ll be wrongly denied benefits. Well-integrated systems are also better at handling the complexity of overlapping but distinct federal eligibility rules for SNAP and Medicaid so state employees bear less of that burden.

Jennifer Wagner, director of Medicaid eligibility and enrollment at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said integrated systems make it easier for states to offer combined applications for Medicaid and SNAP and for information to carry over across programs when people complete annual renewals or submit changes.

Combined systems streamline state employees’ work, and the savings gets passed down to people accessing the programs.

“From a caseworker perspective, because so much of the eligibility determination keys off each other and uses the same information, you can touch a case much less often,” Wagner said.&nbsp;

Holley said a lack of coordination between Missouri’s SNAP and Medicaid systems has caused clients to lose benefits, partly because annual renewals for Medicaid and SNAP happen on different timelines.&nbsp;

A past client updated their address while renewing their Medicaid coverage, Holley said. The address didn’t transfer to the other system, so that when it was time for the client to recertify their SNAP eligibility, the paperwork was sent to their old address. The client lost their benefits.

“Those systems don’t talk,” Holley said.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs in the federal SNAP lawsuit said continuing challenges completing annual renewals are part of the reason it’s so important for the court not to let the department off the hook.&nbsp;

While the department argued in its request for an appeal that it had already addressed the harms to the individual plaintiffs in the case by granting them interviews and benefits, the attorneys said plaintiffs are likely to encounter the same denials for failure to interview.

“All of these people want to keep their benefits and are trying their hardest,” Holley said.

One of the plaintiffs, Mary Holmes, lost SNAP benefits during the lawsuit because the department said she incorrectly filled out recertification paperwork, Holley said.

Data the department is court-ordered to submit to the court each month suggest improvements in the number of times people get disconnected when the call center is overloaded. It also shows fewer SNAP applications are being rejected only due to failure to complete an interview.

But Katie Deabler, an attorney from the National Center for Law and Economic Justice who is also representing plaintiffs in the case, said the department hasn’t been submitting data long enough to demonstrate improvements will last.

Deabler, who has worked on SNAP cases in multiple states, said application volumes often vary with the seasons. Applications tend to pick up in the summer and over the winter holidays, when kids can’t receive food in school.

Though the average time someone spends on hold waiting for an interview has decreased from 57 minutes in February to 23 minutes in October, average wait times were slightly up in July, August, September and October from a year ago. That’s in four of the six months where there are two years of data.&nbsp;

The department has fallen short of a benchmark U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Harpool set in May of 90% of all callers spending no more than 20 minutes on hold. In October, that was true of 62% of people waiting for a SNAP interview. The longest anyone spent on hold that month, the department reported, was 2 hours and 22 minutes, down from a peak of 6 hours and 3 minutes in March.

“Agencies that are trying to fix these sorts of big, systemic problems,” Deabler said, “they really can’t just sit back and take a break just because there’s a few months that looked okay.”

Wagner, of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, said the “Big Beautiful Bill” has created “a perfect storm in a terrible way.”

The law requires states next year to begin implementing sweeping policy changes to Medicaid with sharply reduced administrative funding for SNAP and under intense pressure to minimize errors in SNAP payments.

“That means less resources and a ton more work and a lot more severe consequences if the work is not done perfectly,” Wagner said.

Beginning in October 2027, states with SNAP error rates of 6% or higher will have to pay 5 to 15% of the cost of the food benefits they issue. States’ current performance will be used to determine if and how much they must pay.

“So states have not a short timeframe, but a negative timeframe, to affect the error rate that will determine whether the state can maintain the program or not,” Wagner said.

Missouri’s error rate was 9.42% in fiscal year 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/snap-fy24QC-PER.pdf" target="_blank">according</a>&nbsp;to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wilde, the state social services department’s chief information officer, said that while the department focuses on implementing the federal law, it’s making changes to streamline staffers’ workflow while planning for the eventual replacement of its systems.

The department has developed a process to automatically transfer some information from SNAP applications into the eligibility system, Wilde said, without requiring “a bunch of manual touches” from staffers, saving about 400 hours of work so far.

“What we’ve been doing,” she said, “is reimagining, in the intermediacy, til different systems…are put in place, what are some low tech solutions that still have big, really good [impacts] and that can help the process?”

Wilde said the department has also upgraded its automated call center technology so Missourians can get more information about their SNAP and Medicaid cases without having to wait on hold.&nbsp;

The department has also started work to allow its call center technology to feed more information to its eligibility systems, Wilde said, in anticipation of more frequent Medicaid recertifications next year.

For Missourians struggling to access needed assistance, the stakes are high.&nbsp;

Deabler said that regardless of pressures from the federal government, the state has a legal responsibility to provide SNAP benefits to people who are eligible.

“States owe the same duty to the people who rely on this program to feed their families that they always did,” Deabler said.

Holley said she and others at Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, “keep see[ing] people cycling back through, needing our help again and again.”

“In theory, all of these systems should work to keep people who qualify for benefits…in receipt of them,” Holley said. “They should continue to receive benefits. They’re doing what they need to do. It’s frustrating.”

Federal changes delay long-overdue overhaul of Missouri’s troubled safety net systems

With more people coming in and out of your house this Thanksgiving holiday, you should also be sure to consider the well-being of your pets.   

Melanie Barnes with Friends of the Animal Shelter says with more people coming over, maybe some your pets don't know, it's important to consider how they will react 

"Does that stress your pet out? In which case, how are they going to behave, and how are they going to respond, and is that going to affect their health,” Barnes says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “If you’re having kids over and you don’t have kids in the household, you put a three or four year old running around making noise or playing with noisemakers and maybe the pets not used to it, whether its a dog, cat, or some other type of pet.” 

Barnes says if things like that do stress your pet out, you have to consider if they will make your pet run and hide or try to run away, making it important to keep them secure as you open the door to let people in and out. 

Barnes says while most owners know their dogs well, they don't always know what will set them off 

"And it doesn’t always have to come from a place of anxiety within the pet, and obviously that’s the hardest part, is they can’t tell you how they’re feeling so you do have to be pretty observant,” Barnes explains 

Barnes says while most of this happens with dogs going from puppies to adults, but points out its also common in senior dogs who are beginning to lose their senses 

“So maybe their hearing, their sense of smell, potentially even a little bit of their eyesight, that can put them on edge,” Barnes says.  “Because they don’t how to trust, they’re used to trusting all their senses, and they don’t know how to trust without that sense.” 

Barnes points out to pet owners that while it may not always happen, a pets behavior can change from year to year, so it's important to be aware. 

As you cook all that food this Thanksgiving, there's a good chance your pet is going to want some of it from your guests 

Barnes says there are a number of things your pet shouldn't eat this Thanksgiving, and it's best to do your own research, but says best case scenario is don't give your pet any human food 

"If you know they’re going to give them those eyes, and you can’t intervene with your guests, it’s probably best to crate your dog or cat, or go put them in a separate room so they don’t get put in that situation,” Barnes says.  “Because it’s kind of natural sometimes for the dog and cat to do that if you haven’t trained them otherwise, so sometimes you can’t really put that on them, and then if Uncle Bob comes over and always feeds the dog from the table, you need to do something to make sure Uncle Bob doesn’t do that.” 

Barnes says you have to think about it from three perspectives, should they be eating it from a calorie perspective, a health perspective, and a toxicity perspective.  

Barnes says items like grapes, raisins, onions, any raw items, and false sugars can all be toxic items to your pets used around Thanksgiving. 

Make sure to keep an eye on your pets this Thanksgiving

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

Less than 2% of MOScholars students are funded through donations this school year. The rest depend on general revenue from the state budget

More than 98% of scholarships administered by the MOScholars program this school year are funded by Missouri taxpayers. And though there are strict eligibility requirements for private-school scholarships, eligibility isn’t checked after the initial scholarship is awarded or for siblings of students who received a scholarship.

The revelations about the inner workings of Missouri’s private school voucher program came to light over the course of a two-day trial in Cole County Circuit Court this week.

The focus of the arguments Monday and Tuesday were over whether the state can use general revenue for private school tuition, with the attorney general’s office defending state funds as transformative for the program and Missouri’s largest teacher’s union saying the funding is unlawful.

But witness testimony pulled back the curtain on certain details about the MOScholars program that have stayed largely out of the public consciousness.

MOScholars, which is in its fourth year of operation, awards scholarships to K-12 students who meet certain criteria.

When state lawmakers created the program in a 2021 bill, they set it up to run on donations that are eligible for a 100% tax credit up to half of a donor’s tax liability. In the first three years of the program, donations totaled $33.8 million.

Gov. Mike Kehoe announced in January that he intended to bring a major infusion of funding to the program through a $50 million appropriation of general revenue. This windfall for MOScholars has allowed the state to nearly triple the amount of scholarships awarded this fall.

“If not for general revenue, would many of (the new) scholars be able to receive a scholarship?” Assistant Attorney General Peter Donahue asked the treasurer’s director of programs, Trent Blair.

Of 6,418 scholarships awarded this school year, only 111 are funded through tax credits. That includes the 2,405 students who were in the program last year. So if MOScholars did not receive the state appropriation, the funding would cover less than 5% of the renewal students going into the school year.

The State Treasurer’s Office, which oversees MOScholars, has previously admitted to problems with the timing of funding. The bulk of donations hit the accounts of educational assistance organizations — intermediary nonprofits that connect students with the funding — in December.

With tuition due in August, MOScholars had to either wait eight months to award the funds or put stress on the system. Blair testified that the educational assistance organizations largely chose the latter and that the organizations themselves choose when to use donated funds.&nbsp;

In 2023, two of the six educational assistance organizations acknowledged they used&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/21/funding-lag-creates-barrier-for-missouri-private-school-tax-credit-program/">their private funds to pay tuition</a>&nbsp;in the fall and paid themselves back once they received donations.&nbsp;In October, two organizations&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/13/nearly-all-state-funding-for-missouri-school-vouchers-used-for-religious-schools/">told The Independent</a>&nbsp;that they were able to fund scholarships for all their renewal students and clear their waitlists with the new state funds.

The state money “stabilizes the program,” Blair testified Tuesday.

Representing the Missouri National Education Association, attorney Loretta Haggard unearthed issues with the administration of the program as she cross-examined Blair.

She honed in on MOScholars’ eligibility requirements. State law limits the program to students with an individualized education plan or those whose family makes at or below 300% of the income standard used to qualify for free and reduced price lunches.

The treasurer’s office uses an education management system called FACTS to review applications and determine eligibility. Haggard asked if the software checks if renewal students still meet eligibility requirements.&nbsp;

“So a student can receive a scholarship even though they don’t meet the IEP or income requirements?” Haggard then asked.

When a student is eligible one year, the system presumes that they retain eligibility. The siblings of renewal students are also deemed eligible.

The treasurer’s office has faced criticism before over how it has administered MOScholars, including&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/10/missouri-treasurer-vivek-malek-transparency-moscholars/">complaints from Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck</a>&nbsp;that the office wasn’t transparent about program data. And in July, a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/16/missouri-auditor-says-treasurer-put-35-million-into-wrong-state-fund/">report from the State Auditor</a>&nbsp;found the treasurer’s office didn’t conduct annual audits of the MOScholars program required by state law.

But Tuesday’s testimony was the first time the state has admitted to not rechecking eligibility, something that is routine for other state-funded programs like food assistance or Medicaid.&nbsp;

Any questions about the administration of the program don’t impact the legality of the appropriation, said Bryan Cleveland, an attorney with Indiana-based advocacy group EdChoice, who intervened in the case on behalf of three parents whose children have received assistance through MOScholars.

“The case does not depend on whether any one treasurer is doing a good job but rather on interpretation of statutory provisions,” he told the judge. “The rest of the discussion of what the treasurer or the educational assistance organizations do after (the appropriation) is not relevant.”

Blair, stepping off the witness stand Tuesday, sighed, head tucked as he walked back to his seat. The trial marked one of the few occasions the treasurer’s office has answered questions publicly, apart from occasional statements to the media.

When Cole County Judge Brian Stumpe denied a request for a temporary restraining order, which would have blocked the spending of the general revenue during the trial, the treasurer’s office held a joint press conference with the Missouri Attorney General’s Office but did not take any questions.

On Monday, attorneys argued over whether the Missouri NEA or its individual members had standing to challenge the state appropriation to MOScholars.&nbsp;

A decision on the case is not expected until after Dec. 8, when attorneys’ post-trial filings are due.

Trial reveals inner workings of Missouri private school voucher program

DeKalb County
sheriff’s officials have released the identities of the three killed in a
residential fire in Weatherby earlier this month.

Killed in the fire
were 36-year-old Mary Justus and her daughter, eight-year-old Millie Krebs. The
fire also took the life of 26-year-old Christopher Evans, the boyfriend of Mary
Justus. All were residents of Weatherby.

DeKalb County
Sheriff’s deputies and first responders found the three dead inside the residence after responding
to the house fire at 190 N. North Street, Lot 1, in Weatherby November 20th.

The Jackson County
Medical Examiner’s Office performed autopsies last Friday. The results are pending.

The investigation
into the fire continues.

If anyone has
information they think might be important to the investigation, they are
requested to contact Captain Michael Marvin at The DeKalb County Sheriff’s
Office at 816-449-5802.

DeKalb County names victims of fatal Weatherby house fire

Corn futures were higher Friday. Soybean futures were also higher; wheat futures were mixed at best on the session. The U.S. stock market was firmer, with the S&amp;P higher. The U.S. Dollar Index was slightly lower. The interest rate products were flat. Energy trade was firmer with crude oil and natural gas both trading higher. Precious metals were firmer with gold up 37.00.

The live cattle complex was still sporting a fruitful rally into Friday's close, as traders seem to be again believing in the market's bullish long-term fundamentals despite plenty of volatility over the last month. There was some light cash cattle trade reported in the South at $220, which is roughly $5.00 higher than the business that developed earlier in the week, but still $2.00 to $4.00 lower than last week's weighted average. No new dressed cattle trade has developed at this point. Earlier in the week, Northern dressed cattle were trading at mostly $330, which is $13.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Boxed beef prices are lower: choice down $1.39 ($366.89) and select down $5.13 ($350.38) with a movement of 60 loads (46.58 loads of choice, 2.89 loads of select, 5.35 loads of trim and 4.79 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle contracts saw the biggest day of gains as some of the contracts were up their daily trading limit, up $9.25. Helping spur this positive momentum was the interview shared with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, where she discussed several important issues, such as the border. The main points she stated about the border's reopening (when it does happen) are that not all of the ports will reopen at once, and that it will be a slow and methodical process, and the market will not see a million imported cattle show up overnight, which was a major relief to hear.

The lean hog complex traded along both sides of steady as the market looks for continued reassurance following Wednesday's dramatic rally. There's been very little interest this week in the cash hog market, but pork cutout values are again up slightly.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/28124311/web-closing-markets-2.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Commodity markets daily recap

As the holidays are here, bird flu is once again infecting commercial and backyard poultry flocks. Civil Eats reports that the flu has infected and killed more than 8.9 million turkeys, chickens, and ducks in the U.S. since September. The report said consumers are unlikely to feel a price squeeze during the holidays. For example, a 50-state survey from the American Farm Bureau found retail prices for frozen turkeys were down by 16 percent compared to last year. That’s even though wholesale prices are up 40 percent, with retailers often selling turkeys as loss-leaders. 

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reports that 93 flocks have been tested and confirmed with HPAI infection. That includes 43 commercial flocks, 50 backyard flocks, and has affected 1.67 million birds across all the infected premises. Reuters reported that the risk of infection in the public remains low.

More bird flu ahead of the holiday season

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said her agency intends to purchase up to $30 million in fresh fruit from American farmers and producers to distribute to food banks and nutrition assistance programs across the country. These purchases are being made through Section 32 of the Agriculture Act of 1935 and will assist producers and communities in need. “Certain commodities are experiencing a surplus, and USDA is ensuring these crops do not go to waste and instead go to Americans in need across the country,” Rollins said. “These fresh fruits will reach those in need, boosting healthier options for Americans at food banks across the country, all while benefiting American farmers facing unfair actions from foreign competitors.”

 The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service will purchase $15 million in fresh oranges, $10 million in grapefruit, and $5 million worth of mandarins. The AMS purchases a variety of domestically-produced agricultural products on an ongoing basis.&nbsp;

USDA announces $30 million food purchase

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

Row-crop futures posted respectable gains in a breakout session from what had been a narrow range for prices through the holiday week. Seasonality is certainly on the side of the bulls for now as traders also are anticipating U.S. production estimates will fall again from November figures when USDA revisits the supply side of the balance sheet in January. Meanwhile, strong demand ideas are working to keep a floor under prices as well. Outside markets for Wednesday saw firmer equities as indices are heading toward a retracement of last week's AI bubble fear induced selloff. Energy prices were mixed with crude oil futures higher but among 2025 lows, and diesel prices continuing to fall sharply from last week's highs.

Wednesday's rally in the live cattle complex could be in part due to the interview that Lonesome Lands shared with Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. A couple of major points were discussed in the interview: Rollins stated that when the U.S.-Mexico border reopens, not all ports will reopen at once and that "you will not see 1 million head of cattle show up overnight, it's going to be a slow and gradual process." Rollins also stated the port in Arizona is likely to reopen first as it's furthest away from any detected New World screwworm. Rollins also stated there's not an ag industry that she's more bullish about than cattle. No new cash cattle trade has been reported, but bids are on the table in Kansas at $215. On Tuesday, some trade developed in the North at $330, which is $15.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Although there have not been many cattle traded in the South, a handful of deals were marked at $215, which is $7.00 to $9.00 lower than last week's weighted average. Boxed beef prices are mixed: choice down $1.45 ($368.64) and select up $2.55 ($358.48) with a movement of 115 loads (76.90 loads of choice, 10.97 loads of select, 12.76 loads of trim and 14.74 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex also traded notably higher (mostly $7.00 to $8.00 higher) as the market is pleased to hear positive news from Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins. So long as the live cattle contracts continue to trade higher through Wednesday's close, it's likely feeder cattle contracts will as well.

The lean hog complex also traded higher as the market is pleased to note a slight bump in pork demand and is likely receiving a little extra spill-over support from the cattle complex. Packers have made it bluntly clear that they don't need many hogs this week.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/26140616/web-closing-markets-2.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Data from the USDA said that inspections of soybeans and corn for offshore delivery declined week to week, while wheat assessments increased during the week ending on November 20. Soybean inspections were reported at almost 800,000 metric tons, down from the 1.21 million tons inspected during the previous week. That’s also well below the 2.12 million tons assessed during the same week last year. 

Examinations of corn for overseas delivery dropped to 1.63 million metric tons, down from 2.97 million tons the previous week, but up from 1.01 million tons at the same point during the prior year. Wheat inspections rose to 474,530 metric tons, up from 246,533 tons the previous week and the 366,000 tons a year earlier. Since the marketing year began, the government has inspected 17.5 million metric tons of corn, and soybean assessments are at 10.9 million metric tons. Marketing-year wheat inspections reached 10.7 million tons.

Weekly exports of soybeans and corn decline

For the eighth time this year, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index sank below a growth-neutral score of 50.0. That’s according to the monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a ten-state region dependent on agriculture and energy. The region’s overall reading was 34.6 in October, the lowest level since May 2020. That’s down from 38.5 in September. “Weak agriculture commodity prices for grain producers continue to dampen economic activity in the ten-state region,” said Ernie Goss of Creighton University. “While tariffs are producing higher economic volatility, 72 percent of bank CEOs say President Trump’s approach toward Chinese trade is ‘about right.’” 

For the 17th time in the past 18 months, farmland prices slumped below growth-neutral. The region’s farmland price index dropped to 37.0 from 45.8 in September. Farm loan delinquency rates rose from a very low 1.1 percent in June of this year to 1.6 percent this month. 

Rural Mainstreet Index stays below growth neutral

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

As expected for Thanksgiving week, grain and oilseed markets have been very quiet and more or less directionless thus far, struggling to gain breakout momentum in either direction with many traders likely on the sidelines and taking an extended holiday break from the action. The trade, albeit thin, does exhibit the characteristic of at least a short-term bottom in accordance to technical guidelines. Outside markets for Tuesday were mixed with higher equities, but weaker energy markets with crude oil futures working their way back toward 2025 lows.

It was technically a mixed session, but mostly lower morning for the live cattle complex. Although most of the deferred contracts were traded higher, spot and nearby contracts are trading slightly lower. There's even been some trade already in the fed cash cattle market. There was light movement of dressed trade this morning in Nebraska, where cattle are trading anywhere from $325 to $330, but mostly at $330, which is a $15.00 decline from last week's weighted average. Still no trade has developed yet in the South, and asking prices are still not known in that region. Delivery dates for the cattle that have traded have been set for mostly the week of Dec. 1 and Dec. 8. Boxed beef prices are higher: choice up $1.56 ($372.05) and select up $3.46 ($358.97) with a movement of 74 loads (55.78 loads of choice, 8.21 loads of select, 4.08 loads of trim and 5.76 loads of ground beef).

The feeder cattle complex traded higher following Monday's sharp decline. Traders seem to be recovering some position that was lost on Monday, but it's more a technical reaction than a decision being made because more confidence has truly been established in the marketplace.

The lean hog contracts continued to trade slightly higher as the market crosses its fingers that the uncertainty in the cattle sector could be gained opportunity for the hog complex. The market still hasn't gained a strong fundamental foothold, as pork cutout values are lower.

<a href="https://dehayf5mhw1h7.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/sites/356/2025/11/25142053/web-closing-markets-2.mp3">Click HERE for audio</a>

Last week, the American Carbon Alliance submitted a formal letter of support for the bipartisan SPEED Act — legislation designed to bring long-overdue clarity, accountability, and timeliness to federal environmental reviews. The bill establishes firm review deadlines, streamlines agency coordination, and prevents the kind of regulatory delay that regularly stalls energy, carbon-capture, biofuels, and rural-infrastructure projects. 

For ethanol producers, rural communities, and carbon capture developers, predictable permitting isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. Investments stall when timelines slip, and rural economies lose opportunities when critical infrastructure gets caught in bureaucratic gridlock. The SPEED Act is a major step toward ensuring the U.S. can actually build the projects needed for lower emissions, stronger energy security, and new economic growth across the Midwest. As of Friday morning, the SPEED Act passed committee markup with a bipartisan vote. 

ACA supports the SPEED Act to deliver real permitting reform

A new report released this week reveals that severe agricultural labor shortages are accelerating the financial strain facing America’s family farms and contributing to rising prices for traditional Thanksgiving foods. According to the findings, farms across the country are struggling to secure the skilled, reliable workforce needed to harvest crops, care for livestock, and maintain year-round operations. 

As labor shortages worsen, growers are facing higher production costs, reduced yields, and in some cases, the difficult decision to scale back or abandon crops altogether. The result of these significant disruptions: domestic food production instability and higher prices for U.S. consumers. The report calls for urgent policy action to modernize the agricultural workforce system and protect the long-term viability of U.S. food producers. Without meaningful reform, consumers will face continued price increases and local farming communities will bear deepening economic consequences.

Higher holiday food prices and crisis for American family farms

Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe has appointed Andrea Fischer of St. Joseph to the Missouri Veterinary
Medical Board.

Fischer is a
senior therapeutic specialist for Gilead Sciences. Fischer previously worked as
an executive oncology account specialist for AstraZeneca.

Fischer is a
member of several organizations, including the Missouri Cattlemen's Association
and the American Simmental Association. Fischer earned her bachelor's degree in
animal science from the University of Missouri–Columbia.

Gov. Kehoe appoints Fischer to Missouri Veterinary Medical Board

SHAWNEE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect in connection with a domestic incident in Shawnee County

Just after 12:30 p.m., November 24, the Shawnee County Emergency Communications Center was notified of a second domestic disturbance at a residence in the 6700 block of SW Fieldwood Drive, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The first was reported around 11:30 a.m.

Shaun L. Kendall, 40, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the SNDOC on requested charges of&nbsp;Criminal possession of a weapon by felon and Stalking; reckless conduct causing fear person/family. He remains in custody on a $50,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kan. felon jailed after 2nd domestic incident within an hour

PAWNEE COUNTY – Brian C. Langston, 54 of Houston, Texas, made his formal First Appearance via Zoom November 20, before Pawnee Magistrate Judge Julie Cowell on a two count Criminal Complaint for alleged fish and game violations, according to Pawnee County Attorney Doug McNett.

Langston is charged with two counts of Unlawful Taking of Big Game alleging to have occurred on or about November 25, 2021, and September 29, 2022, in rural Pawnee County. The specific alleged fish and game violation is the alleged use of residential deer permits at a time when the defendant was a resident of Texas.

The charges stem from an investigation by the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife (KDPF) into a social media post indicating that a trophy whitetail buck taken in Pawnee County, in September of 2022, had set a new State Record for typical by muzzleloader with an official gross entry score of 213 5/8 and a net score of 190 7/8. The investigation revealed Langston also tagged a trophy deer in November of 2021 with a gross entry score of 183 5/8. The US Fish and Wildlife Services Task Force assisted with the investigation.

At the First Appearance, Judge Cowell advised the defendant of the charges, the possible penalties if convicted and his constitutional rights, including his right to counsel. If convicted, the defendant faces up to six months in the County Jail and a fine of not less than $5,000 on each count.

Arraignment has been scheduled for December 17, 2025.

Under Kansas Law, an antlered whitetail deer is considered “trophy big game” when it has an inside spread measuring at least 16 inches. In addition to the mandatory fines, violations involving trophy big game also carry mandatory restitution which is calculated by squaring the gross entry score minus 100 then multiplying by $2. For example, a whitetail deer with a 200 gross entry score would result in $20,000 in restitution (100 x 100 x $2).

Man accused of violations in taking a trophy whitetail buck in Kansas

JOHNSON COUNTY —Last week, while on patrol, a State Trooper observed a stolen vehicle that had recently failed to stop for the Kansas City Kansas Police Department, according to a social media report from KHP Troop A.

When the Trooper initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle fled, prompting a pursuit. Thankfully, the Trooper was able to successfully conduct a Tactical Vehicle Intervention (TVI), bringing the vehicle to a stop. The driver was then taken into custody on requested charges of felony flee and elude, felony possession of stolen property, misdemeanor interference, driving without a valid license, and a $5,000 fail to appear warrant out of the Johnson County, KS Sheriff's Office

🎥KHP Trooper uses Tactical Vehicle Intervention to stop suspect

KANSAS C ITY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a Thanksgiving house fire.

Just before 3:30a.m., crews responded to a reported house fire in the 9500 block of Olmstead Road, according to Battalion Chief Riley Nolan.

 On arrival, crews reported heavy smoke and fire through the roof,&nbsp; from a 1-story residence. Interior operations were initiated on an offensive fire attack with 3 hose lines. Companies did encounter a broken natural gas line and power lines down in the rear of the structure and eventually evacuated. 

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