Maryville voters overwhelmingly approved a $50 million bond issue to finance building a new water plant.

The Nodaway County Clerk’s office reports
slightly more than 80% of voters during the special election approved of
the bond issue. The vote allows Maryville to move forward with an application
for a low-interest loan through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMaryville voters overwhelmingly approved a $50 million bond issue to finance building a new water plant.The Nodaway County Clerk’s office reports
slightly more than 80% of voters during the special election approved of
the bond issue. The vote allows Maryville to move forward with an application
for a low-interest loan through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Overwhelming approval to move forward on new Maryville water plant

The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously voted to advance Brooke Rollins to be the Secretary of Agriculture. 

Rollins will now be considered by the full U.S. Senate. National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule applauded the move. 

“Brooke Rollins will be an outstanding Secretary of Agriculture,” he said. “She is deeply committed to advocating for our country’s producers and understands what rural America faces.” 

He also said the Wheat Growers Association encourages the Senate to get her confirmed as quickly as possible. Ranking Democrat Amy Klobuchar said she would support the nomination, but Democrats are worried about workforce, tariff, and conservation issues. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a committee member, told the Hagstrom Report that he wants to bring up the nomination quickly but also said the pipeline is “full” this week. 

Groups like the American Farm Bureau, the American Sugar Alliance, and many others called for quick confirmation.

The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously voted to advance Brooke Rollins to be the Secretary of Agriculture. Rollins will now be considered by the full U.S. Senate. National Association of Wheat Growers CEO Chandler Goule applauded the move. “Brooke Rollins will be an outstanding Secretary of Agriculture,” he said. “She is deeply committed to advocating for our country’s producers and understands what rural America faces.” He also said the Wheat Growers Association encourages the Senate to get her confirmed as quickly as possible. Ranking Democrat Amy Klobuchar said she would support the nomination, but Democrats are worried about workforce, tariff, and conservation issues. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a committee member, told the Hagstrom Report that he wants to bring up the nomination quickly but also said the pipeline is “full” this week. Groups like the American Farm Bureau, the American Sugar Alliance, and many others called for quick confirmation.-NAFB

Ag committee unanimously approves Rollins’ nomination

(Radio Iowa) - A five-year moratorium on new casinos in the state has stalled in the Iowa Senate. 

The bill easily cleared the Iowa House last week, but Senator Ken Rozenboom -- chairman of the Senate State Government Committee -- says the bill does not have enough support from Senate Republicans to advance all the way through the process. Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa who says he's no fan of gambling, says this means the legislature will not be micromanaging the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. 

The commission meets Thursday to decide whether to issue a state license for a 275 MILLION dollar casino project in Cedar Rapids. The panel rejected casino proposals for Cedar Rapids in 2014 and again 2017.

(Radio Iowa) - A five-year moratorium on new casinos in the state has stalled in the Iowa Senate. The bill easily cleared the Iowa House last week, but Senator Ken Rozenboom -- chairman of the Senate State Government Committee -- says the bill does not have enough support from Senate Republicans to advance all the way through the process. Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa who says he's no fan of gambling, says this means the legislature will not be micromanaging the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. The commission meets Thursday to decide whether to issue a state license for a 275 MILLION dollar casino project in Cedar Rapids. The panel rejected casino proposals for Cedar Rapids in 2014 and again 2017.

A casino moratorium will not clear Senate this year

Freezing rain
throughout the Midland Empire has shut down schools throughout the region and
made driving hazardous.

The St. Joseph
School District canceled classes today due to the ice as did the St. Joseph
Catholic Academy and St. Joseph Christian School.

The Savannah R3
School District canceled classes and used an AMI Day, virtual learning. 

The northeast
Kansas school districts of Riverside USD 114, Kansas - Doniphan West USD 111,
and Kansas- Atchison USD 409 canceled classes today.

Missouri Western State
University shut down its St. Joseph campus.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol reports northbound I-29 at the 43 mile marker in Buchanan County closed due to a semi tractor trailer jackknifing. The patrol reports the passing lane has been re-opened and northbound traffic is no longer being diverted to I-229. The patrol advises drivers to proceed with caution. The tow crew is on the scene, cleaning up the wreckage.

Troop H reports that between 4:28am and 2:00pm they responded to 57 calls with a total of 33 crashes, 30 with no injuries reported and three with injury.&nbsp; The patrol also assisted 24 stranded drivers.

The St. Joseph
Police Department has issued an alert, asking drivers to use extreme caution
due to extremely slick conditions on the roadways.

The National Weather
Service expects the freezing rain to turn to a light drizzle later today as the
temperatures rise. The Weather Service forecasts a high of 37 today. The
Weather Service did issue a winter weather advisory until six this evening.
There could be a total of a tenth of an inch of ice. The weather brightens
quite a bit tomorrow with sunny skies expected with a high of 45.

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for a complete list of cancelations.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738771452204.jpeg" alt="An accident in Buchanan County blocked northbound I-29/Photo courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>An accident in Buchanan County blocked northbound I-29/Photo courtesy of the Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFreezing rain
throughout the Midland Empire has shut down schools throughout the region and
made driving hazardous.The St. Joseph
School District canceled classes today due to the ice as did the St. Joseph
Catholic Academy and St. Joseph Christian School.The Savannah R3
School District canceled classes and used an AMI Day, virtual learning. The northeast
Kansas school districts of Riverside USD 114, Kansas - Doniphan West USD 111,
and Kansas- Atchison USD 409 canceled classes today.Missouri Western State
University shut down its St. Joseph campus.The Missouri State
Highway Patrol reports northbound I-29 at the 43 mile marker in Buchanan County closed due to a semi tractor trailer jackknifing. The patrol reports the passing lane has been re-opened and northbound traffic is no longer being diverted to I-229. The patrol advises drivers to proceed with caution. The tow crew is on the scene, cleaning up the wreckage.Troop H reports that between 4:28am and 2:00pm they responded to 57 calls with a total of 33 crashes, 30 with no injuries reported and three with injury.&nbsp; The patrol also assisted 24 stranded drivers.The St. Joseph
Police Department has issued an alert, asking drivers to use extreme caution
due to extremely slick conditions on the roadways.The National Weather
Service expects the freezing rain to turn to a light drizzle later today as the
temperatures rise. The Weather Service forecasts a high of 37 today. The
Weather Service did issue a winter weather advisory until six this evening.
There could be a total of a tenth of an inch of ice. The weather brightens
quite a bit tomorrow with sunny skies expected with a high of 45.Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for a complete list of cancelations.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Freezing rain cancels classes, makes driving hazardous (UPDATED)

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate Education Committee has approved a bill that would change Iowa's limitation on when public and private schools can start in the fall. 

Current law says August 23rd is the earliest schools may start. It was set a decade ago at the urging of then-Governor Terry Branstad. to ensure the Iowa State Fair was over before schools started up. The bill would let schools start no earlier than the second to last Monday in August. That means schools could start as early as August 18th in some years. 

Iowa Travel Industry Partners represents restaurants, hotels and tourism spots around the state, and is opposed to the bill.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate Education Committee has approved a bill that would change Iowa's limitation on when public and private schools can start in the fall. Current law says August 23rd is the earliest schools may start. It was set a decade ago at the urging of then-Governor Terry Branstad. to ensure the Iowa State Fair was over before schools started up. The bill would let schools start no earlier than the second to last Monday in August. That means schools could start as early as August 18th in some years. Iowa Travel Industry Partners represents restaurants, hotels and tourism spots around the state, and is opposed to the bill.

Changing Iowa's school start date law

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;

WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved one step closer to becoming Health and Human Services secretary on Tuesday after a Senate committee favorably reported his nomination to the floor.

The Finance Committee’s 14-13 party-line vote doesn’t necessarily guarantee Kennedy will receive Senate confirmation, though it signals he does have the chance despite decades of spreading false information about vaccine safety.

Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who backed Kennedy in committee, said during a floor speech later Tuesday he had received hundreds of messages personally and thousands into his office expressing strong support from some and dismay from others about the prospect of Kennedy gaining Senate confirmation.

“The most notable opponents of Mr. Kennedy were pediatricians on the front lines of our children’s health, who regularly have to combat misinformation,” Cassidy said. “They are aware that children are now contracting diseases that they would not have contracted if the child was vaccinated.”

Cassidy, who worked as a physician for decades before becoming a senator, said Kennedy and the Trump administration have assured him they will protect “the public health benefit of vaccination.”

“Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative, working relationship if he is confirmed,” Cassidy said. “We will meet or speak multiple times a month.”

Cassidy said Kennedy and the Trump administration committed that if confirmed, Kennedy would:&nbsp;

“If Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, I will use my authority of the Senate committee with oversight of HHS to rebuff any attempt to remove the public’s access to life-saving vaccines without ironclad causational scientific evidence that can be accepted and defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress,” Cassidy said. “I will watch carefully for any effort to wrongly sow public fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidence and anecdote.”

Cassidy said that if Kennedy is confirmed as HHS secretary by the full Senate, he expects Kennedy would support overhauls Cassidy has planned for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.

“We also need to reform institutions, like FDA and NIH, and those, as has already been indicated, are my priorities as chairman of the HELP Committee. I look forward to his support in accomplishing this,” Cassidy said.

Democrats raised their concerns about how Kennedy’s confirmation would impact the country’s public health system, just before the committee voted.

Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock said that Kennedy is “manifestly unqualified for the job he seeks.”

“We need a serious person at the helm of the HHS, an agency responsible for the health of about half of all Americans,” Warnock said. “Mr. Kennedy appears more obsessed in chasing conspiracy theories than chasing solutions to lower health care costs for working families in Georgia and to make sure that we are protected.

“The last thing we need is a dilettante dabbling in conspiracy theories at HHS.”

North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said that he believes Kennedy will “go wild” as HHS Secretary.

“I hope he goes wild and actually finds a way to reduce the cost of health care,” Tillis said. “I hope he goes wild and instead of having the discussions that we have had for the 10 years that I’ve been in the Senate of making Medicaid work and making people on Medicaid healthier, I hope he goes wild and figures out how to do it because the status quo has not achieved much in the way of gain.

“I hope he goes wild on food safety discussions so that we can actually approve our food safety supply.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734473282160.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kennedy during a meeting in December- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Roger Marshall and Kennedy during a meeting in December- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. moved one step closer to becoming Health and Human Services secretary on Tuesday after a Senate committee favorably reported his nomination to the floor.The Finance Committee’s 14-13 party-line vote doesn’t necessarily guarantee Kennedy will receive Senate confirmation, though it signals he does have the chance despite decades of spreading false information about vaccine safety.Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who backed Kennedy in committee, said during a floor speech later Tuesday he had received hundreds of messages personally and thousands into his office expressing strong support from some and dismay from others about the prospect of Kennedy gaining Senate confirmation.“The most notable opponents of Mr. Kennedy were pediatricians on the front lines of our children’s health, who regularly have to combat misinformation,” Cassidy said. “They are aware that children are now contracting diseases that they would not have contracted if the child was vaccinated.”Cassidy, who worked as a physician for decades before becoming a senator, said Kennedy and the Trump administration have assured him they will protect “the public health benefit of vaccination.”“Mr. Kennedy and the administration committed that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative, working relationship if he is confirmed,” Cassidy said. “We will meet or speak multiple times a month.”<h2>Pledges by Kennedy</h2>Cassidy said Kennedy and the Trump administration committed that if confirmed, Kennedy would:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Work within the current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems and not establish parallel systems;</li><li>Maintain the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee on immunization practices recommendations without changes;</li><li>Keep statements on the CDC’s website that state vaccines do not cause autism;</li><li>Provide at least 30 days notice to the HELP Committee if HHS wants to make changes to any of the federal vaccine safety monitoring programs;</li><li>Allow the HELP Committee chairman to choose a representative on any board or commission formed to review vaccine safety; and</li><li>Appear before the HELP Committee on a quarterly basis if requested.</li>
 </ul>“If Mr. Kennedy is confirmed, I will use my authority of the Senate committee with oversight of HHS to rebuff any attempt to remove the public’s access to life-saving vaccines without ironclad causational scientific evidence that can be accepted and defended before the mainstream scientific community and before Congress,” Cassidy said. “I will watch carefully for any effort to wrongly sow public fear about vaccines between confusing references of coincidence and anecdote.”Cassidy said that if Kennedy is confirmed as HHS secretary by the full Senate, he expects Kennedy would support overhauls Cassidy has planned for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health.“We also need to reform institutions, like FDA and NIH, and those, as has already been indicated, are my priorities as chairman of the HELP Committee. I look forward to his support in accomplishing this,” Cassidy said.<h2>‘Manifestly unqualified’</h2>Democrats raised their concerns about how Kennedy’s confirmation would impact the country’s public health system, just before the committee voted.Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock said that Kennedy is “manifestly unqualified for the job he seeks.”“We need a serious person at the helm of the HHS, an agency responsible for the health of about half of all Americans,” Warnock said. “Mr. Kennedy appears more obsessed in chasing conspiracy theories than chasing solutions to lower health care costs for working families in Georgia and to make sure that we are protected.“The last thing we need is a dilettante dabbling in conspiracy theories at HHS.”<h2>‘Go wild’</h2>North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said that he believes Kennedy will “go wild” as HHS Secretary.“I hope he goes wild and actually finds a way to reduce the cost of health care,” Tillis said. “I hope he goes wild and instead of having the discussions that we have had for the 10 years that I’ve been in the Senate of making Medicaid work and making people on Medicaid healthier, I hope he goes wild and figures out how to do it because the status quo has not achieved much in the way of gain.“I hope he goes wild on food safety discussions so that we can actually approve our food safety supply.”&nbsp;

RFK Jr. Nomination as Health Secretary Approved by Key U.S. Senate Panel

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is announcing the resumption of cattle and bison imports from Mexico. Those imports will resume in the next several days. To protect U.S. livestock and other animals, APHIS halted shipments of bison and cattle from Mexico in November after positive detection of New World screwworm in southern Mexico. After extensive discussions between representatives of the U.S. and Mexico, APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and mitigate the screwworm threat. 

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is announcing the resumption of cattle and bison imports from Mexico. Those imports will resume in the next several days. To protect U.S. livestock and other animals, APHIS halted shipments of bison and cattle from Mexico in November after positive detection of New World screwworm in southern Mexico. After extensive discussions between representatives of the U.S. and Mexico, APHIS and Mexico agreed to and implemented a comprehensive pre-clearance inspection and treatment protocol to ensure safe movement and mitigate the screwworm threat.

Cattle and bison imports resume from Mexico

(Radio Iowa) - Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has fired umpire Pat Hoberg, an Urbandale native, for violating the league’s gambling rules. 

Information on the M-L-B website says an M-L-B investigation found no evidence that Hoberg placed bets on baseball or that he took any action to manipulate the outcomes of any games. But by sharing legal sports betting accounts with a professional poker player and friend who did place bets on baseball and by impeding the M-L-B investigation through the deletion of messages with the friend, Hoberg was ruled by M-L-B to have failed to uphold the integrity of the game. 

The 38-year-old Hoberg first umpired Major League games in 2014 and became a full-time umpire in 2017. He umpired postseason games every year from 2018 to 2022 and was widely regarded as one of the game’s best ball-strike umpires.

(Radio Iowa) - Major League Baseball announced Monday that it has fired umpire Pat Hoberg, an Urbandale native, for violating the league’s gambling rules. Information on the M-L-B website says an M-L-B investigation found no evidence that Hoberg placed bets on baseball or that he took any action to manipulate the outcomes of any games. But by sharing legal sports betting accounts with a professional poker player and friend who did place bets on baseball and by impeding the M-L-B investigation through the deletion of messages with the friend, Hoberg was ruled by M-L-B to have failed to uphold the integrity of the game. The 38-year-old Hoberg first umpired Major League games in 2014 and became a full-time umpire in 2017. He umpired postseason games every year from 2018 to 2022 and was widely regarded as one of the game’s best ball-strike umpires.

Iowa Native MLB Umpire Fired Following Gambling Investigation

Two train engines
derailed Monday in south St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police
report the Union Pacific engines derailed around 8:30pm south of Highway
759 and Oak Street. No one was injured in the derailment.

The intersection
had been closed while clean up continue. It is back open.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwo train engines
derailed Monday in south St. Joseph.St. Joseph police
report the Union Pacific engines derailed around 8:30pm south of Highway
759 and Oak Street. No one was injured in the derailment.The intersection
had been closed while clean up continue. It is back open.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

No one injured in south St. Joseph train derailment

Maryville city
officials are asking voters to approve a $50 million bond issue today to finance replacing its 1958 water treatment plant with new plant.

The city must
obtain voter approval to tap the Missouri Clean Water State Revolving Fund,
which provides below-market interest rates and flexible financing for water
infrastructure projects.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMaryville city
officials are asking voters to approve a $50 million bond issue today to finance replacing its 1958 water treatment plant with new plant.The city must
obtain voter approval to tap the Missouri Clean Water State Revolving Fund,
which provides below-market interest rates and flexible financing for water
infrastructure projects.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Maryville asking voters to approve $50M water plant bonds

Measure modeled after federal legislation responding to Trump agenda item

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

TOPEKA — State and federal lawmakers from Kansas convened Monday at the Celtic Fox pub to celebrate legislation to exempt tipped earnings of service and hospitality workers from income taxation.

The approach at the state level would be modeled after congressional bills promoted by President Donald Trump that ditch the federal income tax on tips received by restaurant workers, servers, valets as well as bellhops, bartenders or caddies.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and state Sen. Caryn Tyson joined U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, also a Republican, at the pub to talk about ending taxation of tips received in the form of cash, debits or credit cards.

“The intention is to take tax off tips in Kansas,” said Masterson, of Andover. “We love that idea from the federal government. Gratuity is gratitude, right? It’s not ordinary income to somebody.”

Tyson, the Parker chair of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, said matching state law to federal reform made sense. She estimated the reduction in state tax revenue could range from $4 million to $10 million annually.

“It helps simplify the tax code,” she said. “We need to help those in need, and we did that last year with legislation that we passed, especially exempting state income tax from Social Security. I look forward to getting this passed.”

Marshall, an ally of Trump in Washington, D.C., said the federal tipped-income bill should be regarded as a vehicle for making Kansas affordable again. He said the federal measure — likely to pass Congress sometime between March and June — was part of Trump’s broader strategy to promote domestic prosperity and security.

“What he’s done from the security standpoint is very self-evident on his impetus to control the border and get the illegal criminal aliens out of this country,” the U.S. senator said. “We’re here today to talk about the prosperity part of this.”

He said the federal tipped income initiative was one piece of an effort to lend a hand to hard-working taxpayers.

Overall, he said, the congressional priority in 2025 would be renewal of federal tax cuts initiated during Trump’s first term. He also said Congress and the president should consider ending the federal income tax on Social Security income.

“And, how about no taxes on overtime?” Marshall said.

The nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated enactment of a federal exemption on tips would cost $150 billion to $250 billion over a 10-year period. The organization indicated the exemption could prompt employers and employees to reclassify ordinary income as tips to avoid paying federal income taxes.

A pending bill in the U.S. Senate would incluce a yearly $25,000 deduction cap as well as occupational limits to the exemption. The U.S. House version would limit the tipped-income exclusion from federal taxes to $20,000 annually.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738673045321.png" alt=" Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said during a Monday news conference in Topeka that tip income ought to be exempt from state and federal income tax collections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson, R-Andover, and U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, said during a Monday news conference in Topeka that tip income ought to be exempt from state and federal income tax collections. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Measure modeled after federal legislation responding to Trump agenda item</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — State and federal lawmakers from Kansas convened Monday at the Celtic Fox pub to celebrate legislation to exempt tipped earnings of service and hospitality workers from income taxation.The approach at the state level would be modeled after congressional bills promoted by President Donald Trump that ditch the federal income tax on tips received by restaurant workers, servers, valets as well as bellhops, bartenders or caddies.Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and state Sen. Caryn Tyson joined U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, also a Republican, at the pub to talk about ending taxation of tips received in the form of cash, debits or credit cards.“The intention is to take tax off tips in Kansas,” said Masterson, of Andover. “We love that idea from the federal government. Gratuity is gratitude, right? It’s not ordinary income to somebody.”Tyson, the Parker chair of the Senate Assessment and Taxation Committee, said matching state law to federal reform made sense. She estimated the reduction in state tax revenue could range from $4 million to $10 million annually.“It helps simplify the tax code,” she said. “We need to help those in need, and we did that last year with legislation that we passed, especially exempting state income tax from Social Security. I look forward to getting this passed.”Marshall, an ally of Trump in Washington, D.C., said the federal tipped-income bill should be regarded as a vehicle for making Kansas affordable again. He said the federal measure — likely to pass Congress sometime between March and June — was part of Trump’s broader strategy to promote domestic prosperity and security.“What he’s done from the security standpoint is very self-evident on his impetus to control the border and get the illegal criminal aliens out of this country,” the U.S. senator said. “We’re here today to talk about the prosperity part of this.”He said the federal tipped income initiative was one piece of an effort to lend a hand to hard-working taxpayers.Overall, he said, the congressional priority in 2025 would be renewal of federal tax cuts initiated during Trump’s first term. He also said Congress and the president should consider ending the federal income tax on Social Security income.“And, how about no taxes on overtime?” Marshall said.The nonprofit Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimated enactment of a federal exemption on tips would cost $150 billion to $250 billion over a 10-year period. The organization indicated the exemption could prompt employers and employees to reclassify ordinary income as tips to avoid paying federal income taxes.A pending bill in the U.S. Senate would incluce a yearly $25,000 deduction cap as well as occupational limits to the exemption. The U.S. House version would limit the tipped-income exclusion from federal taxes to $20,000 annually.

Kansas GOP senators promoting bill to exempt tips from state income tax

ANDREW COUNTY— The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control&nbsp; is investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.

In September 2024, investigators with the Special Victims Unit were notified of a social media account tied to 32-year-old Ross S. Rutherford of Savannah, according to a media release from the patrol.

 Rutherford had allegedly contacted a 13-year-old via a messaging app and engaged in sexually charged conversations with the juvenile, including sending pornographic images and videos.

On January 29, 2025, investigators located Rutherford in Maryville, Missouri. After questioning, investigators arrested and transported Him to the Andrew County Jail. On January 30 the Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Rutherford with one count of 2nd-degree sexual trafficking of a child. Rutherford is being held at the Andrew County Jail without bond.

&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Maryville Department of Public Safety and the Jackson Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738615022421.png" alt="Rutherford-photo Andrew Co." />
 <figcaption>Rutherford-photo Andrew Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ANDREW COUNTY— The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control&nbsp; is investigating a suspect on child sex crime allegations.In September 2024, investigators with the Special Victims Unit were notified of a social media account tied to 32-year-old Ross S. Rutherford of Savannah, according to a media release from the patrol. Rutherford had allegedly contacted a 13-year-old via a messaging app and engaged in sexually charged conversations with the juvenile, including sending pornographic images and videos.On January 29, 2025, investigators located Rutherford in Maryville, Missouri. After questioning, investigators arrested and transported Him to the Andrew County Jail. On January 30 the Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Rutherford with one count of 2nd-degree sexual trafficking of a child. Rutherford is being held at the Andrew County Jail without bond.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol was assisted by the Maryville Department of Public Safety and the Jackson Police Department.

Savannah man accused of sexual trafficking a 13-year-old

(Radio Iowa) - The Midwestern economy improved slightly during January, according to the latest Creighton University survey, but Iowa's economy continued to struggle. 

Creighton economist Ernie Goss says supply managers are fearful new tariffs will hurt business, and in anticipation, many firms increased inventory levels during January and boosted imports to a record high. For only the third time since last July, Goss says the overall Business Conditions Index climbed above growth neutral. 

The survey is based on a zero-to-100 scale, with 50 being growth neutral. For January, Iowa's economy hit a regional low just over 43. The nation lost 93-thousand jobs last year, while Goss says the Midwest lost 79-hundred jobs.

(Radio Iowa) - The Midwestern economy improved slightly during January, according to the latest Creighton University survey, but Iowa's economy continued to struggle. Creighton economist Ernie Goss says supply managers are fearful new tariffs will hurt business, and in anticipation, many firms increased inventory levels during January and boosted imports to a record high. For only the third time since last July, Goss says the overall Business Conditions Index climbed above growth neutral. The survey is based on a zero-to-100 scale, with 50 being growth neutral. For January, Iowa's economy hit a regional low just over 43. The nation lost 93-thousand jobs last year, while Goss says the Midwest lost 79-hundred jobs.

Survey: Iowa's economy sees small boost but is still worst in Midwest

(Radio Iowa) - State and federal officials this weekend announced bird flu had been confirmed a commercial flock of 240-thousand layer hens in O'Brien County. 

Governor Kim Reynolds has recommended an additional half a MILLION dollars in state spending to support development of vaccines for bird flu and other foreign animal diseases. The current outbreak of avian influenza began three years ago and the first human case of bird flu in the United States was identified in April of last year. 

In December, state officials reported the first human case in Iowa, in a person who worked in a commercial poultry operation. In a recent Radio Iowa interview, Reynolds said she doesn't want to see another epidemic and figuring out how to best mitigate transmission of the virus is key.

(Radio Iowa) - State and federal officials this weekend announced bird flu had been confirmed a commercial flock of 240-thousand layer hens in O'Brien County. Governor Kim Reynolds has recommended an additional half a MILLION dollars in state spending to support development of vaccines for bird flu and other foreign animal diseases. The current outbreak of avian influenza began three years ago and the first human case of bird flu in the United States was identified in April of last year. In December, state officials reported the first human case in Iowa, in a person who worked in a commercial poultry operation. In a recent Radio Iowa interview, Reynolds said she doesn't want to see another epidemic and figuring out how to best mitigate transmission of the virus is key.

Bird flu confirmed in NW IA flock, governor recommends funding boost for development of bird flu, foreign animal diseases vaccines

St. Joseph state
Rep. Brenda Shields is trying, once again, to pass a package of tax incentives
to expand child care in Missouri.

Shields, a
Republican, has introduced the same measure that has failed to cross the finish
line the last two legislative sessions. 

“We had a hearing
on the child care bill that I have filed for the last three years and it was
overwhelmingly attended with all people that were very supportive,” Shields
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, I’d like to see us address child care.”

Shields proposes
three tax incentives to increase the availability of child care and make it
more affordable.

Shields says this
is an economic development issue.

“And our
businesses tell us, in the 60% range, that they have trouble recruiting employees
because of the lack of child care and retaining employees because of the lack
of child care,” Shields says.

Though Shields has
received overwhelming support in the Missouri House the past two sessions, her
bill has never gotten anywhere in the Senate. Senate Republican in-fighting
doomed multiple bills last year, with filibusters draining the time needed to
pass legislation.

Shields believes
this legislative session will be different.

“Currently, right
now, we are very early in session,” Shields says. “We’re only four weeks in,
but there is definitely a different vibe from the other side of the building;
all very positive.”

Veteran state Sen.
Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield, carries the bill in the Senate
this year.

Shields says her
approach encourages businesses to engage in the development of child care.

“When they engage,
then the government will engage and it will be child care that is built by
communities and by businesses so that it matches the needs of the child care
that that community needs. It’s not going to be government-run child care.”

Shields says momentum
seems to be on her side.

“The support from
across all sectors was very humbling on how many people really support this,”
Shields says. “So I think we’ll move forward with it as it is written.”

The package
contains the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which would provide a 75% tax
credit to those investing in child care. The Employer Provided Child Care
Assistance Tax Credit Act would allow a business to claim a 30% tax credit to
offset the cost of child care for employees. The Child Care Providers Tax
Credit Act would allow a provider to claim a 30% for capital expenditures or
employee pay raises.

Each tax credit is
capped at $20 million for a total of $60 million.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph state
Rep. Brenda Shields is trying, once again, to pass a package of tax incentives
to expand child care in Missouri.Shields, a
Republican, has introduced the same measure that has failed to cross the finish
line the last two legislative sessions. “We had a hearing
on the child care bill that I have filed for the last three years and it was
overwhelmingly attended with all people that were very supportive,” Shields
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, I’d like to see us address child care.”Shields proposes
three tax incentives to increase the availability of child care and make it
more affordable.Shields says this
is an economic development issue.“And our
businesses tell us, in the 60% range, that they have trouble recruiting employees
because of the lack of child care and retaining employees because of the lack
of child care,” Shields says.Though Shields has
received overwhelming support in the Missouri House the past two sessions, her
bill has never gotten anywhere in the Senate. Senate Republican in-fighting
doomed multiple bills last year, with filibusters draining the time needed to
pass legislation.Shields believes
this legislative session will be different.“Currently, right
now, we are very early in session,” Shields says. “We’re only four weeks in,
but there is definitely a different vibe from the other side of the building;
all very positive.”Veteran state Sen.
Lincoln Hough, a Republican from Springfield, carries the bill in the Senate
this year.Shields says her
approach encourages businesses to engage in the development of child care.“When they engage,
then the government will engage and it will be child care that is built by
communities and by businesses so that it matches the needs of the child care
that that community needs. It’s not going to be government-run child care.”Shields says momentum
seems to be on her side.“The support from
across all sectors was very humbling on how many people really support this,”
Shields says. “So I think we’ll move forward with it as it is written.”The package
contains the Child Care Contribution Tax Credit, which would provide a 75% tax
credit to those investing in child care. The Employer Provided Child Care
Assistance Tax Credit Act would allow a business to claim a 30% tax credit to
offset the cost of child care for employees. The Child Care Providers Tax
Credit Act would allow a provider to claim a 30% for capital expenditures or
employee pay raises.Each tax credit is
capped at $20 million for a total of $60 million.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Rep. Shields optimistic 3rd time is charm for child care tax credits

Citizens from 19 counties across northwest Missouri will travel to Jefferson City next week as part of Great Northwest Days at the state Capitol. 

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn says there will be a big event on Tuesday with each county setting up a booth representing their county. 

"And we have department heads that will come around, like the Head of Economic Development Michelle (Hataway), the Head of Agriculture Chris (Chinn), they'll come around to get a chance to meet them," Hawn tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "And then you also get a chance to meet with legislators, not only from the 19 counties in northwest Missouri, but from across the state." 

"So, it's a great way to kind of let them know what the priorities are, not just here in Buchanan County, but for the region." 

Hawn says there's typically always a great turnout during the event, largely because of so many counties being in the same place, at the same time 

"When you come together with a collective voice, you get more attention," Hawn explains.  "And we tend to become kind of the role model across the state, where the legislators will say man I wish the northeast would do this, or I wish more communities would do this, because it allows them to hit all of us at one time, so it moves us up on the priority list." 

Hawn says many of the priorities of northwest Missouri align with Buchanan County 

"They have some priorities like broadband, making sure they have internet access for all, but then they also have similar priorities that we would like childcare," Hawn says.  "Our representative Brenda Shields has a childcare bill where she's working on childcare tax credits to help with the childcare deserts in the state, and rural communities are hit hard by childcare, so that is one of the things we will be advocating for." 

Hawn says another priority will be representative Bill Falkner's housing bill.  There will also be discussions on rural healthcare.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738344327768.jpeg" alt="Missouri Capitol Rotunda/ Photo courtesy of Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Capitol Rotunda/ Photo courtesy of Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Citizens from 19 counties across northwest Missouri will travel to Jefferson City next week as part of Great Northwest Days at the state Capitol. St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn says there will be a big event on Tuesday with each county setting up a booth representing their county. "And we have department heads that will come around, like the Head of Economic Development Michelle (Hataway), the Head of Agriculture Chris (Chinn), they'll come around to get a chance to meet them," Hawn tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And then you also get a chance to meet with legislators, not only from the 19 counties in northwest Missouri, but from across the state." "So, it's a great way to kind of let them know what the priorities are, not just here in Buchanan County, but for the region." Hawn says there's typically always a great turnout during the event, largely because of so many counties being in the same place, at the same time "When you come together with a collective voice, you get more attention," Hawn explains. "And we tend to become kind of the role model across the state, where the legislators will say man I wish the northeast would do this, or I wish more communities would do this, because it allows them to hit all of us at one time, so it moves us up on the priority list." Hawn says many of the priorities of northwest Missouri align with Buchanan County "They have some priorities like broadband, making sure they have internet access for all, but then they also have similar priorities that we would like childcare," Hawn says. "Our representative Brenda Shields has a childcare bill where she's working on childcare tax credits to help with the childcare deserts in the state, and rural communities are hit hard by childcare, so that is one of the things we will be advocating for." Hawn says another priority will be representative Bill Falkner's housing bill. There will also be discussions on rural healthcare.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Northwest Missouri leaders make their case to state lawmakers Tuesday

ARLINGTON, VA., January 31, 2025 — Gerber Products Company is initiating a recall and discontinuation of all batches of GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration.

GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS were distributed nationwide via the internet and to distribution centers and retail stores in the following states and territories:

Recalled products can be identified as follows:

This recall and discontinuation is isolated to GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE and GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA.

The recall was initiated after receiving consumer complaints of choking incidents. To date, one emergency room visit has been reported to the firm.

Consumers who may have purchased GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS should not feed this product to their child and can return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider. For any additional support needed, Gerber is available 24/7 at 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237).

We are working with the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) on this recall and will cooperate with them fully.

For more information, consumers could call 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738595746534.png" alt="Image FDA" />
 <figcaption>Image FDA</figcaption>
 </figure>ARLINGTON, VA., January 31, 2025 — Gerber Products Company is initiating a recall and discontinuation of all batches of GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS due to a potential choking hazard for babies and young children, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration.GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS were distributed nationwide via the internet and to distribution centers and retail stores in the following states and territories:Recalled products can be identified as follows:<ul>
 <li>GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE, Net Wt. 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04618 7, all lot codes</li><li>GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA, Net Wt. 3.2 Oz (90g), with UPC 0 15000 04608 8, all lot codes</li><li>GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA, Net Wt. 1.59 Oz (45g), with UPC 0 15000 01015 7, all lot codes</li>
 </ul>This recall and discontinuation is isolated to GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE and GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA.The recall was initiated after receiving consumer complaints of choking incidents. To date, one emergency room visit has been reported to the firm.Consumers who may have purchased GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS should not feed this product to their child and can return the product to the retailer where it was purchased for a refund. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider. For any additional support needed, Gerber is available 24/7 at 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237).We are working with the U.S. Food &amp; Drug Administration (FDA) on this recall and will cooperate with them fully.For more information, consumers could call 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237)

Gerber recalls baby teething sticks over possible choking hazard

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;

Regulators recently warned officials at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs that “deficient practices” at its laboratory, including lax testing procedures and insufficient training, could endanger patients.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services informed hospital officials that they had found the lab to be in “immediate jeopardy,” the most severe level of noncompliance in health regulation.

The state’s Dec. 20 letter said the finding was based on a “complaint survey” completed on Dec. 17. This survey, or inspection, included an onsite visit Dec. 10-11, a phone interview Dec. 16-17 and additional documentation, the state’s report said.

Citing federal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-493" target="_blank">regulations</a>, the letter said a finding of immediate jeopardy was made because the lab’s noncompliance “has already caused, is causing, or is likely to cause, at any time, serious injury or harm, or death, to individuals served by the laboratory or to the health and safety of the general public.”

In a written statement, the hospital acknowledged the finding and said it had submitted a corrective action plan to the state.

“We take survey findings very seriously and have taken proactive steps to implement changes addressing issues identified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,” the hospital said.

The hospital’s statement said the hospital is fully operational with “comprehensive laboratory services.”

“No St. Mary’s patients were ever identified as being harmed throughout the survey process,” the statement said.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) conducts surveys of health care facilities in the state on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

In this case, said Sami Jo Freeman, a DHSS spokeswoman, CMS identified concerns and directed the state agency to perform a complaint investigation into the laboratory, which led to the immediate jeopardy findings.

Freeman confirmed that St. Mary’s officials had responded to the state report in writing.

“Their response has been forwarded to, and is currently under review by, CMS, who will decide if the response is adequate and decide the next steps,” Freeman said in an email.

<a href="https://stmaryskc.com/" target="_blank">St. Mary’s</a>, an 80-bed hospital owned by the for-profit chain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.primehealthcare.com/" target="_blank">Prime Healthcare</a>, said the immediate jeopardy finding was related to blood bank processes and based on inspections conducted in October 2023, a month before the hospital shifted blood bank services to St. Joseph Medical Center, another Kansas City-area hospital owned by Prime.

St. Mary’s statement said blood bank services “will continue to be provided to St. Mary’s patients uninterrupted through this partnership.”

A hospital spokeswoman did not explain why the blood bank process had been shifted to St. Joseph Medical Center in 2023.

She also didn’t answer questions about more recent issues raised in the state’s December report. The report said the laboratory “failed to provide blood bank procedures for all blood bank processes that started October 2023.”

The hospital spokeswoman also declined to respond to questions about concerns raised in the report that did not involve blood bank services.

A finding of immediate jeopardy could result in fines, onsite monitoring and the loss of Medicare accreditation. Such a finding is relatively uncommon. One&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30896558/" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;from 2021 found that less than 3% of hospital citations reached that most serious level.

In 2022, St. Mary’s Hospital faced another immediate jeopardy finding, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hospitalinspections.org/report-detail/QS8111" target="_blank">database</a>&nbsp;of inspection reports. That time regulators raised concerns about physical force used against patients in the hospital’s emergency department. The immediate jeopardy finding was removed after the hospital implemented an action plan, which included the dismissal of an employee directly involved, executives spending more time in the department and staff education.

The state’s December report cited a range of problems with St. Mary’s laboratory, many of them relating to testing procedures, documentation, quality control and training.

Overall, the report said, the lab’s director “failed to provide overall management and direction of the laboratory.”

This included failure to “ensure overall operation” of the lab’s blood bank; failure to properly train staff before they performed patient testing; a lack of remedial actions when “significant deviations” were identified; and quality control lapses, such as a failure to ensure that follow-up crossmatch testing was performed.

The lapses, regulators said, could lead to inaccurate patient test results, which could cause issues or delays of patient diagnosis and treatment. The failures, the report said, “have a significant potential to cause patient harm.”

The position of lab director is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://careers-primehealthcare.icims.com/jobs/187441/laboratory-director/job" target="_blank">posted</a>&nbsp;as an open job on the hospital’s website. It isn’t clear who was director during the period of time covered by the inspection.

The state also called out the lab’s failure to maintain analytic systems, including a lack of laboratory procedures and a failure to perform and document quality control measures.

For example, the report found that the lab didn’t document the inspection of whole blood before issuing it. In one case in November, the report said, blood was given to a patient “without units being labeled and proper procedure was not followed.”

The report said the lab also did not perform alarm inspections on a blood bank refrigerator, and lacked or failed to document certain test control procedures.

The state called out problems with the lab’s procedures for urinalysis, saying the machine used in tests, a urinalysis centrifuge, was operating at the incorrect speed. In another instance involving a test for vitamin B12 levels, a test control was not within acceptable limits for several hours, the state said.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/22/st-marys-medical-center-called-out-for-deficient-practices/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1738530332436.png" alt=" St. Mary’s Medical Center officials said they are correcting problems called out by regulators (Suzanne King/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> St. Mary’s Medical Center officials said they are correcting problems called out by regulators (Suzanne King/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;Regulators recently warned officials at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Blue Springs that “deficient practices” at its laboratory, including lax testing procedures and insufficient training, could endanger patients.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services informed hospital officials that they had found the lab to be in “immediate jeopardy,” the most severe level of noncompliance in health regulation.The state’s Dec. 20 letter said the finding was based on a “complaint survey” completed on Dec. 17. This survey, or inspection, included an onsite visit Dec. 10-11, a phone interview Dec. 16-17 and additional documentation, the state’s report said.Citing federal&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/chapter-IV/subchapter-G/part-493" target="_blank">regulations</a>, the letter said a finding of immediate jeopardy was made because the lab’s noncompliance “has already caused, is causing, or is likely to cause, at any time, serious injury or harm, or death, to individuals served by the laboratory or to the health and safety of the general public.”In a written statement, the hospital acknowledged the finding and said it had submitted a corrective action plan to the state.“We take survey findings very seriously and have taken proactive steps to implement changes addressing issues identified by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services,” the hospital said.The hospital’s statement said the hospital is fully operational with “comprehensive laboratory services.”“No St. Mary’s patients were ever identified as being harmed throughout the survey process,” the statement said.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) conducts surveys of health care facilities in the state on behalf of the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).In this case, said Sami Jo Freeman, a DHSS spokeswoman, CMS identified concerns and directed the state agency to perform a complaint investigation into the laboratory, which led to the immediate jeopardy findings.Freeman confirmed that St. Mary’s officials had responded to the state report in writing.“Their response has been forwarded to, and is currently under review by, CMS, who will decide if the response is adequate and decide the next steps,” Freeman said in an email.<a href="https://stmaryskc.com/" target="_blank">St. Mary’s</a>, an 80-bed hospital owned by the for-profit chain&nbsp;<a href="https://www.primehealthcare.com/" target="_blank">Prime Healthcare</a>, said the immediate jeopardy finding was related to blood bank processes and based on inspections conducted in October 2023, a month before the hospital shifted blood bank services to St. Joseph Medical Center, another Kansas City-area hospital owned by Prime.St. Mary’s statement said blood bank services “will continue to be provided to St. Mary’s patients uninterrupted through this partnership.”A hospital spokeswoman did not explain why the blood bank process had been shifted to St. Joseph Medical Center in 2023.She also didn’t answer questions about more recent issues raised in the state’s December report. The report said the laboratory “failed to provide blood bank procedures for all blood bank processes that started October 2023.”The hospital spokeswoman also declined to respond to questions about concerns raised in the report that did not involve blood bank services.A finding of immediate jeopardy could result in fines, onsite monitoring and the loss of Medicare accreditation. Such a finding is relatively uncommon. One&nbsp;<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30896558/" target="_blank">study</a>&nbsp;from 2021 found that less than 3% of hospital citations reached that most serious level.In 2022, St. Mary’s Hospital faced another immediate jeopardy finding, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hospitalinspections.org/report-detail/QS8111" target="_blank">database</a>&nbsp;of inspection reports. That time regulators raised concerns about physical force used against patients in the hospital’s emergency department. The immediate jeopardy finding was removed after the hospital implemented an action plan, which included the dismissal of an employee directly involved, executives spending more time in the department and staff education.The state’s December report cited a range of problems with St. Mary’s laboratory, many of them relating to testing procedures, documentation, quality control and training.Overall, the report said, the lab’s director “failed to provide overall management and direction of the laboratory.”This included failure to “ensure overall operation” of the lab’s blood bank; failure to properly train staff before they performed patient testing; a lack of remedial actions when “significant deviations” were identified; and quality control lapses, such as a failure to ensure that follow-up crossmatch testing was performed.The lapses, regulators said, could lead to inaccurate patient test results, which could cause issues or delays of patient diagnosis and treatment. The failures, the report said, “have a significant potential to cause patient harm.”The position of lab director is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://careers-primehealthcare.icims.com/jobs/187441/laboratory-director/job" target="_blank">posted</a>&nbsp;as an open job on the hospital’s website. It isn’t clear who was director during the period of time covered by the inspection.The state also called out the lab’s failure to maintain analytic systems, including a lack of laboratory procedures and a failure to perform and document quality control measures.For example, the report found that the lab didn’t document the inspection of whole blood before issuing it. In one case in November, the report said, blood was given to a patient “without units being labeled and proper procedure was not followed.”The report said the lab also did not perform alarm inspections on a blood bank refrigerator, and lacked or failed to document certain test control procedures.The state called out problems with the lab’s procedures for urinalysis, saying the machine used in tests, a urinalysis centrifuge, was operating at the incorrect speed. In another instance involving a test for vitamin B12 levels, a test control was not within acceptable limits for several hours, the state said.This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/22/st-marys-medical-center-called-out-for-deficient-practices/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iconbeacon-150x150.png?crop=1" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=26615" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Regulators warn Missouri hospital that lab’s ‘deficient practices’ could put patients at risk

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa may join 19 states that require age verification before someone can access a website to view porn. 

An Iowa House subcommittee has advanced a bill to force businesses that intentionally distribute obscene material to verify whether a person seeking online access is an adult. Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, says the bill would protect children and help parents who don't always know how to filter content on their kids' phones. 

Logan Murray, a lobbyist for the Technology Association of Iowa, says the group supports the general concept of the bill, but it would require a lot of data collection, which puts Iowans at risk for data breaches. A year ago, Governor Reynolds asked legislators to pass this kind of a law requiring age verification for access to websites with pornographic or indecent content.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa may join 19 states that require age verification before someone can access a website to view porn. An Iowa House subcommittee has advanced a bill to force businesses that intentionally distribute obscene material to verify whether a person seeking online access is an adult. Tom Chapman, executive director of the Iowa Catholic Conference, says the bill would protect children and help parents who don't always know how to filter content on their kids' phones. Logan Murray, a lobbyist for the Technology Association of Iowa, says the group supports the general concept of the bill, but it would require a lot of data collection, which puts Iowans at risk for data breaches. A year ago, Governor Reynolds asked legislators to pass this kind of a law requiring age verification for access to websites with pornographic or indecent content.

Bill would require age verification for porn sites

(Radio Iowa) - A five-year moratorium on new casinos in Iowa easily passed the Iowa House this afternoon and the same proposal has been approved by a committee in the Senate. 

If the bill becomes law by next Thursday morning, it will block state regulators from taking a vote on the application for a new casino in Cedar Rapids. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says the moratorium is warranted due to recent studies suggesting a Cedar Rapids casino would draw customers -- and revenue -- from currently operating casinos. 

Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the legislature should let the Racing and Gaming Commission make the call rather than try to protect existing casino operators.

(Radio Iowa) - A five-year moratorium on new casinos in Iowa easily passed the Iowa House this afternoon and the same proposal has been approved by a committee in the Senate. If the bill becomes law by next Thursday morning, it will block state regulators from taking a vote on the application for a new casino in Cedar Rapids. Representative Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton, says the moratorium is warranted due to recent studies suggesting a Cedar Rapids casino would draw customers -- and revenue -- from currently operating casinos. Representative Sami Scheetz, a Democrat from Cedar Rapids, says the legislature should let the Racing and Gaming Commission make the call rather than try to protect existing casino operators.

Moratorium on new Iowa casinos passes House

A northwest
Missouri state representative will chair the House Conservation and Natural
Resources Committee.

Rep. Jeff Farnan,
a Republican from Stanberry, says it’s an honor that the House Speaker chose
him to chair a committee important to his district.

“To me, managing
and protecting our natural resources is very important, not only for our generation,
but for generations to come. So, any bills down here that deal with air, water,
plants, soil and minerals or animals should come through there,” Farnan tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I feel that we have a good committee and I think that we’ll
pass maybe some good legislation that will help Missourians.”

Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.

Farnan, who
represents Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House,
says the committee fits his district.

“I feel that
agriculture and conservation, they go hand-in-hand,” Farnan says. “It’s a good
fit.”

A bill before the
committee seeks to resolve the conflict which arises when farmers spread manure
on fields close to a city. Farnan says such issues illustrate problems that
arise as cities spread to rural areas of the state.

“There’s always a
tight line you have to walk there between farmers and people that live in the
cities,” Farnan says. “I’m looking forward to that. I think that we can come up
with a good solution that will, hopefully, make everybody happy.” &nbsp;

Farnan says the
members of his committee come from a variety of backgrounds.

Farnan also serves
on the Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Sub-Committee dealing with
Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Emerging Issues
Committee, and the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738256895409.jpeg" alt="Rep. Jeff Farnan/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jeff Farnan/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA northwest
Missouri state representative will chair the House Conservation and Natural
Resources Committee.Rep. Jeff Farnan,
a Republican from Stanberry, says it’s an honor that the House Speaker chose
him to chair a committee important to his district.“To me, managing
and protecting our natural resources is very important, not only for our generation,
but for generations to come. So, any bills down here that deal with air, water,
plants, soil and minerals or animals should come through there,” Farnan tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I feel that we have a good committee and I think that we’ll
pass maybe some good legislation that will help Missourians.”Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.Farnan, who
represents Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House,
says the committee fits his district.“I feel that
agriculture and conservation, they go hand-in-hand,” Farnan says. “It’s a good
fit.”A bill before the
committee seeks to resolve the conflict which arises when farmers spread manure
on fields close to a city. Farnan says such issues illustrate problems that
arise as cities spread to rural areas of the state.“There’s always a
tight line you have to walk there between farmers and people that live in the
cities,” Farnan says. “I’m looking forward to that. I think that we can come up
with a good solution that will, hopefully, make everybody happy.” &nbsp;Farnan says the
members of his committee come from a variety of backgrounds.Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.Farnan also serves
on the Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Sub-Committee dealing with
Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Emerging Issues
Committee, and the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

NW Missouri lawmaker heads House Conservation Committee

Wilkerson Crane
has announced it has acquired Ideal Crane of St. Joseph.

Wilkerson Crane, a
leading provider of crane and lifting services located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, says the acquisition
strengthens its position in the market.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738258996133.jpeg" alt="Wilkerson Crane photo" />
 <figcaption>Wilkerson Crane photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostWilkerson Crane
has announced it has acquired Ideal Crane of St. Joseph.Wilkerson Crane, a
leading provider of crane and lifting services located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, says the acquisition
strengthens its position in the market.“We
are thrilled to welcome Ideal Crane to the Wilkerson family,” Diana Holt, Owner and Board Chair of Wilkerson Crane Rental, said in a
written statement released by the company. “Ideal Crane has built a strong
reputation for excellence, and this partnership allows us to combine our
expertise, resources, and commitment to safety to deliver unparalleled service
to our customers.”The company
states the purchase allows Wilkerson to expand its fleet as well as the
territory is serves. Ideal Crane’s longstanding relationships and industry
knowledge will complement Wilkerson’s operations and drive continued growth,
according to the company.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Kbct