The Leadership Northwest Missouri Country Music Jam raised over $14,000 for the organization this past weekend and drew the largest crowd of the past four years.

Approximately 340 spectators attended the Music Jam at Black Silo Winery in Trenton, Missouri.

Country music recording artist and “The Voice” semi-finalist, Jordan Rainer, headlined the event August 31. Trenton High School sophomore, Makayla Mejia, performed as well.

All ticket proceeds benefited the Leadership Northwest Missouri program and raised $14,475 for the organization.

“This year’s Leadership Northwest Music Jam was even better than we could have imagined,” said Shane Lynch, LNWMO Class of 2021 and Music Jam committee coordinator.  “Makayla was fantastic and poured her heart into every song she sang.  I’m so proud of her.  Jordan Rainer was just as fun and entertaining as we knew she’d be.  It was a wonderful evening seeing friends, families, and supporters of LNWMO gathering to benefit a great organization and scholarship program.”

Leadership Northwest Missouri is a program for community leaders interested in the regional growth of Northwest Missouri through high-quality training and networking opportunities. Participants are selected from the nineteen counties of the Northwest region. Currently the program has 508 alumni.

Jenna Stevens, with Leadership Northwest Missouri, notes that two scholarships have already been awarded this year.&nbsp;

Leadership Northwest is headquartered in St. Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726083223670.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Leadership Northwest Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Leadership Northwest Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostThe Leadership Northwest Missouri Country Music Jam raised over $14,000 for the organization this past weekend and drew the largest crowd of the past four years.Approximately 340 spectators attended the Music Jam at Black Silo Winery in Trenton, Missouri.Country music recording artist and “The Voice” semi-finalist, Jordan Rainer, headlined the event August 31. Trenton High School sophomore, Makayla Mejia, performed as well.All ticket proceeds benefited the Leadership Northwest Missouri program and raised $14,475 for the organization.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726083272789.jpeg" alt="Courtesy of Leadership Northwest Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy of Leadership Northwest Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>“This year’s Leadership Northwest Music Jam was even better than we could have imagined,” said Shane Lynch, LNWMO Class of 2021 and Music Jam committee coordinator. “Makayla was fantastic and poured her heart into every song she sang. I’m so proud of her. Jordan Rainer was just as fun and entertaining as we knew she’d be. It was a wonderful evening seeing friends, families, and supporters of LNWMO gathering to benefit a great organization and scholarship program.”Leadership Northwest Missouri is a program for community leaders interested in the regional growth of Northwest Missouri through high-quality training and networking opportunities. Participants are selected from the nineteen counties of the Northwest region. Currently the program has 508 alumni.Jenna Stevens, with Leadership Northwest Missouri, notes that two scholarships have already been awarded this year.&nbsp;Leadership Northwest is headquartered in St. Joseph.

Leadership Northwest Missouri Music Jam raises over $14,000

(Radio Iowa) - The Hamilton County Supervisors have approved a resolution objecting to eminent domain for the Summit Carbon Pipeline that will be coming through the county. 

Rick Young of Jewell read a portion of the resolution and says using eminent domain for a carbon pipeline for private benefit is not appropriate and should never be done. 

Hamilton County Supervisor Jerry Kloberdanz (KLOE-dur-DANCE) shared his opinion on the rejection of eminent domain and urged the Iowa Utilities Commission to not grant Carbon Solutions and their affiliates the use of eminent domain for this project.

(Radio Iowa) - The Hamilton County Supervisors have approved a resolution objecting to eminent domain for the Summit Carbon Pipeline that will be coming through the county. Rick Young of Jewell read a portion of the resolution and says using eminent domain for a carbon pipeline for private benefit is not appropriate and should never be done. Hamilton County Supervisor Jerry Kloberdanz (KLOE-dur-DANCE) shared his opinion on the rejection of eminent domain and urged the Iowa Utilities Commission to not grant Carbon Solutions and their affiliates the use of eminent domain for this project.

Hamilton County Supervisors Object To Using Eminent Domain For Pipeline

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri House Budget Committee grilled state education officials&nbsp; for over two hours Wednesday morning over the backlog of payments in the child care subsidy program.

House Budget Chair Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage, pressed subsidy administrators about how the backlog may affect the state budget.

Officials were not able during the meeting to say how much money they owed providers for subsidized child care for the previous fiscal year, which ended June 30th. The department had $84.3 million left in appropriations for fiscal year 2024 it can no longer spend.

This money must come out of appropriations for the current fiscal year, which may lead to a supplemental request, Smith noted with concern. Kari Monsees, commissioner of financial and administrative services for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said any additional appropriations could be pulled from remaining federal funding for the program that the legislature has not yet authorized the department to use.

And now, with discretionary funds expiring at the end of the month, DESE is writing checks to child-care providers as a one-time grant to use up the funds and try to keep struggling preschools open. The grants will vary from $5,000 to $55,000 based on the size of the facility.

“We wanted the stipend to be substantial. We thought it needed to be substantial, given the nature of the situation we are in,” Monsees told the committee.

It was the second day in a row that department leaders faced tough questions from lawmakers. On Tuesday, a parade of child-care providers testified to the House Education Committee about the massive backlog and how it is impacting their ability to keep their doors open.&nbsp;

DESE took over the administration of the child care subsidy program from the Department of Social Services in December and hired a new service provider to cover the technology.

Since then, providers have been missing payments for many months, and families are waiting for long periods to get into the system. Some day care centers have closed their doors, and many have taken out loans to survive.

“I have people who are at the brink of going out of business. I have individuals who told families, ‘Unless you can come up with the full amount even though you’ve been approved for the subsidy, you cannot have your child here at our center,’” State Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican, said. “These people are trying to be cared for.&nbsp;

“They are working poor, working middle class. We are not talking about people with our greatest amount of money. They wouldn’t have qualified if they were. These are the people in our communities that are the most at risk,” he continued

He wished the department would have paid, at the minimum, part of their obligation to providers by the end of June. Then, they wouldn’t have as much owed now.

Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, held printed copies of emails between DESE officials and contractors. Concerns about the system were known months before addressing it publicly.

“The assistant commissioner let them know that there was an issue over and over and over and over again before we ran out of the trial period,” Proudie said. “It was well known that this was a disaster, that she felt that the contractors weren’t taking it seriously.”

Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner for Missouri’s Office of Childhood, said she knew it was a “system wide” problem by the end of January.

“There were some hot fixes put in place immediately,” she said. “At that point in time, there were over 2,000 provider accounts and over 22,000 children. We had duplicates in the system because of missing data, and the volume by the end of January was very large.”

The department has a goal to fix the backlog by the end of October, but lawmakers expressed skepticism.

Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, asked for weekly updates, preferably on a public platform.

Monsees said the department would “address that.”

This article has been updated to correct the status of fiscal year 2024 appropriations and officials’ knowledge of the amount owed to borrowers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726081475633.png" alt=" State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, questions officials from the state education department about emails that show early knowledge of widespread problems with the child care subsidy program (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, questions officials from the state education department about emails that show early knowledge of widespread problems with the child care subsidy program (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri House Budget Committee grilled state education officials&nbsp; for over two hours Wednesday morning over the backlog of payments in the child care subsidy program.House Budget Chair Cody Smith, a Republican from Carthage, pressed subsidy administrators about how the backlog may affect the state budget.Officials were not able during the meeting to say how much money they owed providers for subsidized child care for the previous fiscal year, which ended June 30th. The department had $84.3 million left in appropriations for fiscal year 2024 it can no longer spend.This money must come out of appropriations for the current fiscal year, which may lead to a supplemental request, Smith noted with concern. Kari Monsees, commissioner of financial and administrative services for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, said any additional appropriations could be pulled from remaining federal funding for the program that the legislature has not yet authorized the department to use.And now, with discretionary funds expiring at the end of the month, DESE is writing checks to child-care providers as a one-time grant to use up the funds and try to keep struggling preschools open. The grants will vary from $5,000 to $55,000 based on the size of the facility.“We wanted the stipend to be substantial. We thought it needed to be substantial, given the nature of the situation we are in,” Monsees told the committee.It was the second day in a row that department leaders faced tough questions from lawmakers. On Tuesday, a parade of child-care providers testified to the House Education Committee about the massive backlog and how it is impacting their ability to keep their doors open.&nbsp;DESE took over the administration of the child care subsidy program from the Department of Social Services in December and hired a new service provider to cover the technology.Since then, providers have been missing payments for many months, and families are waiting for long periods to get into the system. Some day care centers have closed their doors, and many have taken out loans to survive.“I have people who are at the brink of going out of business. I have individuals who told families, ‘Unless you can come up with the full amount even though you’ve been approved for the subsidy, you cannot have your child here at our center,’” State Rep. Darin Chappell, a Rogersville Republican, said. “These people are trying to be cared for.&nbsp;“They are working poor, working middle class. We are not talking about people with our greatest amount of money. They wouldn’t have qualified if they were. These are the people in our communities that are the most at risk,” he continuedHe wished the department would have paid, at the minimum, part of their obligation to providers by the end of June. Then, they wouldn’t have as much owed now.Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, held printed copies of emails between DESE officials and contractors. Concerns about the system were known months before addressing it publicly.“The assistant commissioner let them know that there was an issue over and over and over and over again before we ran out of the trial period,” Proudie said. “It was well known that this was a disaster, that she felt that the contractors weren’t taking it seriously.”Pam Thomas, assistant commissioner for Missouri’s Office of Childhood, said she knew it was a “system wide” problem by the end of January.“There were some hot fixes put in place immediately,” she said. “At that point in time, there were over 2,000 provider accounts and over 22,000 children. We had duplicates in the system because of missing data, and the volume by the end of January was very large.”The department has a goal to fix the backlog by the end of October, but lawmakers expressed skepticism.Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, asked for weekly updates, preferably on a public platform.Monsees said the department would “address that.”This article has been updated to correct the status of fiscal year 2024 appropriations and officials’ knowledge of the amount owed to borrowers.

Mo. education officials face 2nd day of tough questions over child care subsidy

A Savannah police officer has been fired in wake of being
charged in the death of Savannah K-9 Officer Horus.

Savannah Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler has been charged with
a misdemeanor in the death of Horus, left in a hot patrol car June 20th.
An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of
heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could
have prevented the death had been disabled.

The Savannah Board of Alderman voted to terminate Zeigler’s
employment Tuesday.

The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720202220440.png" alt="K-9 Officer Horus/file photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Officer Horus/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA Savannah police officer has been fired in wake of being
charged in the death of Savannah K-9 Officer Horus.Savannah Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler has been charged with
a misdemeanor in the death of Horus, left in a hot patrol car June 20th.
An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of
heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could
have prevented the death had been disabled.The Savannah Board of Alderman voted to terminate Zeigler’s
employment Tuesday.The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah police officer fired after being charged in death of K9 officer

KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating an alleged school threat in a Kansas City area school district have made an arrest.

&nbsp;On Monday,&nbsp; police in Lee's Summit were made aware of a threatening post on social media that contained a detailed threat towards the East Trails Middle School,&nbsp;1001 SE Bailey Road, in Lee’s Summit, according to a media release.

  Investigators from the Police Department worked into the evening and located a juvenile suspect in the case. Contact was made with the suspect and a parent. Police took a juvenile suspect into custody. 

 The Police Department is thankful for the assistance given by partners with the FBI as well as our partnership with the R-7 School District to work quickly to identify and arrest a suspect in the case and keep the schools safe and free from violence.

Following the arrest, Superintendent&nbsp;Dr. David Buck sent a letter to parents.

Yesterday evening, East Trails Middle School&nbsp;and district administration, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the FBI swiftly responded to a threatening message posted on TikTok referencing that school.

LSPD officers have since identified and made contact with a student connected to the post. That student was taken into police custody and is not in school today thanks to this quick action.

Earlier this week, we communicated to four school buildings about a vague social media threat that police were unable to corroborate. Threats like the ones we have responded to this week disrupt the learning environment for students and consume staff resources. Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school, even as a joke, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences. We are processing this incident in full accordance with school policy and in partnership with our police partners.

These situations reinforce the importance of each and every member of our school community always reporting any threatening post or communication to our school staff and police. We will continue to encourage an environment where students, staff, and families feel empowered to report anything that might be suspicious or out of the ordinary; prompt reporting is important in enabling us to be proactive in maintaining a safe school environment. We’re grateful to the students and parents who exhibited this quick thinking this week.

Finally, if you see a social media threat, please don’t forward or repost it. Instead, take a screenshot and share it with our school administrators and police. Sharing the post makes it harder to find out who started it and slows down the investigation. Our SafeSchool hotlines, accessible on our school websites, are another way to confidentially share information with our leaders.

Thank you for your cooperation, support and patience as we make decisions to keep our students and staff safe. Please also help us thank our law enforcement partners who partner with us each and every day to support safe learning environments in LSR7.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697128767642.png" alt="School threat" />
 <figcaption>School threat</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Law enforcement investigating an alleged school threat in a Kansas City area school district have made an arrest.&nbsp;On Monday,&nbsp; police in Lee's Summit were made aware of a threatening post on social media that contained a detailed threat towards the East Trails Middle School,&nbsp;1001 SE Bailey Road, in Lee’s Summit, according to a media release. Investigators from the Police Department worked into the evening and located a juvenile suspect in the case. Contact was made with the suspect and a parent. Police took a juvenile suspect into custody. The Police Department is thankful for the assistance given by partners with the FBI as well as our partnership with the R-7 School District to work quickly to identify and arrest a suspect in the case and keep the schools safe and free from violence.Following the arrest, Superintendent&nbsp;Dr. David Buck sent a letter to parents.Dear LSR7 Families &amp; Staff:Yesterday evening, East Trails Middle School&nbsp;and district administration, the Lee’s Summit Police Department and the FBI swiftly responded to a threatening message posted on TikTok referencing that school.LSPD officers have since identified and made contact with a student connected to the post. That student was taken into police custody and is not in school today thanks to this quick action.Earlier this week, we communicated to four school buildings about a vague social media threat that police were unable to corroborate. Threats like the ones we have responded to this week disrupt the learning environment for students and consume staff resources. Please help us emphasize to all students that making a threat against a public school, even as a joke, has serious legal and disciplinary consequences. We are processing this incident in full accordance with school policy and in partnership with our police partners.These situations reinforce the importance of each and every member of our school community always reporting any threatening post or communication to our school staff and police. We will continue to encourage an environment where students, staff, and families feel empowered to report anything that might be suspicious or out of the ordinary; prompt reporting is important in enabling us to be proactive in maintaining a safe school environment. We’re grateful to the students and parents who exhibited this quick thinking this week.Finally, if you see a social media threat, please don’t forward or repost it. Instead, take a screenshot and share it with our school administrators and police. Sharing the post makes it harder to find out who started it and slows down the investigation. Our SafeSchool hotlines, accessible on our school websites, are another way to confidentially share information with our leaders.Thank you for your cooperation, support and patience as we make decisions to keep our students and staff safe. Please also help us thank our law enforcement partners who partner with us each and every day to support safe learning environments in LSR7.

Police, FBI make arrest after threat toward KC area middle school

BROWN&nbsp; COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a new&nbsp;scam circulating in Kansas.&nbsp; 

According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are being threatened&nbsp; through an e-mail on their smartphone&nbsp; by someone who is telling the resident that they have installed spyware called Pegasus on their device&nbsp; and are watching them remotely. 

The phone owner is being accused of illegal activity in their private life and are advised to send $2000 through Bitcoin and&nbsp; the scammer will erase any and all information.

 If the phone owner does not pay, the scammer states they will send all of the images and videos they have taken of the&nbsp; them to their&nbsp; contact list which would cause great humiliation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 The scammer also adds that he has access to all other&nbsp; info on the phone.&nbsp; "This is an attempt to extort money from you, according to Sheriff Merchant.&nbsp; "If you receive such a message, do not reply. "

"Scammers are getting more and more devious on the ways to obtain financial support from unsuspecting victims.&nbsp; This scam is particularly concerning as it appears very cleverly written in order to extort money from you."

Remember, never give out person information over your phone or computer.&nbsp; If you feel you have been made a victim of this or any other&nbsp; scam, contact your local law enforcement at once

Sheriff Merchant is forwarding this information to the Kansas Attorney's General's office for their review.

BROWN&nbsp; COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a new&nbsp;scam circulating in Kansas.&nbsp; According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are being threatened&nbsp; through an e-mail on their smartphone&nbsp; by someone who is telling the resident that they have installed spyware called Pegasus on their device&nbsp; and are watching them remotely. The phone owner is being accused of illegal activity in their private life and are advised to send $2000 through Bitcoin and&nbsp; the scammer will erase any and all information. If the phone owner does not pay, the scammer states they will send all of the images and videos they have taken of the&nbsp; them to their&nbsp; contact list which would cause great humiliation.&nbsp;&nbsp; The scammer also adds that he has access to all other&nbsp; info on the phone.&nbsp; "This is an attempt to extort money from you, according to Sheriff Merchant.&nbsp; "If you receive such a message, do not reply. ""Scammers are getting more and more devious on the ways to obtain financial support from unsuspecting victims.&nbsp; This scam is particularly concerning as it appears very cleverly written in order to extort money from you."Remember, never give out person information over your phone or computer.&nbsp; If you feel you have been made a victim of this or any other&nbsp; scam, contact your local law enforcement at onceSheriff Merchant is forwarding this information to the Kansas Attorney's General's office for their review.

Sheriff: New extortion phone scam reported in NE Kansas

PHILADELPHIA&nbsp; — For over 90 minutes, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump faced off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. Below are some of the highlights.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726016863083.png" alt="Image courtesy ABC via CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy ABC via CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>PHILADELPHIA&nbsp; — For over 90 minutes, Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump faced off on Tuesday in their first presidential debate. Below are some of the highlights.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">LIVE --&gt; ABC Presidential Debate Simulcast <a href="https://t.co/hNTcMAdx1e">https://t.co/hNTcMAdx1e</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833656962824978933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Handshake between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump as the ABC News Presidential Debate begins. <a href="https://t.co/p0UO3sZUds">pic.twitter.com/p0UO3sZUds</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833673429964247202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;She has no policy. Everything that she believed...is out the window. She&#39;s going to my philosophy now. In fact I was going to send her a MAGA hat...If she ever got elected she&#39;d change it...She&#39;s a Marxist. Everyone knows she&#39;s s Marxist.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/PnSmAkOxJH">pic.twitter.com/PnSmAkOxJH</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833677387348709584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">CLIP: Former President Trump and VP Harris on abortion and IVF at ABC News Presidential Debate. <a href="https://t.co/jKFFf0oPBf">pic.twitter.com/jKFFf0oPBf</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833681436898992364?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP Harris: &quot;People start leaving his rallies early out of exhausting and boredom.&quot; Former President Trump: &quot;People don&#39;t go to her rallies...people don&#39;t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/MbUWFmTA21">pic.twitter.com/MbUWFmTA21</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833681793255436767?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">VP Kamala Harris on endorsements from Republicans: &quot;If you want to really know the inside track on who the former president is...just ask people who have worked with him...&quot; Former President Trump: &quot;I fired most of those people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/nIEAKl5ReN">pic.twitter.com/nIEAKl5ReN</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833683283323855317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump to Vice President Harris: &quot;Wait a minute. I&#39;m talking now. If you don&#39;t mind. Please. Does that sound familiar?&quot; <a href="https://t.co/0muInrNeT9">pic.twitter.com/0muInrNeT9</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833684182305759366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump on January 6th: &quot;I had nothing to do with that, other than they asked me to make a speech.&quot; VP Harris: &quot;On that day the president of the United States incited a violent mob...the former president has been indicted and impeached exactly for that reason.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/TlOOP1CSAK">pic.twitter.com/TlOOP1CSAK</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833687269271568768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Former President Trump: &quot;She hates Israel. If she&#39;s president I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now. VP Harris: &quot;He&#39;s trying to again divide and distract from the reality...he admire dictators, wants to be a dictator on day one according to himself.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/BdpYpM6V7v">pic.twitter.com/BdpYpM6V7v</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833690931477852379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">David Muir: &quot;Do you want Ukraine to win this war? Former President Trump: &quot;I want this war to stop. I want to save lives...&quot; <a href="https://t.co/rcM8DOGICi">pic.twitter.com/rcM8DOGICi</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833692540551274992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Harris: &quot;You&#39;re not running against Joe Biden. You&#39;re running against me...If Donald Trump were president right not, Putin would be sitting in Kiev right now.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/aX3WdHTToh">pic.twitter.com/aX3WdHTToh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833692662873890842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;You said she went to went to negotiate with Vladimir Putin. Vice President Harris have you ever met Vladimir Putin? Can you clarify?&quot; VP Harris: &quot;I said at the beginning of this debate, you&#39;re going to hear a bunch of lies coming from this fella, and that is another one.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/gttiose1qR">pic.twitter.com/gttiose1qR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833693206476939641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Vice President Kamala Harris: &quot;This business about taking everyone&#39;s guns away; Tim Walz and I are both gun owners. We&#39;re not taking anybody&#39;s guns away so stop with the continuous lying about this stuff.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/I7Kc1KIdZR">pic.twitter.com/I7Kc1KIdZR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833696590701162496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Election Day is Tuesday, November 5.

🎥 Highlights from Harris, Trump Presidential debate

(Radio Iowa) - A former southeast Iowa middle school teacher is facing time in prison after sending improper messages to a student six years ago. 

Forty-two-year-old Zachary Barr of Ottumwa will serve a pair of five-year concurrent prison sentences after pleading guilty to enticing a minor and sexual exploitation by a school employee. In 2018, Barr, then a sixth-grade teacher at Evans Middle School, sent illicit messages to a 13-year-old girl. 

As part of the investigation, officers took control of the girl’s social media accounts. Their conversations with Barr became overtly sexual, prompting his arrest. Barr will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

(Radio Iowa) - A former southeast Iowa middle school teacher is facing time in prison after sending improper messages to a student six years ago. Forty-two-year-old Zachary Barr of Ottumwa will serve a pair of five-year concurrent prison sentences after pleading guilty to enticing a minor and sexual exploitation by a school employee. In 2018, Barr, then a sixth-grade teacher at Evans Middle School, sent illicit messages to a 13-year-old girl. As part of the investigation, officers took control of the girl’s social media accounts. Their conversations with Barr became overtly sexual, prompting his arrest. Barr will also have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

Former Ottumwa Teacher Sentenced For Sexual Exploitation

The court ordered Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to tell local election authorities to put Amendment 3 on the Nov. 5 ballot

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

Missourians will have the opportunity to vote to enshrine abortion in the state constitution this November, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.&nbsp;

In a decision published less than three hours before the constitutional deadline to remove a question from the ballot, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that recommended the measure be stripped from the Nov. 5 ballot.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft “shall certify to local election authorities that Amendment 3 be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot and shall take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot,” the judgment read.

In a lawsuit filed late last month, a number of anti-abortion lawmakers and activists sued Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for certifying Amendment 3 for the ballot.&nbsp;

On the eve of the Supreme Court hearing, Ashcroft announced he was decertifying the measure, a potentially unprecedented attempt to rescind his previous decision in an attempt to block the measure from the ballot.

The Supreme Court judges said Ashcroft missed his statutory deadline to change his mind.

“Respondent Ashcroft certified the petition as sufficient prior to that deadline, and any action taken to change that decision weeks after the statutory deadline expired is a nullity and of no effect,” the judges wrote.&nbsp;

In order to get a citizen-led Amendment on the ballot, the campaign behind the measure must first collect enough signatures from six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. When asked for signatures, state law requires that the amendment be attached in full.&nbsp;

The initiative petition circulated by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom did not include any current law that would be repealed, the issue at the crux of the lower court’s ruling.&nbsp;

There is also a section of state law that requires initiative petitions “include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”

Attorneys for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/06/judge-decides-abortion-amendment-3-missouri-ballot/">said&nbsp;</a>the amendment would not repeal the state’s current abortion law or take it off the books. Instead, they said, it would create a new law that would supersede much of the existing one because not every element of the current law would be rendered moot, including laws protecting women who get abortions from prosecution.&nbsp;

And, they added, anything that falls under the scope of the amendment would be left to the judicial system to interpret.&nbsp;

Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh did not agree. On Friday he ruled that the campaign did not meet the sufficiency requirement through a “failure to include any statute or provision that will be repealed, especially when many of these statutes are apparent.”&nbsp;

While Limbaugh recommended the amendment be taken off the ballot, he ultimately left the decision up to a higher court.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability and protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is illegal in Missouri with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725997401102.png" alt=" The Missouri Supreme Court takes the bench on Tuesday in Jefferson City to hear a case questioning whether an amendment to overturn the state’s abortion ban will remain on the state’s November ballot. From left are Judges Kelly C. Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, Zel. M. Fischer, Paul C. Wilson and Ginger K. Gooch (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri Supreme Court takes the bench on Tuesday in Jefferson City to hear a case questioning whether an amendment to overturn the state’s abortion ban will remain on the state’s November ballot. From left are Judges Kelly C. Broniec, Robin Ransom, W. Brent Powell, Chief Justice Mary R. Russell, Zel. M. Fischer, Paul C. Wilson and Ginger K. Gooch (Pool photo by Robert Cohen/St. Louis Post-Dispatch).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The court ordered Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft to tell local election authorities to put Amendment 3 on the Nov. 5 ballot</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missourians will have the opportunity to vote to enshrine abortion in the state constitution this November, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Tuesday.&nbsp;In a decision published less than three hours before the constitutional deadline to remove a question from the ballot, the Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s ruling that recommended the measure be stripped from the Nov. 5 ballot.&nbsp;Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft “shall certify to local election authorities that Amendment 3 be placed on the Nov. 5, 2024, general election ballot and shall take all steps necessary to ensure that it is on said ballot,” the judgment read.In a lawsuit filed late last month, a number of anti-abortion lawmakers and activists sued Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft for certifying Amendment 3 for the ballot.&nbsp;On the eve of the Supreme Court hearing, Ashcroft announced he was decertifying the measure, a potentially unprecedented attempt to rescind his previous decision in an attempt to block the measure from the ballot.The Supreme Court judges said Ashcroft missed his statutory deadline to change his mind.“Respondent Ashcroft certified the petition as sufficient prior to that deadline, and any action taken to change that decision weeks after the statutory deadline expired is a nullity and of no effect,” the judges wrote.&nbsp;In order to get a citizen-led Amendment on the ballot, the campaign behind the measure must first collect enough signatures from six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts. When asked for signatures, state law requires that the amendment be attached in full.&nbsp;The initiative petition circulated by Missourians for Constitutional Freedom did not include any current law that would be repealed, the issue at the crux of the lower court’s ruling.&nbsp;There is also a section of state law that requires initiative petitions “include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”Attorneys for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/06/judge-decides-abortion-amendment-3-missouri-ballot/">said&nbsp;</a>the amendment would not repeal the state’s current abortion law or take it off the books. Instead, they said, it would create a new law that would supersede much of the existing one because not every element of the current law would be rendered moot, including laws protecting women who get abortions from prosecution.&nbsp;And, they added, anything that falls under the scope of the amendment would be left to the judicial system to interpret.&nbsp;Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh did not agree. On Friday he ruled that the campaign did not meet the sufficiency requirement through a “failure to include any statute or provision that will be repealed, especially when many of these statutes are apparent.”&nbsp;While Limbaugh recommended the amendment be taken off the ballot, he ultimately left the decision up to a higher court.&nbsp;&nbsp;Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability and protect other reproductive rights, including birth control. Abortion is illegal in Missouri with limited exceptions for medical emergencies.

Missouri Supreme Court rules amendment legalizing abortion will remain on ballot

Though
drought conditions have eased in the Midwest, drought persists in the upper
Missouri River basin, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to keep water releases
from the Gavins Point Dam at a minimum.

Chief
of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, John
Remus, says there is a big difference between conditions in the lower Missouri
River basin and the upper basin. 

“Primarily Nebraska, parts of Kansas, and of
course here in Missouri, they’ve kind of come out of drought,” Remus tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The upper basin, however, is kind of, we thought we were
going to have some improvements, but it went back into drought.”

The Corps of Engineers reports 73% of the
Missouri River Basin is experiencing dry or drought conditions with little reason
for optimism that that will turn around anytime soon.

“Based on the soil conditions and the long-term
outlook from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I think we’re
probably going to have another dry spring unless we get a lot of snow in the
mountains and a lot of snow in the plains,” Remus says. “But they’re not
calling for that. I believe we’re going to be in a very similar situation to begin
2025 as we were this year in 2024.”

Remus understands minimum water releases puts
pressure on cities, businesses, and utilities that rely on the Missouri River.

“Right now, we’re looking at a winter release of 12,000
cubic feet per second out of Gavins Point, which is very similar to what we had
in the winter of 2022, ’23,” says Remus. “So there are going to be some
municipal intakes in the lower river here that are going to be right at the
margin of having some issues with getting water in.”

Remus says though conditions in the upper
Missouri River basin improved earlier this year, dry conditions up north sent much
of the upper basin back into abnormally dry or drought conditions. Remus says
the Corps of Engineers will keep those relying on the Missouri River abreast of
what releases to expect from Gavins Point.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725991603264.jpeg" alt="Gavins Point Dam/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Gavins Point Dam/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThough
drought conditions have eased in the Midwest, drought persists in the upper
Missouri River basin, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to keep water releases
from the Gavins Point Dam at a minimum.Chief
of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, John
Remus, says there is a big difference between conditions in the lower Missouri
River basin and the upper basin. “Primarily Nebraska, parts of Kansas, and of
course here in Missouri, they’ve kind of come out of drought,” Remus tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The upper basin, however, is kind of, we thought we were
going to have some improvements, but it went back into drought.”The Corps of Engineers reports 73% of the
Missouri River Basin is experiencing dry or drought conditions with little reason
for optimism that that will turn around anytime soon.“Based on the soil conditions and the long-term
outlook from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I think we’re
probably going to have another dry spring unless we get a lot of snow in the
mountains and a lot of snow in the plains,” Remus says. “But they’re not
calling for that. I believe we’re going to be in a very similar situation to begin
2025 as we were this year in 2024.”Remus understands minimum water releases puts
pressure on cities, businesses, and utilities that rely on the Missouri River.“Right now, we’re looking at a winter release of 12,000
cubic feet per second out of Gavins Point, which is very similar to what we had
in the winter of 2022, ’23,” says Remus. “So there are going to be some
municipal intakes in the lower river here that are going to be right at the
margin of having some issues with getting water in.”Remus says though conditions in the upper
Missouri River basin improved earlier this year, dry conditions up north sent much
of the upper basin back into abnormally dry or drought conditions. Remus says
the Corps of Engineers will keep those relying on the Missouri River abreast of
what releases to expect from Gavins Point.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Upper Missouri River basin drought keeps downstream flows as minimum

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>

WASHINGTON — As Congress returns from a five-week recess Monday, House Republicans have attached a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections — which is already unlawful — to a stopgap funding bill that is already teeing up a battle with the Senate and White House.

The GOP drive in Congress echoes state lawmakers’ push for&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this November that would bar noncitizens from voting in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/06/21/idaho-legislators-approve-ballot-info-for-noncitizen-voting-constitutional-amendment/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/18/kentucky-elections-officials-say-noncitizens-arent-voting-in-the-state/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-upholds-ballot-language-to-ban-noncitizen-voting-already-illegal-in-missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-house-republicans-advance-a-proposed-constitutional-amendment-to-prohibit-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/06/04/republicans-want-oklahomans-to-reword-constitution-to-make-crystal-clear-noncitizens-cant-vote/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/08/12/panel-decides-citizenship-question-on-sc-ballots-needs-no-explanation/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/legislators-hold-hearing-on-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a>.

It also comes in the heat of the presidential campaign, as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/09/03/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">&nbsp;repeatedly calls for mass deportations&nbsp;</a>of undocumented immigrants and faces the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a crucial Tuesday night debate.

Current federal government spending will expire Oct. 1, so Congress must pass a continuing resolution, or CR, to approve temporary spending beyond that date or risk a shutdown.

The measure that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, which U.S. House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats passed in July, has been added by the House GOP to a CR that would extend spending until March 28. A vote by the House is expected this week.

The White House on Monday vowed President Joe Biden would issue a veto if Congress passed the measure in that form.

“Instead of meeting the security and disaster needs of the Nation, this bill includes unrelated cynical legislation that would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls,” the White House<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/H.R.-9494%E2%80%94-Continuing-Appropriations-and-Other-Matters-Act-2025-Final.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;said in a statement&nbsp;</a>Monday. “It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections — it is a Federal crime punishable by prison and fines.”

The voting language is a nonstarter among Senate Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber.

“As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship, not a bill drawn up by one party,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray of Washington said in a joint statement Friday.

“If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up, and Americans will know that the responsibility of a shutdown will be on the House Republicans’ hands,” they continued.

Democrats have argued that the bill is an attempt to sow distrust in U.S. elections ahead of November elections.

House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has stressed that noncitizen voting in federal elections is an issue, although research has found&nbsp;<a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/false-claims-noncitizen-voting-harm-our-democracy" target="_blank">it rarely happens.&nbsp;</a>

“As the 2024 election nears, it is imperative that Congress does everything within our power to protect the integrity of our nation’s election system,” he said in a statement.

In April, Johnson while at Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">announced the House would pass a bill relating to noncitizen voting</a>. The former president has often falsely blamed voting by large numbers of undocumented people for his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton as the reason he lost the popular vote.

Other Democrats objected to passing a CR that would last until next year.

The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, criticized the six-month measure because it is “shortchanging veterans and jeopardizing their care by kicking the can down the road until March.”

“A continuing resolution to the end of March provides Republicans with more leverage to attempt to force their unpopular cuts to services that American families depend on to make ends meet,” she said in a statement.

The original noncitizen voting bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr8281rh/pdf/BILLS-118hr8281rh.pdf" target="_blank">H.R.8281,</a>&nbsp;was first introduced by Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. It&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024345?Page=2" target="_blank">passed 221-198</a>, with five Democrats voting with Republicans, but stalled in the Senate.

Those five Democrats who voted in support of the measure are: Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Donald Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

Under current U.S. law, only citizens can vote in federal elections, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2" target="_blank">National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;of 1993 prohibits states from confirming citizenship status.

Along with the ballot measures, hundreds of Republican state legislators have also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onlycitizensvotecoalition.com/state-leaders-pledge" target="_blank">on to a letter</a>&nbsp;by the Only Citizens Vote Coalition urging Congress to pass a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections.

The Only Citizens Vote Coalition includes election denier activists, organizations headed by former Trump aides and anti-immigrant groups. It was founded by Cleta Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-pick-rnc-chief-worked-top-election-deniers-group" target="_blank">a key figure who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election&nbsp;</a>and is now running a grassroots organization to aggressively monitor elections in November.

Five of the eight states — Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin — with votes set on ballot measures have state legislators who sponsored bills to put the question on the ballot and are signed on to the letter by Only Citizens Vote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725930223008.png" alt=" The U.S. House as it returns from a five-week recess is preparing to vote on a stopgap spending bill that also includes a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption> The U.S. House as it returns from a five-week recess is preparing to vote on a stopgap spending bill that also includes a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections. (Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — As Congress returns from a five-week recess Monday, House Republicans have attached a provision to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections — which is already unlawful — to a stopgap funding bill that is already teeing up a battle with the Senate and White House.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerJohnson</a>: &quot;I believe we can fund the government responsibly and I believe that we can do right by the American people and ensure the security of our elections. I defy anybody to give me any logical argument why we shouldn&#39;t do that. That&#39;s why I&#39;m so resolute about this.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/SHvLqS0QPj">pic.twitter.com/SHvLqS0QPj</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1833521566954475819?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The GOP drive in Congress echoes state lawmakers’ push for&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">ballot measures</a>&nbsp;this November that would bar noncitizens from voting in&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/06/21/idaho-legislators-approve-ballot-info-for-noncitizen-voting-constitutional-amendment/" target="_blank">Idaho</a>, Iowa,&nbsp;<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/18/kentucky-elections-officials-say-noncitizens-arent-voting-in-the-state/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-upholds-ballot-language-to-ban-noncitizen-voting-already-illegal-in-missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-house-republicans-advance-a-proposed-constitutional-amendment-to-prohibit-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://oklahomavoice.com/2024/06/04/republicans-want-oklahomans-to-reword-constitution-to-make-crystal-clear-noncitizens-cant-vote/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://scdailygazette.com/2024/08/12/panel-decides-citizenship-question-on-sc-ballots-needs-no-explanation/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://wisconsinexaminer.com/briefs/legislators-hold-hearing-on-non-citizen-voting/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a>.It also comes in the heat of the presidential campaign, as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump<a href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2024/09/03/trump-promises-mass-deportations-of-undocumented-people-how-would-that-work/" target="_blank">&nbsp;repeatedly calls for mass deportations&nbsp;</a>of undocumented immigrants and faces the Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, in a crucial Tuesday night debate.Current federal government spending will expire Oct. 1, so Congress must pass a continuing resolution, or CR, to approve temporary spending beyond that date or risk a shutdown.The measure that requires proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, which U.S. House Republicans and some vulnerable Democrats passed in July, has been added by the House GOP to a CR that would extend spending until March 28. A vote by the House is expected this week.The White House on Monday vowed President Joe Biden would issue a veto if Congress passed the measure in that form.“Instead of meeting the security and disaster needs of the Nation, this bill includes unrelated cynical legislation that would do nothing to safeguard our elections, but would make it much harder for all eligible Americans to register to vote and increase the risk that eligible voters are purged from voter rolls,” the White House<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/H.R.-9494%E2%80%94-Continuing-Appropriations-and-Other-Matters-Act-2025-Final.pdf" target="_blank">&nbsp;said in a statement&nbsp;</a>Monday. “It is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in Federal elections — it is a Federal crime punishable by prison and fines.”<h2>Senate opposition</h2>The voting language is a nonstarter among Senate Democrats, who hold a slim majority in the chamber.“As we have said repeatedly, avoiding a government shutdown requires bipartisanship, not a bill drawn up by one party,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray of Washington said in a joint statement Friday.“If Speaker Johnson drives House Republicans down this highly partisan path, the odds of a shutdown go way up, and Americans will know that the responsibility of a shutdown will be on the House Republicans’ hands,” they continued.Democrats have argued that the bill is an attempt to sow distrust in U.S. elections ahead of November elections.House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has stressed that noncitizen voting in federal elections is an issue, although research has found&nbsp;<a href="https://campaignlegal.org/update/false-claims-noncitizen-voting-harm-our-democracy" target="_blank">it rarely happens.&nbsp;</a>“As the 2024 election nears, it is imperative that Congress does everything within our power to protect the integrity of our nation’s election system,” he said in a statement.The bill is also supported by Trump.In April, Johnson while at Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Florida,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">announced the House would pass a bill relating to noncitizen voting</a>. The former president has often falsely blamed voting by large numbers of undocumented people for his 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton as the reason he lost the popular vote.Other Democrats objected to passing a CR that would last until next year.The top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, criticized the six-month measure because it is “shortchanging veterans and jeopardizing their care by kicking the can down the road until March.”“A continuing resolution to the end of March provides Republicans with more leverage to attempt to force their unpopular cuts to services that American families depend on to make ends meet,” she said in a statement.<h2>Texas congressman spearheads bill</h2>The original noncitizen voting bill,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr8281rh/pdf/BILLS-118hr8281rh.pdf" target="_blank">H.R.8281,</a>&nbsp;was first introduced by Texas GOP Rep. Chip Roy, a member of the far-right House Freedom Caucus. It&nbsp;<a href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024345?Page=2" target="_blank">passed 221-198</a>, with five Democrats voting with Republicans, but stalled in the Senate.Those five Democrats who voted in support of the measure are: Reps. Jared Golden of Maine, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Donald Davis of North Carolina, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.Under current U.S. law, only citizens can vote in federal elections, but the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-bill/2" target="_blank">National Voter Registration Act</a>&nbsp;of 1993 prohibits states from confirming citizenship status.Along with the ballot measures, hundreds of Republican state legislators have also signed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.onlycitizensvotecoalition.com/state-leaders-pledge" target="_blank">on to a letter</a>&nbsp;by the Only Citizens Vote Coalition urging Congress to pass a bill to bar noncitizens from voting in federal elections.The Only Citizens Vote Coalition includes election denier activists, organizations headed by former Trump aides and anti-immigrant groups. It was founded by Cleta Mitchell,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-pick-rnc-chief-worked-top-election-deniers-group" target="_blank">a key figure who tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election&nbsp;</a>and is now running a grassroots organization to aggressively monitor elections in November.Five of the eight states — Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Wisconsin — with votes set on ballot measures have state legislators who sponsored bills to put the question on the ballot and are signed on to the letter by Only Citizens Vote.

🎥U.S. House GOP sets up fight over noncitizen voting in bill averting government shutdown

(Radio Iowa) - A central Iowa English professor's debut collection of short stories is being released today (Tuesday) and it's an atypical collection since it reads more like a novel. 

Marc Dickinson, who teaches creative writing at Des Moines Area Community College, says each of the 12 stories is linked with multiple recurring characters. "Replacement Parts" centers on a series of people struggling with personal demons and societal expectations in small-town Iowa. If you read it from beginning to end, Dickinson says it has "a novelistic feel" as the stories are "talking to each other." His collection is set in a fictional Iowa town of Dexton, which is loosely based on an amalgamation of many small, struggling towns. 

Dickinson's first appearance with the book is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and he says the association with the Nine Eleven attacks isn't entirely coincidental, as one of his characters is a veteran who served in Afghanistan.

(Radio Iowa) - A central Iowa English professor's debut collection of short stories is being released today (Tuesday) and it's an atypical collection since it reads more like a novel. Marc Dickinson, who teaches creative writing at Des Moines Area Community College, says each of the 12 stories is linked with multiple recurring characters. "Replacement Parts" centers on a series of people struggling with personal demons and societal expectations in small-town Iowa. If you read it from beginning to end, Dickinson says it has "a novelistic feel" as the stories are "talking to each other." His collection is set in a fictional Iowa town of Dexton, which is loosely based on an amalgamation of many small, struggling towns. Dickinson's first appearance with the book is scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday), and he says the association with the Nine Eleven attacks isn't entirely coincidental, as one of his characters is a veteran who served in Afghanistan.

Small-town Iowa is setting for 'novelistic' short story collection

Schwab urges U.S. Postal Service to guarantee timely delivery of postmarked ballots

TOPEKA — The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy there was cause to be “extremely concerned” about “a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots.” He send the same letter to the six members of the Kansas congressional delegation.

During the August primary, Schwab said, 18% of Kansans exercised the constitutional right to vote by sending ballots through the mail. Nearly 1,000 of those individuals, or 2% of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas, weren’t counted “due to USPS administrative failures,” he said.

In correspondence released Monday, Schwab sought assurances that the USPS would guarantee every mail ballot in the November general election received a postmark so it could be counted. Schwab also asked that ballots placed in USPS custody before Election Day would be delivered to county offices before the three-day, post-election window closed.

“The USPS’ proper and timely handling of mail ballots is a key aspect to maintaining trust in our election system by assuring the public that utmost care is taken to preserve the safety and security of their ballot,” Schwab said. “Kansas has had mail voting in some form since the Civil War, but never has a lack of confidence in the delivery of our ballot been questioned as it has in the 21st century.”

Kansas law requires advance mail-in ballots to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Only ballots received in county election offices within three days of a primary or general election could be counted in Kansas.

Schwab said a post-election survey showed county election offices in the state received ballots from the postal service days or weeks after they were mailed. He said some ballots placed in the mail ahead of Election Day didn’t get a postmark.

Approximately half the state’s county clerks reported receiving mail-in ballots without a postmark or after the three-day grace period permitted under statute, he said.

“It is unacceptable that voters, who follow the rules for requesting, voting and returning their mail ballot, are disenfranchised by the USPS because ballots that were properly and timely mailed were delivered without a postmark or not at all,” Schwab said.

In July, the USPS’ office of inspector general recommended the postal service make changes to allow postmarking of ballots that erroneously didn’t receive one. The operational shift could help voters feel more confident their ballot would move efficiently through USPS, the inspector general said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720316487639.png" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, send a letter to the U.S. postmaster general and the Kansas congressional delegation complaining that nearly 1,000 advance ballots dropped in the mail before Election Day in the August primary weren't counted because envelopes lacked the required postmark or arrived after the three-day grace period&nbsp;authorized under state law.-Post file photo" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican, send a letter to the U.S. postmaster general and the Kansas congressional delegation complaining that nearly 1,000 advance ballots dropped in the mail before Election Day in the August primary weren't counted because envelopes lacked the required postmark or arrived after the three-day grace period&nbsp;authorized under state law.-Post file photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Schwab urges U.S. Postal Service to guarantee timely delivery of postmarked ballots</h2>TOPEKA — The Kansas secretary of state said in a letter to the U.S. postmaster general that approximately 1,000 August primary voters in Kansas were disenfranchised because ballots mailed before Election Day in August arrived in county offices more than three days after the deadline or without an essential postmark.Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a Republican who serves as the state’s chief elections officer, told Postmaster General Louis DeJoy there was cause to be “extremely concerned” about “a troubling pattern that persists in the U.S. Postal Service’s processing and handling of ballots.” He send the same letter to the six members of the Kansas congressional delegation.During the August primary, Schwab said, 18% of Kansans exercised the constitutional right to vote by sending ballots through the mail. Nearly 1,000 of those individuals, or 2% of ballots transmitted by mail in Kansas, weren’t counted “due to USPS administrative failures,” he said.In correspondence released Monday, Schwab sought assurances that the USPS would guarantee every mail ballot in the November general election received a postmark so it could be counted. Schwab also asked that ballots placed in USPS custody before Election Day would be delivered to county offices before the three-day, post-election window closed.“The USPS’ proper and timely handling of mail ballots is a key aspect to maintaining trust in our election system by assuring the public that utmost care is taken to preserve the safety and security of their ballot,” Schwab said. “Kansas has had mail voting in some form since the Civil War, but never has a lack of confidence in the delivery of our ballot been questioned as it has in the 21st century.”Kansas law requires advance mail-in ballots to be postmarked by 7 p.m. on Election Day. Only ballots received in county election offices within three days of a primary or general election could be counted in Kansas.Schwab said a post-election survey showed county election offices in the state received ballots from the postal service days or weeks after they were mailed. He said some ballots placed in the mail ahead of Election Day didn’t get a postmark.Approximately half the state’s county clerks reported receiving mail-in ballots without a postmark or after the three-day grace period permitted under statute, he said.“It is unacceptable that voters, who follow the rules for requesting, voting and returning their mail ballot, are disenfranchised by the USPS because ballots that were properly and timely mailed were delivered without a postmark or not at all,” Schwab said.In July, the USPS’ office of inspector general recommended the postal service make changes to allow postmarking of ballots that erroneously didn’t receive one. The operational shift could help voters feel more confident their ballot would move efficiently through USPS, the inspector general said.

Kansas election official says nearly 1,000 primary ballots tossed due to mail processing issues

A Savannah Police Lieutenant has been charged in the death of Savannah
K-9 officer Horus.

The Missouri Attorney General’s office filed the class A
charge of misdemeanor animal abuse against Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler after an
investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A probable cause statement filed by the patrol states Zeigler
and his K-9 partner Horus had completed their overnight shift on June 20th
when Horus was left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle and died of heat exposure.
The patrol reports a safety feature designed to roll down windows and sound the
horn when temperatures reach 90 degrees had been turned off.

This article has been updated since first published.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720202220440.png" alt="K-9 Horus/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Horus/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA Savannah Police Lieutenant has been charged in the death of Savannah
K-9 officer Horus.The Missouri Attorney General’s office filed the class A
charge of misdemeanor animal abuse against Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler after an
investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.A probable cause statement filed by the patrol states Zeigler
and his K-9 partner Horus had completed their overnight shift on June 20th
when Horus was left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle and died of heat exposure.
The patrol reports a safety feature designed to roll down windows and sound the
horn when temperatures reach 90 degrees had been turned off.The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.This article has been updated since first published.

Savannah officer charged in death of K9 Horus

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will take the stage next week in the only planned debate between the respective Democratic and GOP presidential candidates between now and November.

It’s the first presidential debate since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race following his own disastrous debate performance in late June against Trump. Biden, who faced mounting calls to resign,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pass-torch-biden-addresses-nation-why-he-wont-seek-second-term" target="_blank">passed the torch</a>&nbsp;to Harris back in July.

The veep has embarked on an unprecedented and expedited campaign as she and Trump vie for the Oval Office. The election is just two months away.

Though the Harris and Trump campaigns clashed over debate procedures in recent weeks, both candidates have agreed to the finalized rules. ABC News, host of the debate, released the rules Wednesday.

The debate will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. Eastern time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The debate will be 90 minutes long and include two commercial breaks,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/news/5e38600c-4732-4cd2-a99c-3dedfa81beb0/category/1138628" target="_blank">according to ABC</a>.

The Keystone State — where both Harris and Trump have spent a lot of time campaigning — could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The battleground state has narrowly flip-flopped in recent elections, with Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">turning Pennsylvania blue</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">secured a red win</a>&nbsp;in 2016.

The debate will air live on ABC News and will also be streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.

ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate.

Harris and Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions and two minutes to give rebuttals. They will also be granted one additional minute to clarify or follow up on anything.

Microphones will be muted when it’s not a candidate’s turn to speak, just like the previous debate between Biden and Trump in June.

The candidates will not give opening statements. Trump won a coin flip to determine the order of closing statements and podium placement. Trump, who selected the statement order, will give the final closing statement.

Each closing statement will be two minutes long.

Harris and Trump are not allowed to bring any props or prewritten notes to the debate stage. They will each receive a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle.

There will be no live audience at the National Constitution Center, as was the case in the last presidential debate.

Harris and Trump are not permitted to interact with their campaign staff during the two commercial breaks.

Trump went on the attack over the details of the debate, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/town-hall-no-questions-trump-grouses-about-polls-attacks-debate-host" target="_blank">Fox News’ Sean Hannity</a>&nbsp;during an interview Wednesday in Pennsylvania that “ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness” and “the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest.”

He accused the network of releasing poor polls on purpose ahead of a previous election to drive down voter turnout.

Trump also claimed, without evidence, that Harris would get the questions in advance of the debate. ABC’s debate rules state that no candidates or campaigns will receive any topics or questions ahead of the event.

Meanwhile, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance will battle it out at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/mark-your-calendar-vp-candidates-walz-and-vance-debate-oct-1" target="_blank">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1 in New York City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724867447394.png" alt="Photo Associated Press" />
 <figcaption>Photo Associated Press</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/shauneen-miranda/">SHAUNEEN MIRANDA</a>Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump will take the stage next week in the only planned debate between the respective Democratic and GOP presidential candidates between now and November.It’s the first presidential debate since President Joe Biden bowed out of the race following his own disastrous debate performance in late June against Trump. Biden, who faced mounting calls to resign,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/pass-torch-biden-addresses-nation-why-he-wont-seek-second-term" target="_blank">passed the torch</a>&nbsp;to Harris back in July.The veep has embarked on an unprecedented and expedited campaign as she and Trump vie for the Oval Office. The election is just two months away.Though the Harris and Trump campaigns clashed over debate procedures in recent weeks, both candidates have agreed to the finalized rules. ABC News, host of the debate, released the rules Wednesday.<h2>When and where is the debate?</h2>The debate will be Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 9 p.m. Eastern time at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The debate will be 90 minutes long and include two commercial breaks,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc.com/news/5e38600c-4732-4cd2-a99c-3dedfa81beb0/category/1138628" target="_blank">according to ABC</a>.The Keystone State — where both Harris and Trump have spent a lot of time campaigning — could determine the outcome of the presidential election. The battleground state has narrowly flip-flopped in recent elections, with Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">turning Pennsylvania blue</a>&nbsp;in 2020 after Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">secured a red win</a>&nbsp;in 2016.<h2>How can I watch the debate?</h2>The debate will air live on ABC News and will also be streaming on ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu.ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis will moderate the debate.Harris and Trump will each have two minutes to answer questions and two minutes to give rebuttals. They will also be granted one additional minute to clarify or follow up on anything.<h2>Will the mics be muted?</h2>Microphones will be muted when it’s not a candidate’s turn to speak, just like the previous debate between Biden and Trump in June.The candidates will not give opening statements. Trump won a coin flip to determine the order of closing statements and podium placement. Trump, who selected the statement order, will give the final closing statement.Each closing statement will be two minutes long.Harris and Trump are not allowed to bring any props or prewritten notes to the debate stage. They will each receive a pen, a pad of paper and a water bottle.<h2>Will there be a live audience?</h2>There will be no live audience at the National Constitution Center, as was the case in the last presidential debate.Harris and Trump are not permitted to interact with their campaign staff during the two commercial breaks.<h2>Trump slams ABC ahead of debate</h2>Trump went on the attack over the details of the debate, telling&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/town-hall-no-questions-trump-grouses-about-polls-attacks-debate-host" target="_blank">Fox News’ Sean Hannity</a>&nbsp;during an interview Wednesday in Pennsylvania that “ABC is the worst network in terms of fairness” and “the most dishonest network, the meanest, the nastiest.”He accused the network of releasing poor polls on purpose ahead of a previous election to drive down voter turnout.Trump also claimed, without evidence, that Harris would get the questions in advance of the debate. ABC’s debate rules state that no candidates or campaigns will receive any topics or questions ahead of the event.Meanwhile, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Republican Sen. J.D. Vance will battle it out at the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/mark-your-calendar-vp-candidates-walz-and-vance-debate-oct-1" target="_blank">vice presidential debate</a>&nbsp;hosted by CBS News on Oct. 1 in New York City.

5 things to know about the Harris-Trump presidential debate  

Newly reported campaign finance data shows that having the most money wasn’t an automatic ticket to success at the polls

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

The top three finishers combined to spend $27.5 million in the Republican primary for governor, with the winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/mike-kehoe-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total, newly filed campaign disclosure reports show.

Overall, Republicans in statewide contests spent almost $65 million, compared to just $4.8 million in the Democratic Party, where the only significant primary spending was in the race for governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/crystal-quade-captures-democratic-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">won by state Rep. Crystal Quade</a>&nbsp;of Springfield.

The new reports, which cover the period from July 27 to Aug. 31, were due Thursday at the Missouri Ethics Commission. Federal candidates do not file post-primary reports.

Campaign finance tracking by The Independent shows that having the most money didn’t equal success in either party. It did for Kehoe and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/vivek-malek-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-treasurer/">State Treasurer Vivek Malek</a>, who spent $5.8 million from his campaign fund and joint fundraising PAC.

But David Wasinger of St. Louis, who won the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/07/dave-wasinger-wins-republican-primary-for-missouri-lieutenant-governor/">primary for lieutenant governor</a>, state Sen. Denny Hoskins, the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/denny-hoskins-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">nominee for secretary of state</a>, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/andrew-bailey-defeats-will-scharf-to-capture-gop-nomination-for-attorney-general/">fended off a challenge from Will Scharf</a>, all won while being outspent.

In the Democratic Party, Quade defeated Springfield businessman Mike Hamra despite being outspent almost 3-1. Hamra gave his own campaign more than $2.1 million and spent $3.3 million overall, while Quade raised and spent $1.2 million through her campaign and joint fundraising PAC.

No other contested Democratic primary featured a candidate who spent more than $50,000 to win the nomination. And while some Democrats ended August with bank accounts comparable to their Republican counterparts, polls showing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/29/poll-shows-missouri-voters-back-trump-hawley-abortion-rights-and-minimum-wage-hike/">double-digit leads for the GOP</a>&nbsp;in statewide races and the fundraising prowess shown by Republicans show the difficulties any Democrat must surmount to win in November.

The best-funded Democrats who file reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission are state Senate candidates. In five of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/29/primaries-will-test-incumbents-in-year-of-historic-turnover-for-missouri-senate/">six districts being watched closely</a>, Democratic candidates had more in the bank on Aug. 31 than their Republican opponents and more than any statewide candidate from either party except Kehoe.

Almost every candidate running a full-scale campaign for statewide office or the Missouri Senate has both an official campaign committee and a joint fundraising PAC. Official campaign committees are subject to contribution limits – statewide candidates can accept donations up to $2,825 – while the joint fundraising PACs can accept donations of any size.

Campaigns must observe other restrictions on donations as well. Corporations and labor unions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=VIII++++23&amp;bid=36200&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">prohibited from contributing directly to candidate and political party committees</a>, but may set up PACs for voluntary contributions from employees or members to do so.

Corporations and labor unions may also contribute to joint fundraising PACs and independent PACs that are allowed to contribute to candidate committees.

The $17.1 million spent by Kehoe and his joint fundraising committee, American Dream PAC, was equal to $64 for each of the 275,139 votes he received in the primary for governor. His two main rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and secretary of state Jay Ashcroft, spent $5.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, which equals $25.46 per vote for Eigel and $28.15 per vote for Ashcroft.

Legislative Democrats have set a goal of breaking the GOP supermajorities that have two-thirds of the seats in the Missouri House and state Senate in Republican hands. That would require at least 55 seats in the House– three more than they have now – and 12 in the Senate – two more than their current strength.

In state Senate races for the competitive seats, Democrats avoided primaries while the GOP winners in three seats drained their campaign treasuries to win the nomination.

In five districts — the 1st and 15th in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the 11th and 17th in the Kansas City region and the 19th in Boone County — Democrats have campaign funds ranging from $550,000 to almost $1 million. No Republican in those districts ended August with more than $70,000 on hand.

In the sixth district considered competitive, the 23rd District in St. Charles County, the candidates entered September with similar amounts on hand. State Rep. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, who won a four-way primary, had $42,762 in his campaign account and $30,962 in the account of his joint fundraising committee, Protect Our Kids PAC.

Democratic candidate Matt Williams had $40,266 on hand. Williams does not have a joint fundraising PAC.

<h2>Newly reported campaign finance data shows that having the most money wasn’t an automatic ticket to success at the polls</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The top three finishers combined to spend $27.5 million in the Republican primary for governor, with the winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/mike-kehoe-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total, newly filed campaign disclosure reports show.Overall, Republicans in statewide contests spent almost $65 million, compared to just $4.8 million in the Democratic Party, where the only significant primary spending was in the race for governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/crystal-quade-captures-democratic-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">won by state Rep. Crystal Quade</a>&nbsp;of Springfield.The new reports, which cover the period from July 27 to Aug. 31, were due Thursday at the Missouri Ethics Commission. Federal candidates do not file post-primary reports.The next reports are due Oct. 15.Campaign finance tracking by The Independent shows that having the most money didn’t equal success in either party. It did for Kehoe and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/vivek-malek-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-treasurer/">State Treasurer Vivek Malek</a>, who spent $5.8 million from his campaign fund and joint fundraising PAC.But David Wasinger of St. Louis, who won the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/07/dave-wasinger-wins-republican-primary-for-missouri-lieutenant-governor/">primary for lieutenant governor</a>, state Sen. Denny Hoskins, the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/denny-hoskins-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">nominee for secretary of state</a>, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/andrew-bailey-defeats-will-scharf-to-capture-gop-nomination-for-attorney-general/">fended off a challenge from Will Scharf</a>, all won while being outspent.In the Democratic Party, Quade defeated Springfield businessman Mike Hamra despite being outspent almost 3-1. Hamra gave his own campaign more than $2.1 million and spent $3.3 million overall, while Quade raised and spent $1.2 million through her campaign and joint fundraising PAC.No other contested Democratic primary featured a candidate who spent more than $50,000 to win the nomination. And while some Democrats ended August with bank accounts comparable to their Republican counterparts, polls showing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/29/poll-shows-missouri-voters-back-trump-hawley-abortion-rights-and-minimum-wage-hike/">double-digit leads for the GOP</a>&nbsp;in statewide races and the fundraising prowess shown by Republicans show the difficulties any Democrat must surmount to win in November.The best-funded Democrats who file reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission are state Senate candidates. In five of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/29/primaries-will-test-incumbents-in-year-of-historic-turnover-for-missouri-senate/">six districts being watched closely</a>, Democratic candidates had more in the bank on Aug. 31 than their Republican opponents and more than any statewide candidate from either party except Kehoe.Almost every candidate running a full-scale campaign for statewide office or the Missouri Senate has both an official campaign committee and a joint fundraising PAC. Official campaign committees are subject to contribution limits – statewide candidates can accept donations up to $2,825 – while the joint fundraising PACs can accept donations of any size.Campaigns must observe other restrictions on donations as well. Corporations and labor unions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=VIII++++23&amp;bid=36200&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">prohibited from contributing directly to candidate and political party committees</a>, but may set up PACs for voluntary contributions from employees or members to do so.Corporations and labor unions may also contribute to joint fundraising PACs and independent PACs that are allowed to contribute to candidate committees.The $17.1 million spent by Kehoe and his joint fundraising committee, American Dream PAC, was equal to $64 for each of the 275,139 votes he received in the primary for governor. His two main rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and secretary of state Jay Ashcroft, spent $5.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, which equals $25.46 per vote for Eigel and $28.15 per vote for Ashcroft.In other races:<ul>
 <li>Wasinger spent $2.7 million — $2.6 million of it personal funds – to defeat five other candidates. Hough spent $3.6 million. Wasinger spent just under $13 for each vote he received, while Hough’s spending equalled $18.14 per vote.</li><li>Hoskins spent $241,768 from his campaign fund and benefited from $247,262 spent by Old Drum Conservative PAC. The best-funded candidate in the eight-way race was Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, who spent $640,000 in campaign funds and $934,000 from his joint fundraising committee, Missouri United PAC. Hoskins spent $3.11 per vote for his primary win, while Plocher spent $18.16 per vote and came in fourth.</li><li>Malek’s $5.8 million in spending included $1.35 million in personal funds and equaled $21.17 per vote. His best-funded opponent in the six-way primary was House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, who spent $737,266 from his campaign committee and $563,121 via the Ozark Gateway Leadership Fund. Smith spent the equivalent of $10.27&nbsp; per vote and finished fourth.</li><li>The attorney general’s race was second to the gubernatorial primary in total spending. Bailey spent $1.3 million through his campaign and his PAC, Liberty and Justice, spent $5.3 million. Scharf’s campaign spent $1.7 million, and his joint fundraising PAC, Defend Missouri, spent $7.6 million. Another PAC Scharf used for joint fundraising, Club for Growth Action, spent $1.6 million on his behalf. Bailey’s total equals $16 per vote, while Scharf’s costs equal&nbsp; $45 per vote.</li>
 </ul>Legislative Democrats have set a goal of breaking the GOP supermajorities that have two-thirds of the seats in the Missouri House and state Senate in Republican hands. That would require at least 55 seats in the House– three more than they have now – and 12 in the Senate – two more than their current strength.In state Senate races for the competitive seats, Democrats avoided primaries while the GOP winners in three seats drained their campaign treasuries to win the nomination.In five districts — the 1st and 15th in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the 11th and 17th in the Kansas City region and the 19th in Boone County — Democrats have campaign funds ranging from $550,000 to almost $1 million. No Republican in those districts ended August with more than $70,000 on hand.In the sixth district considered competitive, the 23rd District in St. Charles County, the candidates entered September with similar amounts on hand. State Rep. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, who won a four-way primary, had $42,762 in his campaign account and $30,962 in the account of his joint fundraising committee, Protect Our Kids PAC.Democratic candidate Matt Williams had $40,266 on hand. Williams does not have a joint fundraising PAC.

Republicans combine to spend $65 million in Missouri primaries for statewide offices

As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot

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

<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Brief%20of%20Respondent%20Secretary%20of%20State%20John%20R.%20Ashcroft.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=201733" target="_blank">Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft decertified</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure that would legalize abortion, a move aimed at blocking it from appearing on the November ballot, according to a brief filed Monday with the state Supreme Court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724262530682.png" alt="-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on May 1 at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). " />
 <figcaption>-Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft joined the Midwest March for Life on May 1 at the Missouri State Capitol. “I think regardless of what the legislature does, the people of this state – with hard work – can protect all life in this state,” Ashcroft said (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent). </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Brief%20of%20Respondent%20Secretary%20of%20State%20John%20R.%20Ashcroft.PDF?courtCode=SC&amp;di=201733" target="_blank">Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft decertified</a>&nbsp;a ballot measure that would legalize abortion, a move aimed at blocking it from appearing on the November ballot, according to a brief filed Monday with the state Supreme Court.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">Last month, Ashcroft announced&nbsp;</a>the reproductive-rights proposal would appear on the ballot as&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3</a>. But a Cole County judge on Friday ruled the amendment violated state law and shouldn’t have been certified.&nbsp;That ruling is now before the Missouri Supreme Court, with a hearing scheduled Tuesday morning and a ruling expected quickly thereafter. The deadline to remove a question from the ballot is also Tuesday.&nbsp;But before the Supreme Court had the chance to weigh in, Ashcroft said he had changed his mind.&nbsp;“On further review in light of the circuit court’s judgment, the Secretary believes the amendment is deficient,” the secretary of state argues in a filing with the court.&nbsp;As of Monday afternoon, Amendment 3 was no longer listed on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">secretary of state’s website as appearing on the November ballot.</a>“The amendment proponents cannot evade constitutional requirements that advocates of other amendments must and have satisfied simply because the proposed amendment concerns a highly charged moral topic,” the brief read. “This court should enforce the circuit court’s judgment.”Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for the campaign behind Amendment 3 — Missourians for Constitutional Freedom — said in a statement Monday that the Supreme Court has jurisdiction at this point, not Ashcroft.Sweet added the campaign is “confident the court will order the secretary of state to keep Amendment 3 on the ballot.”<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/09/missouri-abortion-rights-amendment-state-supreme-court/">Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled last week that the measure should be taken off the ballot,</a>&nbsp;but deferred to a higher court for a final ruling. Missourians for Constitutional Freedom quickly appealed.Missouri law requires that initiative petitions&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=116.050#:~:text=116.050.,pages%20of%20a%20uniform%20size." target="_blank">“include all sections of existing law or of the constitution which would be repealed by the measure.”&nbsp;</a>During a circuit court hearing Friday, an attorney representing Ashcroft maintained the office believed that the measure met the minimum requirements to be certified.&nbsp;The anti-abortion plaintiffs who challenged the legality of the amendment have argued that because the campaign behind the ballot measure didn’t list the exact statutes that would be repealed on the initiative petition, the measure is invalid. Attorneys representing Missourians for Constitutional Freedom continue to argue that the measure, if passed, would not truly repeal any part of Missouri’s constitution, but rather supersede most of the current ban on the books.&nbsp;Missourians for Constitutional Freedom turned in signatures of more than<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/13/missouri-voters-will-decide-whether-to-legalize-abortion-in-november/">&nbsp;380,000 Missourians&nbsp;</a>across the state who supported the issue landing on the ballot. If Amendment 3 is ultimately on the Nov. 5 ballot and wins by a simple majority, Missouri could be the first state to overturn an abortion ban.<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">Amendment 3&nbsp;</a>would establish the constitutional right to an abortion up until fetal viability and grant constitutional protections to other reproductive health care, including birth control. It would also protect those who assist in an abortion from prosecution.&nbsp;Nearly every abortion, with limited exceptions for the life and health of the mother, has remained illegal in Missouri since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure. Missouri’s ban does not include exceptions for victims of rape or incest.The plaintiffs — state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, state Rep. Hannah Kelly, anti-abortion activist Kathy Forck and shelter operator Marguerite Forrest — said in a statement Friday evening that the amendment’s scope is about more than just abortion and could be interpreted to also include gender-affirming care and human cloning.

Kbct