The bill’s sponsor has sought to give schools more ‘room for innovation’ for over a decade

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

The Missouri Senate set aside legislation Tuesday afternoon proposing alternative methods of school certification after senators discussed the impact of standardized testing and accountability for nearly two hours.

State Sen. Jill Carter, a Granby Republican, has filed the bill during each of her three years in office, but it has never passed the Senate. On Monday, she unsuccessfully attempted to add the legislation as an amendment to another education bill.

The bill debated Tuesday, she explained, is the brainchild of her time as a public-school parent.

She sought change in her local school district, talking first to parents, then to teachers and the school board. The hangup came from state officials, she said, who mandate that public schools administer a standardized test and score districts on the results.

She came to the State Capitol asking lawmakers to give school boards more autonomy. Now in the position of legislator, she has annually proposed her idea to decentralize standardized tests.

“It is putting public schools on the same playing field, giving them the same opportunities as private schools or parochial schools,” she said in the Senate Tuesday afternoon. “What we’re trying to do is get an even playing field so that they have the opportunity to be innovative.”

But her bill, which received praise from public-school groups at the committee level, has its critics in the state’s legislature.

State Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, told Carter that he has concerns about accountability.

“There (should be) accountability when we are writing a taxpayer check and sending it to a government school,” he said.

Carter’s bill would allow schools to seek accreditation from national organizations, like those used by private schools, instead of being beholden to standards set by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The statewide standardized test, the Missouri Assessment Program, would only be used to meet federal requirements.

Carter added a five-year sunset to the bill, hoping to win over skeptics in the Senate, but it wasn’t enough to convince Trent. Districts would have no incentive to perform well without a performance report from the state, he told her.

Carter pointed to legislation that would allow public-school students to transfer to schools outside their address, dubbed open enrollment. Trent is sponsoring the Senate’s version of the proposal, which has sat on the body’s calendar for weeks without discussion. The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/12/open-enrollment-bill-clears-missouri-house-for-fifth-year-in-a-row/">House’s open enrollment legislation</a>&nbsp;is due for Senate debate in coming days, with a Senate committee hearing scheduled for later this week.

“This is a both-and conversation and not an either-or,” Carter said.

Trent feared lawmakers would lose their grip on public schools if national accreditation agencies became responsible for assessing school performance.

“If we decouple the assessments from the accreditation process, we have to put something else in place that this body still has control of,” he said. “We don’t have any control over these nationwide accrediting agencies, so we will have ceded all of our authority as the General Assembly of Missouri from any control over these government schools.”

Despite opposition from Trent, the bill has supporters on both sides of the aisle.

State Sen. Mike Henderson, a Desloge Republican, said he has concerns about the state’s standardized test and wonders whether performance scores are accurate after speaking with his 12-year-old grandson about the assessment.

“He has already figured out (the test) didn’t really mean anything to him. It didn’t affect his grade,” Henderson said. “And he’s not the only one. Many of them have figured that out, so sometimes I wonder how true of a snapshot it is.”

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat and former educator, applauded the bill for the “flexibility” teachers would get in the classroom.

“If we were to pass this, we would see drastic improvement and education,” she said, saying that educators are currently “handcuffed by state tests.”

After just under two hours of discussion, Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Parkville Republican, whispered to Carter, and she laid the bill aside, saying time had run out.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744194859967.png" alt="State Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, presents a bill in a Senate committee earlier this year. She first started coming to the Missouri State Capitol as a public-school parent advocating for change for her son's school (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Jill Carter, a Republican from Granby, presents a bill in a Senate committee earlier this year. She first started coming to the Missouri State Capitol as a public-school parent advocating for change for her son's school (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The bill’s sponsor has sought to give schools more ‘room for innovation’ for over a decade</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Senate set aside legislation Tuesday afternoon proposing alternative methods of school certification after senators discussed the impact of standardized testing and accountability for nearly two hours.State Sen. Jill Carter, a Granby Republican, has filed the bill during each of her three years in office, but it has never passed the Senate. On Monday, she unsuccessfully attempted to add the legislation as an amendment to another education bill.The bill debated Tuesday, she explained, is the brainchild of her time as a public-school parent.She sought change in her local school district, talking first to parents, then to teachers and the school board. The hangup came from state officials, she said, who mandate that public schools administer a standardized test and score districts on the results.She came to the State Capitol asking lawmakers to give school boards more autonomy. Now in the position of legislator, she has annually proposed her idea to decentralize standardized tests.“It is putting public schools on the same playing field, giving them the same opportunities as private schools or parochial schools,” she said in the Senate Tuesday afternoon. “What we’re trying to do is get an even playing field so that they have the opportunity to be innovative.”But her bill, which received praise from public-school groups at the committee level, has its critics in the state’s legislature.State Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, told Carter that he has concerns about accountability.“There (should be) accountability when we are writing a taxpayer check and sending it to a government school,” he said.Carter’s bill would allow schools to seek accreditation from national organizations, like those used by private schools, instead of being beholden to standards set by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The statewide standardized test, the Missouri Assessment Program, would only be used to meet federal requirements.Carter added a five-year sunset to the bill, hoping to win over skeptics in the Senate, but it wasn’t enough to convince Trent. Districts would have no incentive to perform well without a performance report from the state, he told her.Carter pointed to legislation that would allow public-school students to transfer to schools outside their address, dubbed open enrollment. Trent is sponsoring the Senate’s version of the proposal, which has sat on the body’s calendar for weeks without discussion. The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/12/open-enrollment-bill-clears-missouri-house-for-fifth-year-in-a-row/">House’s open enrollment legislation</a>&nbsp;is due for Senate debate in coming days, with a Senate committee hearing scheduled for later this week.“This is a both-and conversation and not an either-or,” Carter said.Trent feared lawmakers would lose their grip on public schools if national accreditation agencies became responsible for assessing school performance.“If we decouple the assessments from the accreditation process, we have to put something else in place that this body still has control of,” he said. “We don’t have any control over these nationwide accrediting agencies, so we will have ceded all of our authority as the General Assembly of Missouri from any control over these government schools.”Despite opposition from Trent, the bill has supporters on both sides of the aisle.State Sen. Mike Henderson, a Desloge Republican, said he has concerns about the state’s standardized test and wonders whether performance scores are accurate after speaking with his 12-year-old grandson about the assessment.“He has already figured out (the test) didn’t really mean anything to him. It didn’t affect his grade,” Henderson said. “And he’s not the only one. Many of them have figured that out, so sometimes I wonder how true of a snapshot it is.”State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat and former educator, applauded the bill for the “flexibility” teachers would get in the classroom.“If we were to pass this, we would see drastic improvement and education,” she said, saying that educators are currently “handcuffed by state tests.”After just under two hours of discussion, Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Parkville Republican, whispered to Carter, and she laid the bill aside, saying time had run out.

School accreditation bill stalls in Missouri Senate after discussion of standardized tests

Kansas Republican state lawmakers have
flexed their muscles this legislative session during clashes with Gov. Laura
Kelly, a Democrat.

State Sen. Craig Bowser of Holton, a
freshman Republican in the Kansas Senate, says that never came more into focus
than the battle over banning gender transition surgeries and medication for
minors.

“Basically, that protected children from
transgender mutilation,” Bowser tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Basically, anyone
under the age of 18 could not receive those surgeries or those drugs.”

The effort by the Kansas legislature had
been blocked by Kelly’s vetoes in the past.

“This year we have the votes necessary,”
Bowser says. “We did override her veto and so we are now able to protect our
children from these transgender reassignment surgeries here in the state.”

Kansas Republicans couldn’t muster the
votes necessary the past two years to enact the law over the objections of
Kelly. Her vetoes stood. Bowser says this year Republicans have benefitted from
larger majorities in both chambers in Topeka.

State Rep. Allen Reavis, a Republican
from Holton, acknowledges Republicans had been frustrated by vetoes from the
Democratic governor over legislation.

Reavis says a big test for Republicans
came early in this legislative session, when they tested their new majorities
by passing the same legislation banning gender transition medication.

“And both houses passed it and she vetoed
it and both houses overrode it,” Reavis points out. “That’s a good example. There
are some tight issues that before could be teeter tottered by one or two voters
and now we have that power to get things done.”

Reavis says Republicans’ super majority
status overcame two years of struggle against the governor’s objections.

“But with that comes a lot of
responsibility not to overplay the cards and give everybody a chance to be
heard,” according to Reavis.

In the Kansas House, Republican outnumber
Democrats 88-to-37.

In the Senate, Republicans hold a 31-to-9
majority.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostKansas Republican state lawmakers have
flexed their muscles this legislative session during clashes with Gov. Laura
Kelly, a Democrat.State Sen. Craig Bowser of Holton, a
freshman Republican in the Kansas Senate, says that never came more into focus
than the battle over banning gender transition surgeries and medication for
minors.“Basically, that protected children from
transgender mutilation,” Bowser tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Basically, anyone
under the age of 18 could not receive those surgeries or those drugs.”The effort by the Kansas legislature had
been blocked by Kelly’s vetoes in the past.“This year we have the votes necessary,”
Bowser says. “We did override her veto and so we are now able to protect our
children from these transgender reassignment surgeries here in the state.”Kansas Republicans couldn’t muster the
votes necessary the past two years to enact the law over the objections of
Kelly. Her vetoes stood. Bowser says this year Republicans have benefitted from
larger majorities in both chambers in Topeka.State Rep. Allen Reavis, a Republican
from Holton, acknowledges Republicans had been frustrated by vetoes from the
Democratic governor over legislation.Reavis says a big test for Republicans
came early in this legislative session, when they tested their new majorities
by passing the same legislation banning gender transition medication.“And both houses passed it and she vetoed
it and both houses overrode it,” Reavis points out. “That’s a good example. There
are some tight issues that before could be teeter tottered by one or two voters
and now we have that power to get things done.”Reavis says Republicans’ super majority
status overcame two years of struggle against the governor’s objections.“But with that comes a lot of
responsibility not to overplay the cards and give everybody a chance to be
heard,” according to Reavis.In the Kansas House, Republican outnumber
Democrats 88-to-37.In the Senate, Republicans hold a 31-to-9
majority.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Kansas GOP flexing muscles in confrontation with Democratic governor

(Radio Iowa) - A report on emergency preparedness ranks Iowa in the middle tier. 

The annual report by the non-profit Trust for America’s Health ranks states on how prepared they are for things like disease outbreaks, natural disasters and bioterrorism. Iowa ranked in the middle tier with 15 other states, the same as last year. The Trust's Matt McKillop (mah-KILL-lup) says no hospitals in Iowa got an "A" grade, which indicates there’s room to improve patient safety practices. He says Iowa did well when it comes to its health-based violations for community water systems, and for its increased funding of public health. McKillop says Iowa’s strengths also include its participation in the nurse licensure compact. 

Another area where he says Iowa has room to improve would be by gaining accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

(Radio Iowa) - A report on emergency preparedness ranks Iowa in the middle tier. The annual report by the non-profit Trust for America’s Health ranks states on how prepared they are for things like disease outbreaks, natural disasters and bioterrorism. Iowa ranked in the middle tier with 15 other states, the same as last year. The Trust's Matt McKillop (mah-KILL-lup) says no hospitals in Iowa got an "A" grade, which indicates there’s room to improve patient safety practices. He says Iowa did well when it comes to its health-based violations for community water systems, and for its increased funding of public health. McKillop says Iowa’s strengths also include its participation in the nurse licensure compact. Another area where he says Iowa has room to improve would be by gaining accreditation from the Emergency Management Accreditation Program.

Iowa ranks mid-pack for being ready for emergencies

(Radio Iowa) - A month from Monday, you may find your driver's license is no longer an acceptable form of I-D to get on a commercial flight. 

Starting on May 7th, travelers will be required to have what's known as a REAL I-D or another acceptable form of identification to fly, though Triple-A spokesman Brian Ortner says the majority of Iowans have likely already made the switch. If your driver's license is a REAL I-D, it'll have a gold star in the top right corner. Ortner says they'll be required for commercial flights, as well as for access to any federal facilities, including military bases and nuclear facilities. 

Learn all about what's required to get a REAL I-D and how it can be used at the Iowa D-O-T website.

(Radio Iowa) - A month from Monday, you may find your driver's license is no longer an acceptable form of I-D to get on a commercial flight. Starting on May 7th, travelers will be required to have what's known as a REAL I-D or another acceptable form of identification to fly, though Triple-A spokesman Brian Ortner says the majority of Iowans have likely already made the switch. If your driver's license is a REAL I-D, it'll have a gold star in the top right corner. Ortner says they'll be required for commercial flights, as well as for access to any federal facilities, including military bases and nuclear facilities. Learn all about what's required to get a REAL I-D and how it can be used at the Iowa D-O-T website.

Frequent fliers will soon need to have a star on their IDs

A 60-year-old
Forest City man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after a jury found him
guilty of trafficking methamphetamine.

The Buchanan
County Prosecutor’s office reports Buchanan County District Judge Daniel
Kellogg sentenced Paul David Chaney to prison following the jury verdict.

The Buchanan
County jury found Chaney guilty of Trafficking 2nd degree on
February 28th. The jury found Chaney had more than 450 grams of meth
in his possession when arrested in March of 2023.

The Buchanan
County Drug Strike Force and St. Joseph Police Department Street Crimes Unit
served a search warrant on Chaney’s residence on N. 3rd Street.
Investigators found 641 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in different weights
to sell. Prosecutors say a man arrived at the house to purchase meth while they
served the search warrant.

A Buchanan County
Drug Strike Force officer testified at the sentencing hearing Chaney’s supplier
confessed that he was supplying Chaney with at least one-half pound of methamphetamine
every day for distribution.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744045436768.jpeg" alt="Paul David Chaney/Buchanan County Jail photo" />
 <figcaption>Paul David Chaney/Buchanan County Jail photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 60-year-old
Forest City man has been sentenced to 23 years in prison after a jury found him
guilty of trafficking methamphetamine.The Buchanan
County Prosecutor’s office reports Buchanan County District Judge Daniel
Kellogg sentenced Paul David Chaney to prison following the jury verdict.The Buchanan
County jury found Chaney guilty of Trafficking 2nd degree on
February 28th. The jury found Chaney had more than 450 grams of meth
in his possession when arrested in March of 2023.The Buchanan
County Drug Strike Force and St. Joseph Police Department Street Crimes Unit
served a search warrant on Chaney’s residence on N. 3rd Street.
Investigators found 641 grams of methamphetamine, packaged in different weights
to sell. Prosecutors say a man arrived at the house to purchase meth while they
served the search warrant.A Buchanan County
Drug Strike Force officer testified at the sentencing hearing Chaney’s supplier
confessed that he was supplying Chaney with at least one-half pound of methamphetamine
every day for distribution.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Forest City man sentenced to 23 years for trafficking meth

The Voices of Courage Advocacy Center wants to ensure children who disclose abuse are not further victimized by the very system designed to protect them. 

Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the services provided by Voices of Courage are critical, because often victims of crime cannot afford the services they need 

"We provide free mental health treatment for children who have been through abuse, and to me that's the big one, because it is the healing process that we can help them with," Birdsell tells KFEQ News.  "We can't stop the abuse from happening, abuse has been happening since the beginning of time, we can try to deter it and we can try to prevent it, but we know it's there, so our services are follow up but they need that follow up service in order to move forward and become productive members of society." 

Birdsell says children are referred the center, and get to meet the families whether or not charges are filed, or an investigation is opened 

"We get to meet the family, offer our services and try to get them in and functioning with us right from the very beginning after the allegation is made," Birdsell explains.  "So, it's really helpful for them to be able to know that there's somebody there who's going to kind of support the child, because parents have their own issues regarding what's happened with their child, so it's nice to know that there's somebody there." 

Birdsell says the center provides several resources for victims who they assist 

"So, we provide forensic interviews, we do mental health treatment, we provide full child and family advocacy, so follow up, helping them connect to services, all of those things," Birdsell says.  "We do prevention education as well, so we have someone on staff who goes out to the schools, churches, organizations. and provides those services again for free." 

Birdsell says another thing Voices of Courage does is a multi-team approach, working with law enforcement, medical services, prosecutors’ offices, and children’s division to provide a full wrap around service for families. 

Voices of Courage provides services to families in Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Voices of Courage Advocacy Center wants to ensure children who disclose abuse are not further victimized by the very system designed to protect them. Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the services provided by Voices of Courage are critical, because often victims of crime cannot afford the services they need "We provide free mental health treatment for children who have been through abuse, and to me that's the big one, because it is the healing process that we can help them with," Birdsell tells KFEQ News. "We can't stop the abuse from happening, abuse has been happening since the beginning of time, we can try to deter it and we can try to prevent it, but we know it's there, so our services are follow up but they need that follow up service in order to move forward and become productive members of society." Birdsell says children are referred the center, and get to meet the families whether or not charges are filed, or an investigation is opened "We get to meet the family, offer our services and try to get them in and functioning with us right from the very beginning after the allegation is made," Birdsell explains. "So, it's really helpful for them to be able to know that there's somebody there who's going to kind of support the child, because parents have their own issues regarding what's happened with their child, so it's nice to know that there's somebody there." Birdsell says the center provides several resources for victims who they assist "So, we provide forensic interviews, we do mental health treatment, we provide full child and family advocacy, so follow up, helping them connect to services, all of those things," Birdsell says. "We do prevention education as well, so we have someone on staff who goes out to the schools, churches, organizations. and provides those services again for free." Birdsell says another thing Voices of Courage does is a multi-team approach, working with law enforcement, medical services, prosecutors’ offices, and children’s division to provide a full wrap around service for families. Voices of Courage provides services to families in Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Holt, Nodaway and Worth counties. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Voices of Courage says its there for abused children in NW Missouri

The bill nearing passage could reduce state revenues by $600 million or more, IRS data suggests, instead of the $111 million loss in official estimates

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

The price tag for a tax cut poised for passage in the Missouri General Assembly is likely many times bigger than estimated, and lawmakers should learn more before voting, the research director of the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said last week.

On Monday afternoon, the state Senate Fiscal Review Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/HouseBillSumm.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=4957943" target="_blank">exempt income from long-term capital gains</a>&nbsp;from the state income tax. The bill would create the deduction immediately for individuals and put it in law for corporations with a trigger enacting it in the future.

The committee’s only job is to decide whether the anticipated impact on state revenues is acceptable.

If passed out of committee, the bill would be up for an immediate Senate vote without further discussion. That would leave only a House vote ratifying Senate changes before the bill goes to Gov. Mike Kehoe.

“I intend to pass what the Senate sends back,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins, sponsor of the bill.

In the&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/1683H.02C.COR.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;prepared for the capital gains exemption, the Department of Revenue estimates that the combined individual and corporate exemption would reduce state revenues by approximately $235 million annually. The individual income portion would be about $111 million a year.

But federal tax data from returns&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-historic-table-2" target="_blank">filed for 2022</a>&nbsp;shows individual income tax filers from Missouri reported $13.3 billion in capital gains income. Allowing a deduction of that amount would reduce state revenue by more than $600 million if it is all taxed at the top rate of 4.7%, said Carl Davis, research director at the institute.

“I would not vote on this without more clarification from the Department of Revenue,” Davis said. “We have publicly available information from the IRS that puts this fiscal note into serious doubt.”

The IRS tracks income amounts for long-term capital gains — the profit on the increased value of property or securities held for more than a year — because the federal tax rate is lower on that income than on earnings from wages or short-term gains.&nbsp;

The bill allows a taxpayer to deduct the amount claimed as capital gains from their taxable income on their Missouri return.

The bill is one piece of the Republican plan to eliminate Missouri’s income tax altogether. It&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/13/missouri-house-votes-on-party-lines-to-eliminate-income-tax-on-capital-gains/">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in February on a party-line vote.

Most of the benefits from a cut in the capital gains rate for individuals would go to a small slice of taxpayers. The 23,800 federal returns filed for 2022 with incomes greater than $500,000 a year represent 0.8% of all returns but included 65% of the capital gains income.

When it reached the Senate floor, a Democratic filibuster forced substantial changes, including the delay in the capital gains exemption for corporate income tax returns.&nbsp;

Democrats also won two other long-sought tax cuts where the benefits will mainly go to lower-income Missourians. They are:

The combined $121 million revenue reduction in the two provisions is more than the fiscal note estimate of the individual capital gains exemption. If they don’t look deeper, Davis said, Democrats may think they got a good deal.

“They’re running a bill that looks like a 50/50 split between things for working class folks and things for very high income people,” Davis said. “But if the capital gains fiscal note is wrong in the way that I suspect it may be, it’s more like 7-to-1 capital gains to these other things.”

The delay in the capital gains exemption for corporate income taxes is tied to the implementation of additional cuts in the individual income tax already in state law. Those cuts are tied to revenue growth and based on current trends, the earliest date that the cut would occur is Jan. 1, 2030.

The circuit breaker tax credit was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/local/2011/08/28/circuit-breaker-dates-back/21438388007/" target="_blank">established in 1973</a>. People over age 65 and those who have a qualifying disability and rent their homes can claim a tax credit to offset property taxes of up to $750 if their income is less than $27,500. The credit for homeowners is up to $1,100 if they own their home if their income is less than $30,000.

The bill would increase the maximum credit for renters to $1,055. For homeowners, the maximum credit would be increased to $1,550. It would also increase the income limits for claiming the credit, to $38,200 for renters and $41,000 for homeowners, with slightly higher amounts allowed for married couples claiming the credit.

For the first time, the credit amount and the income limits would be indexed for inflation.

The sales tax exemption for diapers and hygiene products is a provision Democrats have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/07/missouri-senate-reaches-deal-on-gop-tax-cut-for-guns-democrat-tax-cut-for-diapers-and-tampons/">sought for several years</a>.&nbsp;

The circuit breaker increase and sales tax exemptions “sweetens the deal” for Democrats, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said. But that doesn’t mean they are ready to back the bill.

“This is another situation where we absolutely have to weigh the good with the bad,” said Aune, a Kansas City Democrat. “There’s still plenty in that bill that we are deeply unhappy with.”

Perkins said he likes the Senate’s inclusion of the sales tax exemption. A provision allowing ambulance and fire districts to ask voters for a 1% sales tax — up from the current 0.5% limit — is also an attractive feature, he said.

“We’re moving forward,” Perkins said. “There are a lot of people that say if I don’t get things 100% my way, I didn’t win. I don’t view it like that.”

The bill will have no more debate in the Senate before a vote because the handler, state Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, formally brought the discussion to a close on Wednesday. Once it is reported from the Fiscal Review Committee, the vote could be held at any time.

Along with the potential for being far more costly than estimated, there are other reasons to delay a tax cut, Davis said.

Federal budget cuts are threatening to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">greatly increase</a>&nbsp;the state’s cost for Medicaid. The operating budget&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/03/missouri-house-finishes-work-on-48-billion-state-budget-plan/">approved last week</a>&nbsp;in the House dips into the state’s accumulated surplus for about $900 million and the Senate is likely to increase that amount, with construction spending bills to follow.&nbsp;

And if the bill is passed, Missouri will be the only state with an income tax that does not apply to capital gains income.

“There’s a long list of reasons to budget very cautiously at this moment and to prepare for uncertainty and volatility,” Davis said. “The last thing you want to do in an environment like this is to vote on a tax bill where you’re not even 100% confident in what the revenue liability is going to be.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744028066775.png" alt=" Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowing Green speaks during debate Feb. 11 on his bill exempting capital gains from the state income tax (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins of Bowing Green speaks during debate Feb. 11 on his bill exempting capital gains from the state income tax (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The bill nearing passage could reduce state revenues by $600 million or more, IRS data suggests, instead of the $111 million loss in official estimates</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The price tag for a tax cut poised for passage in the Missouri General Assembly is likely many times bigger than estimated, and lawmakers should learn more before voting, the research director of the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy said last week.On Monday afternoon, the state Senate Fiscal Review Committee will hold a hearing on a bill to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/HouseBillSumm.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=4957943" target="_blank">exempt income from long-term capital gains</a>&nbsp;from the state income tax. The bill would create the deduction immediately for individuals and put it in law for corporations with a trigger enacting it in the future.The committee’s only job is to decide whether the anticipated impact on state revenues is acceptable.If passed out of committee, the bill would be up for an immediate Senate vote without further discussion. That would leave only a House vote ratifying Senate changes before the bill goes to Gov. Mike Kehoe.“I intend to pass what the Senate sends back,” said House Speaker Pro Tem Chad Perkins, sponsor of the bill.In the&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/1683H.02C.COR.pdf" target="_blank">fiscal note</a>&nbsp;prepared for the capital gains exemption, the Department of Revenue estimates that the combined individual and corporate exemption would reduce state revenues by approximately $235 million annually. The individual income portion would be about $111 million a year.But federal tax data from returns&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-historic-table-2" target="_blank">filed for 2022</a>&nbsp;shows individual income tax filers from Missouri reported $13.3 billion in capital gains income. Allowing a deduction of that amount would reduce state revenue by more than $600 million if it is all taxed at the top rate of 4.7%, said Carl Davis, research director at the institute.“I would not vote on this without more clarification from the Department of Revenue,” Davis said. “We have publicly available information from the IRS that puts this fiscal note into serious doubt.”The IRS tracks income amounts for long-term capital gains — the profit on the increased value of property or securities held for more than a year — because the federal tax rate is lower on that income than on earnings from wages or short-term gains.&nbsp;The bill allows a taxpayer to deduct the amount claimed as capital gains from their taxable income on their Missouri return.The bill is one piece of the Republican plan to eliminate Missouri’s income tax altogether. It&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/13/missouri-house-votes-on-party-lines-to-eliminate-income-tax-on-capital-gains/">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in February on a party-line vote.Most of the benefits from a cut in the capital gains rate for individuals would go to a small slice of taxpayers. The 23,800 federal returns filed for 2022 with incomes greater than $500,000 a year represent 0.8% of all returns but included 65% of the capital gains income.When it reached the Senate floor, a Democratic filibuster forced substantial changes, including the delay in the capital gains exemption for corporate income tax returns.&nbsp;Democrats also won two other long-sought tax cuts where the benefits will mainly go to lower-income Missourians. They are:<ul>
 <li>Increased credit amounts and income limits for the&nbsp;<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/taxation/individual/tax-types/property-tax-credit/" target="_blank">refundable property tax credit</a>&nbsp;known as the “circuit breaker” available to people over 65 and people with disabilities. The changes included in the bill would reduce state revenue by about $84 million.</li><li>A sales tax exemption for diapers and feminine hygiene products that would eliminate the 4.225% state portion of the tax. Local sales taxes would remain in place. The exemption would reduce state revenue by about $37 million annually.</li>
 </ul>The combined $121 million revenue reduction in the two provisions is more than the fiscal note estimate of the individual capital gains exemption. If they don’t look deeper, Davis said, Democrats may think they got a good deal.“They’re running a bill that looks like a 50/50 split between things for working class folks and things for very high income people,” Davis said. “But if the capital gains fiscal note is wrong in the way that I suspect it may be, it’s more like 7-to-1 capital gains to these other things.”The delay in the capital gains exemption for corporate income taxes is tied to the implementation of additional cuts in the individual income tax already in state law. Those cuts are tied to revenue growth and based on current trends, the earliest date that the cut would occur is Jan. 1, 2030.The circuit breaker tax credit was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/local/2011/08/28/circuit-breaker-dates-back/21438388007/" target="_blank">established in 1973</a>. People over age 65 and those who have a qualifying disability and rent their homes can claim a tax credit to offset property taxes of up to $750 if their income is less than $27,500. The credit for homeowners is up to $1,100 if they own their home if their income is less than $30,000.The bill would increase the maximum credit for renters to $1,055. For homeowners, the maximum credit would be increased to $1,550. It would also increase the income limits for claiming the credit, to $38,200 for renters and $41,000 for homeowners, with slightly higher amounts allowed for married couples claiming the credit.For the first time, the credit amount and the income limits would be indexed for inflation.The sales tax exemption for diapers and hygiene products is a provision Democrats have&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/07/missouri-senate-reaches-deal-on-gop-tax-cut-for-guns-democrat-tax-cut-for-diapers-and-tampons/">sought for several years</a>.&nbsp;The circuit breaker increase and sales tax exemptions “sweetens the deal” for Democrats, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune said. But that doesn’t mean they are ready to back the bill.“This is another situation where we absolutely have to weigh the good with the bad,” said Aune, a Kansas City Democrat. “There’s still plenty in that bill that we are deeply unhappy with.”Perkins said he likes the Senate’s inclusion of the sales tax exemption. A provision allowing ambulance and fire districts to ask voters for a 1% sales tax — up from the current 0.5% limit — is also an attractive feature, he said.“We’re moving forward,” Perkins said. “There are a lot of people that say if I don’t get things 100% my way, I didn’t win. I don’t view it like that.”The bill will have no more debate in the Senate before a vote because the handler, state Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, formally brought the discussion to a close on Wednesday. Once it is reported from the Fiscal Review Committee, the vote could be held at any time.Along with the potential for being far more costly than estimated, there are other reasons to delay a tax cut, Davis said.Federal budget cuts are threatening to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">greatly increase</a>&nbsp;the state’s cost for Medicaid. The operating budget&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/03/missouri-house-finishes-work-on-48-billion-state-budget-plan/">approved last week</a>&nbsp;in the House dips into the state’s accumulated surplus for about $900 million and the Senate is likely to increase that amount, with construction spending bills to follow.&nbsp;And if the bill is passed, Missouri will be the only state with an income tax that does not apply to capital gains income.“There’s a long list of reasons to budget very cautiously at this moment and to prepare for uncertainty and volatility,” Davis said. “The last thing you want to do in an environment like this is to vote on a tax bill where you’re not even 100% confident in what the revenue liability is going to be.”

Missouri lawmakers set to pass capital gains tax cut with questions about its total cost

By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas reintroduced federal legislation to set aside $50 million annually for transportation infrastructure projects in support of cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympic Games and 2034 Winter Olympic Games.

Moran’s primary interest was a section of the bill earmarking funding to 11 U.S. cities, including Kansas City, selected to host Men’s World Cup competition next year.

“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” the Republican senator said. “Preparations are already underway for the games and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”

Other cities hosting World Cup competition are&nbsp;Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay area.

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and a member with Moran on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said the proposed federal funding would help communities safely and efficiently coordinate transportation for fans, workers and goods during World Cup and Olympic events.

“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” she said.

Under the Senate bill, host cities and surrounding communities would be eligible for grants to build roads, expand light rail, purchase buses, create bicycle lanes, improve existing roads and upgrade airport terminals for the World Cup as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Text of the bill indicated funding also could be used for Paralympics, Special Olympics and women’s World Cup events.

Financial aid funneled through the U.S. transportation agency could be spread among host cities, states and tribes within 100 miles of the sports venues, the bill said.

“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “These investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743966581063.png" alt="Moran met with&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City CEO Pam Kramer in early December- courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Moran met with&nbsp;FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City CEO Pam Kramer in early December- courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas reintroduced federal legislation to set aside $50 million annually for transportation infrastructure projects in support of cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympic Games and 2034 Winter Olympic Games.Moran’s primary interest was a section of the bill earmarking funding to 11 U.S. cities, including Kansas City, selected to host Men’s World Cup competition next year.“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” the Republican senator said. “Preparations are already underway for the games and this legislation will support local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”Other cities hosting World Cup competition are&nbsp;Seattle, Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York and New Jersey, Philadelphia and the San Francisco Bay area.U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington Democrat and a member with Moran on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, said the proposed federal funding would help communities safely and efficiently coordinate transportation for fans, workers and goods during World Cup and Olympic events.“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and support host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” she said.Under the Senate bill, host cities and surrounding communities would be eligible for grants to build roads, expand light rail, purchase buses, create bicycle lanes, improve existing roads and upgrade airport terminals for the World Cup as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City. Text of the bill indicated funding also could be used for Paralympics, Special Olympics and women’s World Cup events.Financial aid funneled through the U.S. transportation agency could be spread among host cities, states and tribes within 100 miles of the sports venues, the bill said.“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in support of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “These investments and support will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

Moran touts bipartisan bill earmarking federal infrastructure funding for World Cup, Olympics

(Radio Iowa) - State Climatologist Justin Glisan says March was warmer and wetter than normal and is the first month this year that we've seen above average precipitation. 

Glisan says the driest area was southwestern Iowa, at 70 percent of normal, while central to north-central Iowa saw double the normal precipitation. 

The average was about two-point-six inches across the state, almost seven tenths above average. Glisten says part of the March precipitation was above average snowfall in northern and western Iowa, and March acted more like winter than wintertime did in December, January, and February. Glisan says the statewide temperature was about six degrees above average.

(Radio Iowa) - State Climatologist Justin Glisan says March was warmer and wetter than normal and is the first month this year that we've seen above average precipitation. Glisan says the driest area was southwestern Iowa, at 70 percent of normal, while central to north-central Iowa saw double the normal precipitation. The average was about two-point-six inches across the state, almost seven tenths above average. Glisten says part of the March precipitation was above average snowfall in northern and western Iowa, and March acted more like winter than wintertime did in December, January, and February. Glisan says the statewide temperature was about six degrees above average.

March First Month With Above Average Precipitation

President Trump: "I think its going very well. It was an operation, like when a when a patient gets operated on. It's a big thing. I said this would exactly be the way it is. We have six or seven trillion dollars coming into our country...the markets are going to boom."

The Dow dropped 1,680 in its biggest fall since 2020. The S&amp;P 500 sinks 4.8%.

President Trump: "I think its going very well. It was an operation, like when a when a patient gets operated on. It's a big thing. I said this would exactly be the way it is. We have six or seven trillion dollars coming into our country...the markets are going to boom."<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">President Trump: &quot;I think its going very well. It was an operation, like when a when a patient gets operated on. It&#39;s a big thing. I said this would exactly be the way it is. We have six or seven trillion dollars coming into our country...the markets are going to boom.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/hhrGOFgX2J">pic.twitter.com/hhrGOFgX2J</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1907874672068165724?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Dow dropped 1,680 in its biggest fall since 2020. The S&amp;P 500 sinks 4.8%.

🎥Trump's first statement on stock market drop after tariff announcement

It has been a
rough ride for investors to say the least.

The Stock Market
has recorded some deep losses since the first of the year.

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt, a Republican, understands those drops have some
shaken.

“Yeah, it has been
chaotic and that does happen from time to time in the markets. It certainly
happens when the markets are high,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It
happens whenever there are significant changes in public policy and that’s what’s
happening right now.”

Yet, Schmidt says
President Trump is looking farther down the road than the latest two-week
roller coaster ride in the Stock Market.

The Dow Jones
flirted with 45,000 in mid-January before dropping nearly 3,000 points since.
The S&amp;P 500 dropped 4.6% in the first quarter, its worst quarter in 2 1/2
years.

Gold, a
traditional haven for those worried about the markets, has hit an all-time high
of more than $3,000 an ounce on the futures market.

And that was
before President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs after the markets
closed Wednesday. Trump called Wednesday “Liberation Day,” a break away from
the free market approach the president claims has resulted in trade imbalances
unfair to the United States. Trump will impose what he calls reciprocal tariffs
on dozens of countries. The U.S. will also establish a universal 10% tariff
floor.

The tariffs
announced by Trump include a 20% tariff on goods imposed by the European Union
and an additional 34% tariff on goods from China, creating tariffs that will
top 50% on some Chinese goods.

News of the tariffs
sent the markets into a tailspin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted
more than 1,400 when trading began this morning. The S&amp;P 500 fell 4% with
the Nasdaq Composite off nearly 900 at one point Thursday, down 5%.

Schmidt suggests
investors need to stay calm and let things play out.

“Hunker in if you
have investments. Take the advice of whoever you listen to investment advice on,”
Schmidt says. “My own advice for what it’s worth, and I’m not an investment
advisor, is hunker in and be prepared to ride it out if you’re in a position to
do that.”

Schmidt is
confident the moves by President Trump will benefit the economy, in the long
run.

“In the short
term, there’s some turbulence,” Schmidt concedes. “But if this works out the
way the president and his team believe it will, in the long-term it will bring
us much more predictability and stability and that’ll be good for every
investor and every American.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostIt has been a
rough ride for investors to say the least.The Stock Market
has recorded some deep losses since the first of the year.Then came the tariffs.Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt, a Republican, understands those drops have some
shaken.“Yeah, it has been
chaotic and that does happen from time to time in the markets. It certainly
happens when the markets are high,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It
happens whenever there are significant changes in public policy and that’s what’s
happening right now.”Yet, Schmidt says
President Trump is looking farther down the road than the latest two-week
roller coaster ride in the Stock Market.The Dow Jones
flirted with 45,000 in mid-January before dropping nearly 3,000 points since.
The S&amp;P 500 dropped 4.6% in the first quarter, its worst quarter in 2 1/2
years.Gold, a
traditional haven for those worried about the markets, has hit an all-time high
of more than $3,000 an ounce on the futures market.And that was
before President Donald Trump announced wide-ranging tariffs after the markets
closed Wednesday. Trump called Wednesday “Liberation Day,” a break away from
the free market approach the president claims has resulted in trade imbalances
unfair to the United States. Trump will impose what he calls reciprocal tariffs
on dozens of countries. The U.S. will also establish a universal 10% tariff
floor.The tariffs
announced by Trump include a 20% tariff on goods imposed by the European Union
and an additional 34% tariff on goods from China, creating tariffs that will
top 50% on some Chinese goods.News of the tariffs
sent the markets into a tailspin. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted
more than 1,400 when trading began this morning. The S&amp;P 500 fell 4% with
the Nasdaq Composite off nearly 900 at one point Thursday, down 5%.Schmidt suggests
investors need to stay calm and let things play out.“Hunker in if you
have investments. Take the advice of whoever you listen to investment advice on,”
Schmidt says. “My own advice for what it’s worth, and I’m not an investment
advisor, is hunker in and be prepared to ride it out if you’re in a position to
do that.”Schmidt is
confident the moves by President Trump will benefit the economy, in the long
run.“In the short
term, there’s some turbulence,” Schmidt concedes. “But if this works out the
way the president and his team believe it will, in the long-term it will bring
us much more predictability and stability and that’ll be good for every
investor and every American.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Tariffs take toll on Stock Market; Republican Congressman urges patience

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Five of the six southwest Kansas counties reporting measles cases have seen kindergarten vaccination rates drop, one showing a 24 percentage point dip over a four-year period.

Vaccination rates are one focus of many Kansas county health officers and medical experts as they work to educate against misinformation about vaccines in the hopes of staving off a growing measles outbreak. As of April 2, Kansas has 24 confirmed measles cases in Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens counties, with one case added in the last week.

For herd immunity to be achieved — the point where enough people are vaccinated that those who are unvaccinated will be protected — 95% of a population must be vaccinated against measles, according to the World Health Organization. The Kansas measles immunization rate of kindergarteners dropped from 94.47% in 2019 to 90.21% in 2023, Kansas Department of Health and Environment data shows.

Jennifer Bacani McKenney, a family physician and county health officer in Wilson County, said she saw vaccine hesitancy increase after the COVID-19 pandemic.

“COVID made it more OK for people to decline vaccines for themselves and for children,” she said.

The idea, though, that some counties are seeing kindergarten vaccination rates drop — such as Gray County, where the rate declined from 85% in 2019 to 61% in 2023 — is concerning, Bacani McKenney said.

“When we’re getting to those points when barely the majority are vaccinated, that’s when these diseases have a chance to come back,” she said. “We know vaccines work. Polio is still probably the No. 1 example. For the longest time, so was measles, and now we’re at the point where we can’t use measles as an example.

“We are very voluntarily not protecting ourselves against a very preventable illness,” Bacani McKenney said. “The people who are suffering are really not us adults. It’s going to be our children.”

Haskell County also hit a double-digit drop in vaccination rates, with 21% fewer kindergarteners being vaccinated over that same four-year period.

Vaccinations are required for school in Kansas unless there is a religious or medical exemption. KDHE and the Kansas State Department of Education track the percentage of kindergarteners who have vaccine exemptions, and those rates are increasing too — in Haskell County from 11% in 2019 to over 25% in 2023 and in Gray County jumping from about 2% to 11%.

In Barton County, where kindergarten immunization rates dropped by nearly 7 percentage points from 2019 to 2023, Karen Winkelman, a registered nurse and director of the Barton County Health Department said she is receiving numerous questions from parents about vaccine safety. She said her team made the decision to be proactive once they heard that measles cases were reappearing nationwide.

Winkelman stresses having productive, positive conversations.

“We need to take a positive approach on this and hold down that hysteria,” she said. “We know this disease. We know the vaccine. We have something available for protection.”

It isn’t like the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, where the vaccine information changed frequently. They are disseminating information carefully, using only reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KDHE, the American Academy of Family Physicians and others.

“We are going with factual information. The more we can educate and provide the factual, the better it is,” Winkelman said. “We’re never going to be able to control on social media or in normal conversations what is being said. We just have to really focus on those organizations that are reliable and accurate.”

The Barton County Health Department is holding an immunization clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, outside of their regular business hours, to make sure staff is available to answer questions and offer vaccinations, Winkelman said.

“We’re not going to force anyone to get the vaccine,” she said. “I just want to have all of those things available to the public for them to make an educated decision. It might be a conversation with their primary care also.”

Stevens County, which was the first Kansas county to report a measles case on March 13, currently has had six measles cases. Cammie Heaton, administrator for the county’s health department, is taking the same approach as Barton County — educate and be available to answer questions.

“We’re actually, knock on wood, sitting better now than we were three weeks ago. We are hopeful that we aren’t going to have any more,” she said. “We’re still monitoring some susceptible individuals.”

Like Barton County, her staff have offered walk-in clinics for measles vaccinations or boosters. Stevens County, according to KDHE data, has seen its vaccination rate among kindergarteners drop by 14 percentage points, from 87% in 2019 to 73% in 2023.

All measles cases in Stevens County were in unvaccinated individuals, Heaton said.

Dana Hawkinson, an internal medicine and infectious disease physician, spoke about the measles outbreak at a recent University of Kansas Health System news briefing.

“I think people should be concerned, particularly if they’re in communities that have decreased vaccination rates,” he said. “Measles is probably the most infectious viral disease that we know of. It is spread through airborne means, so people will express it into the air when they cough or breathe. Measles can linger in the air in a room for two hours.”

Combatting misinformation about the disease is critical, Hawkinson said, pointing to social media algorithms that can play into the information people receive online. But there are other factors, as well.

“We know misinformation is significant but we can’t be myopic in thinking that is the only thing we need to understand,” he said. “There are other factors in play as well.”

Those include people seeking less medical care after the pandemic, states offering increased options for vaccine exemptions, significant mistrust of science and public health medicine, as well as mistrust of physicians, Hawkinson said.

“All of these things are playing a role now to increase the risk of an individual and a community against things like this which were otherwise vaccine preventable,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743085628490.png" alt="Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tatiana Lanzieri Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/mchilson/">MORGAN CHILSON</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/24/gov-laura-kelly-skeptical-kansas-houses-anti-tenure-legislation-will-reach-her-desk/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Five of the six southwest Kansas counties reporting measles cases have seen kindergarten vaccination rates drop, one showing a 24 percentage point dip over a four-year period.Vaccination rates are one focus of many Kansas county health officers and medical experts as they work to educate against misinformation about vaccines in the hopes of staving off a growing measles outbreak. As of April 2, Kansas has 24 confirmed measles cases in Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens counties, with one case added in the last week.For herd immunity to be achieved — the point where enough people are vaccinated that those who are unvaccinated will be protected — 95% of a population must be vaccinated against measles, according to the World Health Organization. The Kansas measles immunization rate of kindergarteners dropped from 94.47% in 2019 to 90.21% in 2023, Kansas Department of Health and Environment data shows.Jennifer Bacani McKenney, a family physician and county health officer in Wilson County, said she saw vaccine hesitancy increase after the COVID-19 pandemic.“COVID made it more OK for people to decline vaccines for themselves and for children,” she said.The idea, though, that some counties are seeing kindergarten vaccination rates drop — such as Gray County, where the rate declined from 85% in 2019 to 61% in 2023 — is concerning, Bacani McKenney said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743693382314.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“When we’re getting to those points when barely the majority are vaccinated, that’s when these diseases have a chance to come back,” she said. “We know vaccines work. Polio is still probably the No. 1 example. For the longest time, so was measles, and now we’re at the point where we can’t use measles as an example.“We are very voluntarily not protecting ourselves against a very preventable illness,” Bacani McKenney said. “The people who are suffering are really not us adults. It’s going to be our children.”Haskell County also hit a double-digit drop in vaccination rates, with 21% fewer kindergarteners being vaccinated over that same four-year period.Vaccinations are required for school in Kansas unless there is a religious or medical exemption. KDHE and the Kansas State Department of Education track the percentage of kindergarteners who have vaccine exemptions, and those rates are increasing too — in Haskell County from 11% in 2019 to over 25% in 2023 and in Gray County jumping from about 2% to 11%.In Barton County, where kindergarten immunization rates dropped by nearly 7 percentage points from 2019 to 2023, Karen Winkelman, a registered nurse and director of the Barton County Health Department said she is receiving numerous questions from parents about vaccine safety. She said her team made the decision to be proactive once they heard that measles cases were reappearing nationwide.Winkelman stresses having productive, positive conversations.“We need to take a positive approach on this and hold down that hysteria,” she said. “We know this disease. We know the vaccine. We have something available for protection.”It isn’t like the COVID-19 pandemic, she said, where the vaccine information changed frequently. They are disseminating information carefully, using only reliable sources, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, KDHE, the American Academy of Family Physicians and others.“We are going with factual information. The more we can educate and provide the factual, the better it is,” Winkelman said. “We’re never going to be able to control on social media or in normal conversations what is being said. We just have to really focus on those organizations that are reliable and accurate.”The Barton County Health Department is holding an immunization clinic from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, outside of their regular business hours, to make sure staff is available to answer questions and offer vaccinations, Winkelman said.“We’re not going to force anyone to get the vaccine,” she said. “I just want to have all of those things available to the public for them to make an educated decision. It might be a conversation with their primary care also.”Stevens County, which was the first Kansas county to report a measles case on March 13, currently has had six measles cases. Cammie Heaton, administrator for the county’s health department, is taking the same approach as Barton County — educate and be available to answer questions.“We’re actually, knock on wood, sitting better now than we were three weeks ago. We are hopeful that we aren’t going to have any more,” she said. “We’re still monitoring some susceptible individuals.”Like Barton County, her staff have offered walk-in clinics for measles vaccinations or boosters. Stevens County, according to KDHE data, has seen its vaccination rate among kindergarteners drop by 14 percentage points, from 87% in 2019 to 73% in 2023.All measles cases in Stevens County were in unvaccinated individuals, Heaton said.Dana Hawkinson, an internal medicine and infectious disease physician, spoke about the measles outbreak at a recent University of Kansas Health System news briefing.“I think people should be concerned, particularly if they’re in communities that have decreased vaccination rates,” he said. “Measles is probably the most infectious viral disease that we know of. It is spread through airborne means, so people will express it into the air when they cough or breathe. Measles can linger in the air in a room for two hours.”Combatting misinformation about the disease is critical, Hawkinson said, pointing to social media algorithms that can play into the information people receive online. But there are other factors, as well.“We know misinformation is significant but we can’t be myopic in thinking that is the only thing we need to understand,” he said. “There are other factors in play as well.”Those include people seeking less medical care after the pandemic, states offering increased options for vaccine exemptions, significant mistrust of science and public health medicine, as well as mistrust of physicians, Hawkinson said.“All of these things are playing a role now to increase the risk of an individual and a community against things like this which were otherwise vaccine preventable,” he said.

Vaccination rates down in most Kansas counties where measles cases reported

Trivia and pizza
will be featured during a fundraiser tonight for the Patee House and
Jesse James Home, featuring a local celebrity.

JoeTown 107.5’s
Gregg Lynn will host the trivia night at Geno’s Pizza in downtown St. Joseph.

It takes 10 bucks
to enter the trivia contest. Additional donations are welcome.

The trivia night
at Geno’s begins at six o’clock. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and grab
a slice of pizza before the games begin.

Click <a href="http://www.ponyexpressjessejames.com/">HERE</a> for
more information on the museums along with information on how to donate and
volunteer.

All proceeds from
the event go directly toward the preservation and upkeep of the Patee House and
Jesse James Home.

Geno’s Pizza &amp;
Pub is located at 809 Francis Street in St Joseph.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1743698577566.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTrivia and pizza
will be featured during a fundraiser tonight for the Patee House and
Jesse James Home, featuring a local celebrity.JoeTown 107.5’s
Gregg Lynn will host the trivia night at Geno’s Pizza in downtown St. Joseph.It takes 10 bucks
to enter the trivia contest. Additional donations are welcome.The trivia night
at Geno’s begins at six o’clock. Guests are encouraged to arrive early and grab
a slice of pizza before the games begin.Click <a href="http://www.ponyexpressjessejames.com/">HERE</a> for
more information on the museums along with information on how to donate and
volunteer.All proceeds from
the event go directly toward the preservation and upkeep of the Patee House and
Jesse James Home.Geno’s Pizza &amp;
Pub is located at 809 Francis Street in St Joseph.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Trivia contest tonight to raise money for Patee House - Jesse James museums

Northwest Missouri
State University will honor the late Dean Hubbard Friday morning with a celebration
of his life.

Hubbard died March
23rd at the age of 85.

Hubbard was
Northwest’s longest-serving president, leading the university from 1984 to
2009.

A celebration of
Hubbard’s life will begin at 10:30 Friday morning the 4th in the
Mary Linn Auditorium at the Ron Huston Center for Performing Arts on the Maryville
campus. Doors open at 9:30am. A slideshow begins at 10. The celebration is open
to the public.

A private family
luncheon is planned prior to a bell ringing ceremony at 1:30pm at the Bell of ’48.
The campus landmark, donated by the class of 1948 and located south of the
Administration Building, is rung to herald Northwest celebrations and to honor
the passing of students, faculty and staff.

In lieu of
flowers, the Hubbard family requests contributions to the Dean and Aleta
Hubbard Scholarship at Northwest.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742850179738.jpeg" alt="Dean L. Hubbard/ Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri State University" />
 <figcaption>Dean L. Hubbard/ Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri State University</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthwest Missouri
State University will honor the late Dean Hubbard Friday morning with a celebration
of his life.Hubbard died March
23rd at the age of 85.Hubbard was
Northwest’s longest-serving president, leading the university from 1984 to
2009.A celebration of
Hubbard’s life will begin at 10:30 Friday morning the 4th in the
Mary Linn Auditorium at the Ron Huston Center for Performing Arts on the Maryville
campus. Doors open at 9:30am. A slideshow begins at 10. The celebration is open
to the public.A private family
luncheon is planned prior to a bell ringing ceremony at 1:30pm at the Bell of ’48.
The campus landmark, donated by the class of 1948 and located south of the
Administration Building, is rung to herald Northwest celebrations and to honor
the passing of students, faculty and staff.In lieu of
flowers, the Hubbard family requests contributions to the Dean and Aleta
Hubbard Scholarship at Northwest.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Northwest Missouri State to honor President Hubbard Friday

(Radio Iowa) - A Senate committee has overhauled a wide-ranging bill that key House members said would -- in their words -- "clean up the mess" the Iowa Utilities Commission created by granting a pipeline permit to Summit Carbon Solutions. 

Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny has proposed a 34-page alternative and it got support from the other Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee. Bousselot says over the past few years, House legislation sought to protect certain classes of landowners or was simply intended to attack a particular project. 

The bill is now eligible for debate in the full Senate, which has never considered any pipeline-related bill since Summit's project was first proposed in 2022. This year's original House bill would have set a 25 year limit on the operation of a carbon pipeline. That limitation is not in Bousselot's alternative.

(Radio Iowa) - A Senate committee has overhauled a wide-ranging bill that key House members said would -- in their words -- "clean up the mess" the Iowa Utilities Commission created by granting a pipeline permit to Summit Carbon Solutions. Republican Senator Mike Bousselot of Ankeny has proposed a 34-page alternative and it got support from the other Republicans on the Senate Commerce Committee. Bousselot says over the past few years, House legislation sought to protect certain classes of landowners or was simply intended to attack a particular project. The bill is now eligible for debate in the full Senate, which has never considered any pipeline-related bill since Summit's project was first proposed in 2022. This year's original House bill would have set a 25 year limit on the operation of a carbon pipeline. That limitation is not in Bousselot's alternative.

Iowa Senate may debate a pipeline-related bill

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation on Wednesday questioned Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg about the steps the company is taking to ensure public safety on their aircrafts and what the future of Boeing looks like in Kansas.

“Boeing is in the process of acquiring Spirit AeroSystems - the largest private employer in Kansas, employing about 12,000 people,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “We have hundreds of small businesses who do work for Boeing and work with Spirit. It’s not just one company, it’s a whole system by which Kansas aerospace and aviation – the Air Capital of the World – operates.”

“It was indicated to me that without the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems the new generation of any aircraft developed by Boeing would not involve work in Wichita or work in Kansas,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“With the acquisition, the statement was made, that the work could more likely occur in Kansas. You are going to build a new aircraft someday, what’s the plan for where that work will take place?”

Mr. Ortberg discussed future plans for aviation development and assured Sen. Moran of Boeing’s commitment to keep jobs in Kansas.

“Let me just assure you that Spirit AeroSystems and the work we do in Kansas is critically important,”&nbsp;said Mr. Ortberg.&nbsp;“We are spending a significant amount of our capital to acquire that company, and we are not going to do that and move work out of Kansas. The work that we are doing there is going to stay there. In fact, I am very hopeful that once we get the acquisition closed, we will find opportunities to do even more work.”

WASHINGTON –&nbsp;Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran, chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation on Wednesday questioned Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg about the steps the company is taking to ensure public safety on their aircrafts and what the future of Boeing looks like in Kansas.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NyaKq-lucBw?si=IZRYaxf9yLhAH6wG" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>“Boeing is in the process of acquiring Spirit AeroSystems - the largest private employer in Kansas, employing about 12,000 people,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran. “We have hundreds of small businesses who do work for Boeing and work with Spirit. It’s not just one company, it’s a whole system by which Kansas aerospace and aviation – the Air Capital of the World – operates.”“It was indicated to me that without the acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems the new generation of any aircraft developed by Boeing would not involve work in Wichita or work in Kansas,”&nbsp;continued Sen. Moran.&nbsp;“With the acquisition, the statement was made, that the work could more likely occur in Kansas. You are going to build a new aircraft someday, what’s the plan for where that work will take place?”Mr. Ortberg discussed future plans for aviation development and assured Sen. Moran of Boeing’s commitment to keep jobs in Kansas.“Let me just assure you that Spirit AeroSystems and the work we do in Kansas is critically important,”&nbsp;said Mr. Ortberg.&nbsp;“We are spending a significant amount of our capital to acquire that company, and we are not going to do that and move work out of Kansas. The work that we are doing there is going to stay there. In fact, I am very hopeful that once we get the acquisition closed, we will find opportunities to do even more work.”

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