(Radio Iowa) - Sioux City police say there's been an increase in reports of scams involving online threats, and some people have fallen for them. 

Sergeant Tom Gill says they've had at least ten reports in the last several weeks and he says that means that number is probably well above ten, because most people don't report it. Gill says anytime you get a phone call from somebody wanting you to give money over the phone or wire it through Western Union or put it on iTunes cards, it's 100 percent a scam and you shouldn't fall for it. 

Many scams are targeted at older people, but Gill says they are also now targeting young people as well on various apps. Gill says report it even if you fall for the scam, because it may help prevent someone else from being a victim.

(Radio Iowa) - Sioux City police say there's been an increase in reports of scams involving online threats, and some people have fallen for them. Sergeant Tom Gill says they've had at least ten reports in the last several weeks and he says that means that number is probably well above ten, because most people don't report it. Gill says anytime you get a phone call from somebody wanting you to give money over the phone or wire it through Western Union or put it on iTunes cards, it's 100 percent a scam and you shouldn't fall for it. Many scams are targeted at older people, but Gill says they are also now targeting young people as well on various apps. Gill says report it even if you fall for the scam, because it may help prevent someone else from being a victim.

Sioux City Sees Increase In Scam Reports

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A 34-year-old man is in custody following a fight&nbsp; that left a 40-year-old man unconscious and requiring transport to the hospital. Two other suspects are still a large.

Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were called to the 700 block of Vermont Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.

&nbsp;Witnesses reported an unconscious man on the ground. Officers were on scene quickly and contacted several involved parties. Initially, the information provided indicated the injured man had started an altercation that involved several people physically fighting on the east sidewalk.

 The involved participants were interviewed and released pending further investigation. However, the injured man was later able to provide a statement at the hospital that contradicted the information officers received on scene. 

Additionally, officers were able to locate video and more witnesses that corroborated the injured man's version of events, which showed he was punched and kicked repeatedly, including after being knocked unconscious. 

Officers were able to track down one of the involved suspects and arrested him, but still seek to arrest two others. The arrested man was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility on suspicion of Aggravated Battery.

 A 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large. The hospitalized man was released after receiving care.

DOUGLAS COUNTY —A 34-year-old man is in custody following a fight&nbsp; that left a 40-year-old man unconscious and requiring transport to the hospital. Two other suspects are still a large.Just after 3:30p.m. Saturday, police were called to the 700 block of Vermont Street in Lawrence, according to a media release.&nbsp;Witnesses reported an unconscious man on the ground. Officers were on scene quickly and contacted several involved parties. Initially, the information provided indicated the injured man had started an altercation that involved several people physically fighting on the east sidewalk. The involved participants were interviewed and released pending further investigation. However, the injured man was later able to provide a statement at the hospital that contradicted the information officers received on scene. Additionally, officers were able to locate video and more witnesses that corroborated the injured man's version of events, which showed he was punched and kicked repeatedly, including after being knocked unconscious. Officers were able to track down one of the involved suspects and arrested him, but still seek to arrest two others. The arrested man was booked into the Douglas County Correctional Facility on suspicion of Aggravated Battery. A 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old man remain at large. The hospitalized man was released after receiving care.

3 accused of assaulting unconscious 40-year-old Kan. man

On Monday, U.S.&nbsp; forces conducted strikes against nine targets in two locations associated with Iranian groups in Syria in response to several attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria over the last 24 hours, according to a statement of the U.S. Central Command.

These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations.&nbsp;

Officials released no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731379013172.png" alt="U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles -photo U.S. Central Command&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles -photo U.S. Central Command&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>On Monday, U.S.&nbsp; forces conducted strikes against nine targets in two locations associated with Iranian groups in Syria in response to several attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria over the last 24 hours, according to a statement of the U.S. Central Command.These strikes will degrade the Iranian backed groups’ ability to plan and launch future attacks on U.S. and Coalition forces who are in the region to conduct D-ISIS operations.&nbsp;Officials released no additional details.

U.S. Forces strike Iranian aligned targets in Syria

More than 1,000 industry leaders gathered at the MJ Unpacked Conference in St. Louis to address issues facing the cannabis market.&nbsp;

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

In less than two years of selling legal recreational weed, Missouri’s cannabis market has grown to $1.4 billion — outperforming states with a longer history of marijuana legalization like Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.

“Those are mature marketplaces, and you are surpassing them,” said Laurie Parfitt, CEO at LKP Impact Consulting. “Missouri is doing amazing things, and we expect tremendous growth in this market going forward.”

Parfitt gave a year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25282047-missouri-market-overview-mj-unpacked" target="_blank">overview</a>&nbsp;of Missouri’s cannabis market as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mjunpacked.com/" target="_blank">MJ Unpacked Conference</a>&nbsp;in St. Louis last week, which brought together more than 1,000 industry leaders, regulators, investors and scientists to address issues facing the cannabis market.&nbsp;

To a ballroom packed with brand executives, Parfitt unveiled Missouri’s top consumer — it’s unsurprisingly a millennial man.&nbsp;

Men make up 64% of cannabis sales in Missouri and more than 40% of shoppers overall are millennials, or people between ages 28 and 43.

Gen X buyers (ages 44-59) make up 25% and Gen Z consumers, those between 21 and 27, are at 18%. Baby boomers make up the remaining 14%.&nbsp;

“When you really think about your marketplace, the majority of consumers are sitting in that millennial bracket,” she said. “And flower still dominates everything.”

Recreational cannabis sales in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states

Nearly 50% of sales consists of flower — or what most would recognize as good old-fashion weed sold in a container.&nbsp;

“Flower is the 800-pound gorilla,” she said, “and it’s always going to be one of the biggest categories out there. It’s the major growth driver in this marketplace.”

That’s true among all age groups in Missouri. However among the younger generations, vape pens are a close second but edibles make up a small percentage of their shopping cart.&nbsp;

And it’s the complete opposite for the older generations, who are starting to buy more edibles. In fact, the largest consumers of edibles currently in Missouri are baby-boomer women.&nbsp;

The top five brands make up almost 27% of the state’s total sales. Those are Illicit Gardens, Good Day Farms, Codes, Amaze Cannabis and Vivid.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Parfitt’s presentation was based on sales from September 2023 to October 2024, compiled by the cannabis data platform company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.headset.io/" target="_blank">Headset</a>.

Missouri voters approved recreational cannabis in 2022, and sales began a few months later in February 2023.&nbsp;

Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, said Missouri looks different from other states’ markets after transitioning from selling only medical marijuana to adding recreational cannabis. Other states saw a surge in sales the first few months and then a pretty quick drop.&nbsp;

“We’ve been really surprised here in Missouri that it’s basically been almost the exact same, around $120 million every month all the way through,” Mullins said.&nbsp;

This summer, MoCann pointed to another study that showed Missouri had the fifth most recreational cannabis sales, $709 million, in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states.&nbsp;

The report released by national cannabis business publication<a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/california-leads-the-industry-in-cannabis-sales-at-six-month-mark/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Green Market Report</a>, showed California leading the nation in legal cannabis sales, followed by Michigan, Illinois and Massachusetts, all states with larger populations and that legalized cannabis before Missouri.

And that growth translates to jobs, Mullins said. The state’s industry now employs more than 20,000 people, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/stats.php" target="_blank">Division of Cannabis Regulation’s October data&nbsp;</a>on cannabis employees or “agents” who’ve been licensed.

“We’re very fortunate for the economic impact that it’s created,” Mullins said, “and the jobs that it’s created.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731378737654.png" alt=" Laurie Parfitt, CEO at LKP Impact Consulting, gave an overview of Missouri’s cannabis sales from September 2023 to October 2024 at the MJ Unpacked Conference in St. Louis on Nov. 5. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> Laurie Parfitt, CEO at LKP Impact Consulting, gave an overview of Missouri’s cannabis sales from September 2023 to October 2024 at the MJ Unpacked Conference in St. Louis on Nov. 5. (Photo by Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>More than 1,000 industry leaders gathered at the MJ Unpacked Conference in St. Louis to address issues facing the cannabis market.&nbsp;</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>In less than two years of selling legal recreational weed, Missouri’s cannabis market has grown to $1.4 billion — outperforming states with a longer history of marijuana legalization like Arizona, Colorado and Nevada.“Those are mature marketplaces, and you are surpassing them,” said Laurie Parfitt, CEO at LKP Impact Consulting. “Missouri is doing amazing things, and we expect tremendous growth in this market going forward.”Parfitt gave a year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25282047-missouri-market-overview-mj-unpacked" target="_blank">overview</a>&nbsp;of Missouri’s cannabis market as part of the&nbsp;<a href="https://mjunpacked.com/" target="_blank">MJ Unpacked Conference</a>&nbsp;in St. Louis last week, which brought together more than 1,000 industry leaders, regulators, investors and scientists to address issues facing the cannabis market.&nbsp;To a ballroom packed with brand executives, Parfitt unveiled Missouri’s top consumer — it’s unsurprisingly a millennial man.&nbsp;Men make up 64% of cannabis sales in Missouri and more than 40% of shoppers overall are millennials, or people between ages 28 and 43.Gen X buyers (ages 44-59) make up 25% and Gen Z consumers, those between 21 and 27, are at 18%. Baby boomers make up the remaining 14%.&nbsp;“When you really think about your marketplace, the majority of consumers are sitting in that millennial bracket,” she said. “And flower still dominates everything.”<h2>Recreational cannabis sales in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731378673125.png" alt=" Missouri had the fifth highest recreational cannabis sales, $709 million, in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states, according to national cannabis business group Green Market Report. Graphic source: Green Market Report. " />
 <figcaption> Missouri had the fifth highest recreational cannabis sales, $709 million, in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states, according to national cannabis business group Green Market Report. Graphic source: Green Market Report. </figcaption>
 </figure>Nearly 50% of sales consists of flower — or what most would recognize as good old-fashion weed sold in a container.&nbsp;“Flower is the 800-pound gorilla,” she said, “and it’s always going to be one of the biggest categories out there. It’s the major growth driver in this marketplace.”That’s true among all age groups in Missouri. However among the younger generations, vape pens are a close second but edibles make up a small percentage of their shopping cart.&nbsp;And it’s the complete opposite for the older generations, who are starting to buy more edibles. In fact, the largest consumers of edibles currently in Missouri are baby-boomer women.&nbsp;The top five brands make up almost 27% of the state’s total sales. Those are Illicit Gardens, Good Day Farms, Codes, Amaze Cannabis and Vivid.&nbsp;&nbsp;Parfitt’s presentation was based on sales from September 2023 to October 2024, compiled by the cannabis data platform company&nbsp;<a href="https://www.headset.io/" target="_blank">Headset</a>.Missouri voters approved recreational cannabis in 2022, and sales began a few months later in February 2023.&nbsp;Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, said Missouri looks different from other states’ markets after transitioning from selling only medical marijuana to adding recreational cannabis. Other states saw a surge in sales the first few months and then a pretty quick drop.&nbsp;“We’ve been really surprised here in Missouri that it’s basically been almost the exact same, around $120 million every month all the way through,” Mullins said.&nbsp;This summer, MoCann pointed to another study that showed Missouri had the fifth most recreational cannabis sales, $709 million, in the first half of 2024 among all adult-use states.&nbsp;The report released by national cannabis business publication<a href="https://www.greenmarketreport.com/california-leads-the-industry-in-cannabis-sales-at-six-month-mark/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Green Market Report</a>, showed California leading the nation in legal cannabis sales, followed by Michigan, Illinois and Massachusetts, all states with larger populations and that legalized cannabis before Missouri.And that growth translates to jobs, Mullins said. The state’s industry now employs more than 20,000 people, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/stats.php" target="_blank">Division of Cannabis Regulation’s October data&nbsp;</a>on cannabis employees or “agents” who’ve been licensed.“We’re very fortunate for the economic impact that it’s created,” Mullins said, “and the jobs that it’s created.”

Missouri’s $1.4 billion cannabis market outpaces states with older programs

The Amber Alert for a missing mother and her two daughters is canceled, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Law enforcement located them and they are safe. Authorities did not report an arrest or additional details.

LACLEDE COUNTY —The&nbsp;Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Monday to help locate a Missouri mother identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Yajayra Suleyma Molina-Ya and her two daughters 7-year-old Irma Rubi Mo-Moralis and 7-year-old Rosana Michel Mo-Molina.

According to the Amber Alert, the mother and her two children left their home in O'Fallon, Missouri, on Sunday at 6 p.m. with two unknown men.

At 10:45 p.m., the report says the mother was separated from her children against her will and into a red pickup truck.

The children were last seen in a black sport utility vehicle. The make, model, license plate number and direction of travel are unknown.

The mother's cell phone was last pinged in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday morning at 1:30 a.m., according to the alert.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731340145698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Amber Alert for a missing mother and her two daughters is canceled, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Law enforcement located them and they are safe. Authorities did not report an arrest or additional details.----------------LACLEDE COUNTY —The&nbsp;Missouri State Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert Monday to help locate a Missouri mother identified as&nbsp;22-year-old Yajayra Suleyma Molina-Ya and her two daughters 7-year-old Irma Rubi Mo-Moralis and 7-year-old Rosana Michel Mo-Molina.According to the Amber Alert, the mother and her two children left their home in O'Fallon, Missouri, on Sunday at 6 p.m. with two unknown men.At 10:45 p.m., the report says the mother was separated from her children against her will and into a red pickup truck.The children were last seen in a black sport utility vehicle. The make, model, license plate number and direction of travel are unknown.The mother's cell phone was last pinged in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on Monday morning at 1:30 a.m., according to the alert.

Amber Alert canceled: Mo. mom, two 7-year-old daughters located

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
election broke for Republicans late, giving his party a better showing on
Election Day that he had thought it would fare.

Former President Donald Trump won a little more
than 50% of the popular vote and has more than enough Electoral College votes.
Republicans took control of the Senate and are in a tight race for control of
the House.

Graves, a Republican, says voters rejected the
woke agenda of the Biden-Haris administration.

“You know, things were looking better and better
as we got closer and closer to the election and then it ended up being even
better than we thought,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Polling is getting
to be a lot tougher than it used to be, but having said that, it was trending
and tracking, what we were seeing was exactly kind of what happened, but it did
end up being a little bit better than we thought.”

As of Monday afternoon, former President Donald
Trump has a bit more than 50% of the popular vote with 312 Electoral votes,
according to the Associated Press. Vice President Kamala Harris has nearly 48%
of the popular vote and 226 electors. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the
presidency.

Republicans have taken the majority in the U.S.
Senate, now with 53 seats. Democrats have 46 seats with one seat yet to be
decided. Eighteen U.S. Representative races have yet to be called. Republicans
lead Democrats 214 seats to 203. A political party needs 218 members to secure
a majority in the United States House.

Graves says the issues made the difference in
this campaign.

“I think our message is what resonated,” Graves
says. “I think people are tired of this woke culture and the policies that are
being put out by the liberals and the progressives out there and particularly
Vice President Harris. Things like the border. The border resonates with every
single person out there.”

Graves says his party received a mandate on
Tuesday and needs to act on it.

“You cannot spend yourself out of an economic
crisis and that’s what we have right now. They (voters) also want to see the
border closed. They want people to come into this country legally and not
illegally,” according to Graves. “That’s the reason they voted for Republicans,
because they want to see some action.”

As for Graves, he breezed to re-election, winning
70% of the vote. Graves has been elected to a total of 13 terms in Congress and
is dean of the Missouri Congressional delegation.

Graves is being mentioned as a possible candidate
for Transportation Secretary in the second Trump Administration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731355367552.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
election broke for Republicans late, giving his party a better showing on
Election Day that he had thought it would fare.Former President Donald Trump won a little more
than 50% of the popular vote and has more than enough Electoral College votes.
Republicans took control of the Senate and are in a tight race for control of
the House.Graves, a Republican, says voters rejected the
woke agenda of the Biden-Haris administration.“You know, things were looking better and better
as we got closer and closer to the election and then it ended up being even
better than we thought,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Polling is getting
to be a lot tougher than it used to be, but having said that, it was trending
and tracking, what we were seeing was exactly kind of what happened, but it did
end up being a little bit better than we thought.”As of Monday afternoon, former President Donald
Trump has a bit more than 50% of the popular vote with 312 Electoral votes,
according to the Associated Press. Vice President Kamala Harris has nearly 48%
of the popular vote and 226 electors. It takes 270 electoral votes to win the
presidency.Republicans have taken the majority in the U.S.
Senate, now with 53 seats. Democrats have 46 seats with one seat yet to be
decided. Eighteen U.S. Representative races have yet to be called. Republicans
lead Democrats 214 seats to 203. A political party needs 218 members to secure
a majority in the United States House.Graves says the issues made the difference in
this campaign.“I think our message is what resonated,” Graves
says. “I think people are tired of this woke culture and the policies that are
being put out by the liberals and the progressives out there and particularly
Vice President Harris. Things like the border. The border resonates with every
single person out there.”Graves says his party received a mandate on
Tuesday and needs to act on it.“You cannot spend yourself out of an economic
crisis and that’s what we have right now. They (voters) also want to see the
border closed. They want people to come into this country legally and not
illegally,” according to Graves. “That’s the reason they voted for Republicans,
because they want to see some action.”As for Graves, he breezed to re-election, winning
70% of the vote. Graves has been elected to a total of 13 terms in Congress and
is dean of the Missouri Congressional delegation.Graves is being mentioned as a possible candidate
for Transportation Secretary in the second Trump Administration.

Graves says voters gave GOP a mandate in General Election

A 36-year-old St. Joseph man has died from wounds suffered in
a Sunday shooting.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports it is investigating
the shooting as a targeted homicide.

St. Joseph police officers responded to an emergency call
about shots being fired near North 20th and Jules Street shortly
after noon Sunday. An officer discovered a man inside a vehicle suffering from
a gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment,
but died later. The victim’s name has not been released.

No suspect is in custody. Anyone with information on the
shooting is urged to contact the St. Joseph Police Department.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 36-year-old St. Joseph man has died from wounds suffered in
a Sunday shooting.The St. Joseph Police Department reports it is investigating
the shooting as a targeted homicide.St. Joseph police officers responded to an emergency call
about shots being fired near North 20th and Jules Street shortly
after noon Sunday. An officer discovered a man inside a vehicle suffering from
a gunshot wound. The victim was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment,
but died later. The victim’s name has not been released.No suspect is in custody. Anyone with information on the
shooting is urged to contact the St. Joseph Police Department.The investigation continues.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph man dies from wounds suffered in Sunday shooting

WASHINGTON —&nbsp;President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp; honored veterans on Monday with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;It is the first time the President and Vice President have been seen together since before the election.

Click below to watch President Biden's remarks at Arlington National Cemetery’s amphitheater.

WASHINGTON —&nbsp;President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris&nbsp; honored veterans on Monday with a ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;It is the first time the President and Vice President have been seen together since before the election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden participates in a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at <a href="https://twitter.com/ArlingtonNatl?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ArlingtonNatl</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/VeteransDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#VeteransDay</a>. <a href="https://t.co/Rsfyd4aXLq">pic.twitter.com/Rsfyd4aXLq</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1856009432422822265?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 11, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Click below to watch President Biden's remarks at Arlington National Cemetery’s amphitheater.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1802956127113768%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=3222" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

🎥Harris joins Biden for wreath-laying at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

(Radio Iowa) - Governor Kim Reynolds has not announced whether she intends to seek reelection in 2026, but she is giving a few hints about her 2025 policy agenda.

 Reynolds has signed five tax cuts into law over the last six years and the state income tax will shrink to a single rate under four percent on January 1st. Two years ago, at a Republican Governors Association forum, Reynolds said her goal was to eliminate the state income tax by the end of her current term, which ends in early 2027. However, Reynolds has indicated her focus in 2025 will be on a reducing tax that's collected by LOCAL governments, like cities, counties and school districts. 

Reynolds says there's also opportunities to make more reductions in the state bureaucracy. She signed legislation this year to eliminate 67 boards and commissions and last year the number of state agencies was reduced from 37 to 16.

(Radio Iowa) - Governor Kim Reynolds has not announced whether she intends to seek reelection in 2026, but she is giving a few hints about her 2025 policy agenda. Reynolds has signed five tax cuts into law over the last six years and the state income tax will shrink to a single rate under four percent on January 1st. Two years ago, at a Republican Governors Association forum, Reynolds said her goal was to eliminate the state income tax by the end of her current term, which ends in early 2027. However, Reynolds has indicated her focus in 2025 will be on a reducing tax that's collected by LOCAL governments, like cities, counties and school districts. Reynolds says there's also opportunities to make more reductions in the state bureaucracy. She signed legislation this year to eliminate 67 boards and commissions and last year the number of state agencies was reduced from 37 to 16.

Reynolds says cutting local property taxes is 2025 priority

Scotland County Hospital’s board chair was ‘less than creditable’ in testimony that she was responding to a financial crisis that could have closed the hospital.

BY:&nbsp;&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>

A judge on Friday found a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/14/scotland-county-missouri-hospital-corruption-firings-turmoil/">northeast Missouri hospital board</a>&nbsp;guilty of “gross violations” of the Sunshine Law and voided all the actions taken during illegal closed meetings in August 2022.

<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=01&amp;di=533191" target="_blank">Circuit Judge Rick Roberts also ruled</a>&nbsp;that Scotland County Hospital must also pay a civil fine of $5,000 and attorneys fees to its former CEO, Dr. Randy Tobler.

Tobler sued the hospital in March 2023, alleging he had been slandered, the target of a conspiracy to remove him and that the board vote to fire him was done at a meeting that violated the Sunshine Law. The slander and conspiracy counts were dismissed from his lawsuit and a trial was held in September on the Sunshine Law violations.

While Tobler’s attorney, Lowell Pearson, didn’t explicitly ask for attorney fees during the trial, Roberts wrote that he would award them.

“Refusing to award attorney fees for the time spent in obtaining the judgment would thwart the purpose of the Sunshine Law,” Roberts wrote.

In an interview, Pearson said the ruling was everything Tobler asked for.

“This is a total victory for Dr. Tobler and complete vindication for him that the actions of the hospital were unlawful,” Pearson said.

“I appreciate Judge Roberts issuing a thoughtful, careful and thorough decision,” he said. “It provides vindication for me and establishes accountability for the hospital’s illegal, knowing and purposeful violation of Missouri Sunshine Law.”

Tobler said he is examining with Pearson whether to refile the defamation count in the case.

The area’s residents, he said, “deserve hospital leadership that can be trusted in providing the essential healthcare needs of the community.”

In a statement sent Sunday, hospital CEO Megan Weber said the hospital is disappointed with the ruling.

“The board continues to still feel strongly that the hospital did not knowingly or purposefully violate the Sunshine Law, and are examining our options with regards to any appeal,” Weber said.

The case focused on two meetings held Aug. 15 and 16, 2022. The first was held at the home of Lori Fulk, board chair, with only four of the board’s six members present. Fulk did not post a public notice of the meeting, the two board absent members were not notified and Tobler was not given any notice, Roberts found.

Holding the meeting at Fulks house violated the hospital district bylaws, Roberts wrote. Failing to inform all board members or the public violated the Sunshine Law.

At the meeting, the board members present voted to fire Tobler and chief financial officer Michael Brandon.

During the trial, Roberts wrote, Fulk testified that the hospital was “facing an immediate financial collapse so immediate that she felt the hospital only had days if not hours before it closed.”

Scotland County Hospital serves 12,300 people in five counties. It is located in Memphis, a town of about 1,700 people. The hospital was losing money, but had $8.2 million in cash on hand at the beginning of 2022, an audit shows. The morning of Aug. 16, rumors started spreading in Memphis that Tobler had embezzled money from the hospital.

Tobler, an obstetrician and gynecologist, had been CEO of the hospital since 2014. The vote to fire him disrupted an orderly transition because he had already submitted his resignation effective Sept. 3, 2022.

If Fulk was truthful when she said the hospital had a severe financial crisis, the logical step would be to have the entire board meet with the CEO and the chief financial officer, Roberts wrote.&nbsp;

But Fulk was “less than creditable” in her testimony, Roberts wrote.

“The selection of the members to attend clearly demonstrates that the purpose of this meeting was not the alleged financial crisis but was to focus on how to remove certain officers from the organization,” he wrote.

All board members were present for the Aug. 16 closed meeting, which was held at the hospital on short notice to the members and no notice to the public.

“Whatever her agenda was in August 2022 she knew she wanted to limit the persons informed of and who could participate in the meetings of August 15 and 16, 2022, and the only way to get what she wanted was by a gross violation of the Sunshine Law, which is exactly what she did,” Roberts wrote.

The language Roberts used is some of the strongest he has seen about a witness, Pearson said.

“It’s unusual for a judge to make a credibility finding that is that stark,” he said. “That’s a pretty unusually explicit way for the court to say that he found a witness to not be credible.”

The decision will not result in Tobler’s reinstatement as CEO, Weber said Sunday. The board voted to fire him at its Aug. 30, 2022 meeting that met the requirements of the Sunshine Law, she said.

Brandon has not sued over his firing and his status after Roberts’ decision is unclear.

Another case stemming from the same time is also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=23SE-CC00022&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT01#header" target="_blank">pending before Roberts</a>. Terri Schmitt, who was the human resources officer of the hospital, was fired Aug. 17, 2022, by Weber, named CEO at the Aug. 16 meeting.

Schmitt, who was 59 at the time of her firing, is suing for age discrimination and violation of her employment contract, which required 90 days notice of termination. The case is expected to go to trial sometime next year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731333437420.png" alt="Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Scotland County Hospital’s board chair was ‘less than creditable’ in testimony that she was responding to a financial crisis that could have closed the hospital.</h2>BY:&nbsp;&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>A judge on Friday found a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/11/14/scotland-county-missouri-hospital-corruption-firings-turmoil/">northeast Missouri hospital board</a>&nbsp;guilty of “gross violations” of the Sunshine Law and voided all the actions taken during illegal closed meetings in August 2022.<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=01&amp;di=533191" target="_blank">Circuit Judge Rick Roberts also ruled</a>&nbsp;that Scotland County Hospital must also pay a civil fine of $5,000 and attorneys fees to its former CEO, Dr. Randy Tobler.Tobler sued the hospital in March 2023, alleging he had been slandered, the target of a conspiracy to remove him and that the board vote to fire him was done at a meeting that violated the Sunshine Law. The slander and conspiracy counts were dismissed from his lawsuit and a trial was held in September on the Sunshine Law violations.While Tobler’s attorney, Lowell Pearson, didn’t explicitly ask for attorney fees during the trial, Roberts wrote that he would award them.“Refusing to award attorney fees for the time spent in obtaining the judgment would thwart the purpose of the Sunshine Law,” Roberts wrote.In an interview, Pearson said the ruling was everything Tobler asked for.“This is a total victory for Dr. Tobler and complete vindication for him that the actions of the hospital were unlawful,” Pearson said.The decision is gratifying, Tobler said.“I appreciate Judge Roberts issuing a thoughtful, careful and thorough decision,” he said. “It provides vindication for me and establishes accountability for the hospital’s illegal, knowing and purposeful violation of Missouri Sunshine Law.”Tobler said he is examining with Pearson whether to refile the defamation count in the case.The area’s residents, he said, “deserve hospital leadership that can be trusted in providing the essential healthcare needs of the community.”In a statement sent Sunday, hospital CEO Megan Weber said the hospital is disappointed with the ruling.“The board continues to still feel strongly that the hospital did not knowingly or purposefully violate the Sunshine Law, and are examining our options with regards to any appeal,” Weber said.The case focused on two meetings held Aug. 15 and 16, 2022. The first was held at the home of Lori Fulk, board chair, with only four of the board’s six members present. Fulk did not post a public notice of the meeting, the two board absent members were not notified and Tobler was not given any notice, Roberts found.Holding the meeting at Fulks house violated the hospital district bylaws, Roberts wrote. Failing to inform all board members or the public violated the Sunshine Law.At the meeting, the board members present voted to fire Tobler and chief financial officer Michael Brandon.During the trial, Roberts wrote, Fulk testified that the hospital was “facing an immediate financial collapse so immediate that she felt the hospital only had days if not hours before it closed.”Scotland County Hospital serves 12,300 people in five counties. It is located in Memphis, a town of about 1,700 people. The hospital was losing money, but had $8.2 million in cash on hand at the beginning of 2022, an audit shows. The morning of Aug. 16, rumors started spreading in Memphis that Tobler had embezzled money from the hospital.Tobler, an obstetrician and gynecologist, had been CEO of the hospital since 2014. The vote to fire him disrupted an orderly transition because he had already submitted his resignation effective Sept. 3, 2022.If Fulk was truthful when she said the hospital had a severe financial crisis, the logical step would be to have the entire board meet with the CEO and the chief financial officer, Roberts wrote.&nbsp;But Fulk was “less than creditable” in her testimony, Roberts wrote.“The selection of the members to attend clearly demonstrates that the purpose of this meeting was not the alleged financial crisis but was to focus on how to remove certain officers from the organization,” he wrote.All board members were present for the Aug. 16 closed meeting, which was held at the hospital on short notice to the members and no notice to the public.“Whatever her agenda was in August 2022 she knew she wanted to limit the persons informed of and who could participate in the meetings of August 15 and 16, 2022, and the only way to get what she wanted was by a gross violation of the Sunshine Law, which is exactly what she did,” Roberts wrote.The language Roberts used is some of the strongest he has seen about a witness, Pearson said.“It’s unusual for a judge to make a credibility finding that is that stark,” he said. “That’s a pretty unusually explicit way for the court to say that he found a witness to not be credible.”The decision will not result in Tobler’s reinstatement as CEO, Weber said Sunday. The board voted to fire him at its Aug. 30, 2022 meeting that met the requirements of the Sunshine Law, she said.Brandon has not sued over his firing and his status after Roberts’ decision is unclear.Another case stemming from the same time is also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=23SE-CC00022&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT01#header" target="_blank">pending before Roberts</a>. Terri Schmitt, who was the human resources officer of the hospital, was fired Aug. 17, 2022, by Weber, named CEO at the Aug. 16 meeting.Schmitt, who was 59 at the time of her firing, is suing for age discrimination and violation of her employment contract, which required 90 days notice of termination. The case is expected to go to trial sometime next year.

Judge voids actions of illegal board meetings at north Missouri hospital

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Republican and Democratic lawmakers gathered in Jefferson City last week to choose new leaders for the upcoming legislative session in January.&nbsp;

In the Senate, where GOP infighting has caused&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/missouri-freedom-caucus-leaders-ousted-from-senate-chairmanships-over-stall-tactics/">unending gridlock for the last few years</a>, Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin was chosen by her caucus to be president pro tem — the highest ranking job in the chamber.&nbsp;

O’Laughlin, of Shelbina, is the first woman to ever hold that position in Missouri. She previously served as Senate majority leader.&nbsp;

“I am deeply honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to serve as president pro tem of the Missouri Senate,” O’Laughlin said in a statement to the media.&nbsp;

She hinted at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/a-bizarre-session-missouri-lawmakers-head-home-after-year-defined-by-gridlock-infighting/">chaos the Senate has endured</a>&nbsp;in her statement, saying her focus will be on “fostering a Senate that works in harmony, respecting our common goals and building on the strengths of each member while ensuring we keep our promises to the people of Missouri.”

As president pro tem, O’Laughlin is in charge of appointing committee members, assigning legislation to committees and ruling on points of order raised during debate in the Senate Chamber, among other legislative duties.

Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville was chosen to be the Senate majority leader, a job that gives him authority over the chamber’s debate calendar, as well as setting session meeting times and dates.

Luetkemeyer is not a member of the Senate Freedom Caucus — the group of GOP senators who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/02/freedom-caucuses-push-for-conservative-state-laws-but-getting-attention-is-their-big-success/">quarreled with the chamber’s leadership</a>&nbsp;and used Senate rules to muck up the legislative process. But he was the caucus’ preferred choice for majority leader, raising hopes among Republicans that the inter-party warfare is a thing of the past.&nbsp;

Democrats tapped Sen. Doug Beck of Affton to serve as minority floor leader and Sen. Steve Roberts of St. Louis as assistant minority floor leader.&nbsp;

In the House, Republicans followed the line of succession they set earlier this year and elevated Rep. Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit to speaker and Rep. Alex Riley of Springfield to majority leader.&nbsp;

“We have achieved many significant accomplishments over the past few years,” Riley said, “but there’s much more to be done.”

Democrats chose Rep. Ashley Aune of Kansas City to be the next minority leader. She takes over from Rep. Crystal Quade of Springfield, who has held the post for six years but will leave the House in January due to term limits.&nbsp;

Aune promised to “build upon the foundation my predecessor has established.”

“I didn’t run as a Democrat in a deep red state because I thought it would be a cakewalk,” she said. “I ran because I want to help make our party stronger and build a Democratic movement that truly reflects the values of Missourians. The challenges are real, but so is our resolve.”

Republicans will enter the next legislative session in January with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/status-quo-election-leaves-missouri-republicans-with-legislative-supermajorities/">supermajorities in the House and Senate</a>.&nbsp;

The party will have 24 of the Senate’s 34 seats and 111 of the 163 House seats.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731280769910.png" alt="Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican Shelbina, talks with reporters May (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican Shelbina, talks with reporters May (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Republican and Democratic lawmakers gathered in Jefferson City last week to choose new leaders for the upcoming legislative session in January.&nbsp;In the Senate, where GOP infighting has caused&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/missouri-freedom-caucus-leaders-ousted-from-senate-chairmanships-over-stall-tactics/">unending gridlock for the last few years</a>, Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin was chosen by her caucus to be president pro tem — the highest ranking job in the chamber.&nbsp;O’Laughlin, of Shelbina, is the first woman to ever hold that position in Missouri. She previously served as Senate majority leader.&nbsp;“I am deeply honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to serve as president pro tem of the Missouri Senate,” O’Laughlin said in a statement to the media.&nbsp;She hinted at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/a-bizarre-session-missouri-lawmakers-head-home-after-year-defined-by-gridlock-infighting/">chaos the Senate has endured</a>&nbsp;in her statement, saying her focus will be on “fostering a Senate that works in harmony, respecting our common goals and building on the strengths of each member while ensuring we keep our promises to the people of Missouri.”As president pro tem, O’Laughlin is in charge of appointing committee members, assigning legislation to committees and ruling on points of order raised during debate in the Senate Chamber, among other legislative duties.Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville was chosen to be the Senate majority leader, a job that gives him authority over the chamber’s debate calendar, as well as setting session meeting times and dates.Luetkemeyer is not a member of the Senate Freedom Caucus — the group of GOP senators who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/02/freedom-caucuses-push-for-conservative-state-laws-but-getting-attention-is-their-big-success/">quarreled with the chamber’s leadership</a>&nbsp;and used Senate rules to muck up the legislative process. But he was the caucus’ preferred choice for majority leader, raising hopes among Republicans that the inter-party warfare is a thing of the past.&nbsp;Democrats tapped Sen. Doug Beck of Affton to serve as minority floor leader and Sen. Steve Roberts of St. Louis as assistant minority floor leader.&nbsp;In the House, Republicans followed the line of succession they set earlier this year and elevated Rep. Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit to speaker and Rep. Alex Riley of Springfield to majority leader.&nbsp;“We have achieved many significant accomplishments over the past few years,” Riley said, “but there’s much more to be done.”Democrats chose Rep. Ashley Aune of Kansas City to be the next minority leader. She takes over from Rep. Crystal Quade of Springfield, who has held the post for six years but will leave the House in January due to term limits.&nbsp;Aune promised to “build upon the foundation my predecessor has established.”“I didn’t run as a Democrat in a deep red state because I thought it would be a cakewalk,” she said. “I ran because I want to help make our party stronger and build a Democratic movement that truly reflects the values of Missourians. The challenges are real, but so is our resolve.”Republicans will enter the next legislative session in January with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/status-quo-election-leaves-missouri-republicans-with-legislative-supermajorities/">supermajorities in the House and Senate</a>.&nbsp;The party will have 24 of the Senate’s 34 seats and 111 of the 163 House seats.

In aftermath of Missouri election, both parties pick legislative leaders

(Radio Iowa) - Donald Trump won all but five counties in Iowa and Republicans gained seats in the Iowa legislature. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says the results are -- in her words -- "an absolute gut punch." 

University of Northern Iowa political science professor Christopher Larimer says it shows the urban-rural divide in Iowa continues to expand and the shift toward Republican candidates for the legislature that began in 2010 continues. 

Jimmy Centers, who was Governor Terry Branstad's spokesman, has worked on local, state and presidential campaigns. Centers says he was struck by Trump's margin of victory in Iowa. No presidential candidate in the past 50 years has won by a larger percentage -- including Ronald Reagan in 1980, which won by just under 13 percent.

(Radio Iowa) - Donald Trump won all but five counties in Iowa and Republicans gained seats in the Iowa legislature. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart says the results are -- in her words -- "an absolute gut punch." University of Northern Iowa political science professor Christopher Larimer says it shows the urban-rural divide in Iowa continues to expand and the shift toward Republican candidates for the legislature that began in 2010 continues. Jimmy Centers, who was Governor Terry Branstad's spokesman, has worked on local, state and presidential campaigns. Centers says he was struck by Trump's margin of victory in Iowa. No presidential candidate in the past 50 years has won by a larger percentage -- including Ronald Reagan in 1980, which won by just under 13 percent.

Iowa Democratic Party chair calls 2024 results 'gut punch,' Republicans score historic gains

(Radio Iowa) - Authorities in southwest Iowa's Cass County are searching for a suspect in the Massena area after someone apparently shined a laser at an airplane on Thursday night. 

The F-A-A says the pilot of a single-engine Cessna 172 reported being illuminated by a blue laser approximately 40 miles southwest of Des Moines International Airport. No injuries were reported. Local authorities were notified. 

The F-A-A says intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots. People convicted of shining lasers at aircraft face fines of up to 11-thousand dollars per violation.

(Radio Iowa) - Authorities in southwest Iowa's Cass County are searching for a suspect in the Massena area after someone apparently shined a laser at an airplane on Thursday night. The F-A-A says the pilot of a single-engine Cessna 172 reported being illuminated by a blue laser approximately 40 miles southwest of Des Moines International Airport. No injuries were reported. Local authorities were notified. The F-A-A says intentionally aiming lasers at aircraft poses a safety threat to pilots and violates federal law. Many high-powered lasers can incapacitate pilots. People convicted of shining lasers at aircraft face fines of up to 11-thousand dollars per violation.

Search for suspect is underway after airplane is hit with laser over SW Iowa

Referred Law 21 in South Dakota would have created new requirements for regulating linear transmission facilities, including carbon dioxide pipelines, and allowed counties to assess a surcharge on certain pipelines. It also sought to establish a “Landowners Bill of Rights.” The numbers are showing the state’s voters said “no” to the ballot measure, which put the ethanol industry and landowners on opposite sides. 

Referred Law 21 in South Dakota would have created new requirements for regulating linear transmission facilities, including carbon dioxide pipelines, and allowed counties to assess a surcharge on certain pipelines. It also sought to establish a “Landowners Bill of Rights.” The numbers are showing the state’s voters said “no” to the ballot measure, which put the ethanol industry and landowners on opposite sides.

South Dakota voters turn down pipeline regulation bill

Speculation has already begun on who the next Secretary of Agriculture will be when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Some reports show that Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, former ambassador Kip Tom, and Ted McKinney of NASDA are among a handful of people viewed as potential nominees to run the Department of Agriculture. 

Incoming presidents typically try to announce their nominees before the year-end holidays, although Trump didn’t announce Sonny Perdue to lead USDA until two days before his inauguration. Miller was initially mentioned for USDA after Trump won his first term. Tom was the U.S. ambassador to the UN agencies for food and agriculture in Rome during the first term. McKinney, the undersecretary for trade in the first administration, is now the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has also been mentioned because his term there expires in December.

Speculation has already begun on who the next Secretary of Agriculture will be when Donald Trump returns to the White House in January. Some reports show that Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller, former ambassador Kip Tom, and Ted McKinney of NASDA are among a handful of people viewed as potential nominees to run the Department of Agriculture. Incoming presidents typically try to announce their nominees before the year-end holidays, although Trump didn’t announce Sonny Perdue to lead USDA until two days before his inauguration. Miller was initially mentioned for USDA after Trump won his first term. Tom was the U.S. ambassador to the UN agencies for food and agriculture in Rome during the first term. McKinney, the undersecretary for trade in the first administration, is now the CEO of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has also been mentioned because his term there expires in December.-NAFB

Speculation starts on next ag secretary

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves confirms he has had
talks with the Trump transition team about the possibility of serving as
Transportation Secretary in the second Trump administration.

Graves, a Republican, is chair of the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee.

An article by Politico names Graves as a possible
Transportation Secretary. Graves says he is talking with Trump’s people.

“I have been talking to Trump’s transition team and they have
informed me that they’ve got me on a short list for that,” Graves tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview. “I’m obviously taking a very hard
look at it and (we’ll) see what happens. But it is certainly something that is
very intriguing to me.”

Republican Caucus rules would prohibit Graves from continuing
to serve as House Transportation Committee chair in the next term of Congress
unless he is granted a waiver. And that is contingent of course on Republicans
holding on to the majority in the United States House.

Graves says the next Transportation Secretary needs to
concentrate on physical infrastructure.

“That is roads and bridges and airports and pipelines and
ports and not do all of these things that are about a green agenda or about
woke policies or quota policies, whatever the case may be,” Graves says. “We
need to concentrate on traditional infrastructure and that’s what’s going to be
the challenge is unwinding so many of those things that happened in the
Biden-Harris administration.”

Grave has been critical of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure
bill signed into law by President Biden in late 2021, saying it became partisan
as it grew too large, authorizing spending outside what is considered
traditional infrastructure projects.

Graves says he is open to becoming part of a second Trump
administration, but emphasizes all discussions are in the early stages.

“It’s just preliminary at this point,” according to Graves. “They’re
just feeling me out on policy and what I would do and the things I would like
to see changed. It’s just preliminary at this point to be quite honest with
you.”

Graves won his 13th term in Congress on Tuesday. He
is the dean of the Missouri Congressional delegation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731095158301.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves confirms he has had
talks with the Trump transition team about the possibility of serving as
Transportation Secretary in the second Trump administration.Graves, a Republican, is chair of the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee.An article by Politico names Graves as a possible
Transportation Secretary. Graves says he is talking with Trump’s people.“I have been talking to Trump’s transition team and they have
informed me that they’ve got me on a short list for that,” Graves tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview. “I’m obviously taking a very hard
look at it and (we’ll) see what happens. But it is certainly something that is
very intriguing to me.”Republican Caucus rules would prohibit Graves from continuing
to serve as House Transportation Committee chair in the next term of Congress
unless he is granted a waiver. And that is contingent of course on Republicans
holding on to the majority in the United States House.Graves says the next Transportation Secretary needs to
concentrate on physical infrastructure.“That is roads and bridges and airports and pipelines and
ports and not do all of these things that are about a green agenda or about
woke policies or quota policies, whatever the case may be,” Graves says. “We
need to concentrate on traditional infrastructure and that’s what’s going to be
the challenge is unwinding so many of those things that happened in the
Biden-Harris administration.”Grave has been critical of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure
bill signed into law by President Biden in late 2021, saying it became partisan
as it grew too large, authorizing spending outside what is considered
traditional infrastructure projects.Graves says he is open to becoming part of a second Trump
administration, but emphasizes all discussions are in the early stages.“It’s just preliminary at this point,” according to Graves. “They’re
just feeling me out on policy and what I would do and the things I would like
to see changed. It’s just preliminary at this point to be quite honest with
you.”Graves won his 13th term in Congress on Tuesday. He
is the dean of the Missouri Congressional delegation.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Trump team talking with Congressman Graves about Transportation Sec. post

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Western Community College administrators and supporters are regrouping after a narrow loss. 

Iowa Western presented a 55 million dollar bonding referendum on General Election ballots in its 13-county community college district. Unofficial results show over 76-hunded people voted on the referendum -- and it fell a couple of hundred votes short of the 60 percent threshold required for approval. 

The plan did not raise property taxes, but called for extending a current property tax levy that was set to expire. That money would have been used to expand technical training programs for in-demand careers and to expand the number of southwest Iowa students who could take Iowa Western Community College classes while they're still in high school.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Western Community College administrators and supporters are regrouping after a narrow loss. Iowa Western presented a 55 million dollar bonding referendum on General Election ballots in its 13-county community college district. Unofficial results show over 76-hunded people voted on the referendum -- and it fell a couple of hundred votes short of the 60 percent threshold required for approval. The plan did not raise property taxes, but called for extending a current property tax levy that was set to expire. That money would have been used to expand technical training programs for in-demand careers and to expand the number of southwest Iowa students who could take Iowa Western Community College classes while they're still in high school.

Iowa Western Community College plan for expand fails at ballot box

Critics of Proposition A, which won on Tuesday with 58% of the vote, say they’re exploring litigation and legislative changes

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

A coalition of Missouri business advocacy groups says it is exploring multiple avenues to challenge the implementation of Proposition A — a measure that Missouri voters passed on Tuesday that will raise the state’s minimum wage and guarantee sick leave for some workers.&nbsp;

The measure&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of various unions and workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, over 500 state business owners and others.&nbsp;

The minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 in 2026. The paid sick leave provisions go into effect next May.&nbsp;

Hoping to block implementation of the changes is a coalition of business advocacy groups —&nbsp; Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.

The coalition is “explor[ing] all available options, including possible legal action,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25279788-coalition-statement-prop-a-nov-6-2024" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.

“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of Proposition A,” the groups wrote, adding that the measure will increase costs for consumers and employers as well as “poses a legal risk for all employers,” by providing a cause of action for employees to sue.

The focus of concern among these business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.

Ray McCarty,&nbsp;CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri, said in an interview with The Independent that groups are exploring a lawsuit to challenge the law on the basis that it doesn’t meet the state constitution’s single-subject requirement, because benefits and wages are distinct issues. They are also looking into advocating for legislative changes when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.

“We’ll look at the legal challenge first,” McCarty said. “If we’re not successful with that, or we’re not able to get that off the ground, or we don’t believe that we have that high chance of success, then yes, we will be looking at bills to try to mitigate some of the problems that we see with it.”

Supporters of the measure, including&nbsp;Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages,&nbsp;say efforts to overturn or weaken it are unlikely to succeed. Von Glahn said wages and benefits are part of overall compensation, so fall under the single-subject requirement. He added there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;

“They waged a campaign to try to convince voters to reject this. They lost,” Von Glahn said. “And so the idea of a lawsuit now kind of feels a little frivolous to me, and is a waste of time and resources. They would be better off making sure that they are educating their community and businesses about the requirements of the law, and helping for smooth implementation.”

Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.

In 2018, after the state passed a minimum wage increase, some business interest groups advocated unsuccessfully for lawmakers to change pieces of it, Von Glahn said, “and that might happen again.”&nbsp;

“If I’m a politician, I know I have a limited amount of time in Jefferson City. There’s a limited amount of bills that can be heard and voted on,” he said. “Overturning the will of Missouri voters should not be high on the list.”

McCarty said the wide margin of passage could make it challenging to convince legislators to tweak the law.&nbsp;

“For 58 to 42, that’s very difficult for any legislator, even experienced ones who have been around a long time, it’s very difficult for them to go against the will of the people, and we understand that,” he said. “Some legislators may look at this and go, we don’t want to goof with it at all because the percentage was so high in support of it.”&nbsp;

Business leaders “have good reasons why we would want to change it,” McCarty said. But while they could try to move a bill through the legislature, he said they’d prefer to “head it off at the pass and just do away with it” through litigation.

Prop A’s victory&nbsp;didn’t come as a surprise to most: It<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-voted-for-abortion-rights-amendment-and-republicans-who-vow-to-overturn-it/">&nbsp;follows a trend of progressive initiative petition campaigns</a>&nbsp;finding success in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for statewide office since 2018

Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.

The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to&nbsp;five days per year for small businesses (those with fewer than 15 employees) and seven days per year for larger businesses. Certain workers are exempt, and are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">listed</a>&nbsp;in the full text of the law, including those employed on a “casual basis” for babysitting, workers employed in a private residence who work occasionally for six or fewer hours, and those who work in retail or service in a business that annually makes less than $500,000 in annual gross volume sales.

Von Glahn said that while canvassing, workers found common ground in their identity with other workers — regardless of party affiliation — who also have the experience of needing to leave work to pick their sick children up from school.

“And immediately what I get is people nodding their heads, ‘yeah, I have that too,’ and saying, it doesn’t make sense that some workers get punished for having to do that. “

Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant prep cook in Columbia who canvassed with the campaign, said people he spoke to were surprised to hear about “what it’s really like in the restaurant industry,” and some were surprised to hear the minimum wage isn’t already $15.&nbsp;

Coworkers come into work sick “all the time,” he said, in his experience in the restaurant industry. One coworker who had the stomach flu, he remembers, came into work, saying “my stomach tells me I need to stay home, but my wallet tells me I need to come to work.”

Gallardo will qualify for sick leave for the first time in his career come May. He’ll no longer have to choose between going without pay or coming into work sick, calling it a “huge improvement for a lot of workers in the state.”

The ballot measure will make sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who currently lack it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.

The minimum wage increase is slated to affect over 562,000 workers in the state,&nbsp;according to the Missouri Budget Project, or nearly one in every four workers.

“This is a vital part of the community that’s not being treated the way it should be treated,” Gallardo said. And I think this proposition will go a long way to fix that.”&nbsp;

<h2>Critics of Proposition A, which won on Tuesday with 58% of the vote, say they’re exploring litigation and legislative changes</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728643418242.png" alt="The campaign in favor of Prop A, called Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages collected 210,000 signatures to have the issue placed on the statewide ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>The campaign in favor of Prop A, called Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages collected 210,000 signatures to have the issue placed on the statewide ballot (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A coalition of Missouri business advocacy groups says it is exploring multiple avenues to challenge the implementation of Proposition A — a measure that Missouri voters passed on Tuesday that will raise the state’s minimum wage and guarantee sick leave for some workers.&nbsp;The measure&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of various unions and workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, over 500 state business owners and others.&nbsp;The minimum wage will increase to $13.75 in January and then $15 in 2026. The paid sick leave provisions go into effect next May.&nbsp;Hoping to block implementation of the changes is a coalition of business advocacy groups —&nbsp; Associated Industries of Missouri, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Missouri Grocers Association, the Missouri Restaurant Association, the Missouri Retailers Association and the National Federation of Independent Business.The coalition is “explor[ing] all available options, including possible legal action,” according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25279788-coalition-statement-prop-a-nov-6-2024" target="_blank">statement</a>&nbsp;released Wednesday.“We are deeply disappointed by the passage of Proposition A,” the groups wrote, adding that the measure will increase costs for consumers and employers as well as “poses a legal risk for all employers,” by providing a cause of action for employees to sue.The focus of concern among these business advocacy groups has been with the sick leave portion of the proposition, arguing it constrains business owner’s freedom to make their own decisions and opens them up to liability if they don’t follow the requirements.Ray McCarty,&nbsp;CEO of Associated Industries of Missouri, said in an interview with The Independent that groups are exploring a lawsuit to challenge the law on the basis that it doesn’t meet the state constitution’s single-subject requirement, because benefits and wages are distinct issues. They are also looking into advocating for legislative changes when the General Assembly reconvenes in January.“We’ll look at the legal challenge first,” McCarty said. “If we’re not successful with that, or we’re not able to get that off the ground, or we don’t believe that we have that high chance of success, then yes, we will be looking at bills to try to mitigate some of the problems that we see with it.”Supporters of the measure, including&nbsp;Richard Von Glahn, campaign manager for Missourians for Healthy Families and Fair Wages,&nbsp;say efforts to overturn or weaken it are unlikely to succeed. Von Glahn said wages and benefits are part of overall compensation, so fall under the single-subject requirement. He added there were several opportunities for the group to voice an opinion with concerns about the language earlier, and they didn’t.&nbsp;“They waged a campaign to try to convince voters to reject this. They lost,” Von Glahn said. “And so the idea of a lawsuit now kind of feels a little frivolous to me, and is a waste of time and resources. They would be better off making sure that they are educating their community and businesses about the requirements of the law, and helping for smooth implementation.”Because the measure changes state law but not the constitution, the legislature could modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.In 2018, after the state passed a minimum wage increase, some business interest groups advocated unsuccessfully for lawmakers to change pieces of it, Von Glahn said, “and that might happen again.”&nbsp;“If I’m a politician, I know I have a limited amount of time in Jefferson City. There’s a limited amount of bills that can be heard and voted on,” he said. “Overturning the will of Missouri voters should not be high on the list.”McCarty said the wide margin of passage could make it challenging to convince legislators to tweak the law.&nbsp;“For 58 to 42, that’s very difficult for any legislator, even experienced ones who have been around a long time, it’s very difficult for them to go against the will of the people, and we understand that,” he said. “Some legislators may look at this and go, we don’t want to goof with it at all because the percentage was so high in support of it.”&nbsp;Business leaders “have good reasons why we would want to change it,” McCarty said. But while they could try to move a bill through the legislature, he said they’d prefer to “head it off at the pass and just do away with it” through litigation.<h2>A predicted victory</h2>Prop A’s victory&nbsp;didn’t come as a surprise to most: It<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/07/missouri-voted-for-abortion-rights-amendment-and-republicans-who-vow-to-overturn-it/">&nbsp;follows a trend of progressive initiative petition campaigns</a>&nbsp;finding success in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat for statewide office since 2018Paid sick leave measures also passed in Alaska and Nebraska, bringing the number of states with such laws to 18.The details of the law are similar to those in states that have already adopted policies to expand access to paid sick leave. Employees can begin accruing and using sick time on May 1, 2025, earning one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to&nbsp;five days per year for small businesses (those with fewer than 15 employees) and seven days per year for larger businesses. Certain workers are exempt, and are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">listed</a>&nbsp;in the full text of the law, including those employed on a “casual basis” for babysitting, workers employed in a private residence who work occasionally for six or fewer hours, and those who work in retail or service in a business that annually makes less than $500,000 in annual gross volume sales.Von Glahn said that while canvassing, workers found common ground in their identity with other workers — regardless of party affiliation — who also have the experience of needing to leave work to pick their sick children up from school.“And immediately what I get is people nodding their heads, ‘yeah, I have that too,’ and saying, it doesn’t make sense that some workers get punished for having to do that. “<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731072359515.png" alt="Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant worker who helped collect signatures and canvass for Prop A (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant worker who helped collect signatures and canvass for Prop A (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>Alejandro Gallardo, a restaurant prep cook in Columbia who canvassed with the campaign, said people he spoke to were surprised to hear about “what it’s really like in the restaurant industry,” and some were surprised to hear the minimum wage isn’t already $15.&nbsp;Coworkers come into work sick “all the time,” he said, in his experience in the restaurant industry. One coworker who had the stomach flu, he remembers, came into work, saying “my stomach tells me I need to stay home, but my wallet tells me I need to come to work.”Gallardo will qualify for sick leave for the first time in his career come May. He’ll no longer have to choose between going without pay or coming into work sick, calling it a “huge improvement for a lot of workers in the state.”The ballot measure will make sick leave guaranteed for 728,000 workers who currently lack it statewide, or over 1 in 3 Missouri workers, according to an analysis from the progressive nonprofit the Missouri Budget Project.The minimum wage increase is slated to affect over 562,000 workers in the state,&nbsp;according to the Missouri Budget Project, or nearly one in every four workers.“This is a vital part of the community that’s not being treated the way it should be treated,” Gallardo said. And I think this proposition will go a long way to fix that.”&nbsp;

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