The legislation that would set food and farm policy for the next five years is in limbo, waiting for lawmakers to decide its fate after the election. The latest deadline for the Farm Bill passed unceremoniously at midnight on Sept. 30th, without a push from lawmakers to pass a new bill or an extension. Congress will have to scramble in the lame-duck session set to begin Nov. 12 to come up with some agreement before benefits run out at the end of the year — which if allowed to happen eventually would have major consequences. 

The legislation that would set food and farm policy for the next five years is in limbo, waiting for lawmakers to decide its fate after the election. The latest deadline for the Farm Bill passed unceremoniously at midnight on Sept. 30th, without a push from lawmakers to pass a new bill or an extension. Congress will have to scramble in the lame-duck session set to begin Nov. 12 to come up with some agreement before benefits run out at the end of the year — which if allowed to happen eventually would have major consequences.

Lame duck session seen as last chance to save farm bill

In a victory for the U.S. pork industry, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in San Francisco rejected a lawsuit from several activist groups who sought to impose sweeping changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rules. Last month, The National Pork Producers Council participated in oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit, successfully urging the court to reject the lawsuit. At that hearing, the Ninth Circuit expressed frustration and concerns with Food &amp; Water Watch’s approach and candor.

In its decision, the court made clear that EPA’s preferred approach to regulating livestock production to study water quality issues is the appropriate path for EPA and does not warrant throwing out decades of established law. NPPC stated that the lawsuit sought to use the court to upend livestock production across the country. By attacking core notions of due process and fundamental civil rights, animals rights activists sought to put pork producers around the country out of business.&nbsp;

In a victory for the U.S. pork industry, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit based in San Francisco rejected a lawsuit from several activist groups who sought to impose sweeping changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) rules. Last month, The National Pork Producers Council participated in oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit, successfully urging the court to reject the lawsuit. At that hearing, the Ninth Circuit expressed frustration and concerns with Food &amp; Water Watch’s approach and candor.In its decision, the court made clear that EPA’s preferred approach to regulating livestock production to study water quality issues is the appropriate path for EPA and does not warrant throwing out decades of established law. NPPC stated that the lawsuit sought to use the court to upend livestock production across the country. By attacking core notions of due process and fundamental civil rights, animals rights activists sought to put pork producers around the country out of business.&nbsp;-NAFB

NPPC secures 9th circuit victory defending Producers' freedom to farm

A 30-year-old St. Joseph man is charged with felony assault in
the shooting and wounding of a St. Joseph man Saturday night.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports Derius Davis has been
charged in connection with the shooting and wounding of 37-year-old Jonathan
Ross, who is listed in critical condition.

The department reports officers responded to a shooting in the
parking lot at 720 Jules Street just before 10 o’clock Saturday night.

This article has been updated since first published.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728335541154.png" alt="Derius Davis, Buchannan County Jail" />
 <figcaption>Derius Davis, Buchannan County Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 30-year-old St. Joseph man is charged with felony assault in
the shooting and wounding of a St. Joseph man Saturday night.The St. Joseph Police Department reports Derius Davis has been
charged in connection with the shooting and wounding of 37-year-old Jonathan
Ross, who is listed in critical condition.The department reports officers responded to a shooting in the
parking lot at 720 Jules Street just before 10 o’clock Saturday night.The investigation continues.This article has been updated since first published.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Downtown St. Joseph shooting leaves one wounded

WASHINGTON —The United States will provide nearly $157 million in new U.S. humanitarian&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to support populations affected by conflict in Lebanon and the region, according to a statement from the U..S Department of State.

&nbsp;This funding will address new and existing needs of internally displaced persons and refugee populations inside Lebanon and the communities that host them.&nbsp; The assistance will also support those fleeing to neighboring Syria.&nbsp;

This life-saving assistance from the American people includes nearly $82 million immediately available through the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and $75 million through the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.&nbsp; 

Of this total, USAID has already deployed $11.5 million, and working with Congress plans to make another $63.5 million available in the coming weeks, to ensure that vital humanitarian assistance can continue to reach the most vulnerable communities in need.&nbsp;&nbsp;This&nbsp;emergency food, shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, protection, water, and sanitation assistance will be a critical lifeline for those who have endured unimaginable hardships.

The United States provided nearly $386 million over the last year to support vulnerable populations in Lebanon and Syria impacted by the increase in conflict.&nbsp; This new humanitarian assistance comes at a time of devastating humanitarian crisis for Lebanon, with more than a million people displaced from their homes. &nbsp;The United States is committed to helping those most vulnerable in Lebanon and throughout the region. &nbsp;We&nbsp;urge other donors to join us in stepping up to contribute to these new humanitarian needs.

WASHINGTON —The United States will provide nearly $157 million in new U.S. humanitarian&nbsp;assistance&nbsp;to support populations affected by conflict in Lebanon and the region, according to a statement from the U..S Department of State.&nbsp;This funding will address new and existing needs of internally displaced persons and refugee populations inside Lebanon and the communities that host them.&nbsp; The assistance will also support those fleeing to neighboring Syria.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The people of Lebanon are facing an increasingly dire humanitarian situation. I am concerned about the security and well-being of civilians suffering in Lebanon and will continue working to help meet the needs of all civilians there. To that end, the United States will provide…&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1842710797241434259?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This life-saving assistance from the American people includes nearly $82 million immediately available through the Department of State’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration and $75 million through the United States Agency for International Development’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance.&nbsp; Of this total, USAID has already deployed $11.5 million, and working with Congress plans to make another $63.5 million available in the coming weeks, to ensure that vital humanitarian assistance can continue to reach the most vulnerable communities in need.&nbsp;&nbsp;This&nbsp;emergency food, shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, protection, water, and sanitation assistance will be a critical lifeline for those who have endured unimaginable hardships.The United States provided nearly $386 million over the last year to support vulnerable populations in Lebanon and Syria impacted by the increase in conflict.&nbsp; This new humanitarian assistance comes at a time of devastating humanitarian crisis for Lebanon, with more than a million people displaced from their homes. &nbsp;The United States is committed to helping those most vulnerable in Lebanon and throughout the region. &nbsp;We&nbsp;urge other donors to join us in stepping up to contribute to these new humanitarian needs.

US to give $157 million in aid in response to Lebanon crisis

WASHINGTON— President Biden made a rare appearance Friday at the White House press briefing.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Biden also had terse words for&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and said he didn't know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Biden, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said on CNN this week that he was concerned Netanyahu had little interest in a peace deal in part because of U.S. politics.

Israel has pressed forward on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah that left eight Israeli soldiers dead and conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. And the nation has vowed to retaliate for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">Iran’s ballistic missile attack</a>&nbsp;this week, as the region braced for further escalation.

-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

WASHINGTON— President Biden made a rare appearance Friday at the White House press briefing.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Do you have confidence that it will be a free and fair election and that it will be peaceful?&quot; President Biden: &quot;I&#39;m confident it will be free and fair. I don&#39;t know whether it will be peaceful. The things that Trump has said...were very dangerous.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/HrhpaooEHe">pic.twitter.com/HrhpaooEHe</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1842271469838962742?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;Biden also had terse words for&nbsp;Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday, and said he didn't know whether the Israeli leader was holding up a peace deal in order to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Q: &quot;Do you want to re-consider dropping out of the race?&quot; President Biden jokingly, &quot;I&#39;m back in!&quot; <a href="https://t.co/WIyhRwbjjk">pic.twitter.com/WIyhRwbjjk</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1842272465117921726?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden, was responding to comments made by one of his allies, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., who said on CNN this week that he was concerned Netanyahu had little interest in a peace deal in part because of U.S. politics.Israel has pressed forward on two fronts, pursuing a ground incursion into Lebanon against Hezbollah that left eight Israeli soldiers dead and conducting strikes in Gaza that killed dozens, including children. And the nation has vowed to retaliate for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-lebanon-hezbollah-gaza-news-10-01-2024-eb175dff6e46906caea8b9e43dfbd3da">Iran’s ballistic missile attack</a>&nbsp;this week, as the region braced for further escalation.-The Associated Press contributed to this report.

🎥President Biden said he doesn't know if the election will be peaceful

(Radio Iowa) - A convoy of U-S military vehicles will make its way through north-central Iowa next week as part of a 25-hundred mile journey. 

The Military Vehicle Preservation Association is celebrating the 15th year of its convoy program by retracing the historic Jefferson Highway route from the Minnesota border to New Orleans. Visit Mason City executive director Lindsey James says the caravan will be a must-see, especially for veterans and it includes all sorts of restored vehicles, military ambulances, and transport vehicles. 

The convoy will arrive in Northwood on Monday morning, and will come to Mason City to overnight Monday and Tuesday nights, before heading south.

(Radio Iowa) - A convoy of U-S military vehicles will make its way through north-central Iowa next week as part of a 25-hundred mile journey. The Military Vehicle Preservation Association is celebrating the 15th year of its convoy program by retracing the historic Jefferson Highway route from the Minnesota border to New Orleans. Visit Mason City executive director Lindsey James says the caravan will be a must-see, especially for veterans and it includes all sorts of restored vehicles, military ambulances, and transport vehicles. The convoy will arrive in Northwood on Monday morning, and will come to Mason City to overnight Monday and Tuesday nights, before heading south.

Convoy of historic military vehicles to trek across Iowa next week

The Missouri NAACP argues that the fees ‘create a negative incentive to give more tickets and charge unnecessary crimes’

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">MARY SANCHEZ</a>

Missouri voters will decide Nov. 5 if retirement funds for sheriffs and prosecutors should be supported with fees collected on court cases.

A fee used to fund sheriffs’ pensions was put in place by state law in 1983.

The Missouri General Assembly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/SSSCSSJR71-SignedCopy.pdf" target="_blank">placed Amendment 6</a>&nbsp;on the ballot to reverse a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=177738" target="_blank">2021 Missouri Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;that found the fees unconstitutional.

The state’s high court found that court fees for pensions were “not reasonably related to expense of the administration of justice” and thus violated a constitutional ban against using court fees to enhance the compensation of executive department officials, which would include retired county sheriffs.

If approved by a simple majority of voters, the Missouri Constitution will be changed, allowing the legislature to fund benefits for the state’s 114 elected county sheriffs or their surviving spouses through the collection of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=57.955&amp;bid=2164" target="_blank">a $3 fee</a>&nbsp;per case where a guilty verdict or plea is reached. Retirement benefits for prosecutors are also included, through&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=56.807&amp;bid=35555" target="_blank">a $4 fee</a>.

Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?

State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.

A&nbsp;“yes”&nbsp;vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, and circuit attorneys to ensure all Missourians have access to the courts of justice.

A&nbsp;“no”&nbsp;vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees related to current or former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys.

If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.

If it fails, the&nbsp;<a href="https://sherretmo.com/" target="_blank">Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System</a>&nbsp;predicts that its fund will be insolvent within nine years, said Melissa Lorts, executive director.

“We feel like the $3 fee is really a user fee of the court system,” Lorts said.

Sheriffs are responsible for bringing defendants to the courthouse from the jail, and they administer warrants and manage other aspects of a criminal case, she said.

“So we have a heavy hand in what happens in the court system,” Lorts said.

More than 200 former sheriffs or their surviving spouses currently receive benefits, Lorts said.

The amendment traces back to two speeding tickets in Kansas City and the state supreme court ruling that followed.

Two men admitted to the traffic violations in 2017, ultimately paying a total of $223.50 in fines and fees to the city’s municipal court.

But the men later argued that they didn’t realize that $3 from each case would go toward the sheriffs’ retirement benefits.

The two men led a class action filed with Jackson County Circuit Court, arguing that the extra charge was “unjust enrichment,” a violation of the state constitution.

The case continued to wind through the courts until the Missouri Supreme Court ruled for the plaintiffs in 2021, Lorts said.

The court’s decision cited a 1986 ruling, noting that it laid down “a bright-line rule” barring court fees that benefit executive officials that are not “reasonably related to the expense of the administration of justice.”

The ruling in the traffic case cost the retirement system about $9 million in court costs and settlements and ended its ability to collect the money, Lorts said.

In December 2023, the fund had $38.4 million in assets, a drop of $800,000 from the end of the previous calendar year, according to the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System&nbsp;<a href="https://sherretmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2023-Sheriffs-Retirement-Annual-Report.pdf" target="_blank">annual report</a>.

Beginning in January 2024, active sheriffs began contributing 5% of their salaries to the retirement fund, a change instituted by the legislature.

The legislature also approved $2.5 million to help stabilize the fund, an amount that has been requested again in the coming fiscal year, Lorts said.

What are the arguments against Amendment 6?&nbsp;

Critics of the fees that Amendment 6 would allow say each county should pay for pensions and other costs related to law enforcement and the courts.

The Washington, D.C.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/" target="_blank">Fines and Fees Justice Center</a>&nbsp;told lawmakers that the salaries and benefits for prosecutors and sheriffs should be adequately funded, but that court fees are an “ineffective and counterproductive” approach.

“When fines and fees go unpaid, judges may issue arrest warrants for failing to pay, leading to law enforcement arresting people for not paying financial obligations — most often because they are too poor to pay,” testified Priya Sarathy Jones, deputy executive director at the Fines and Fees Justice Center.

“The time spent on these debt collection and enforcement efforts diverts law enforcement and courts from their core responsibilities … In fact, the collection of fines and fees by law enforcement has been found to be associated with lower clearance rates for more serious crimes.”

Some studies have shown that the cost to municipalities to collect fines and fees can exceed the revenue generated.

The Missouri NAACP argued that the fees “create a negative incentive to give more tickets and charge unnecessary crimes.”

Leonard Charles Gilroy, a vice president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://reason.org/" target="_blank">Reason Foundation</a>&nbsp;in Los Angeles, wrote that changing the state constitution to allow the fees would violate “basics of public finance and fiscal stewardship.”

Public pensions are constitutionally protected benefits, which are obligated to be paid in full regardless of market conditions or revenue generated.

“Law enforcement and courts are core functions of government that should be funded through legislative appropriations, not fees,” Gilroy’s statement said.

“It would be imprudent to revive a policy to fund pension contributions with dedicated fine/fee revenues because those revenues can fluctuate over time, while pension liabilities are always locked in.”

Meanwhile, Amendment 6 came under fire for ballot summary language that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=211134" target="_blank">Missouri Court of Appeals Western District</a>&nbsp;ruled was insufficient and unfair.

The court clarified that passage of the measure by voters in the general election would enshrine a broader meaning of the administration of justice in the state constitution.

That court reworded the ballot language voters will see to read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?”

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/02/missouri-amendment-6-should-court-fees-could-fund-retirement-for-sheriffs-and-prosecutors/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728071001520.png" alt=" Amendment 6 would open the door to charging criminal defendants fees to fund some law enforcement pensions (Mary Sanchez /The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Amendment 6 would open the door to charging criminal defendants fees to fund some law enforcement pensions (Mary Sanchez /The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri NAACP argues that the fees ‘create a negative incentive to give more tickets and charge unnecessary crimes’</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/marysanchez/">MARY SANCHEZ</a>Missouri voters will decide Nov. 5 if retirement funds for sheriffs and prosecutors should be supported with fees collected on court cases.A fee used to fund sheriffs’ pensions was put in place by state law in 1983.The Missouri General Assembly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/SSSCSSJR71-SignedCopy.pdf" target="_blank">placed Amendment 6</a>&nbsp;on the ballot to reverse a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=177738" target="_blank">2021 Missouri Supreme Court ruling</a>&nbsp;that found the fees unconstitutional.The state’s high court found that court fees for pensions were “not reasonably related to expense of the administration of justice” and thus violated a constitutional ban against using court fees to enhance the compensation of executive department officials, which would include retired county sheriffs.If approved by a simple majority of voters, the Missouri Constitution will be changed, allowing the legislature to fund benefits for the state’s 114 elected county sheriffs or their surviving spouses through the collection of&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=57.955&amp;bid=2164" target="_blank">a $3 fee</a>&nbsp;per case where a guilty verdict or plea is reached. Retirement benefits for prosecutors are also included, through&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=56.807&amp;bid=35555" target="_blank">a $4 fee</a>.The exact ballot language is below:Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?State and local governmental entities estimate an unknown fiscal impact.Fair Ballot Language:A&nbsp;“yes”&nbsp;vote will amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for current and former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys, and circuit attorneys to ensure all Missourians have access to the courts of justice.A&nbsp;“no”&nbsp;vote will not amend the Missouri Constitution to levy costs and fees related to current or former sheriffs, prosecuting attorneys and circuit attorneys.If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.<h2>What happens if Amendment 6 fails?</h2>If it fails, the&nbsp;<a href="https://sherretmo.com/" target="_blank">Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System</a>&nbsp;predicts that its fund will be insolvent within nine years, said Melissa Lorts, executive director.“We feel like the $3 fee is really a user fee of the court system,” Lorts said.Sheriffs are responsible for bringing defendants to the courthouse from the jail, and they administer warrants and manage other aspects of a criminal case, she said.“So we have a heavy hand in what happens in the court system,” Lorts said.More than 200 former sheriffs or their surviving spouses currently receive benefits, Lorts said.The amendment traces back to two speeding tickets in Kansas City and the state supreme court ruling that followed.Two men admitted to the traffic violations in 2017, ultimately paying a total of $223.50 in fines and fees to the city’s municipal court.But the men later argued that they didn’t realize that $3 from each case would go toward the sheriffs’ retirement benefits.The two men led a class action filed with Jackson County Circuit Court, arguing that the extra charge was “unjust enrichment,” a violation of the state constitution.The case continued to wind through the courts until the Missouri Supreme Court ruled for the plaintiffs in 2021, Lorts said.The court’s decision cited a 1986 ruling, noting that it laid down “a bright-line rule” barring court fees that benefit executive officials that are not “reasonably related to the expense of the administration of justice.”The ruling in the traffic case cost the retirement system about $9 million in court costs and settlements and ended its ability to collect the money, Lorts said.In December 2023, the fund had $38.4 million in assets, a drop of $800,000 from the end of the previous calendar year, according to the Missouri Sheriffs’ Retirement System&nbsp;<a href="https://sherretmo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2023-Sheriffs-Retirement-Annual-Report.pdf" target="_blank">annual report</a>.Beginning in January 2024, active sheriffs began contributing 5% of their salaries to the retirement fund, a change instituted by the legislature.The legislature also approved $2.5 million to help stabilize the fund, an amount that has been requested again in the coming fiscal year, Lorts said.<h2>What are the arguments against Amendment 6?&nbsp;</h2>Critics of the fees that Amendment 6 would allow say each county should pay for pensions and other costs related to law enforcement and the courts.The Washington, D.C.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/" target="_blank">Fines and Fees Justice Center</a>&nbsp;told lawmakers that the salaries and benefits for prosecutors and sheriffs should be adequately funded, but that court fees are an “ineffective and counterproductive” approach.“When fines and fees go unpaid, judges may issue arrest warrants for failing to pay, leading to law enforcement arresting people for not paying financial obligations — most often because they are too poor to pay,” testified Priya Sarathy Jones, deputy executive director at the Fines and Fees Justice Center.“The time spent on these debt collection and enforcement efforts diverts law enforcement and courts from their core responsibilities … In fact, the collection of fines and fees by law enforcement has been found to be associated with lower clearance rates for more serious crimes.”Some studies have shown that the cost to municipalities to collect fines and fees can exceed the revenue generated.The Missouri NAACP argued that the fees “create a negative incentive to give more tickets and charge unnecessary crimes.”Leonard Charles Gilroy, a vice president of the&nbsp;<a href="https://reason.org/" target="_blank">Reason Foundation</a>&nbsp;in Los Angeles, wrote that changing the state constitution to allow the fees would violate “basics of public finance and fiscal stewardship.”Public pensions are constitutionally protected benefits, which are obligated to be paid in full regardless of market conditions or revenue generated.“Law enforcement and courts are core functions of government that should be funded through legislative appropriations, not fees,” Gilroy’s statement said.“It would be imprudent to revive a policy to fund pension contributions with dedicated fine/fee revenues because those revenues can fluctuate over time, while pension liabilities are always locked in.”Meanwhile, Amendment 6 came under fire for ballot summary language that the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=211134" target="_blank">Missouri Court of Appeals Western District</a>&nbsp;ruled was insufficient and unfair.The court clarified that passage of the measure by voters in the general election would enshrine a broader meaning of the administration of justice in the state constitution.That court reworded the ballot language voters will see to read: “Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to provide that the administration of justice shall include the levying of costs and fees to support salaries and benefits for certain current and former law enforcement personnel?”This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/10/02/missouri-amendment-6-should-court-fees-could-fund-retirement-for-sheriffs-and-prosecutors/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iconbeacon-150x150.png?crop=1" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Amendment would use court fees to fund retirement for Missouri sheriffs, prosecutors

For the second year in a row Northwest Missouri State University has been ranked as one of the top colleges in the Midwest.   

Northwest has been ranked on US News and World Reports list of 2025 Best Colleges, ranked for a second year in a row inside the Top 25.  

The university in Maryville actually even jumped a couple spots, going from #22 last year, to #20 this year in the Midwest, trailing only Truman State for a public university from Missouri.  

University President Lance Tatum says it's exciting to make the list again, especially with the hard work put into what's being done at Northwest to serve students.  

"It's always very gratifying to know from an outside perspective that people are recognizing the quality that we provide here in terms of our collegiate experience and our education," Tatum tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, I was thrilled to see that we had actually improved our ranking from last year to this year." 

Tatum says a big philosophy at Northwest is being presented as a forward-facing brand, which only reaches so far.  Tatum says a national publication like this helps broaden that branding 

"It's part of a national announcement that goes out, and so students who are within 150 to 200 miles of Maryville actually might be able to see this type of information as it scrolls across social media or as it is presented on a web search environment," Tatum explains. "And so, it just helps to increase our brand notoriety, and it also helps to just communicate the quality that exists in the experience here at Northwest." 

Tatum says everyone in higher education that's not considered a research institute, or part of the land grant group, are fighting in a crowded field for recognition and attention 

"So, when you look at the rankings and you see that a Northwest Missouri State University who is located in a very rural part of the state, a very rural part of the country, you're able to showcase what you do on campus," Tatum says. "And so, we're very excited to be included among the top schools in the state." 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728061197888.jpeg" alt="Northwest.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Northwest.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post For the second year in a row Northwest Missouri State University has been ranked as one of the top colleges in the Midwest. Northwest has been ranked on US News and World Reports list of 2025 Best Colleges, ranked for a second year in a row inside the Top 25. The university in Maryville actually even jumped a couple spots, going from #22 last year, to #20 this year in the Midwest, trailing only Truman State for a public university from Missouri. University President Lance Tatum says it's exciting to make the list again, especially with the hard work put into what's being done at Northwest to serve students. "It's always very gratifying to know from an outside perspective that people are recognizing the quality that we provide here in terms of our collegiate experience and our education," Tatum tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, I was thrilled to see that we had actually improved our ranking from last year to this year." Tatum says a big philosophy at Northwest is being presented as a forward-facing brand, which only reaches so far. Tatum says a national publication like this helps broaden that branding "It's part of a national announcement that goes out, and so students who are within 150 to 200 miles of Maryville actually might be able to see this type of information as it scrolls across social media or as it is presented on a web search environment," Tatum explains. "And so, it just helps to increase our brand notoriety, and it also helps to just communicate the quality that exists in the experience here at Northwest." Tatum says everyone in higher education that's not considered a research institute, or part of the land grant group, are fighting in a crowded field for recognition and attention "So, when you look at the rankings and you see that a Northwest Missouri State University who is located in a very rural part of the state, a very rural part of the country, you're able to showcase what you do on campus," Tatum says. "And so, we're very excited to be included among the top schools in the state." You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Northwest Missouri State again ranked as top college

(Radio Iowa) - Southeast Iowa is hosting an international horror film festival next weekend, along with what organizers describe as a spooky celebration of all things Halloween. 

Holly Berg is co-founder of Halloweenapalooza, now in its 14th year of haunting Ottumwa. The film fest will draw fans of the genre from all corners of Iowa and across the Midwest, as Berg says independent filmmakers from all over the world submitted films for screenings. The event also includes costume contests, a zombie walk, and celebrity guests from several films who will be signing autographs, posing for photos and speaking at panel discussions. 

Ottumwa's Bridge View Center will also host a long list of venders, selling horror movie memorabilia and Halloween decor October 11th and 12th.

(Radio Iowa) - Southeast Iowa is hosting an international horror film festival next weekend, along with what organizers describe as a spooky celebration of all things Halloween. Holly Berg is co-founder of Halloweenapalooza, now in its 14th year of haunting Ottumwa. The film fest will draw fans of the genre from all corners of Iowa and across the Midwest, as Berg says independent filmmakers from all over the world submitted films for screenings. The event also includes costume contests, a zombie walk, and celebrity guests from several films who will be signing autographs, posing for photos and speaking at panel discussions. Ottumwa's Bridge View Center will also host a long list of venders, selling horror movie memorabilia and Halloween decor October 11th and 12th.

Ottumwa holds horror movie film fest at its 'ComiCon for Halloween'

Two St. Joseph women have been chosen to serve as
fellows advocating for an increase in quality childcare in Missouri.

Megan Murray with Kids Win Missouri says Kristin
White brings experience as a parent of six, ages 2 to 17, as well as an infant
and toddler specialist with Youth Alliance. Dlo DuVall is a grandparent and
Coordinator of Early Childhood Education for the St. Joseph School District.

“So, both of them just brought unique
perspectives and a work ethic and a passion that we just couldn’t pass up,”
Murray tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview.

Both know the needs of parents and children.

Also, they understand the lack of quality child
care in St. Joseph, which DuVall calls a child care desert.

“If you need child care and you do not have a
family member or a friend that can help, there are very limited spots and there
are big wait lists,” DuVall tells KFEQ/St. Joseph in a joint phone interview with
White.

Both DuVall and White have earned Early Care and
Education Fellowships from Kids Win Missouri, learning more about the
challenges facing the state as well as learning how to effectively advocate
before legislators for policy changes.

The two joined fellows from other parts of the
state in Jefferson City during the annual Veto Session of the Missouri General
Assembly; 28 fellows from seven regions total. Kids Win Missouri launched the
fellowship in 2022 to give a voice to parents and child care providers in the
legislative process. The new fellows began their advocacy during the Veto
Session.

White says the training sessions turn those with
experience into advocates.

“We’ve seen early childhood (care) as a parent,
as a provider and to just be able to talk to them in an effective way that they’re
able to put a face to the issues that are happening, they’re able to put a face
to the stories that are happening,” White says.

DuVall says the child care crisis in Missouri
won’t be an easy issue to solve.

“It’s multi-faceted, because the spots that are
available they may not be able to afford, but then, even if they could afford
it, there may not be a spot open,” DuVall says. “And then the ones that were
getting the child care subsidies, the actual child care centers, the payments
have been very delayed to them. So, a lot of our places in the state have had
to close because of funding.”

Kids Win Missouri also encourages fellows to
engage other parents and providers throughout their region to bring awareness
to issues impacting children and families.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728059174984.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwo St. Joseph women have been chosen to serve as
fellows advocating for an increase in quality childcare in Missouri.Megan Murray with Kids Win Missouri says Kristin
White brings experience as a parent of six, ages 2 to 17, as well as an infant
and toddler specialist with Youth Alliance. Dlo DuVall is a grandparent and
Coordinator of Early Childhood Education for the St. Joseph School District.“So, both of them just brought unique
perspectives and a work ethic and a passion that we just couldn’t pass up,”
Murray tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview.Both know the needs of parents and children.Also, they understand the lack of quality child
care in St. Joseph, which DuVall calls a child care desert.“If you need child care and you do not have a
family member or a friend that can help, there are very limited spots and there
are big wait lists,” DuVall tells KFEQ/St. Joseph in a joint phone interview with
White.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728059814393.png" alt="Dlo DuVaul/Photo courtesy of Kids Win Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Dlo DuVaul/Photo courtesy of Kids Win Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>Both DuVall and White have earned Early Care and
Education Fellowships from Kids Win Missouri, learning more about the
challenges facing the state as well as learning how to effectively advocate
before legislators for policy changes.The two joined fellows from other parts of the
state in Jefferson City during the annual Veto Session of the Missouri General
Assembly; 28 fellows from seven regions total. Kids Win Missouri launched the
fellowship in 2022 to give a voice to parents and child care providers in the
legislative process. The new fellows began their advocacy during the Veto
Session.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728059882204.png" alt="Kristin White/Photo courtesy of Kids Win Missouri" />
 <figcaption>Kristin White/Photo courtesy of Kids Win Missouri</figcaption>
 </figure>White says the training sessions turn those with
experience into advocates.“We’ve seen early childhood (care) as a parent,
as a provider and to just be able to talk to them in an effective way that they’re
able to put a face to the issues that are happening, they’re able to put a face
to the stories that are happening,” White says.Advocates seeking solutions.DuVall says the child care crisis in Missouri
won’t be an easy issue to solve.“It’s multi-faceted, because the spots that are
available they may not be able to afford, but then, even if they could afford
it, there may not be a spot open,” DuVall says. “And then the ones that were
getting the child care subsidies, the actual child care centers, the payments
have been very delayed to them. So, a lot of our places in the state have had
to close because of funding.”Kids Win Missouri also encourages fellows to
engage other parents and providers throughout their region to bring awareness
to issues impacting children and families.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Kids-Win-Missouri-e2p820f" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph women win fellowships to advocate for better child care

(Radio Iowa) - The union that represents employees in Iowa prisons says it's time for the governor to respond to a disturbing trend. 

AFSCME&nbsp; Council 61 president Todd Copley says union members report there have been at least 150 assaults on prison staff since January. Copley says an inmate at the prison in Fort Madison assaulted two prison guards last week, leaving one guard with broken bones in his face. Copley says correctional officers are fearful of retaliation if they raise security concerns. 

A spokesman for the governor says Governor Reynolds knows correctional officers work in a hostile environment and that's why she's worked to increase staff and improve safety and security at the facilities. The director of the state's prison system says she has an open door policy and is eager to listen to the concerns of staff.

(Radio Iowa) - The union that represents employees in Iowa prisons says it's time for the governor to respond to a disturbing trend. AFSCME&nbsp; Council 61 president Todd Copley says union members report there have been at least 150 assaults on prison staff since January. Copley says an inmate at the prison in Fort Madison assaulted two prison guards last week, leaving one guard with broken bones in his face. Copley says correctional officers are fearful of retaliation if they raise security concerns. A spokesman for the governor says Governor Reynolds knows correctional officers work in a hostile environment and that's why she's worked to increase staff and improve safety and security at the facilities. The director of the state's prison system says she has an open door policy and is eager to listen to the concerns of staff.

Union says there's growing wave of assaults on Iowa prison staff

RILEY COUNTY —The family of a woman injured&nbsp; in an&nbsp;incident that occurred near the Aggieville district in the early morning hours of Friday, August 30, are offering an additional $10,000 reward for information in the case, according to the Riley County Police Department.

The initial report received by police indicated the young woman identified as 22-year-old Kenna Hibbs, was found in the 800 block of Laramie Street after walking home from a local establishment.

&nbsp;Police are reviewing surveillance footage from Aggieville and surrounding areas and are following up on any leads to determine the cause of her injuries. Police encourage anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information to come forward and assist with the investigation. 

Tips may be called in directly to RCPD using 785-537-2112 or you can always contact Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous.

In a media release on September 3, police said,&nbsp;"We understand the concerns that have been raised on social media regarding the safety of our community. It is important to note that based on the information available at this time, there is no evidence to suggest there is an ongoing threat to the public."&nbsp;

"While we take all reports seriously, it is critical to rely on verified information rather than speculation."&nbsp;

"At this time, we want to clarify that this incident is under investigation and we are working diligently to gather all relevant information."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727977325305.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY —The family of a woman injured&nbsp; in an&nbsp;incident that occurred near the Aggieville district in the early morning hours of Friday, August 30, are offering an additional $10,000 reward for information in the case, according to the Riley County Police Department.The initial report received by police indicated the young woman identified as 22-year-old Kenna Hibbs, was found in the 800 block of Laramie Street after walking home from a local establishment.&nbsp;Police are reviewing surveillance footage from Aggieville and surrounding areas and are following up on any leads to determine the cause of her injuries. Police encourage anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information to come forward and assist with the investigation. Tips may be called in directly to RCPD using 785-537-2112 or you can always contact Crime Stoppers at 785-539-7777 or toll-free at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous.In a media release on September 3, police said,&nbsp;"We understand the concerns that have been raised on social media regarding the safety of our community. It is important to note that based on the information available at this time, there is no evidence to suggest there is an ongoing threat to the public."&nbsp;"While we take all reports seriously, it is critical to rely on verified information rather than speculation."&nbsp;"At this time, we want to clarify that this incident is under investigation and we are working diligently to gather all relevant information."

Family of woman injured in Manhattan offers reward for information

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard. The AEZ is an area surrounding outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This rule finalizes the agency’s 2023 proposed rule without change and advances the agency’s commitment to protecting farmworkers, pesticide handlers, their families, and agricultural communities. 

It reinstates AEZ protections, extends protection for neighboring communities, makes requirements easier to understand, and provides flexibility for family farms without compromising protections. “Farmworkers help provide the food that feeds our families every day, and it’s our job to keep them safe from pesticides,” says EPA’s Michael Freedhoff. “No one should be at risk from pesticide-related illnesses because of their job or where they live.” The regulation protects over two million agricultural workers, their families, and pesticide handlers who work for over 600,000 agricultural establishments.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule to restore the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard. The AEZ is an area surrounding outdoor pesticide application equipment where people are prohibited while pesticides are applied. This rule finalizes the agency’s 2023 proposed rule without change and advances the agency’s commitment to protecting farmworkers, pesticide handlers, their families, and agricultural communities. It reinstates AEZ protections, extends protection for neighboring communities, makes requirements easier to understand, and provides flexibility for family farms without compromising protections. “Farmworkers help provide the food that feeds our families every day, and it’s our job to keep them safe from pesticides,” says EPA’s Michael Freedhoff. “No one should be at risk from pesticide-related illnesses because of their job or where they live.” The regulation protects over two million agricultural workers, their families, and pesticide handlers who work for over 600,000 agricultural establishments.-NAFB

EPA finalizes rule on pesticide exclusion zones

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa's seeing at least one bumper crop this fall, but it's not your typical agricultural commodity. 

Millions of weensy insects called minute pirate bugs are swarming our yards and their bite, while tiny, can be a doozy. Ginny Mitchell, education program coordinator at Iowa State University's Insect Zoo, says they're an appropriately named creature as they're only about one-eighth to one-twelfth of an inch long. Mitchell says farmers and other growers should love minute pirate bugs as they perform a valuable service during the spring, summer and early fall. They eat truckloads of plant pests, like aphids and midges. 

Why are there so many of these itsy-bitsy biting beasts? Minute pirate bugs usually feed in the tree canopy or in a field, and as the trees lose their leaves and harvest is underway, they're having to look elsewhere for food.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa's seeing at least one bumper crop this fall, but it's not your typical agricultural commodity. Millions of weensy insects called minute pirate bugs are swarming our yards and their bite, while tiny, can be a doozy. Ginny Mitchell, education program coordinator at Iowa State University's Insect Zoo, says they're an appropriately named creature as they're only about one-eighth to one-twelfth of an inch long. Mitchell says farmers and other growers should love minute pirate bugs as they perform a valuable service during the spring, summer and early fall. They eat truckloads of plant pests, like aphids and midges. Why are there so many of these itsy-bitsy biting beasts? Minute pirate bugs usually feed in the tree canopy or in a field, and as the trees lose their leaves and harvest is underway, they're having to look elsewhere for food.

Iowa is being invaded by swarms of nearly-invisible bugs with a painful bite

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed a lengthy and partly redacted motion Wednesday that charts special counsel Jack Smith’s final argument before November that former President Donald Trump acted in a private capacity when he co-conspired to overturn the 2020 election.

<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">Click here to read the new</a>&nbsp;motion ref. presidential immunity

Much of the motion concerns Trump’s interactions with individuals in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as he sought to disrupt election results, Smith alleged.

The document, due on Chutkan’s desk late last month, is central to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-jan-6-case-extend-beyond-election-day-under-timeline-laid-out-judge%C2%A0-2" target="_blank">reanimating the case</a>&nbsp;after months of delay as Trump argued for complete criminal immunity from the government’s fraud and obstruction charges related to his actions after the 2020 presidential contest, which Joe Biden won.

The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/presidential-immunity-covers-some-official-acts-supreme-court-rules-trump-case" target="_blank">returned</a>&nbsp;Trump’s case to Chutkan after ruling that former presidents enjoy criminal immunity for core constitutional acts, presumed immunity for acts on the perimeter of official duties, and no immunity for personal ones. At that point it became clear that the case against the Republican presidential nominee would not be tried prior to Election Day.

Smith’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/special-counsel-smith-files-new-indictment-trumps-jan-6-case" target="_blank">superseding indictment</a>&nbsp;shortly thereafter retained all four felony counts against Trump, and Chutkan is tasked with parsing which allegations can stand in light of the Supreme Court decision.

In his unsealed 165-page&nbsp;<a href="https://documentcloud.org/documents/25182600-smithfiling" target="_blank">motion</a>, Smith outlines Trump’s alleged plots with private lawyers and political allies — names redacted — to ultimately deliver false slates of electors to Congress so that he appeared the winner over Biden in the seven states.

“Working with a team of private co-conspirators, the defendant acted as a candidate when he pursued multiple criminal means to disrupt, through fraud and deceit, the government function by which votes are collected and counted — a function in which the defendant, as President, had no official role,” Smith wrote.

Trump slammed the court filing on social media in numerous posts, writing in a mix of upper and lowercase letters that “Democrats are Weaponizing the Justice Department against me because they know I am WINNING, and they are desperate to prop up their failing Candidate, Kamala Harris.”

“The DOJ pushed out this latest ‘hit job’ today because JD Vance humiliated Tim Walz last night in the Debate. The DOJ has become nothing more than an extension of Joe’s, and now Kamala’s, Campaign. This is egregious PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, and should not have been released right before the Election,” he continued in just one of his many reactions on his platform, Truth Social.

Trump’s running mate, Ohio GOP Sen. J.D. Vance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tim-walz-and-jd-vance-tangle-wonky-largely-cordial-vice-presidential-debate-5" target="_blank">faced</a>&nbsp;Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, in a vice presidential debate on Tuesday night.

Here are key arguments from Smith’s filing, which alleges efforts by Trump and allies to subvert voters’ will during the last presidential election:

Smith detailed calls to and communications with various Arizona officials, including the governor and speaker of the Arizona state House, arguing the interactions were made in Trump’s “capacity as a candidate.”

Smith plans to introduce into evidence Trump’s communications, in his personal capacity, with Georgia’s attorney general, including a call on Dec. 8, 2020, and to the secretary of state.

The document details an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Michigan’s Senate majority leader and speaker of the House on Nov. 20, 2020, during which Trump tried to acquire evidence of voter fraud in Detroit.

The filing said that directly following the 2020 election, Trump and his “private operatives sought to create chaos, rather than seek clarity, at polling places where states were continuing to tabulate votes.”

Smith will argue that Trump, outside his official presidential duties, tried to persuade political allies in Michigan to sway the election in his favor.

In Nevada, Trump allegedly ignored warnings about spreading lies about the state’s election results. Smith wrote: “Notwithstanding the RNC Chief Counsel’s warning, the defendant re-tweeted and amplified news of the lawsuit on November 24, calling it ‘Big News!’ that a Nevada Court had agreed to hear it. But the defendant did not similarly promote the fact that within two weeks, on December 4, the Nevada District Court dismissed Law v. Whitmer, finding in a detailed opinion that ‘there is no credible or reliable evidence that the 2020 General Election in Nevada was affected by fraud,’ including through the signature-match machines, and that Biden won the election in the state.”

In the Keystone State, officials warned Trump there was no smoke and no fire related to election fraud in the commonwealth, Smith wrote.

Smith wrote Trump ignored reality in Wisconsin as well.

Trump responded by rebuking the Wisconsin Supreme Court judge who had signed the majority opinion that rejected the lawsuit, forcing the state marshals responsible for the judge’s security to enhance protection due to a rise in “threatening communications.”

Smith alleged that as Trump and co-conspirators faltered at overturning states’ official election results, they turned their attention to fake slates of electors.

As early as December 2020, Trump and his allies “developed a new plan regarding targeted states that the defendant had lost (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin): to organize the people who would have served as the defendant’s electors had he won the popular vote, and cause them to sign and send to Pence, as President of the Senate, certificates in which they falsely represent themselves as legitimate electors who had cast electoral votes for the defendant,” Smith wrote.

Trump and his allies lied to Vice President Mike Pence heading toward Jan. 6, “telling him that there was substantial election fraud and concealing their orchestration of the plan to manufacture fraudulent elector slates, as well as their intention to use the fake slates to attempt to obstruct the congressional certification.”

Trump’s alleged lies to Pence and the public “created a tinderbox that he purposely ignited on January 6.”

The filing details numerous people, including Trump, pressuring Pence for weeks to use his role overseeing Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote to overturn the election results.

On the morning of Jan. 6, Pence, once again, told Trump he would not go along with the plan.

“So on January 6, the defendant sent to the Capitol a crowd of angry supporters, whom the defendant had called to the city and inundated with false claims of outcome-determinative election fraud, to induce Pence not to certify the legitimate electoral vote and to obstruct the certification.”

“Although the attack on the Capitol successfully delayed the certification for approximately six hours, the House and Senate resumed the Joint Session at 11:35 p.m. But the conspirators were not done.”

The filing alleges a co-conspirator once again urged Pence to “violate the law” by delaying the certification for 10 days. He refused.

Smith must prove that Trump’s pressure on Pence was outside of their official duties together, and therefore can not be considered immune from prosecution.

Smith plans to introduce evidence of private phone calls and conversations between Trump and his VP, including some with campaign staff, essentially tying their interactions to their interests as those seeking office again, “as running mates in the post-election period.” Smith also plans to highlight that Pence’s role in certifying the election was largely ceremonial and within the realm of the Senate, and strictly outside the bounds of the Oval Office.&nbsp; Among Smith’s points made in his motion:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727719069573.png" alt="File photo Former President Trump during a visit to Georgia on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Former President Trump during a visit to Georgia on Monday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ashley-murray/">ASHLEY MURRAY</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan unsealed a lengthy and partly redacted motion Wednesday that charts special counsel Jack Smith’s final argument before November that former President Donald Trump acted in a private capacity when he co-conspired to overturn the 2020 election.<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25182568-usa-v-trump-unsealed-govt-immunity-motion-1022024">Click here to read the new</a>&nbsp;motion ref. presidential immunityMuch of the motion concerns Trump’s interactions with individuals in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, as he sought to disrupt election results, Smith alleged.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727903830272.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The document, due on Chutkan’s desk late last month, is central to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/trumps-jan-6-case-extend-beyond-election-day-under-timeline-laid-out-judge%C2%A0-2" target="_blank">reanimating the case</a>&nbsp;after months of delay as Trump argued for complete criminal immunity from the government’s fraud and obstruction charges related to his actions after the 2020 presidential contest, which Joe Biden won.The U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/presidential-immunity-covers-some-official-acts-supreme-court-rules-trump-case" target="_blank">returned</a>&nbsp;Trump’s case to Chutkan after ruling that former presidents enjoy criminal immunity for core constitutional acts, presumed immunity for acts on the perimeter of official duties, and no immunity for personal ones. At that point it became clear that the case against the Republican presidential nominee would not be tried prior to Election Day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727958885785.png" alt="Trump" />
 <figcaption>Trump</figcaption>
 </figure>Smith’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/special-counsel-smith-files-new-indictment-trumps-jan-6-case" target="_blank">superseding indictment</a>&nbsp;shortly thereafter retained all four felony counts against Trump, and Chutkan is tasked with parsing which allegations can stand in light of the Supreme Court decision.In his unsealed 165-page&nbsp;<a href="https://documentcloud.org/documents/25182600-smithfiling" target="_blank">motion</a>, Smith outlines Trump’s alleged plots with private lawyers and political allies — names redacted — to ultimately deliver false slates of electors to Congress so that he appeared the winner over Biden in the seven states.“Working with a team of private co-conspirators, the defendant acted as a candidate when he pursued multiple criminal means to disrupt, through fraud and deceit, the government function by which votes are collected and counted — a function in which the defendant, as President, had no official role,” Smith wrote.Trump slammed the court filing on social media in numerous posts, writing in a mix of upper and lowercase letters that “Democrats are Weaponizing the Justice Department against me because they know I am WINNING, and they are desperate to prop up their failing Candidate, Kamala Harris.”“The DOJ pushed out this latest ‘hit job’ today because JD Vance humiliated Tim Walz last night in the Debate. The DOJ has become nothing more than an extension of Joe’s, and now Kamala’s, Campaign. This is egregious PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT, and should not have been released right before the Election,” he continued in just one of his many reactions on his platform, Truth Social.Trump’s running mate, Ohio GOP Sen. J.D. Vance,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/tim-walz-and-jd-vance-tangle-wonky-largely-cordial-vice-presidential-debate-5" target="_blank">faced</a>&nbsp;Harris’ running mate, Tim Walz, in a vice presidential debate on Tuesday night.Here are key arguments from Smith’s filing, which alleges efforts by Trump and allies to subvert voters’ will during the last presidential election:<h2>Arizona</h2>Smith detailed calls to and communications with various Arizona officials, including the governor and speaker of the Arizona state House, arguing the interactions were made in Trump’s “capacity as a candidate.”<ul>
 <li>“The defendant and his co-conspirators also demonstrated their deliberate disregard for the truth — and thus their knowledge of falsity — when they repeatedly changed the numbers in their baseless fraud allegations from day to day. At trial, the Government will introduce several instances of this pattern, in which the defendant and conspirators’ lies were proved by the fact that they made up figures from whole cloth. One example concerns the defendant and conspirators’ claims about non-citizen voters in Arizona. The conspirators started with the allegation that 36,000 non-citizens voted in Arizona; five days later, it was ‘beyond credulity that a few hundred thousand didn’t vote’: three weeks later, ‘the bare minimum [was] 40 or 50,000. The reality is about 250,000’; days after that, the assertion was 32,000; and ultimately the conspirators landed back where they started at 36,000 — a false figure that they never verified or corroborated.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Georgia</h2>Smith plans to introduce into evidence Trump’s communications, in his personal capacity, with Georgia’s attorney general, including a call on Dec. 8, 2020, and to the secretary of state.<ul>
 <li>Trump “had early notice that his claims of election fraud in Georgia were false. Around mid-November, Campaign advisor [redacted] told the defendant that his claim that a large number of dead people had voted in Georgia was false. The defendant continued to press the claim anyway, including in a press appearance on November 29, when he suggested that a large enough number of dead voters had cast ballots to change the outcome of the election in Georgia.”</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“In the post-election period, [redacted] also took on the role of updating the defendant on a near-daily basis on the Campaign’s unsuccessful efforts to support any fraud claims…. He told the defendant that if the Campaign took these claims to court, they would get slaughtered, because the claims are all ‘bullshit.’ [Redacted] was privy in real time to the findings of the two expert consulting firms the Campaign retained to investigate fraud claims — [redacted] and [redacted] — and discussed with the defendant their debunkings on all major claims. For example, [redacted] told the defendant that Georgia’s audit disproved claims that [redacted] had altered votes.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Michigan</h2>The document details an Oval Office meeting Trump held with Michigan’s Senate majority leader and speaker of the House on Nov. 20, 2020, during which Trump tried to acquire evidence of voter fraud in Detroit.<ul>
 <li>“Despite failing to establish any valid fraud claims, [redacted] followed up with [redacted] and [redacted] and attempted to pressure them to use the Michigan legislature to overturn the valid election result.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Michigan and Pennsylvania</h2>The filing said that directly following the 2020 election, Trump and his “private operatives sought to create chaos, rather than seek clarity, at polling places where states were continuing to tabulate votes.”<ul>
 <li>“For example, on November 4, [redacted]—a Campaign employee, agent, and co-conspirator of the defendant—tried to sow confusion when the ongoing vote count at the TCF Center in Detroit, Michigan, looked unfavorable for the defendant.”</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“When a colleague suggested that there was about to be unrest reminiscent of the Brooks Brothers Riot, a violent effort to stop the vote count in Florida after the 2000 presidential election, [redacted] responded ‘Make them riot’ and ‘Do it!!!’ The defendant’s Campaign operatives and supporters used similar tactics at other tabulation centers, including in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and the defendant sometimes used the resulting confrontations to falsely claim that his election observers were being denied proper access, thus serving as a predicate to the defendant’s claim that fraud must have occurred in the observers’ absence.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Michigan voting machines</h2>Smith will argue that Trump, outside his official presidential duties, tried to persuade political allies in Michigan to sway the election in his favor.<ul>
 <li>Among the evidence he will introduce: The former president held a meeting, “private in nature,” with Michigan legislators at the White House.</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>Smith also wrote that “In mid-December, the defendant spoke with RNC Chairwoman [redacted] and asked her to publicize and promote a private report that had been related on December 13 that purported to identify flaws in the use of [redacted] machines in Antrim County, Michigan. [Redacted] refused, telling the defendant that she already had discussed this report with [redacted] Michigan’s Speaker of the House, who had told her that the report was inaccurate. [Redacted] conveyed to the defendant [redacted] exact assessment: the report was ‘f—— nuts.’”</li>
 </ul><h2>Nevada</h2>In Nevada, Trump allegedly ignored warnings about spreading lies about the state’s election results. Smith wrote: “Notwithstanding the RNC Chief Counsel’s warning, the defendant re-tweeted and amplified news of the lawsuit on November 24, calling it ‘Big News!’ that a Nevada Court had agreed to hear it. But the defendant did not similarly promote the fact that within two weeks, on December 4, the Nevada District Court dismissed Law v. Whitmer, finding in a detailed opinion that ‘there is no credible or reliable evidence that the 2020 General Election in Nevada was affected by fraud,’ including through the signature-match machines, and that Biden won the election in the state.”<ul>
 <li>Trump continued to repeat false claims in tweets and speeches “as a candidate, not as an office holder,” Smith wrote.</li>
 </ul><h2>Pennsylvania&nbsp;</h2>In the Keystone State, officials warned Trump there was no smoke and no fire related to election fraud in the commonwealth, Smith wrote.<ul>
 <li>“Two days after the election, on November 6, the defendant called [redacted], the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party—the entity responsible for supporting Republican candidates in the commonwealth at the federal, state and local level. [Redacted] had a prior relationship with the defendant, including having represented him in litigation in Pennsylvania after the 2016 presidential election. The defendant asked [redacted] how, without fraud, he had gone from winning Pennsylvania on election day to trailing in the day afterward. Consistent with what Campaign staff already had told the defendant, [redacted] confirmed that it was not fraud; it was that there were roughly 1,750,000 mail-in ballots still being counted in Pennsylvania, which were expected to be eighty percent for Biden. Over the following two months, the defendant spread false claims of fraud in Pennsylvania anyway.”</li>
 </ul><ul>
 <li>“In early November, in a Campaign meeting, when the defendant suggested that more people in Pennsylvania voted than had checked in to vote, Deputy Campaign Manager [redacted] corrected him.”</li>
 </ul><h2>Wisconsin</h2>Smith wrote Trump ignored reality in Wisconsin as well.<ul>
 <li>“On November 29, a recount that the defendant’s campaign had petitioned and paid for confirmed that Biden had won in Wisconsin — and increased the defendant’s margin of defeat. On December 14, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected the Campaign’s election lawsuit there. As a result, on December 21, Wisconsin’s Governor signed a certificate of final determination confirming the prior certificate of ascertainment that established Biden’s electors as the valid electors for the state.”</li>
 </ul>Trump responded by rebuking the Wisconsin Supreme Court judge who had signed the majority opinion that rejected the lawsuit, forcing the state marshals responsible for the judge’s security to enhance protection due to a rise in “threatening communications.”<h2>Fake electors&nbsp;</h2>Smith alleged that as Trump and co-conspirators faltered at overturning states’ official election results, they turned their attention to fake slates of electors.As early as December 2020, Trump and his allies “developed a new plan regarding targeted states that the defendant had lost (Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin): to organize the people who would have served as the defendant’s electors had he won the popular vote, and cause them to sign and send to Pence, as President of the Senate, certificates in which they falsely represent themselves as legitimate electors who had cast electoral votes for the defendant,” Smith wrote.Trump and his allies lied to Vice President Mike Pence heading toward Jan. 6, “telling him that there was substantial election fraud and concealing their orchestration of the plan to manufacture fraudulent elector slates, as well as their intention to use the fake slates to attempt to obstruct the congressional certification.”Trump’s alleged lies to Pence and the public “created a tinderbox that he purposely ignited on January 6.”The filing details numerous people, including Trump, pressuring Pence for weeks to use his role overseeing Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote to overturn the election results.On the morning of Jan. 6, Pence, once again, told Trump he would not go along with the plan.“So on January 6, the defendant sent to the Capitol a crowd of angry supporters, whom the defendant had called to the city and inundated with false claims of outcome-determinative election fraud, to induce Pence not to certify the legitimate electoral vote and to obstruct the certification.”“Although the attack on the Capitol successfully delayed the certification for approximately six hours, the House and Senate resumed the Joint Session at 11:35 p.m. But the conspirators were not done.”The filing alleges a co-conspirator once again urged Pence to “violate the law” by delaying the certification for 10 days. He refused.<h2>Pressure on Pence</h2>Smith must prove that Trump’s pressure on Pence was outside of their official duties together, and therefore can not be considered immune from prosecution.Smith plans to introduce evidence of private phone calls and conversations between Trump and his VP, including some with campaign staff, essentially tying their interactions to their interests as those seeking office again, “as running mates in the post-election period.” Smith also plans to highlight that Pence’s role in certifying the election was largely ceremonial and within the realm of the Senate, and strictly outside the bounds of the Oval Office.&nbsp; Among Smith’s points made in his motion:<ul>
 <li>“Because the Vice President’s role is and has always been ministerial, rather than substantive or discretionary, it is difficult to imagine an occasion in which a President would have any valid reason to try to influence it. As such, criminalizing a President’s efforts to affect the Vice President’s role as the President of the Senate overseeing the certification of Electoral College results would not jeopardize an Executive Branch function or authority.”</li>
 </ul>

Special counsel reveals new evidence against Trump in 2020 election case

Emails alleging conspiracy and bribery involving liquor licenses tied to Columbia woman facing felony forgery charges

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

A Columbia woman&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/crime/2024/09/19/casa-marias-owner-charged-with-arson-now-accused-of-impersonating-elected-officials-other-restaurant-owners/" target="_blank">charged with using multiple aliases</a>&nbsp;to accuse restaurant competitors of criminal activity also used fake names for testimony to a Missouri House committee alleging a conspiracy to obtain liquor licenses for undocumented immigrants&nbsp;

Crystal Umfress of Columbia, owner of Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina, was already facing trial in a Dunklin County&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kfvs12.com/2023/09/28/2-charged-with-felony-arson-connection-with-fire-kennett-business/" target="_blank">arson-for-hire scheme</a>&nbsp;when she was charged Sept. 18 with five new felonies. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/PROBABLE%20CAUSE.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2297809" target="_blank">new charges</a>, of forgery and filing a false document, also originate in Dunklin County.

The prosecution alleges she impersonated multiple public officials and others to claim that Mexican-born restaurant owners were bribing local public officials to cover-up their immigration status and obtain liquor licenses.

“I can’t speculate on what it is that set the lady off,” said Ron Huber, an associate commissioner of Dunklin County who was a target of the accusations cited in the forgery case. “I’ve never met her before in my life. I don’t know who she is or why she’s out to try to discredit me or anything.”

Huber is also named several times in testimony submitted to the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes. The committee was established in July to study whether undocumented immigrants are a source of crime and held public meetings in Springfield, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis, and Cape Girardeau place, place and place.

The written testimony tied to Umfress was submitted to the committee using multiple names and email addresses. The emails allege Huber is at the center of a widespread conspiracy to obtain liquor licenses for Mexican restaurants that in turn serve as fronts for drug dealing and other crimes.

The conspiracy allegedly extends to Columbia, Warrenton, Springfield and other cities. The email testimony claims that undocumented immigrants who cannot legally obtain a liquor license are hiring people to front for their license applications, with officials turning a blind eye.

The submissions also often include a list of links to news stories involving people with Hispanic names, sometimes as victims of a crime, others as the alleged perpetrator of an offense like drunk driving.

Huber said he’s heard Umfress submitted testimony to the committee with false names.

“I’d like to know where that money went if I am supposed to have gotten it,” he said of the bribery allegation.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which investigated the forgery case, cannot comment on its work or confirm any connection between Umfress and the accounts which contacted the legislative committee, Sgt. Brad Germann said. The Dunklin County prosecuting attorney could not be reached for comment.

Russell Oliver, Umfress’ attorney, also declined to comment.

Starting in May, The Independent received a series of emails with similar accusations and many of the same links. Three of the email names and addresses for the witness statements are the same as those received by The Independent.

Huber said he recognized several of the names used in the emails as among those that had worked to spread conspiracy theories about him.

One email to The Independent, using the name Marissa Jenkins, identified the sender as a student reporter seeking help, with the signature line “Investigate Report University of Missouri Journalism.”&nbsp;

A student named Marissa Jenkins was enrolled on a part-time basis during the summer term at MU, university spokesman Christopher Ave stated in an email. She is not currently enrolled.

The legislative testimony emails signed “Marissa Jenkins” do not identify her as a student or as a reporter.

The committee chairman, Republican state Rep. Lane Roberts of Joplin, said he was not aware that any of the testimony submitted by email was from aliases.&nbsp;

“I do know that we received a number — two, three or maybe four emails — with regard to something in Dunklin County,” Roberts said.

The committee was not set up to investigate specific charges of criminal activity, Roberts said.&nbsp;

“Our focus is in trying to quantify what kind of crime and how much crime is associated with undocumented workers,” Roberts said. “It’s been very difficult to come up with any kind of way to quantify that.”

Roberts, a former Joplin police chief and former director of the Department of Public Safety, said his response to specific allegations made in testimony is to ask the person reporting the criminal activity to contact law enforcement.

“When somebody alleges some kind of an activity, there’s always a healthy degree of skepticism, because often it’s personal, it’s emotional, and we have to be very careful about taking it at face value,” Roberts said.

Umfress first made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/arrest-warrant-issued-for-columbia-woman-charged-with-arson-in-dunklin-county/article_70480d98-9e9f-11ee-b5e9-57428dc6d748.html" target="_blank">news headlines last year</a>&nbsp;when she was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/PROBABLE%20CAUSE.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2086611" target="_blank">charged with paying $1,485</a>&nbsp;to someone to set fire to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kait8.com/2023/07/19/reward-offered-arson-investigation-kennett-restaurant/" target="_blank">Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant in Kennett</a>. She is set to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24BT-CR00089&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT36" target="_blank">go to trial in February</a>&nbsp;in Butler County, where the case was moved on a change of venue.

Testimony submitted to the legislative committee under the name Maria Garcia in&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-30-2024.pdf" target="_blank">advance of its July 30 hearing</a>&nbsp;blamed the owner of the building and Huber for the fire.

The owner, the testimony states, paid the intermediary who found the person willing to set the fire “$10,000 to start a kitchen fire to Lupitas Mexican and implement (sic) an American owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia, Missouri as she was trying to rat the commissioner out for a twenty year operation aiding illegal immigrants with IDs, liquor licenses, and drugs.”

Umfress has had numerous legal and personal issues coming at her at a rapid rate for more than a year.&nbsp;

On July 1, 2023, she obtained a marriage license to wed her partner at Casa Maria’s, Jesus Celestino Mendoza-Chavez, nine days before the fire hit the Kennett restaurant, which was owned by Mendoza’s brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/daughters-of-man-who-helped-open-operate-casa-marias-remember-their-dad/article_01762db2-689b-11ee-b32f-4f0f51db3a16.html" target="_blank">KOMU-TV in Columbia reported</a>.&nbsp;

She was charged in the arson on Sept. 22, 2023. Mendoza-Chavez died Oct. 1, 2023, after sustaining severe injuries&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/second-fatality-reported-in-sept-26-crash-on-stadium/article_329b0378-617e-11ee-ac20-efe6a036fd19.html" target="_blank">in a Sept. 26, 2023, head-on collision</a>&nbsp;in Columbia. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Motion%20to%20Amend%20Bond%20Conditions.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2092768" target="_blank">cited the death of her husband</a>&nbsp;in an unsuccessful bid to have her $65,000 bond reduced.

On May 9, the state Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended the liquor license at Casa Maria’s for 52 days after finding a forgery on the application for renewal,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/columbia/2024/05/16/casa-marias-liquor-license-suspended-52-days-for-alleged-forged-name-on-license-not-reporting-owners-felony-charge/" target="_blank">KMIZ TV in Columbia reported</a>. Umfress is ineligible for a liquor license in her own name because she has a felony theft conviction on her record.

The Independent on May 16 received the first email, from someone who called themselves Melissa White, making allegations involving Huber and the liquor license conspiracy.

The committee received submissions from “Melissa White,” using the same email address, in advance of two hearings. In the first, for the July 11 hearing, she&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-11-2024.pdf" target="_blank">brought a Columbia competitor</a>&nbsp;into her conspiracy allegations. The second, for the July 30 hearing, said her fiance had been&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-30-2024.pdf" target="_blank">assaulted while at a Columbia restaurant</a>&nbsp;and died the next day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727960496902.png" alt=" State Rep. Lane Roberts, a Republican from Joplin, is chairman of the House Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crime. He is shown during a Jan. 18 public hearing on a bill he introduced (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Lane Roberts, a Republican from Joplin, is chairman of the House Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crime. He is shown during a Jan. 18 public hearing on a bill he introduced (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Emails alleging conspiracy and bribery involving liquor licenses tied to Columbia woman facing felony forgery charges</h2>By RUDI KELLER &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A Columbia woman&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/crime/2024/09/19/casa-marias-owner-charged-with-arson-now-accused-of-impersonating-elected-officials-other-restaurant-owners/" target="_blank">charged with using multiple aliases</a>&nbsp;to accuse restaurant competitors of criminal activity also used fake names for testimony to a Missouri House committee alleging a conspiracy to obtain liquor licenses for undocumented immigrants&nbsp;Crystal Umfress of Columbia, owner of Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina, was already facing trial in a Dunklin County&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kfvs12.com/2023/09/28/2-charged-with-felony-arson-connection-with-fire-kennett-business/" target="_blank">arson-for-hire scheme</a>&nbsp;when she was charged Sept. 18 with five new felonies. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/PROBABLE%20CAUSE.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2297809" target="_blank">new charges</a>, of forgery and filing a false document, also originate in Dunklin County.The prosecution alleges she impersonated multiple public officials and others to claim that Mexican-born restaurant owners were bribing local public officials to cover-up their immigration status and obtain liquor licenses.“I can’t speculate on what it is that set the lady off,” said Ron Huber, an associate commissioner of Dunklin County who was a target of the accusations cited in the forgery case. “I’ve never met her before in my life. I don’t know who she is or why she’s out to try to discredit me or anything.”Huber is also named several times in testimony submitted to the Missouri House Special Interim Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes. The committee was established in July to study whether undocumented immigrants are a source of crime and held public meetings in Springfield, Joplin, Kansas City, St. Joseph, St. Louis, and Cape Girardeau place, place and place.The written testimony tied to Umfress was submitted to the committee using multiple names and email addresses. The emails allege Huber is at the center of a widespread conspiracy to obtain liquor licenses for Mexican restaurants that in turn serve as fronts for drug dealing and other crimes.The conspiracy allegedly extends to Columbia, Warrenton, Springfield and other cities. The email testimony claims that undocumented immigrants who cannot legally obtain a liquor license are hiring people to front for their license applications, with officials turning a blind eye.The submissions also often include a list of links to news stories involving people with Hispanic names, sometimes as victims of a crime, others as the alleged perpetrator of an offense like drunk driving.Huber said he’s heard Umfress submitted testimony to the committee with false names.“I’d like to know where that money went if I am supposed to have gotten it,” he said of the bribery allegation.The Missouri State Highway Patrol, which investigated the forgery case, cannot comment on its work or confirm any connection between Umfress and the accounts which contacted the legislative committee, Sgt. Brad Germann said. The Dunklin County prosecuting attorney could not be reached for comment.Russell Oliver, Umfress’ attorney, also declined to comment.Starting in May, The Independent received a series of emails with similar accusations and many of the same links. Three of the email names and addresses for the witness statements are the same as those received by The Independent.Huber said he recognized several of the names used in the emails as among those that had worked to spread conspiracy theories about him.One email to The Independent, using the name Marissa Jenkins, identified the sender as a student reporter seeking help, with the signature line “Investigate Report University of Missouri Journalism.”&nbsp;A student named Marissa Jenkins was enrolled on a part-time basis during the summer term at MU, university spokesman Christopher Ave stated in an email. She is not currently enrolled.The legislative testimony emails signed “Marissa Jenkins” do not identify her as a student or as a reporter.The committee chairman, Republican state Rep. Lane Roberts of Joplin, said he was not aware that any of the testimony submitted by email was from aliases.&nbsp;“I do know that we received a number — two, three or maybe four emails — with regard to something in Dunklin County,” Roberts said.The committee was not set up to investigate specific charges of criminal activity, Roberts said.&nbsp;“Our focus is in trying to quantify what kind of crime and how much crime is associated with undocumented workers,” Roberts said. “It’s been very difficult to come up with any kind of way to quantify that.”Roberts, a former Joplin police chief and former director of the Department of Public Safety, said his response to specific allegations made in testimony is to ask the person reporting the criminal activity to contact law enforcement.“When somebody alleges some kind of an activity, there’s always a healthy degree of skepticism, because often it’s personal, it’s emotional, and we have to be very careful about taking it at face value,” Roberts said.Umfress first made&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/arrest-warrant-issued-for-columbia-woman-charged-with-arson-in-dunklin-county/article_70480d98-9e9f-11ee-b5e9-57428dc6d748.html" target="_blank">news headlines last year</a>&nbsp;when she was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/PROBABLE%20CAUSE.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2086611" target="_blank">charged with paying $1,485</a>&nbsp;to someone to set fire to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kait8.com/2023/07/19/reward-offered-arson-investigation-kennett-restaurant/" target="_blank">Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant in Kennett</a>. She is set to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/cnet/cases/newHeader.do?inputVO.caseNumber=24BT-CR00089&amp;inputVO.courtId=SMPDB0004_CT36" target="_blank">go to trial in February</a>&nbsp;in Butler County, where the case was moved on a change of venue.Testimony submitted to the legislative committee under the name Maria Garcia in&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-30-2024.pdf" target="_blank">advance of its July 30 hearing</a>&nbsp;blamed the owner of the building and Huber for the fire.The owner, the testimony states, paid the intermediary who found the person willing to set the fire “$10,000 to start a kitchen fire to Lupitas Mexican and implement (sic) an American owner of a Mexican restaurant in Columbia, Missouri as she was trying to rat the commissioner out for a twenty year operation aiding illegal immigrants with IDs, liquor licenses, and drugs.”Umfress has had numerous legal and personal issues coming at her at a rapid rate for more than a year.&nbsp;On July 1, 2023, she obtained a marriage license to wed her partner at Casa Maria’s, Jesus Celestino Mendoza-Chavez, nine days before the fire hit the Kennett restaurant, which was owned by Mendoza’s brother,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/daughters-of-man-who-helped-open-operate-casa-marias-remember-their-dad/article_01762db2-689b-11ee-b32f-4f0f51db3a16.html" target="_blank">KOMU-TV in Columbia reported</a>.&nbsp;She was charged in the arson on Sept. 22, 2023. Mendoza-Chavez died Oct. 1, 2023, after sustaining severe injuries&nbsp;<a href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/second-fatality-reported-in-sept-26-crash-on-stadium/article_329b0378-617e-11ee-ac20-efe6a036fd19.html" target="_blank">in a Sept. 26, 2023, head-on collision</a>&nbsp;in Columbia. She&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Motion%20to%20Amend%20Bond%20Conditions.PDF?courtCode=35&amp;di=2092768" target="_blank">cited the death of her husband</a>&nbsp;in an unsuccessful bid to have her $65,000 bond reduced.On May 9, the state Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control suspended the liquor license at Casa Maria’s for 52 days after finding a forgery on the application for renewal,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/news/columbia/2024/05/16/casa-marias-liquor-license-suspended-52-days-for-alleged-forged-name-on-license-not-reporting-owners-felony-charge/" target="_blank">KMIZ TV in Columbia reported</a>. Umfress is ineligible for a liquor license in her own name because she has a felony theft conviction on her record.The Independent on May 16 received the first email, from someone who called themselves Melissa White, making allegations involving Huber and the liquor license conspiracy.The committee received submissions from “Melissa White,” using the same email address, in advance of two hearings. In the first, for the July 11 hearing, she&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-11-2024.pdf" target="_blank">brought a Columbia competitor</a>&nbsp;into her conspiracy allegations. The second, for the July 30 hearing, said her fiance had been&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/BillTracking/bills241/witnesses/NoBillsWitnesses/3022&amp;7-30-2024.pdf" target="_blank">assaulted while at a Columbia restaurant</a>&nbsp;and died the next day.Umfress’ emails began causing Huber problems about six months ago, he said. He was contacted by the state alcohol regulators about emails purporting to withdraw license applications, Huber said, and more recently from accounting clients.He asked the prosecutor to be aggressive, Huber said.“I kind of put some pressure on the prosecutor,” He said. “I said, ‘before you know, nobody really knew what she was doing or whatever, but I’ve started to get phone calls from my clients and I’ll start losing clients.’ That’s going to be a big deal.”

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