(Radio Iowa) - Two disability rights groups are hosting candidate forums focused on issues faced by Iowans with disabilities. 

The seven forums next month will feature candidates for the Iowa legislature. Catherine Johnson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, says the first-ever forums are so Iowans with disabilities have a chance to understand how candidates running for state office think through disability issues. Piper Haugan, a voting rights advocate at Disability Rights Iowa, says candidates will be asked questions about their experience with disabilities and their related policy priorities. 

The first forum is scheduled for October 1st in Council Bluffs. Others will follow: October 8th in Waverly, October 10th in Sioux City, October 16th in Ankeny, October 17th in Waukee, October 22nd in Des Moines, and October 24 in Ottumwa.

(Radio Iowa) - Two disability rights groups are hosting candidate forums focused on issues faced by Iowans with disabilities. The seven forums next month will feature candidates for the Iowa legislature. Catherine Johnson, executive director of Disability Rights Iowa, says the first-ever forums are so Iowans with disabilities have a chance to understand how candidates running for state office think through disability issues. Piper Haugan, a voting rights advocate at Disability Rights Iowa, says candidates will be asked questions about their experience with disabilities and their related policy priorities. The first forum is scheduled for October 1st in Council Bluffs. Others will follow: October 8th in Waverly, October 10th in Sioux City, October 16th in Ankeny, October 17th in Waukee, October 22nd in Des Moines, and October 24 in Ottumwa.

Seven forums featuring Iowa legislative candidates to focus on disability issues

Colombia lifted a ban on American beef imports from the states where bird flu was detected in dairy cows. According to USDA’s export library, beef exporters in 14 states will get restored access to Colombian markets. Colombia was the only country to ban U.S. beef imports over the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle. Agriculture Dive says Colombia’s ban hurt U.S. beef export purchases and reduced Colombia’s spending by as much as 70 percent during the summer. 

Colombia lifted a ban on American beef imports from the states where bird flu was detected in dairy cows. According to USDA’s export library, beef exporters in 14 states will get restored access to Colombian markets. Colombia was the only country to ban U.S. beef imports over the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cattle. Agriculture Dive says Colombia’s ban hurt U.S. beef export purchases and reduced Colombia’s spending by as much as 70 percent during the summer.

Columbia lifts ban on U.S. beef imports

Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would extend a new sustainable aviation fuel tax credit for biofuels for ten years and prevent foreign producers from accessing the credits. Groups like the National Corn Growers Association applauded the legislation that supports domestic producers. “Corn growers are making every effort to help the airline industry lower its greenhouse gas emissions through the use of corn ethanol,” says NCGA President Harold Wolle. 

The 45Z tax credit provides incentives to refineries that produce biofuels that can be used in commercial aircraft. The National Oilseed Processors Association and the American Soybean Association also hailed the legislation. “NOPA commends this bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort that puts U.S. fuel producers, crushers, and farmers first,” says NOPA President Kailee Buller. “While we support free trade and open markets, we don’t believe foreign feedstocks should benefit on the backs of U.S. taxpayers and to the detriment of U.S. farmers.”

Legislation introduced in the House and Senate would extend a new sustainable aviation fuel tax credit for biofuels for ten years and prevent foreign producers from accessing the credits. Groups like the National Corn Growers Association applauded the legislation that supports domestic producers. “Corn growers are making every effort to help the airline industry lower its greenhouse gas emissions through the use of corn ethanol,” says NCGA President Harold Wolle. The 45Z tax credit provides incentives to refineries that produce biofuels that can be used in commercial aircraft. The National Oilseed Processors Association and the American Soybean Association also hailed the legislation. “NOPA commends this bipartisan, bicameral legislative effort that puts U.S. fuel producers, crushers, and farmers first,” says NOPA President Kailee Buller. “While we support free trade and open markets, we don’t believe foreign feedstocks should benefit on the backs of U.S. taxpayers and to the detriment of U.S. farmers.”- NAFB

Groups respond to SAF tax credit guidelines

The American Red Cross is again experiencing a blood shortage, and while the need isn't critical, it is close to an emergency situation.  

Executive Director of the northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says it's currently a tenuous situation.  

"We're still not seeing quite the levels of blood donors walking in the doors as we would like, we're not quite in as bad a spot as we were a couple months ago," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But we're still in that very tenuous position where if we don't beef up our numbers of blood donors walking in the doors to donate blood, then we could find ourselves back in that very critical space of a blood emergency again."  

Woody says since July the Red Cross has seen a 25% decrease in the number of donors coming to donate blood. 

Woody says there's a number of reasons why people may not donate, whether it's time or not being able too.  

But Woody says for those that are able to donate, the Red Cross asks them to step back and think about how it could affect people in their own lives.  

"It's kind of like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, you can find someone who is needing blood in our personal circles if you step back and look at it," Woody explains. 

Woody says even in her role when she really sat back to think about friends and family members in her own life 

"And then when I really got to looking at it, it was like wow there are so many people that I know that have had to rely on the generosity of a blood donor," Woody says. 

Woody says it can be really kind of scary when you sit back and dig into the people in your lives that have relied on a blood transfusion for a medical emergency.  

Woody says a way people can help in getting donations, if there are no events near you, is to call the Red Cross and help set one up 

"In a school, in a church, in a community center, you know it's easy to do, it doesn't take much, it's not a heavy lift on the person who has the idea and the facility, Red Cross brings the staff, we bring the equipment and the supplies," Woody points out. "What we ask the blood sponsor, if you will, to help with is the recruitment and just kind of helping to make sure they help get the word out." 

Woody emphasizes while it's not a critical situation yet, it is a time where with people back in school and doing sporting events, there's a increased risk of blood being needed. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727368952449.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The American Red Cross is again experiencing a blood shortage, and while the need isn't critical, it is close to an emergency situation. Executive Director of the northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says it's currently a tenuous situation. "We're still not seeing quite the levels of blood donors walking in the doors as we would like, we're not quite in as bad a spot as we were a couple months ago," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But we're still in that very tenuous position where if we don't beef up our numbers of blood donors walking in the doors to donate blood, then we could find ourselves back in that very critical space of a blood emergency again." Woody says since July the Red Cross has seen a 25% decrease in the number of donors coming to donate blood. Woody says there's a number of reasons why people may not donate, whether it's time or not being able too. But Woody says for those that are able to donate, the Red Cross asks them to step back and think about how it could affect people in their own lives. "It's kind of like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, you can find someone who is needing blood in our personal circles if you step back and look at it," Woody explains. Woody says even in her role when she really sat back to think about friends and family members in her own life "And then when I really got to looking at it, it was like wow there are so many people that I know that have had to rely on the generosity of a blood donor," Woody says. Woody says it can be really kind of scary when you sit back and dig into the people in your lives that have relied on a blood transfusion for a medical emergency. Woody says a way people can help in getting donations, if there are no events near you, is to call the Red Cross and help set one up "In a school, in a church, in a community center, you know it's easy to do, it doesn't take much, it's not a heavy lift on the person who has the idea and the facility, Red Cross brings the staff, we bring the equipment and the supplies," Woody points out. "What we ask the blood sponsor, if you will, to help with is the recruitment and just kind of helping to make sure they help get the word out." Woody emphasizes while it's not a critical situation yet, it is a time where with people back in school and doing sporting events, there's a increased risk of blood being needed. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Red Cross worried blood shortage could become critical

JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Missouri couple in connection with years of alleged child sex abuse.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff 56-year-old Gregory D. Arnold and his wife 55-year-old Yvonne P. Arnold both of Chilhowee, Missouri, have been charged with Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree

The charges mark the beginning of what is anticipated to be a comprehensive and detailed investigation.&nbsp; The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is actively looking into additional potential crimes that may have been committed as early as 2005.

Investigators are working to uncover all facts and ensure justice is served&nbsp; the sheriff's office is committed to support for the victims in this case.&nbsp;Chilhowee is located approximately 65 miles southeast of Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727345833618.png" alt="Arnold photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arnold photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>JOHNSON COUNTY, Mo. —Law enforcement are investigating a rural Missouri couple in connection with years of alleged child sex abuse.According to the Johnson County Sheriff 56-year-old Gregory D. Arnold and his wife 55-year-old Yvonne P. Arnold both of Chilhowee, Missouri, have been charged with Statutory Sodomy 1st Degree<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727345792127.png" alt="Arnold-photo Johnson Co." />
 <figcaption>Arnold-photo Johnson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>The charges mark the beginning of what is anticipated to be a comprehensive and detailed investigation.&nbsp; The Johnson County Sheriff's Office is actively looking into additional potential crimes that may have been committed as early as 2005.Investigators are working to uncover all facts and ensure justice is served&nbsp; the sheriff's office is committed to support for the victims in this case.&nbsp;Chilhowee is located approximately 65 miles southeast of Kansas City.

Rural Missouri couple face years of child sex crime allegations

(Radio Iowa) - Tens of thousands of people enjoy Iowa's state parks every year, and this weekend, Iowa's park system is asking for a little help in return. 

Saturday is the annual Volunteer Day for Iowa's parks. Mary Runkel, the D-N-R's statewide volunteer and outreach coordinator, says 14 state parks and a state forest are hosting events -- and they could use a hand with a variety of chores. That could include things like picking up litter, planting trees, removing invasive plants or painting picnic tables. The 15 locations are spread across the state and it's likely a park near you could use a few more helpers who could spare two or three hours. 

Runkel says to bring a water bottle, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks and wear clothes that can get dirty or stained. Learn more at Iowa DNR.gov/volunteer.

(Radio Iowa) - Tens of thousands of people enjoy Iowa's state parks every year, and this weekend, Iowa's park system is asking for a little help in return. Saturday is the annual Volunteer Day for Iowa's parks. Mary Runkel, the D-N-R's statewide volunteer and outreach coordinator, says 14 state parks and a state forest are hosting events -- and they could use a hand with a variety of chores. That could include things like picking up litter, planting trees, removing invasive plants or painting picnic tables. The 15 locations are spread across the state and it's likely a park near you could use a few more helpers who could spare two or three hours. Runkel says to bring a water bottle, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, snacks and wear clothes that can get dirty or stained. Learn more at Iowa DNR.gov/volunteer.

Volunteers are needed to help spruce up Iowa's state parks this Saturday

Washington D.C.&nbsp; -&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall on Wednesday called for the immediate passage of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2024/5/lee-and-roy-partner-on-legislation-to-secure-federal-elections">Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.&nbsp; The SAVE Act is crucial for protecting the integrity of our elections by requiring proof of American citizenship when registering to vote. Our elections must be decided by American citizens.&nbsp;

Recently, states like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/virginia-governor-youngkin-voter-purge-noncitizens-errors-election-rcna167925">Virginia</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-announces-over-1m-ineligible-voters-removed-voting-rolls-since-last-presidential-election">Texas</a>, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-2024-election-citizen-voter-registration-18d3c0bda65a5030cd07f1d536e39ab7">Oregon</a>&nbsp;found noncitizens had registered to vote in our elections. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote is not controversial, it’s common sense.

“Free, safe, secure and fair elections are integral to the survival of our republic. Without election integrity, the voice of American citizens, the foundation of a republic, is at risk of being silenced.”

“Unfortunately, millions of Americans have lost confidence in the security of our elections. They question whether their vote truly matters or if their vote is being diluted by noncitizens. We must ensure that the outcome of our elections is determined by our own citizens, uninfluenced by illegal ballots.”

“This shouldn't be a divisive issue. Nearly 80% of Americans - Democrats, Republicans, independents - all agree on this simple requirement, 80%. Now, again, this is common sense. You need an ID to drive, you need an ID to board a plane, you need an ID to get a fishing license. But voting is a sacred right with even a higher value than those other examples, that voting should demand the same standard.”

“Protecting this right isn't controversial, it’s common sense. Right now, due to the crisis of our open southern border, at least 11 million illegal immigrants are in the United States today. That number alone could replace the population of 36 states, almost four times the population of Kansas. Imagine what that could do to our electoral process if left unchecked.”

“Noncitizen voting is real. This isn't hypothetical. In Texas, Virginia, and Oregon, noncitizens have been found on the voting rosters. Additionally, California, Maryland, Vermont and Washington, D.C. already allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. This is an immediate threat to the future of our democracy, and it demands action.”&nbsp;

“This is a nonpartisan American issue. It's about protecting our country. Just as we reject foreign interference in our elections, we must reject noncitizen voting with equal seriousness, and this is why Congress must act, and it can act today.”

Washington D.C.&nbsp; -&nbsp;U.S. Senator Roger Marshall on Wednesday called for the immediate passage of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.lee.senate.gov/2024/5/lee-and-roy-partner-on-legislation-to-secure-federal-elections">Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act</a>&nbsp;on the Senate floor.&nbsp; The SAVE Act is crucial for protecting the integrity of our elections by requiring proof of American citizenship when registering to vote. Our elections must be decided by American citizens.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Why won’t Democrats work to secure our elections and pass a policy that 80% of Americans support and does just that? Protecting election integrity is not a partisan issue—it’s an American issue. Let’s pass the SAVE Act to ensure our elections remain free, fair, &amp; secure. <a href="https://t.co/IeoTDskdZl">pic.twitter.com/IeoTDskdZl</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1839024251002622306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Recently, states like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/virginia-governor-youngkin-voter-purge-noncitizens-errors-election-rcna167925">Virginia</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/texas-announces-over-1m-ineligible-voters-removed-voting-rolls-since-last-presidential-election">Texas</a>, and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/oregon-2024-election-citizen-voter-registration-18d3c0bda65a5030cd07f1d536e39ab7">Oregon</a>&nbsp;found noncitizens had registered to vote in our elections. Requiring proof of citizenship to vote is not controversial, it’s common sense.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">In America, you need an ID to do all of the following things, yet the Democrat party finds it controversial to need an ID to participate in our electoral process. <a href="https://t.co/pJ4UBAQuwC">pic.twitter.com/pJ4UBAQuwC</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1839008515194507515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Free, safe, secure and fair elections are integral to the survival of our republic. Without election integrity, the voice of American citizens, the foundation of a republic, is at risk of being silenced.”“Unfortunately, millions of Americans have lost confidence in the security of our elections. They question whether their vote truly matters or if their vote is being diluted by noncitizens. We must ensure that the outcome of our elections is determined by our own citizens, uninfluenced by illegal ballots.”“This shouldn't be a divisive issue. Nearly 80% of Americans - Democrats, Republicans, independents - all agree on this simple requirement, 80%. Now, again, this is common sense. You need an ID to drive, you need an ID to board a plane, you need an ID to get a fishing license. But voting is a sacred right with even a higher value than those other examples, that voting should demand the same standard.”“Protecting this right isn't controversial, it’s common sense. Right now, due to the crisis of our open southern border, at least 11 million illegal immigrants are in the United States today. That number alone could replace the population of 36 states, almost four times the population of Kansas. Imagine what that could do to our electoral process if left unchecked.”“Noncitizen voting is real. This isn't hypothetical. In Texas, Virginia, and Oregon, noncitizens have been found on the voting rosters. Additionally, California, Maryland, Vermont and Washington, D.C. already allow noncitizens to vote in local elections. This is an immediate threat to the future of our democracy, and it demands action.”&nbsp;“This is a nonpartisan American issue. It's about protecting our country. Just as we reject foreign interference in our elections, we must reject noncitizen voting with equal seriousness, and this is why Congress must act, and it can act today.”

🎥Marshall: Why won't Democrats work to secure our elections?

BeLeaf Medical is arguing the post-harvest employees at its Sinse facility in St. Louis don’t have the right to unionize because they’re considered agricultural workers

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

It’s been more than seven months since employees of St. Louis-based Beleaf Medical cannabis company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/company-continues-to-argue-missouri-cannabis-workers-cant-unionize/">held an election</a>&nbsp;to unionize.

The majority of the ballots — 11 of the 16 — have remained closed.

“It’s been quite a while,” said&nbsp;Will Braddum, a post-harvest technician at the&nbsp;company’s Sinse facility in St. Louis. “We’re just like, what is happening? Why is this happening? We’re just kind of in the dark waiting.”

The reason behind the delay is likely that Braddum and his fellow “post-harvest” team members exist in a gray area in national labor law — which could change if their union drive is successful.&nbsp;

Not long after Braddum and other employees&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/04/cannabis-workers-across-missouri-begin-push-to-unionize-dispensaries/">filed their union petition last September</a>, the company argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees aren’t manufacturer workers — they’re agricultural workers.&nbsp;

And agricultural workers don’t have the right to unionize under the country’s labor laws.

But Braddum and his fellow employees — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24494135/ptl-dec-chal.pdf" target="_blank">the regional director of the NLRB</a>&nbsp;— believe they’re more like workers at tobacco processing plants, who courts repeatedly have found aren’t agricultural workers.&nbsp;

“I’ve never touched a living plant at work,”&nbsp;Braddum said, who is organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655.&nbsp;

The company has taken this fight all the way up to the national five-member board, asking them to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/04/union-drive-at-st-louis-cannabis-company-could-have-major-impact-on-national-labor-law/">national precedent</a>&nbsp;on whether employees who process the dried marijuana plants have the right to unionize.&nbsp;

And that’s likely why it’s taken so long for the regional director of the NLRB – who twice sided with the employees — to open the ballots, said St. Louis labor attorney George Suggs.

“If this is a unique situation, there’s no reason for [the regional director] to get out front by opening those ballots,” Suggs said. “Ultimately, the board will resolve it.”

But that doesn’t mean the fight would be over, Suggs said.&nbsp;

If the national board sides with the employees, then the company will likely refuse to bargain in order to land the decision in a federal court.&nbsp;

“Employers have this ability to string out the results of a campaign,” especially among businesses where there’s lots of employee turnover, Suggs said.

By the time there’s a resolution a couple years down the road, he said, union support has eroded.&nbsp;

“That’s the tactic,” Suggs said. “That’s what employers have been doing over the 40-plus years that I’ve been practicing labor law.”

Over the seven months of waiting, employees have noticed changes in their job descriptions that likely improve the company’s position in the case.

“It just seems like they’re trying to push our jobs more and more in the direction of quote unquote farmers,” said Ahmad “Jxggy” Haynes, a post-harvest technician at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility.&nbsp;

He said the company has hired temp workers to do the manufacturing work, including packaging, that he and other the union members were doing before.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company began hiring temps right after the employees filed a petition to form a union in September 2023, according to a recording of a recent staff meeting led by a company human resources representative and obtained by The Independent .

At the meeting, the HR representative said Beleaf has “burned through” 150 temporary employees since October. He told the temps they shouldn’t expect to be hired on full time anytime soon, but they should still feel part of the team.&nbsp;

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/st-louis-area-cannabis-workers-win-the-right-to-review-ballots-in-union-election/">Twice so far this year</a>, NLRB Regional Director Andrea Wilkes – who oversees a swath of six states in the Midwest —&nbsp; has ruled that post-harvest employees’ work is similar to that of employees in a tobacco processing plant.&nbsp;

“Removing the veins from tobacco leaves and fermenting the leaves has been held to be outside the definition of agriculture,” under federal labor law, Wilkes wrote in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24413165-decision-and-direction-of-election-beleaf-medical-llc" target="_blank">Jan. 25 ruling</a>.

The company’s response to her decision indicates that union employees likely have a long fight ahead of them.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25174384-20240213-beleaf-medical-14-rc-325871-position-statement" target="_blank">Feb. 13 letter</a>&nbsp;from Beleaf’s attorney to Wilkes, the company plans on fighting their employees’ unionization efforts all the way to federal court.&nbsp;

“Although we understand and respect the Board’s recent decision on this issue, we are preserving this issue for presentation to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit,” the letter states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company can get into court by refusing to bargain with the union, creating “a technical violation,” Suggs said.&nbsp;

That will lead to filing a petition for review in a federal court, Suggs said, so they can challenge the underlying issue in this case — whether these are agricultural workers — “in front of a bunch of federal judges.”

“That’s become a bigger problem, particularly in the Eighth Circuit,” Suggs said, “because you’ve got a number of very conservative judges who are kind of hostile to the labor movement generally.”

Sean&nbsp;Shannon, lead organizer with UFCW Local 655, said it’s obvious this has been the company’s plan all along.

“They clearly stated their intention to bring this as far as the 8th Circuit Court – which is several steps into the fight – in their original statement,” Shannon said of the company’s February letter. “I feel nothing but clear intent to obstruct this union at all costs, which ironically proves just how much these folks need a union.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727349987721.png" alt="Post-harvest employees at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility await union election results on Feb. 6 at the St. Louis Public Library Barr branch (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Post-harvest employees at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility await union election results on Feb. 6 at the St. Louis Public Library Barr branch (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>BeLeaf Medical is arguing the post-harvest employees at its Sinse facility in St. Louis don’t have the right to unionize because they’re considered agricultural workers</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>It’s been more than seven months since employees of St. Louis-based Beleaf Medical cannabis company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/company-continues-to-argue-missouri-cannabis-workers-cant-unionize/">held an election</a>&nbsp;to unionize.The majority of the ballots — 11 of the 16 — have remained closed.“It’s been quite a while,” said&nbsp;Will Braddum, a post-harvest technician at the&nbsp;company’s Sinse facility in St. Louis. “We’re just like, what is happening? Why is this happening? We’re just kind of in the dark waiting.”The reason behind the delay is likely that Braddum and his fellow “post-harvest” team members exist in a gray area in national labor law — which could change if their union drive is successful.&nbsp;Not long after Braddum and other employees&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/04/cannabis-workers-across-missouri-begin-push-to-unionize-dispensaries/">filed their union petition last September</a>, the company argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees aren’t manufacturer workers — they’re agricultural workers.&nbsp;And agricultural workers don’t have the right to unionize under the country’s labor laws.But Braddum and his fellow employees — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24494135/ptl-dec-chal.pdf" target="_blank">the regional director of the NLRB</a>&nbsp;— believe they’re more like workers at tobacco processing plants, who courts repeatedly have found aren’t agricultural workers.&nbsp;“I’ve never touched a living plant at work,”&nbsp;Braddum said, who is organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655.&nbsp;The company has taken this fight all the way up to the national five-member board, asking them to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/04/union-drive-at-st-louis-cannabis-company-could-have-major-impact-on-national-labor-law/">national precedent</a>&nbsp;on whether employees who process the dried marijuana plants have the right to unionize.&nbsp;And that’s likely why it’s taken so long for the regional director of the NLRB – who twice sided with the employees — to open the ballots, said St. Louis labor attorney George Suggs.“If this is a unique situation, there’s no reason for [the regional director] to get out front by opening those ballots,” Suggs said. “Ultimately, the board will resolve it.”But that doesn’t mean the fight would be over, Suggs said.&nbsp;If the national board sides with the employees, then the company will likely refuse to bargain in order to land the decision in a federal court.&nbsp;“Employers have this ability to string out the results of a campaign,” especially among businesses where there’s lots of employee turnover, Suggs said.By the time there’s a resolution a couple years down the road, he said, union support has eroded.&nbsp;“That’s the tactic,” Suggs said. “That’s what employers have been doing over the 40-plus years that I’ve been practicing labor law.”A long fight aheadOver the seven months of waiting, employees have noticed changes in their job descriptions that likely improve the company’s position in the case.“It just seems like they’re trying to push our jobs more and more in the direction of quote unquote farmers,” said Ahmad “Jxggy” Haynes, a post-harvest technician at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility.&nbsp;He said the company has hired temp workers to do the manufacturing work, including packaging, that he and other the union members were doing before.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company began hiring temps right after the employees filed a petition to form a union in September 2023, according to a recording of a recent staff meeting led by a company human resources representative and obtained by The Independent .At the meeting, the HR representative said Beleaf has “burned through” 150 temporary employees since October. He told the temps they shouldn’t expect to be hired on full time anytime soon, but they should still feel part of the team.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/st-louis-area-cannabis-workers-win-the-right-to-review-ballots-in-union-election/">Twice so far this year</a>, NLRB Regional Director Andrea Wilkes – who oversees a swath of six states in the Midwest —&nbsp; has ruled that post-harvest employees’ work is similar to that of employees in a tobacco processing plant.&nbsp;“Removing the veins from tobacco leaves and fermenting the leaves has been held to be outside the definition of agriculture,” under federal labor law, Wilkes wrote in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24413165-decision-and-direction-of-election-beleaf-medical-llc" target="_blank">Jan. 25 ruling</a>.The company’s response to her decision indicates that union employees likely have a long fight ahead of them.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25174384-20240213-beleaf-medical-14-rc-325871-position-statement" target="_blank">Feb. 13 letter</a>&nbsp;from Beleaf’s attorney to Wilkes, the company plans on fighting their employees’ unionization efforts all the way to federal court.&nbsp;“Although we understand and respect the Board’s recent decision on this issue, we are preserving this issue for presentation to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit,” the letter states.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company can get into court by refusing to bargain with the union, creating “a technical violation,” Suggs said.&nbsp;That will lead to filing a petition for review in a federal court, Suggs said, so they can challenge the underlying issue in this case — whether these are agricultural workers — “in front of a bunch of federal judges.”“That’s become a bigger problem, particularly in the Eighth Circuit,” Suggs said, “because you’ve got a number of very conservative judges who are kind of hostile to the labor movement generally.”Sean&nbsp;Shannon, lead organizer with UFCW Local 655, said it’s obvious this has been the company’s plan all along.“They clearly stated their intention to bring this as far as the 8th Circuit Court – which is several steps into the fight – in their original statement,” Shannon said of the company’s February letter. “I feel nothing but clear intent to obstruct this union at all costs, which ironically proves just how much these folks need a union.”

Cannabis union drive stalls as company attempts to set national legal precedent

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved the first guidelines for the trading of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts in the country. Carbon credit derivative contracts are financial instruments that derive their value from carbon credits, which represent the right to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of greenhouse gasses. Reports  say the contracts allow traders and market participants to hedge against or speculate on the future price of carbon credits, similar to how traditional derivative contracts function in commodities or financial markets. 

Regulators pushed for heightened scrutiny of voluntary carbon markets, which have developed outside government oversight due to concerns over quality and double counting. “The CFTC’s mission focused on risk mitigation and price discovery puts us on the front lines of the global nexus between financial markets and decarbonization efforts,” says CFTC Chair Rostin Benham. “We’ve outlined guidance to crack down on manipulation.”

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission approved the first guidelines for the trading of voluntary carbon credit derivative contracts in the country. Carbon credit derivative contracts are financial instruments that derive their value from carbon credits, which represent the right to emit one metric ton of carbon dioxide or an equivalent amount of greenhouse gasses. Reports say the contracts allow traders and market participants to hedge against or speculate on the future price of carbon credits, similar to how traditional derivative contracts function in commodities or financial markets. Regulators pushed for heightened scrutiny of voluntary carbon markets, which have developed outside government oversight due to concerns over quality and double counting. “The CFTC’s mission focused on risk mitigation and price discovery puts us on the front lines of the global nexus between financial markets and decarbonization efforts,” says CFTC Chair Rostin Benham. “We’ve outlined guidance to crack down on manipulation.”-NAFB

CFTC issues first carbon credit market guidelines

The 7th annual 'Over the Edge' fundraiser in coming up in St. Joseph on October 12th to benefit the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center.

The event features dozens of participants who have signed up to rappel fourteen stories off the Corby Building in Downtown St. Joseph. 

Executive Director of Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center, Melissa Birdsell, says volunteers are still needed to help with setup, "If it's something that someone is interested in, we can always use more volunteer help. Maybe they're afraid to rappel, but they still want to volunteer."

Birdsell says in order to rappel, individuals who signup to participate need to raise at least $1,000. She notes people can also form teams in order to raise the money. 

Voices of Courage has a fundraising goal of $75,000, and participants can signup until the day of the event.

Given that the event involves such a tall structure, Birdsell stresses the event is completely safe, "There are professionals who come to town to rig the building to get it ready and make it nice and safe."

Birdsell says the event is just as much fun for the spectators as it is for the participants. "Its not something you see everyday. Its not like a regular event where you walk through and look at things." Birdsell adds that its a great opportunity for people to learn more about Voices of Courage, a nonprofit organization.

The theme this year is "Heroes for Kids." All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero. Birdsell emphasizes for the third year in a row a special type of hero will be participating, "A lot of people's favorite superheroes right now are Kansas City Chiefs and K.C. Wolf will be rappelling for us. The kids love it. He is immediately out there talking with them, hugging them and taking pictures with them."

The Mission for Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center is, "Responding to child abuse through a team approach to prevent further trauma to children by providing a safe environment for them to disclose abuse and through public education to achieve a better community in which children can thrive."

The 'Over the Edge' event begins at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 12.

For more information about Voices of Courage and to register for the event, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voicescac.org/">voicescac.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727297144561.jpeg" alt="Corby Building, St. Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Corby Building, St. Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostThe 7th annual 'Over the Edge' fundraiser in coming up in St. Joseph on October 12th to benefit the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center.The event features dozens of participants who have signed up to rappel fourteen stories off the Corby Building in Downtown St. Joseph. Executive Director of Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center, Melissa Birdsell, says volunteers are still needed to help with setup, "If it's something that someone is interested in, we can always use more volunteer help. Maybe they're afraid to rappel, but they still want to volunteer."Birdsell says in order to rappel, individuals who signup to participate need to raise at least $1,000. She notes people can also form teams in order to raise the money. Voices of Courage has a fundraising goal of $75,000, and participants can signup until the day of the event.Given that the event involves such a tall structure, Birdsell stresses the event is completely safe, "There are professionals who come to town to rig the building to get it ready and make it nice and safe."Birdsell says the event is just as much fun for the spectators as it is for the participants. "Its not something you see everyday. Its not like a regular event where you walk through and look at things." Birdsell adds that its a great opportunity for people to learn more about Voices of Courage, a nonprofit organization.The theme this year is "Heroes for Kids." All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero. Birdsell emphasizes for the third year in a row a special type of hero will be participating, "A lot of people's favorite superheroes right now are Kansas City Chiefs and K.C. Wolf will be rappelling for us. The kids love it. He is immediately out there talking with them, hugging them and taking pictures with them."The Mission for Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center is, "Responding to child abuse through a team approach to prevent further trauma to children by providing a safe environment for them to disclose abuse and through public education to achieve a better community in which children can thrive."The 'Over the Edge' event begins at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 12.For more information about Voices of Courage and to register for the event, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voicescac.org/">voicescac.org</a>.

'Over the Edge' event to benefit Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center

(Radio Iowa) - University of Iowa Health Care is looking for volunteers to take part in a national study of a drug that shows promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. 

Dr. Del Miller, the U-I's principal investigator for the study, says they're looking for people between the ages of 50 and 89 who have either mild memory impairment or who've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. U-I-H-C is among nearly 50 sites nationwide taking part in what's dubbed the BenfoTeam study, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging.

 The drug is called benfotiamine and Miller hopes it will slow the symptoms or even reverse them. For details, visit BenfoTeam.org.

(Radio Iowa) - University of Iowa Health Care is looking for volunteers to take part in a national study of a drug that shows promise in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Dr. Del Miller, the U-I's principal investigator for the study, says they're looking for people between the ages of 50 and 89 who have either mild memory impairment or who've been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. U-I-H-C is among nearly 50 sites nationwide taking part in what's dubbed the BenfoTeam study, which is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute on Aging. The drug is called benfotiamine and Miller hopes it will slow the symptoms or even reverse them. For details, visit BenfoTeam.org.

Volunteers needed for UI study of drug that may help slow Alzheimer's

(Radio Iowa) - A pilot program aims to increase the overall health of residents in the town of Manchester and in Van Buren County. 

Experts are collecting extensive data on the two eastern Iowa communities so they eventually know how to make the most strategic investments in public health. Jason Henderson, vice president of Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach, hopes the program has long-lasting effects. Edith Parker, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, says setting up the plan will take several years as it needs to be carefully plotted out for the best impact. 

The program is led by the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition, which is made up of experts from Iowa’s three Regents universities, Wellmark and the Iowa Rural Development Council. It was launched in April.

(Radio Iowa) - A pilot program aims to increase the overall health of residents in the town of Manchester and in Van Buren County. Experts are collecting extensive data on the two eastern Iowa communities so they eventually know how to make the most strategic investments in public health. Jason Henderson, vice president of Iowa State University’s Extension and Outreach, hopes the program has long-lasting effects. Edith Parker, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Iowa, says setting up the plan will take several years as it needs to be carefully plotted out for the best impact. The program is led by the Iowa Rural Vitality Coalition, which is made up of experts from Iowa’s three Regents universities, Wellmark and the Iowa Rural Development Council. It was launched in April.

Two rural eastern Iowa communities are focus of new health initiative

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/"></a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Women candidates from Kansas and Missouri gathered September 19, at a Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus event in support of female power and personality in politics.

Gov. Laura Kelly, the keynote speaker, highlighted how she kept her femininity while running for office. She spoke of the advice she got on her campaign — how men told her that women should appear tough and strong while running for office.

“I’m sure of this one piece of advice: Don’t try to be something you’re not,” Kelly said. “In order to convince others you can do a certain job, you’ve got to show them that who you really are is exactly how you will do the job.”

Kelly said women possess traits that make them valuable in office — traits like being good listeners, collaborative, creative problem solvers and able to juggle multiple tasks all at once.

“You see, I believe the traits we as women come by naturally are exactly the traits that make for effective executive leaders,” Kelly said.

Kelly is one of 12 women governors, eight of whom are Democrats. Kelly said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the women governors were in “constant touch.” She said the group of women Democratic governors are close — seeking advice from each other, celebrating each other’s wins and supporting each other in difficult times. This was showcased at the Democratic National Convention, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@demgovs/video/7405758961019850026?lang=en" target="_blank">a video of the eight women</a>&nbsp;went viral on TikTok.

“While we’re really proud that there are 12 female governors, the last time I checked, there are 50 states,” Kelly said. “So do the math. We’ve got some work to do. I believe we will prevail. I am so energized by the next generations of women coming after mine.”

Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, a Democrat from Leawood, said that women have to prove more to themselves before they run for office. When Poskin was asked to run — after she’d worked in higher education for 20 years, raised seven children, and held a membership in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mensa.org/" target="_blank">Mensa</a>&nbsp;— she responded that she should get her law degree before running. After a few more asks, she was convinced to run.

“People laughed at me, like, ‘You have everything you need! You are so ready,’ ” Poskin said. “And as it turns out, you don’t, of course, have to be a lawyer.”

A<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/27/views-of-obstacles-for-women-seeking-high-political-office/" target="_blank">&nbsp;2023 Pew Research study</a>&nbsp;found that the main reason women don’t run for office is because they have to do more to prove themselves than men. Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, doesn’t believe a female candidate should have to prove herself on the basis of gender.

“Is it on us to educate people in 2024? I think they have to do some soul searching on their own, and evaluation of their own beliefs,” Oropeza said.

Every candidate at the event is an abortion rights advocate. Rep. Jo Ella Hoye, a two-term Democrat from Lenexa, said she originally ran to end gun violence.

“But a lot of women candidates get told not to talk about guns and abortion,” Hoye said. “We know that those are two priority issues on voters’ minds. So keep talking, and keep winning.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727286424687.png" alt=" Gov. Laura Kelly speaks Sept. 19, 2024, at the at a Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus event. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption> Gov. Laura Kelly speaks Sept. 19, 2024, at the at a Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus event. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a><a href="https://kansasreflector.com/"></a>KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Women candidates from Kansas and Missouri gathered September 19, at a Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus event in support of female power and personality in politics.Gov. Laura Kelly, the keynote speaker, highlighted how she kept her femininity while running for office. She spoke of the advice she got on her campaign — how men told her that women should appear tough and strong while running for office.“I’m sure of this one piece of advice: Don’t try to be something you’re not,” Kelly said. “In order to convince others you can do a certain job, you’ve got to show them that who you really are is exactly how you will do the job.”Kelly said women possess traits that make them valuable in office — traits like being good listeners, collaborative, creative problem solvers and able to juggle multiple tasks all at once.“You see, I believe the traits we as women come by naturally are exactly the traits that make for effective executive leaders,” Kelly said.Kelly is one of 12 women governors, eight of whom are Democrats. Kelly said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the women governors were in “constant touch.” She said the group of women Democratic governors are close — seeking advice from each other, celebrating each other’s wins and supporting each other in difficult times. This was showcased at the Democratic National Convention, when&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@demgovs/video/7405758961019850026?lang=en" target="_blank">a video of the eight women</a>&nbsp;went viral on TikTok.“While we’re really proud that there are 12 female governors, the last time I checked, there are 50 states,” Kelly said. “So do the math. We’ve got some work to do. I believe we will prevail. I am so energized by the next generations of women coming after mine.”Rep. Mari-Lynn Poskin, a Democrat from Leawood, said that women have to prove more to themselves before they run for office. When Poskin was asked to run — after she’d worked in higher education for 20 years, raised seven children, and held a membership in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mensa.org/" target="_blank">Mensa</a>&nbsp;— she responded that she should get her law degree before running. After a few more asks, she was convinced to run.“People laughed at me, like, ‘You have everything you need! You are so ready,’ ” Poskin said. “And as it turns out, you don’t, of course, have to be a lawyer.”A<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2023/09/27/views-of-obstacles-for-women-seeking-high-political-office/" target="_blank">&nbsp;2023 Pew Research study</a>&nbsp;found that the main reason women don’t run for office is because they have to do more to prove themselves than men. Rep. Melissa Oropeza, a Democrat from Kansas City, Kansas, doesn’t believe a female candidate should have to prove herself on the basis of gender.“Is it on us to educate people in 2024? I think they have to do some soul searching on their own, and evaluation of their own beliefs,” Oropeza said.Every candidate at the event is an abortion rights advocate. Rep. Jo Ella Hoye, a two-term Democrat from Lenexa, said she originally ran to end gun violence.“But a lot of women candidates get told not to talk about guns and abortion,” Hoye said. “We know that those are two priority issues on voters’ minds. So keep talking, and keep winning.”

Women candidates champion authenticity at Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus event

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

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the man who allegedly stalked former President Donald Trump for a month before aiming his rifle through a fence at Trump’s private golf course on Sept. 15 was indicted on the charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate.

<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ryan-wesley-routh-indicted-attempted-assassination-former-president-trump" target="_blank">The Justice Department&nbsp;</a>said a federal grand jury in Miami late Tuesday returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of attempting to kill the GOP presidential nominee while at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

“The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop,” Garland said.

The maximum sentence for the attempted assassination charge is a life sentence. Routh remains in pretrial detention.

The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/15/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case/" target="_blank">previously dismissed criminal charges&nbsp;</a>against Trump related to illegally allegedly keeping classified documents after he left the presidency. Cannon was appointed by Trump to the federal bench.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gunman-who-allegedly-targeted-trump-offered-150k-anyone-who-could-finish-job" target="_blank">Prosecutors on Monday detailed&nbsp;</a>that Routh stalked Trump for a month, noting events Trump would be at, and wrote a note where he offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to court filings.

This is now officially the second assassination attempt against Trump, after the&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">first&nbsp;</a>one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump sustained an injury to his ear. He was not injured at his Florida golf club.

Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/09/16/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-onto-trump-golf-course-charged-with-federal-gun-crimes/" target="_blank">confirmed that Routh did not fire his weapon</a>&nbsp;and that the gunshots heard were from a Secret Service agent who saw part of Routh’s gun poking out from the chain link fence and immediately fired.

<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-trump-golf-course-charged-federal-gun-crimes" target="_blank">Routh has already been charged</a>&nbsp;with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and with obliterating the serial number on a firearm, according to court records. With those charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726536262473.png" alt="Ryan Routh during his arrest -photo Martin Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Ryan Routh during his arrest -photo Martin Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors said Tuesday that the man who allegedly stalked former President Donald Trump for a month before aiming his rifle through a fence at Trump’s private golf course on Sept. 15 was indicted on the charge of an attempted assassination of a political candidate.<a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ryan-wesley-routh-indicted-attempted-assassination-former-president-trump" target="_blank">The Justice Department&nbsp;</a>said a federal grand jury in Miami late Tuesday returned an indictment charging Ryan Wesley Routh, 58, of attempting to kill the GOP presidential nominee while at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.“Violence targeting public officials endangers everything our country stands for, and the Department of Justice will use every available tool to hold Ryan Routh accountable for the attempted assassination of former President Trump charged in the indictment,” Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.“The Justice Department will not tolerate violence that strikes at the heart of our democracy, and we will find and hold accountable those who perpetrate it. This must stop,” Garland said.The maximum sentence for the attempted assassination charge is a life sentence. Routh remains in pretrial detention.The case is being handled by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2024/07/15/federal-judge-dismisses-trump-classified-documents-criminal-case/" target="_blank">previously dismissed criminal charges&nbsp;</a>against Trump related to illegally allegedly keeping classified documents after he left the presidency. Cannon was appointed by Trump to the federal bench.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/gunman-who-allegedly-targeted-trump-offered-150k-anyone-who-could-finish-job" target="_blank">Prosecutors on Monday detailed&nbsp;</a>that Routh stalked Trump for a month, noting events Trump would be at, and wrote a note where he offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to court filings.This is now officially the second assassination attempt against Trump, after the&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/campaigns-elections/trump-campaigns-in-western-pennsylvania-with-rally-in-butler-county/" target="_blank">first&nbsp;</a>one in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump sustained an injury to his ear. He was not injured at his Florida golf club.Acting Secret Service Director Ronald Rowe&nbsp;<a href="https://southdakotasearchlight.com/2024/09/16/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-onto-trump-golf-course-charged-with-federal-gun-crimes/" target="_blank">confirmed that Routh did not fire his weapon</a>&nbsp;and that the gunshots heard were from a Secret Service agent who saw part of Routh’s gun poking out from the chain link fence and immediately fired.<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/man-arrested-after-poking-rifle-trump-golf-course-charged-federal-gun-crimes" target="_blank">Routh has already been charged</a>&nbsp;with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and with obliterating the serial number on a firearm, according to court records. With those charges, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

Ryan Routh charged with attempted assassination in Trump golf course case

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;The state auditor says a private auditing firm will review details about the closure of a grocery store that got about two million dollars worth of tax incentives and grants from the City of Waterloo. 

All-in Grocers in downtown Waterloo opened on October 3rd of last year. The store's co-owner announced on August 10th the store would close temporarily, but it is now up for sale. In a written statement, State Auditor Rob Sand says his staff is passing information they've received about All-in Grocers to the private firm hired to audit the City of Waterloo's finances. 

Sand says it's the fastest and most efficient way to ensure public funds provided for the project were spent appropriately and as intended.

(Radio Iowa) -&nbsp;The state auditor says a private auditing firm will review details about the closure of a grocery store that got about two million dollars worth of tax incentives and grants from the City of Waterloo. All-in Grocers in downtown Waterloo opened on October 3rd of last year. The store's co-owner announced on August 10th the store would close temporarily, but it is now up for sale. In a written statement, State Auditor Rob Sand says his staff is passing information they've received about All-in Grocers to the private firm hired to audit the City of Waterloo's finances. Sand says it's the fastest and most efficient way to ensure public funds provided for the project were spent appropriately and as intended.

Closed Waterloo grocery got $2 million in city tax breaks

SEDGWICK COUNTY — A USD 259 Wichita school employee's quick reaction to close a door prevented a man with a gun, who was chasing a woman he had already shot, from entering a school building on Monday.

Just after 9a.m., Sedgwick County Emergency Communications began to receive reports of a shooting outside Cessna Elementary School, 2101 West 45th Street South in Wichita, according to a statement from Police Chief Joe Sullivan during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.

The call was broadcast on all law enforcement radio channels. A Sedgwick County Deputy heard the call and responded. When the deputy arrived, he located a 46-year-old man from Wichita who was armed with a handgun. The man made statements that the deputy would kill him while pointing the gun at the deputy, according to Sullivan.

The suspect than ran to and laid on top of a 30-year-old woman. The deputy gave commands for the man to drop his gun and observed the suspect place the gun to the woman's head.

In defense of the woman, the deputy fired his gun twice. The suspect would not let go of the woman. The deputy then attempted to disarm the man physically. It took two Wichita Police officers and the deputy to disarm the suspect.

Investigators have learned that the man and woman live together and have children together. The couple had an argument in a vehicle on the way to the school which led to the suspect shooting the woman multiple times. The woman ran toward the school and the suspect chased her. A Wichita Public School staff member saw the suspect with the gun approaching the school and pulled the door of the school shut and locked it so the suspect could not get inside.

EMS transported the suspect and the woman to an area hospital. Both are expected to survive, according to Sullivan. When the suspect is released from the hospital,&nbsp; he faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the name of the suspect.

The Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was activated to conduct this investigation. ALERT team investigators will present the facts of this case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727210527551.png" alt="The suspect with the gun chasing the woman who had already been shot -image from security camera image released by Wichita Police" />
 <figcaption>The suspect with the gun chasing the woman who had already been shot -image from security camera image released by Wichita Police</figcaption>
 </figure>SEDGWICK COUNTY — A USD 259 Wichita school employee's quick reaction to close a door prevented a man with a gun, who was chasing a woman he had already shot, from entering a school building on Monday.Just after 9a.m., Sedgwick County Emergency Communications began to receive reports of a shooting outside Cessna Elementary School, 2101 West 45th Street South in Wichita, according to a statement from Police Chief Joe Sullivan during a Tuesday afternoon news conference.The call was broadcast on all law enforcement radio channels. A Sedgwick County Deputy heard the call and responded. When the deputy arrived, he located a 46-year-old man from Wichita who was armed with a handgun. The man made statements that the deputy would kill him while pointing the gun at the deputy, according to Sullivan.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727106753444.png" alt="Police on the scene near the school-photo courtesy KWCH" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene near the school-photo courtesy KWCH</figcaption>
 </figure>The suspect than ran to and laid on top of a 30-year-old woman. The deputy gave commands for the man to drop his gun and observed the suspect place the gun to the woman's head.In defense of the woman, the deputy fired his gun twice. The suspect would not let go of the woman. The deputy then attempted to disarm the man physically. It took two Wichita Police officers and the deputy to disarm the suspect.Investigators have learned that the man and woman live together and have children together. The couple had an argument in a vehicle on the way to the school which led to the suspect shooting the woman multiple times. The woman ran toward the school and the suspect chased her. A Wichita Public School staff member saw the suspect with the gun approaching the school and pulled the door of the school shut and locked it so the suspect could not get inside.EMS transported the suspect and the woman to an area hospital. Both are expected to survive, according to Sullivan. When the suspect is released from the hospital,&nbsp; he faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer.&nbsp; &nbsp;Police have not released the name of the suspect.The Advanced Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT) was activated to conduct this investigation. ALERT team investigators will present the facts of this case to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office for formal charging consideration.

Quick action by Kan. school employee kept gunman from entering school

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

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Tuesday during a radio interview that she supports changing a Senate procedure in order to codify the right to an abortion.

Vice President Harris said she is in favor of ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, known as the filibuster, to advance abortion rights legislation. But that task would hinge on Democrats agreeing to do so and holding on to majority control in the Senate, a difficult feat this November as&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/09/23/racing-toward-election-day-control-of-u-s-senate-and-house-up-for-grabs/" target="_blank">Republicans appear potentially poised to take back the upper chamber.&nbsp;</a>

“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said during an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.

Harris in 2022 said she would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/10/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-2022-democratic-national-committee-summer-meeting/" target="_blank">cast a tie-breaking vote</a>&nbsp;in favor of abortion rights in her role as vice president. She has often pledged to sign into law a codification of Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion struck down by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in August that Democrats would talk about rules changes to codify abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-outlines-2025-agenda-democrats-sweep-eying-filibuster-ch-rcna167433" target="_blank">NBC reported</a>.

<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/trump-talks-agriculture-and-china-in-smithton-ahead-of-rally-at-iup/" target="_blank">At a Monday rally in Pennsylvania</a>, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to himself as a “protector” of women. Trump said women no longer needed to think about abortion and it is “now where it always had to be, with the states.”

“All they want to do is talk about abortion,” the former president said at the rally, referring to Democrats. “It really no longer pertains because we’ve done something on abortion that no one thought was possible.”

Trump has called for Senate Republicans to dismantle the filibuster, but GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republican leaders like No. 2 Sen. John Thune of South Dakota have vowed to keep the procedure in place.

Current Senate projections indicate Republicans are likely to gain control of the Senate. Republicans are also expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, and only need to hold on to seats in Florida, Texas and Nebraska.

Democrats will need to secure wins in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Additionally, Senate Democrats would need to break a possible 50-50 tie through a Democratic presidency — if they want to remain the majority party and change the filibuster.

If Harris wins, and Democrats hold 50 seats in the Senate, then Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the vice presidential nominee, would be the tie-breaking vote.

During a Tuesday Senate press conference on abortion, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said she was supportive of Harris’ stance and that it would be a carve-out of the filibuster, rather than an elimination of it.

“What we are talking about is a simple procedure to allow, whenever rights are taken away from someone, that the U.S. Senate can, without being blocked by a filibuster, be able to restore those rights,” she said.

The Harris campaign hosted a Tuesday press call with business owner and&nbsp; “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, to advocate for Harris’ economic policies.

Polls have found that voters view Trump as better for the economy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/in-tied-presidential-race-harris-and-trump-have-contrasting-strengths-weaknesses/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;found that Trump’s key advantage is the economy, with 55% of voters viewing the former president as making good economic decisions, and 45% of voters viewing Harris as making good decisions about the economy.

“In a nutshell, the vice president and her team thinks through her policies,” Cuban said. “She doesn’t just off the top of her head say what she thinks the crowd wants to hear, like the Republican nominee.”

Battleground states still the favorite spot

The candidates will continue to campaign and travel, especially around battleground states this week.

Trump is scheduled Tuesday to visit Savannah, Georgia, where he will give an afternoon campaign speech about lowering taxes for business owners.

Walz is scheduled to head back to his home state of Minnesota Tuesday&nbsp;for a campaign reception there.

Harris is heading to&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/kamala-harris-to-campaign-in-pennsylvania-on-wednesday/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wednesday&nbsp;</a>for a campaign rally and then she’ll travel to Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.

Trump is stopping in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday to give remarks about the importance of making goods in the U.S. His running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, on Wednesday to rally supporters.

Vance on Thursday will give a campaign speech on the economy in Macon, Georgia, and then host a voter mobilization drive in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

On Friday, Trump is scheduled to rally supporters in Walker, Michigan and in the evening hold a town hall in Warren, Michigan.

&nbsp;Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727264828416.png" alt="File photo Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign stop last week in Wisconsin -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File photo Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign stop last week in Wisconsin -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>&nbsp;WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris said Tuesday during a radio interview that she supports changing a Senate procedure in order to codify the right to an abortion.Vice President Harris said she is in favor of ending the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, known as the filibuster, to advance abortion rights legislation. But that task would hinge on Democrats agreeing to do so and holding on to majority control in the Senate, a difficult feat this November as&nbsp;<a href="https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/09/23/racing-toward-election-day-control-of-u-s-senate-and-house-up-for-grabs/" target="_blank">Republicans appear potentially poised to take back the upper chamber.&nbsp;</a>“I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, and get us to the point where 51 votes would be what we need to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom and for the ability of every person and every woman to make decisions about their own body and not have their government tell them what to do,” she said during an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio.Harris in 2022 said she would&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2022/09/10/remarks-by-vice-president-harris-at-the-2022-democratic-national-committee-summer-meeting/" target="_blank">cast a tie-breaking vote</a>&nbsp;in favor of abortion rights in her role as vice president. She has often pledged to sign into law a codification of Roe v. Wade, the constitutional right to an abortion struck down by the conservative U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in August that Democrats would talk about rules changes to codify abortion rights,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/chuck-schumer-outlines-2025-agenda-democrats-sweep-eying-filibuster-ch-rcna167433" target="_blank">NBC reported</a>.<h2>Trump in Pennsylvania</h2><a href="https://penncapital-star.com/election-2024/trump-talks-agriculture-and-china-in-smithton-ahead-of-rally-at-iup/" target="_blank">At a Monday rally in Pennsylvania</a>, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump referred to himself as a “protector” of women. Trump said women no longer needed to think about abortion and it is “now where it always had to be, with the states.”“All they want to do is talk about abortion,” the former president said at the rally, referring to Democrats. “It really no longer pertains because we’ve done something on abortion that no one thought was possible.”Trump has called for Senate Republicans to dismantle the filibuster, but GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and other Republican leaders like No. 2 Sen. John Thune of South Dakota have vowed to keep the procedure in place.Current Senate projections indicate Republicans are likely to gain control of the Senate. Republicans are also expected to pick up a seat in West Virginia, and only need to hold on to seats in Florida, Texas and Nebraska.Democrats will need to secure wins in Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Additionally, Senate Democrats would need to break a possible 50-50 tie through a Democratic presidency — if they want to remain the majority party and change the filibuster.If Harris wins, and Democrats hold 50 seats in the Senate, then Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the vice presidential nominee, would be the tie-breaking vote.During a Tuesday Senate press conference on abortion, Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington said she was supportive of Harris’ stance and that it would be a carve-out of the filibuster, rather than an elimination of it.“What we are talking about is a simple procedure to allow, whenever rights are taken away from someone, that the U.S. Senate can, without being blocked by a filibuster, be able to restore those rights,” she said.<h2>Harris, Trump and the economy</h2>The Harris campaign hosted a Tuesday press call with business owner and&nbsp; “Shark Tank” investor Mark Cuban, to advocate for Harris’ economic policies.Polls have found that voters view Trump as better for the economy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/09/09/in-tied-presidential-race-harris-and-trump-have-contrasting-strengths-weaknesses/" target="_blank">Pew Research</a>&nbsp;found that Trump’s key advantage is the economy, with 55% of voters viewing the former president as making good economic decisions, and 45% of voters viewing Harris as making good decisions about the economy.“In a nutshell, the vice president and her team thinks through her policies,” Cuban said. “She doesn’t just off the top of her head say what she thinks the crowd wants to hear, like the Republican nominee.”<h2>Battleground states still the favorite spot</h2>The candidates will continue to campaign and travel, especially around battleground states this week.Trump is scheduled Tuesday to visit Savannah, Georgia, where he will give an afternoon campaign speech about lowering taxes for business owners.Walz is scheduled to head back to his home state of Minnesota Tuesday&nbsp;for a campaign reception there.Harris is heading to&nbsp;<a href="https://penncapital-star.com/briefs/kamala-harris-to-campaign-in-pennsylvania-on-wednesday/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania Wednesday&nbsp;</a>for a campaign rally and then she’ll travel to Arizona on Friday and Nevada on Sunday.Trump is stopping in Mint Hill, North Carolina, on Wednesday to give remarks about the importance of making goods in the U.S. His running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, on Wednesday to rally supporters.Vance on Thursday will give a campaign speech on the economy in Macon, Georgia, and then host a voter mobilization drive in Flowery Branch, Georgia.On Friday, Trump is scheduled to rally supporters in Walker, Michigan and in the evening hold a town hall in Warren, Michigan.&nbsp;Jennifer Shutt contributed to this report.&nbsp;

Harris says she’d back an elimination of the filibuster to restore abortion rights

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

Just a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, Missouri officials executed Marcellus Williams Tuesday at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.

Williams, who was backed in his appeals for clemency by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, left only a single sentence — “All praise to Allah in every situation” — in his last statement,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/alexiszotos/status/1838698402823180675" target="_blank">KMOV TV reported</a>.

Williams was sentenced to death for the 1998 slaying of Felicia Gayle, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who was stabbed more than 40 times.

None of the physical evidence at the crime scene, including fingerprints, bloodied shoe prints and hairs, could be tied to Wiliams. He was arrested based on the testimony of a jailhouse informant, who said Williams confessed the murder.&nbsp;

During testimony at his murder trial, Williams’ then-girlfriend also said he confessed to the killing. Williams picked her up the day of Gayle’s slaying wearing a jacket over a bloody shirt and with scratches on his neck. She saw a laptop in his car – later shown to have been stolen from Gayle’s apartment – and a purse in the trunk, with Gayle’s identification card.

In the final effort to free Williams or reduce his sentence, Bell filed a case under a 2021 state law allowing prosecutors to bring new evidence to the courts. It was the first time the law has been used in a death penalty case.&nbsp;

Bell filed the case in January, arguing there was “clear and convincing evidence” that potential jurors had been excluded based on race and questioning whether DNA evidence on the knife that killed Gayle had been contaminated by careless handling.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard a final appeal of the ruling in that case on Monday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/missouri-supreme-court-considers-death-row-inmates-appeal-as-execution-date-looms/">found the evidence was not convincing</a>.

Bell “failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence Williams’ actual innocence or constitutional error at the original criminal trial that undermines the confidence in the judgment of the original criminal trial,” Judge Zel Fischer wrote in the opinion.

The Department of Corrections declared Williams dead at 6:10 p.m. after a lethal injection,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article292918814.html#campaignName=kansascity_breaking_newsletter" target="_blank">the Kansas City Star reported</a>.&nbsp;

Bell issued a statement that he remained convinced Williams should have been spared.

“Marcellus Williams should be alive today,” Bell said. “There were multiple points in the timeline when decisions could have been made that would have spared him the death penalty. If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option. This outcome did not serve the interests of justice.”

State Rep. Crystal Quade, the Democratic candidate for governor, issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/crystal_quade/status/1838669674864873849" target="_blank">statement over social media</a>&nbsp;saying that she disagreed with allowing the execution to proceed.

“I’ve always stood firm in my stance that the state should not execute potentially innocent people. Marcellus Williams is no different,” Quade said.

There was no statement from Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, the Republican candidate.

Gov. MIke Parson, in a statement on Monday stating he would not stop the execution, said he was not convinced by any appeals.

“No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims,” Parson said. “At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld. Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence, as such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726156556643.png" alt="Williams photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>By RUDI KELLER &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Just a few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, Missouri officials executed Marcellus Williams Tuesday at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Bonne Terre.Williams, who was backed in his appeals for clemency by St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell, left only a single sentence — “All praise to Allah in every situation” — in his last statement,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/alexiszotos/status/1838698402823180675" target="_blank">KMOV TV reported</a>.Williams was sentenced to death for the 1998 slaying of Felicia Gayle, a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, who was stabbed more than 40 times.None of the physical evidence at the crime scene, including fingerprints, bloodied shoe prints and hairs, could be tied to Wiliams. He was arrested based on the testimony of a jailhouse informant, who said Williams confessed the murder.&nbsp;During testimony at his murder trial, Williams’ then-girlfriend also said he confessed to the killing. Williams picked her up the day of Gayle’s slaying wearing a jacket over a bloody shirt and with scratches on his neck. She saw a laptop in his car – later shown to have been stolen from Gayle’s apartment – and a purse in the trunk, with Gayle’s identification card.In the final effort to free Williams or reduce his sentence, Bell filed a case under a 2021 state law allowing prosecutors to bring new evidence to the courts. It was the first time the law has been used in a death penalty case.&nbsp;Bell filed the case in January, arguing there was “clear and convincing evidence” that potential jurors had been excluded based on race and questioning whether DNA evidence on the knife that killed Gayle had been contaminated by careless handling.The Missouri Supreme Court heard a final appeal of the ruling in that case on Monday, and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/missouri-supreme-court-considers-death-row-inmates-appeal-as-execution-date-looms/">found the evidence was not convincing</a>.Bell “failed to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence Williams’ actual innocence or constitutional error at the original criminal trial that undermines the confidence in the judgment of the original criminal trial,” Judge Zel Fischer wrote in the opinion.The Department of Corrections declared Williams dead at 6:10 p.m. after a lethal injection,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/missouri/article292918814.html#campaignName=kansascity_breaking_newsletter" target="_blank">the Kansas City Star reported</a>.&nbsp;Bell issued a statement that he remained convinced Williams should have been spared.“Marcellus Williams should be alive today,” Bell said. “There were multiple points in the timeline when decisions could have been made that would have spared him the death penalty. If there is even the shadow of a doubt of innocence, the death penalty should never be an option. This outcome did not serve the interests of justice.”State Rep. Crystal Quade, the Democratic candidate for governor, issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/crystal_quade/status/1838669674864873849" target="_blank">statement over social media</a>&nbsp;saying that she disagreed with allowing the execution to proceed.“I’ve always stood firm in my stance that the state should not execute potentially innocent people. Marcellus Williams is no different,” Quade said.There was no statement from Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, the Republican candidate.Gov. MIke Parson, in a statement on Monday stating he would not stop the execution, said he was not convinced by any appeals.“No jury nor court, including at the trial, appellate, and Supreme Court levels, have ever found merit in Mr. Williams’ innocence claims,” Parson said. “At the end of the day, his guilty verdict and sentence of capital punishment were upheld. Nothing from the real facts of this case have led me to believe in Mr. Williams’ innocence, as such, Mr. Williams’ punishment will be carried out as ordered by the Supreme Court.”Williams is the 100th person executed by Missouri since 1989, when executions resumed after a two-decade lapse.

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