SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man who earlier pleaded guilty in a separate kidnapping case has been convicted at trial by a federal jury, along with his accomplice, of kidnapping a woman who was rescued from her attacker at a Neosho, Mo., hotel room, according to the United State's Attorney.

Freddie Lewis Tilton, 51, of Joplin, Mo., and Alvin Dale Boyer, 39, of Rogers, Arkansas, were found guilty on Tuesday, September 17, of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of kidnapping. Tilton was also convicted of one count of stalking. This is Tilton’s second conviction in a federal kidnapping case.

Evidence introduced during the trial demonstrated that Tilton and Boyer conspired on July 18 and 19, 2020, to kidnap the victim, identified in court documents as “S.T.”

An employee at Boonslick Lodge in Neosho called police at approximately 11:46 p.m. on July 19, 2020, to report that a woman was being choked and dragged into a room. A police officer knocked on the door of the room, and S.T., bloody and injured, opened the door, and ran out of the room. Tilton had jumped out the back window and escaped.

Boyer rented a room at the motel and invited S.T. to the motel to spend time with him.&nbsp; Unknown to S.T., Boyer had rented the motel room for Tilton and Tilton was waiting in the room for her.&nbsp; S.T. had separated from Tilton and had an ex parte order of protection against him. When S.T. entered the room, she was assaulted by Tilton.&nbsp; S.T. was observed on video surveillance struggling to get out of the room, but she was dragged back in by Tilton.&nbsp; Tilton struck S.T. repeatedly with a firearm and his fist.&nbsp; Tilton attempted to shoot S.T., but the gun jammed.&nbsp; S.T. was assaulted inside the room by Tilton for over eight minutes before law enforcement arrived.

Tilton escaped out of a window inside the motel room with a handgun. Tilton attempted to climb down a vertical rain gutter, but fell to the ground as the guttering broke then ran away.

Officers searched the motel room and found numerous indications that a violent, physical assault had taken place inside the room. In addition to blood on the room floor and door, officers found a chair with rope and zip ties attached, more nylon rope and zip ties, duct tape, a pair of pliers, a blowtorch and lighter fluid, a butane torch, drop cloths, plastic gloves, a Taurus 9mm handgun, and a Kimber .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle.

S.T. was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.

Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for one hour and 32 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, Sept. 16.

Under federal statutes, Tilton and Boyer each are subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Anthony Brown. It was investigated by the FBI and the Neosho, Mo., Police Department.

In addition to today’s trial conviction, Tilton has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing for his role in a kidnapping just a few days earlier, which resulted in the torture and death of the victim, and for illegally possessing firearms.

Four co-defendants pleaded guilty in that case and have been sentenced. Amy Kay Thomas, 41, of Webb City, Mo., was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. James B. Gibson, also known as “Gibby,” 42, of Neosho, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole. Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 52, of Greenwood, Mo., was sentenced to seven years in federal prison without parole. Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 53, of Neosho, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole.

Additionally, Carla Jo Ward, 50, of Joplin, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3, 2024.

Tilton admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure M.H. for him. Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence.

Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, and shot at. Gibson burned M.H. with a blowtorch. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. Thomas and others cleaned up the blood and damage created during the assault and shooting of M.H. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and Thomas, Tilton, and Gibson transported it to Hurtt’s property.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended.

Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. Officers searched the residence and found a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726709142711.png" alt="Tilton" />
 <figcaption>Tilton</figcaption>
 </figure>SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A Joplin, Mo., man who earlier pleaded guilty in a separate kidnapping case has been convicted at trial by a federal jury, along with his accomplice, of kidnapping a woman who was rescued from her attacker at a Neosho, Mo., hotel room, according to the United State's Attorney.Freddie Lewis Tilton, 51, of Joplin, Mo., and Alvin Dale Boyer, 39, of Rogers, Arkansas, were found guilty on Tuesday, September 17, of one count of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and one count of kidnapping. Tilton was also convicted of one count of stalking. This is Tilton’s second conviction in a federal kidnapping case.Evidence introduced during the trial demonstrated that Tilton and Boyer conspired on July 18 and 19, 2020, to kidnap the victim, identified in court documents as “S.T.”An employee at Boonslick Lodge in Neosho called police at approximately 11:46 p.m. on July 19, 2020, to report that a woman was being choked and dragged into a room. A police officer knocked on the door of the room, and S.T., bloody and injured, opened the door, and ran out of the room. Tilton had jumped out the back window and escaped.Boyer rented a room at the motel and invited S.T. to the motel to spend time with him.&nbsp; Unknown to S.T., Boyer had rented the motel room for Tilton and Tilton was waiting in the room for her.&nbsp; S.T. had separated from Tilton and had an ex parte order of protection against him. When S.T. entered the room, she was assaulted by Tilton.&nbsp; S.T. was observed on video surveillance struggling to get out of the room, but she was dragged back in by Tilton.&nbsp; Tilton struck S.T. repeatedly with a firearm and his fist.&nbsp; Tilton attempted to shoot S.T., but the gun jammed.&nbsp; S.T. was assaulted inside the room by Tilton for over eight minutes before law enforcement arrived.Tilton escaped out of a window inside the motel room with a handgun. Tilton attempted to climb down a vertical rain gutter, but fell to the ground as the guttering broke then ran away.Officers searched the motel room and found numerous indications that a violent, physical assault had taken place inside the room. In addition to blood on the room floor and door, officers found a chair with rope and zip ties attached, more nylon rope and zip ties, duct tape, a pair of pliers, a blowtorch and lighter fluid, a butane torch, drop cloths, plastic gloves, a Taurus 9mm handgun, and a Kimber .223-caliber semi-automatic rifle.S.T. was transported to a hospital for treatment of her injuries.Following the presentation of evidence, the jury in the U.S. District Court in Springfield, Mo., deliberated for one hour and 32 minutes before returning guilty verdicts to U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool, ending a trial that began Monday, Sept. 16.Under federal statutes, Tilton and Boyer each are subject to a sentence of up to life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendants will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of presentence investigations by the United States Probation Office.This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ami Harshad Miller and Anthony Brown. It was investigated by the FBI and the Neosho, Mo., Police Department.USA v. Tilton, et alIn addition to today’s trial conviction, Tilton has pleaded guilty and awaits sentencing for his role in a kidnapping just a few days earlier, which resulted in the torture and death of the victim, and for illegally possessing firearms.Four co-defendants pleaded guilty in that case and have been sentenced. Amy Kay Thomas, 41, of Webb City, Mo., was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison without parole. James B. Gibson, also known as “Gibby,” 42, of Neosho, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison without parole. Russell Eugene Hurtt, also known as “Uncle,” 52, of Greenwood, Mo., was sentenced to seven years in federal prison without parole. Lawrence William Vaughan, also known as “Scary Larry,” 53, of Neosho, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole.Additionally, Carla Jo Ward, 50, of Joplin, pleaded guilty and is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3, 2024.Tilton admitted that he participated in a conspiracy to kidnap the victim, identified as “M.H.,” in July 2020. Tilton offered Ward and Vaughan $5,000 each to locate and secure M.H. for him. Ward picked up M.H., whom she knew was being sought by Tilton, and took him to Vaughan’s residence.Tilton, Thomas, and Gibson arrived at Vaughan’s residence in the early morning hours of July 15, 2020. They bound M.H.’s hands with handcuffs, and duct tape was placed around his mouth and other parts of his body. Gibson, Thomas, and others assaulted M.H. for a period of time. M.H. was cut, beaten, and shot at. Gibson burned M.H. with a blowtorch. Tilton fatally shot M.H. in the head. Thomas and others cleaned up the blood and damage created during the assault and shooting of M.H. They wrapped M.H.’s body in plastic wrap and Thomas, Tilton, and Gibson transported it to Hurtt’s property.Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Hurtt’s property on July 28, 2020, based on information that a deceased body was located on the acreage. When officers attempted to contact the occupants of the residence, Tilton fired multiple shots from inside the residence at the officers. Tilton was apprehended.Officers found M.H.’s body on the property. Officers searched the residence and found a Rigarmi .25-caliber pistol, an Ithaca .22-caliber rifle, a Remington .22-caliber rifle without a serial number, a Harrington and Richardson 12-gauge shotgun, a Ruger 9mm handgun, and a Taurus 9mm handgun without a serial number.

Jury convicts two men of violent kidnapping

(Radio Iowa) - State regulators have approved an increase in the rates for Alliant Energy electric and gas customers. 

Wisconsin-based Alliant Energy provides electricity to half a million customers in Iowa. According to the Iowa Utilities Commission, its decision will let Alliant increase the average monthly charge for residential customers to 15-and-a-half dollars per month. That's a 19 percent increase. 

Total yearly revenue from Alliant's 225-thousand natural gas customers in Iowa will be allowed to grow by 10 million dollars.

(Radio Iowa) - State regulators have approved an increase in the rates for Alliant Energy electric and gas customers. Wisconsin-based Alliant Energy provides electricity to half a million customers in Iowa. According to the Iowa Utilities Commission, its decision will let Alliant increase the average monthly charge for residential customers to 15-and-a-half dollars per month. That's a 19 percent increase. Total yearly revenue from Alliant's 225-thousand natural gas customers in Iowa will be allowed to grow by 10 million dollars.

Iowa Utilities Commission OKs hike in Alliant electric, gas rates

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, a critic of Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow, told more than 250 people that he had an optimistic moment after speaking with her on the Senate floor. He points out that Stabenow and other Committee leaders are recognizing just how dire the economic situation is for U.S. farmers and that they can’t wait for Congress to reach an agreement on a five-year farm bill. 

Kansas Senator Jerry Moran, a critic of Senate Ag Chair Debbie Stabenow, told more than 250 people that he had an optimistic moment after speaking with her on the Senate floor. He points out that Stabenow and other Committee leaders are recognizing just how dire the economic situation is for U.S. farmers and that they can’t wait for Congress to reach an agreement on a five-year farm bill.

Farm bill stays in limbo, lawmakers considering farm aid

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

After weeks of tussling between the two campaigns, Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and Democrat Lucas Kunce are finally set to square off in a televised debate less than a week before voters head to the polls.

The debate will air Oct 31 on Missouri Nexstar stations, including KTVI/KPLR-St. Louis, WDAF-Kansas City, KRBK-Springfield and KSN-Joplin and their digital platforms. It could be the only time the two main contenders for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat share a stage.

The Missouri Press Association has held a Senate debate every election cycle for years at its annual convention. Kunce is set to appear at this year’s debate on Friday in Springfield along with third-party candidates Jared Young and Nathan Kline, according to Mark Maassen, the press associations executive director.

“No word yet from Josh Hawley,” Maassen said.

Hawley’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Friday’s debate.

Caleb Cavarretta, Kunce’s campaign manager, said in an emailed statement that Kunce agreed to Friday’s debate because “unlike Josh Hawley, Lucas respects the responsibility of a candidate and U.S. Senator to connect with folks they are meant to represent.”

“This year, we’ve got two weeks of no excuse in-person absentee voting in Missouri so it would be great for voters to hear from Josh Hawley before then,” Cavarretta said, “but unfortunately he wants to hide out as long as he can before election day.”

Kunce initially challenged Hawley to five televised debates. Hawley, however, demanded a debate at the Missouri State Fair in early August.

When State Fair officials said that was not possible, and that no one from Hawley’s campaign had alerted them to the possibility of a debate, Hawley pushed for a debate hosted by the Missouri Farm Bureau, which has endorsed him in the race.

Kunce said he would sign off on the idea as long as Hawley would formally agree to his suggestion of five televised debates, and the farm bureau showdown never materialized.

Instead, Kunce and Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/15/why-are-you-so-weird-lucas-kunce-taunts-josh-hawley-during-squabble-about-debates/">crossed paths at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair</a>, trading insults and demands for debates.

In 2022, Republican Eric Schmitt also&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/16/schmitt-no-shows-missouri-senate-debate-valentine-slams-chinese-ownership-of-farmland/">refused to participate in the press association’s debate</a>, only the second time since 1988 that a major-party candidate refused to attend one of the organization’s forums.

While Hawley is unlikely to attend, the two major candidates for Missouri governor will debate on Friday, Maassen said.

Republican Mike Kehoe, Democrat Crystal Quade and third party candidates Paul Lehmann and Bill Slantz have agreed to participate in the gubernatorial forum, Maassen said.

Both the gubernatorial and Senate debates will be moderated by David Lieb of the Associated Press, with a panel of journalists from around the state — Lucas Presson of the Southeast Missourian, Christine Tempe of the Springfield Business Journal and Alvin Reid of the St. Louis American.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723746159729.png" alt="-Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, confronts his Democratic challenger, Lucas Kunce, over who is ducking debates during a meeting Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia(Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). " />
 <figcaption>-Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, confronts his Democratic challenger, Lucas Kunce, over who is ducking debates during a meeting Thursday, Aug. 15, 2024, at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia(Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). </figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>After weeks of tussling between the two campaigns, Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley and Democrat Lucas Kunce are finally set to square off in a televised debate less than a week before voters head to the polls.The debate will air Oct 31 on Missouri Nexstar stations, including KTVI/KPLR-St. Louis, WDAF-Kansas City, KRBK-Springfield and KSN-Joplin and their digital platforms. It could be the only time the two main contenders for Missouri’s U.S. Senate seat share a stage.The Missouri Press Association has held a Senate debate every election cycle for years at its annual convention. Kunce is set to appear at this year’s debate on Friday in Springfield along with third-party candidates Jared Young and Nathan Kline, according to Mark Maassen, the press associations executive director.“No word yet from Josh Hawley,” Maassen said.Hawley’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Friday’s debate.Caleb Cavarretta, Kunce’s campaign manager, said in an emailed statement that Kunce agreed to Friday’s debate because “unlike Josh Hawley, Lucas respects the responsibility of a candidate and U.S. Senator to connect with folks they are meant to represent.”“This year, we’ve got two weeks of no excuse in-person absentee voting in Missouri so it would be great for voters to hear from Josh Hawley before then,” Cavarretta said, “but unfortunately he wants to hide out as long as he can before election day.”Kunce initially challenged Hawley to five televised debates. Hawley, however, demanded a debate at the Missouri State Fair in early August.When State Fair officials said that was not possible, and that no one from Hawley’s campaign had alerted them to the possibility of a debate, Hawley pushed for a debate hosted by the Missouri Farm Bureau, which has endorsed him in the race.Kunce said he would sign off on the idea as long as Hawley would formally agree to his suggestion of five televised debates, and the farm bureau showdown never materialized.Instead, Kunce and Hawley&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/15/why-are-you-so-weird-lucas-kunce-taunts-josh-hawley-during-squabble-about-debates/">crossed paths at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair</a>, trading insults and demands for debates.In 2022, Republican Eric Schmitt also&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/16/schmitt-no-shows-missouri-senate-debate-valentine-slams-chinese-ownership-of-farmland/">refused to participate in the press association’s debate</a>, only the second time since 1988 that a major-party candidate refused to attend one of the organization’s forums.While Hawley is unlikely to attend, the two major candidates for Missouri governor will debate on Friday, Maassen said.Republican Mike Kehoe, Democrat Crystal Quade and third party candidates Paul Lehmann and Bill Slantz have agreed to participate in the gubernatorial forum, Maassen said.Both the gubernatorial and Senate debates will be moderated by David Lieb of the Associated Press, with a panel of journalists from around the state — Lucas Presson of the Southeast Missourian, Christine Tempe of the Springfield Business Journal and Alvin Reid of the St. Louis American.

Josh Hawley, Lucas Kunce agree to Missouri Senate debate just days before election

Democrat Lucas Kunce stumps in St. Joseph, this time as the
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, attempting to unseat first term Republican
Josh Hawley.

Kunce accuses Hawley of neglecting Missouri, failing at the
most basic level in the Senate, bringing federal money back to the state.

“We need a U.S. Senator who’s going to bring money back to our
state, which we don’t currently have,” Kunce tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post before
his rally in downtown St. Joseph. “We used to have that in Roy Blunt, he
brought $300 million a year back to this state. Josh Hawley brings nothing.
People see that. Our neighborhoods are falling apart. The one I grew up in fell
apart. We need someone with a record of service who is going to change that.”

Kunce is a 13-year Marine veteran who now lives in
Independence. He grew up in Hartsburg and Jefferson City.

Kunce addressed a packed crowd at the IBEW Local Union 545
Hall in St. Joseph Tuesday evening, his first campaign rally since winning the
Democratic primary.

Kunce considers returning federal dollars to the state an
investment in Missouri.

“Josh Hawley literally marks zero dollars for our state every
year. We can’t afford another six years of Josh Hawley,” Kunce says. “We’re
struggling to make ends meet here and he’s making hundreds of thousands of
dollars in his book deal, selling his office out so that he can get rich while
we suffer. If he’s vulnerable anywhere its on the fact that he refuses to
invest in us.”

Kunce says he will work to bring federal money back to the
state if elected.

“My goal is to bring that investment back to Missouri, put us
first in the next generation of energy and manufacturing, and take care of
places like St. Joe,” Kunce says. “I love coming here. I’m going to be back
here. We’ve been here a bunch. And this is what I’m talking about; these are
the types of places that I want to take care of when I’m a U.S. Senator.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726681654399.jpeg" alt="Lucas Kunce/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Lucas Kunce/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostDemocrat Lucas Kunce stumps in St. Joseph, this time as the
Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, attempting to unseat first term Republican
Josh Hawley.Kunce accuses Hawley of neglecting Missouri, failing at the
most basic level in the Senate, bringing federal money back to the state.“We need a U.S. Senator who’s going to bring money back to our
state, which we don’t currently have,” Kunce tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post before
his rally in downtown St. Joseph. “We used to have that in Roy Blunt, he
brought $300 million a year back to this state. Josh Hawley brings nothing.
People see that. Our neighborhoods are falling apart. The one I grew up in fell
apart. We need someone with a record of service who is going to change that.”Kunce is a 13-year Marine veteran who now lives in
Independence. He grew up in Hartsburg and Jefferson City.Kunce addressed a packed crowd at the IBEW Local Union 545
Hall in St. Joseph Tuesday evening, his first campaign rally since winning the
Democratic primary.Kunce considers returning federal dollars to the state an
investment in Missouri.“Josh Hawley literally marks zero dollars for our state every
year. We can’t afford another six years of Josh Hawley,” Kunce says. “We’re
struggling to make ends meet here and he’s making hundreds of thousands of
dollars in his book deal, selling his office out so that he can get rich while
we suffer. If he’s vulnerable anywhere its on the fact that he refuses to
invest in us.”Kunce says he will work to bring federal money back to the
state if elected.“My goal is to bring that investment back to Missouri, put us
first in the next generation of energy and manufacturing, and take care of
places like St. Joe,” Kunce says. “I love coming here. I’m going to be back
here. We’ve been here a bunch. And this is what I’m talking about; these are
the types of places that I want to take care of when I’m a U.S. Senator.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726681939736.png" alt="Lucas Kunce addresses the crowd at IBEW Local Union 545, St. Joseph/Photo courtesy of Kunce campaign" />
 <figcaption>Lucas Kunce addresses the crowd at IBEW Local Union 545, St. Joseph/Photo courtesy of Kunce campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Democrat Kunce brings US Senate campaign to St. Joseph

(Radio Iowa) - An asteroid is approaching the Earth which the experts say will come close enough to be caught in our planet's gravity well, technically becoming a second moon, at least for a few months. 

University of Iowa physics and astronomy Professor Casey DeRoo says this asteroid will be captured by the Earth's gravitational pull around September 29th. The asteroid known as "20-24 P-T-5" is only about 33 feet in diameter, or about as big across as a school bus. While it will come relatively close to Earth, close in astronomical terms, DeRoo says there's no chance the asteroid will hit us. 

If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of this wandering space rock, you're wishing on the wrong star, because it'll still be many tens of millions of miles away. The asteroid will slingshot out of orbit around November 25th, after about 56 days as our looming moon.

(Radio Iowa) - An asteroid is approaching the Earth which the experts say will come close enough to be caught in our planet's gravity well, technically becoming a second moon, at least for a few months. University of Iowa physics and astronomy Professor Casey DeRoo says this asteroid will be captured by the Earth's gravitational pull around September 29th. The asteroid known as "20-24 P-T-5" is only about 33 feet in diameter, or about as big across as a school bus. While it will come relatively close to Earth, close in astronomical terms, DeRoo says there's no chance the asteroid will hit us. If you're hoping to catch a glimpse of this wandering space rock, you're wishing on the wrong star, because it'll still be many tens of millions of miles away. The asteroid will slingshot out of orbit around November 25th, after about 56 days as our looming moon.

UI astronomer: Approaching asteroid will become temporary second moon

(Radio Iowa) - A northwest Iowa judge has affirmed that the Lyon County Sheriff will be able to seek reelection -- as a Libertarian Party candidate. 

Lyon County Sheriff Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep (STOOP) ran as a Republican in the June Primary, but lost the G-O-P nomination to Iowa State Trooper Brian Hilt. One person wrote the sheriff's name on the Libertarian Party's Primary ballot, so the sheriff became the Libertarian Party's nominee instead. Hilt -- the Republican who beat the sheriff in the G-O-P primary -- asked a judge to reverse a Lyon County Objection Panel's decision that the sheriff had qualified for the November ballot. 

The judge, in his decision, said the trooper's argument that the sheriff shouldn't win the Libertarian Party's nomination was arguably supported by common sense -- since he got it by a single write-in vote, but the judge said that conclusion is not supported by state law.

(Radio Iowa) - A northwest Iowa judge has affirmed that the Lyon County Sheriff will be able to seek reelection -- as a Libertarian Party candidate. Lyon County Sheriff Sheriff Stewart Vander Stoep (STOOP) ran as a Republican in the June Primary, but lost the G-O-P nomination to Iowa State Trooper Brian Hilt. One person wrote the sheriff's name on the Libertarian Party's Primary ballot, so the sheriff became the Libertarian Party's nominee instead. Hilt -- the Republican who beat the sheriff in the G-O-P primary -- asked a judge to reverse a Lyon County Objection Panel's decision that the sheriff had qualified for the November ballot. The judge, in his decision, said the trooper's argument that the sheriff shouldn't win the Libertarian Party's nomination was arguably supported by common sense -- since he got it by a single write-in vote, but the judge said that conclusion is not supported by state law.

Judge rules one write-in vote puts Lyon County Sheriff on November's ballot

Inspector general points to staffing problems, chronic mail delivery delays

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Three Missouri and two Kansas members of Congress serving constituents in the greater Kansas City area forwarded a joint letter Tuesday to the U.S. Postal Service demanding action to rectify problems with missing or delayed mail and protracted periods in which no mail was delivered at all.

Republicans Sam Graves and Mark Alford, both of Missouri, and Jake LaTurner of Kansas as well as Democrats Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Sharice Davids of Kansas forwarded the letter to USPS postmaster general Louis DeJoy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/audit-reports/kansas-missouri-district-delivery-operations" target="_blank">They pointed to the July federal audit</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Kansas City Postal and Distribution Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and stations in Hickman Mills in Missouri as well as in Mission and Kansas City on the Kansas side of the border.

Deficiencies at the distribution center touched on mail clearance times,&nbsp;delayed mail, late cancellations and dock scanning during an inspection period in May, USPS auditors said. The report said challenges at the three stations included document scanning, delayed mail and property conditions.

The inspector general concluded USPS ought to address problems with employee staffing and recommended supervisors prepare better for staff absences in the Kansas City region.

“The audit makes clear that the&nbsp;USPS&nbsp;must do more to ensure Kansans receive reliable, timely mail delivery,” said Davids, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd District of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. “I will keep working across the aisle with my colleagues in the KC area to help fix these issues and ensure our&nbsp;postal&nbsp;service&nbsp;meets the needs of our communities.”

In recent months, the letter said, all five congressional offices received a growing number of complaints regarding inadequate mail service.

“It is unacceptable that these facilities … are failing to keep up with the USPS standard of service,” the bipartisan letter from U.S. House members said. “We wholeheartedly urge the leadership of the Postal Service to roll out the recommendations of the USPS office of the inspector general immediately.”

The federal lawmakers said USPS ought to implement strategies to mitigate mail delays, ensure compliance with processing procedures, improve delivery logistics, and upgrade safety and security policies for staff at the mail facilities.

The representatives said residents of communities across Kansas and Missouri relied on consistent mail service and deserved better support from USPS management.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598029796323.jpeg" alt="A bipartisan group of two Kansas and three Missouri members of Congress sign a joint letter urging the U.S. Postal Service to address persistent problems with mail delivery in the greater Kansas City area. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>A bipartisan group of two Kansas and three Missouri members of Congress sign a joint letter urging the U.S. Postal Service to address persistent problems with mail delivery in the greater Kansas City area. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Inspector general points to staffing problems, chronic mail delivery delays</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Three Missouri and two Kansas members of Congress serving constituents in the greater Kansas City area forwarded a joint letter Tuesday to the U.S. Postal Service demanding action to rectify problems with missing or delayed mail and protracted periods in which no mail was delivered at all.Republicans Sam Graves and Mark Alford, both of Missouri, and Jake LaTurner of Kansas as well as Democrats Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri and Sharice Davids of Kansas forwarded the letter to USPS postmaster general Louis DeJoy.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uspsoig.gov/reports/audit-reports/kansas-missouri-district-delivery-operations" target="_blank">They pointed to the July federal audit</a>&nbsp;of the&nbsp;Kansas City Postal and Distribution Center in Kansas City, Missouri, and stations in Hickman Mills in Missouri as well as in Mission and Kansas City on the Kansas side of the border.Deficiencies at the distribution center touched on mail clearance times,&nbsp;delayed mail, late cancellations and dock scanning during an inspection period in May, USPS auditors said. The report said challenges at the three stations included document scanning, delayed mail and property conditions.The inspector general concluded USPS ought to address problems with employee staffing and recommended supervisors prepare better for staff absences in the Kansas City region.“The audit makes clear that the&nbsp;USPS&nbsp;must do more to ensure Kansans receive reliable, timely mail delivery,” said Davids, who is seeking reelection in the 3rd District of Johnson and Wyandotte counties. “I will keep working across the aisle with my colleagues in the KC area to help fix these issues and ensure our&nbsp;postal&nbsp;service&nbsp;meets the needs of our communities.”In recent months, the letter said, all five congressional offices received a growing number of complaints regarding inadequate mail service.“It is unacceptable that these facilities … are failing to keep up with the USPS standard of service,” the bipartisan letter from U.S. House members said. “We wholeheartedly urge the leadership of the Postal Service to roll out the recommendations of the USPS office of the inspector general immediately.”The federal lawmakers said USPS ought to implement strategies to mitigate mail delays, ensure compliance with processing procedures, improve delivery logistics, and upgrade safety and security policies for staff at the mail facilities.The representatives said residents of communities across Kansas and Missouri relied on consistent mail service and deserved better support from USPS management.

Five Missouri, Kansas members of Congress send tough critique of troubled mail service to D.C.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a> State's Newsroom

WASHINGTON — The closely divided U.S. Senate gridlocked Tuesday over the best way to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization, despite lawmakers from both political parties maintaining they want to do so.

Republicans voted against advancing a Democratic bill that could have prevented states from enacting “harmful or unwarranted limitations” on the procedure and bolstered access for military members and veterans. Two Republicans voted with Democrats — Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski.

That came just a short time after Senate Democrats — who narrowly control the chamber — in a procedural move blocked a GOP bill from Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Katie Britt of Alabama that would have barred Medicaid funding from going to any state that bans IVF.

The 51-44 vote that prevented Democrats’ legislation from moving toward a final vote followed numerous floor speeches and press conferences, including by the Harris-Walz presidential campaign, that sought to elevate the issue ahead of the November elections. The measure needed 60 votes to advance.

“This is a chance for my colleagues across the aisle to put their votes where their mouths have been,” said Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bill’s sponsor and a mom of two children born as a result of IVF. “They say they support IVF. Here you go — vote on this.”

Duckworth said the legislation would provide critical IVF services to U.S. military members and veterans, many of whom experience infertility or experience difficulty having children due to their service.

“It allows our military men and women, prior to a deployment into a combat zone, to preserve and freeze their genetic material; so that should they come home with injuries that result in them becoming infertile, they will have already preserved their genetic material so that they can, themselves, start those beautiful families they wanted,” Duckworth said.

Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris released a written statement following the vote rebuking GOP senators for blocking the bill.

“Every woman in every state must have reproductive freedom,” Harris wrote. “Yet, Republicans in Congress have once again made clear that they will not protect access to the fertility treatments many couples need to fulfill their dream of having a child.”

Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-republicans-reject-democrats-bill-ivf-protections" target="_blank">blocked Democrats’ bill earlier this year</a>. But Senate leadership scheduled another vote after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-wants-make-ivf-treatments-paid-government-insurance-compani-rcna168804" target="_blank">reignited the issue</a>&nbsp;in August when he said his administration would mandate health insurance companies pay for IVF — a significant break with how the GOP has approached the issue.

“We are going to be, under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment,” Trump said during an interview with NBC News. “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”

Democrats began speaking at length about preserving access to IVF earlier this year after the Alabama state Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2024/02/19/alabama-supreme-court-ruling-could-end-ivf-treatments-in-state/" target="_blank">issued an opinion</a>&nbsp;in February that frozen embryos constitute children under state law.

That ruling forced all the state’s IVF clinics to halt their work until the state legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2024/03/06/alabama-legislature-gives-final-approval-to-in-vitro-fertilization-bill/" target="_blank">passed a bill</a>&nbsp;providing criminal and civil protections for those clinics.

Democrats have since argued that legislating the belief life begins at conception, which is championed by most conservative Republicans, is at odds with access to IVF, which typically freezes more embryos than would be implanted.

Those frozen embryos can be preserved or discarded, depending on the patient’s wishes, the clinic’s policies and state law. Some conservatives believe that discarding shouldn’t be legal or are opposed to the process altogether.

The Southern Baptist Convention, for example,<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/12/republican-ivf-bill-fails-in-u-s-senate/" target="_blank">&nbsp;voted earlier this year to oppose IVF</a>, writing in a resolution that couples should consider adoption and that the process “engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life.”

“We grieve alongside couples who have been diagnosed with infertility or are currently struggling to conceive, affirm their godly desire for children, and encourage them to consider the ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies as they look to God for hope, grace, and wisdom amid suffering,” it stated.

Senate Democrats’ press for IVF protections has gone hand-in-hand with their efforts to bolster other reproductive rights, like access to birth control and abortion.

The issues could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the presidential election this November as well which political party controls the House and Senate.

Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance missed Tuesday’s vote, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00197.htm" target="_blank">voted against advancing Democrats’ IVF bill</a>&nbsp;when it was on the floor in June.

Before the Senate held a vote on Democrats’ bill, Cruz asked for quick approval of an IVF bill he and Britt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-sen-katie-britt-introduces-bill-end-states-medicaid-funding-if-it-blocks-ivf" target="_blank">introduced earlier this year</a>.

Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray blocked his unanimous consent request.

During debate on that bill, Britt questioned why Democrats haven’t scheduled a recorded vote on her legislation, saying it could get the 60 votes needed to advance toward final passage.

“Today, we have an opportunity to act quickly and overwhelmingly to protect continued nationwide IVF access for loving American families,” Britt said. “Our bill is the only bill that protects IVF access while safeguarding religious liberty.”

The Britt-Cruz legislation has three co-sponsors, including Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker.

Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill didn’t address what would happen in states that legislate fetal personhood, which she called “the biggest threat to IVF.”

“It is silent on whether states can demand that an embryo be treated the same as a living, breathing person,” Murray said. “Or whether parents should be allowed to have clinics dispose of unused embryos, something that is a common, necessary part of the IVF process.”

Cruz tried to pass his legislation through the unanimous consent process, which allows any one senator to ask for approval. Any one senator can then block that request from moving forward — as Murray did. There is no recorded vote as part of the UC process.

Cruz previously&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/republican-ivf-bill-fails-us-senate" target="_blank">asked for unanimous consent to pass the bill in June</a>, but was blocked then as well.

Democrats’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4445/text" target="_blank">64-page bill</a>&nbsp;would have provided legal protections for anyone seeking fertility treatment, including IVF, and for the health care professionals providing that type of care.

It would have barred state and federal governments from “enacting harmful or unwarranted limitations or requirements” on IVF access.

The legislation would have bolstered fertility treatment coverage for members of the military and veterans, as well as their spouses, partners, or gestational surrogates.

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine supports Democrats’ legislation. Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Sean Tipton wrote in a statement released this week that Democrats’ IVF bill would “protect the rights of Americans to seek the medical services they may need to have children and ensure no healthcare provider faces legal consequences for trying to help their patients as they seek to build their families.”

“This legislation also increases access to IVF treatments for all Americans by mandating that employer-sponsored insurance plans and other public insurance plans cover fertility treatment,” Tipton wrote. “Significantly, it would ensure the federal government does right by its own employees by providing coverage for active-duty military, veterans, and civilian staff.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726604617334.png" alt="Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center) casting his no vote on Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Kansas U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (center) casting his no vote on Tuesday-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jennifer-shutt/">JENNIFER SHUTT</a> State's NewsroomWASHINGTON — The closely divided U.S. Senate gridlocked Tuesday over the best way to provide nationwide protections for in vitro fertilization, despite lawmakers from both political parties maintaining they want to do so.Republicans voted against advancing a Democratic bill that could have prevented states from enacting “harmful or unwarranted limitations” on the procedure and bolstered access for military members and veterans. Two Republicans voted with Democrats — Maine’s Susan Collins and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski.That came just a short time after Senate Democrats — who narrowly control the chamber — in a procedural move blocked a GOP bill from Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Katie Britt of Alabama that would have barred Medicaid funding from going to any state that bans IVF.The 51-44 vote that prevented Democrats’ legislation from moving toward a final vote followed numerous floor speeches and press conferences, including by the Harris-Walz presidential campaign, that sought to elevate the issue ahead of the November elections. The measure needed 60 votes to advance.“This is a chance for my colleagues across the aisle to put their votes where their mouths have been,” said Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the bill’s sponsor and a mom of two children born as a result of IVF. “They say they support IVF. Here you go — vote on this.”Duckworth said the legislation would provide critical IVF services to U.S. military members and veterans, many of whom experience infertility or experience difficulty having children due to their service.“It allows our military men and women, prior to a deployment into a combat zone, to preserve and freeze their genetic material; so that should they come home with injuries that result in them becoming infertile, they will have already preserved their genetic material so that they can, themselves, start those beautiful families they wanted,” Duckworth said.Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris released a written statement following the vote rebuking GOP senators for blocking the bill.“Every woman in every state must have reproductive freedom,” Harris wrote. “Yet, Republicans in Congress have once again made clear that they will not protect access to the fertility treatments many couples need to fulfill their dream of having a child.”Republicans&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-senate-republicans-reject-democrats-bill-ivf-protections" target="_blank">blocked Democrats’ bill earlier this year</a>. But Senate leadership scheduled another vote after Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-wants-make-ivf-treatments-paid-government-insurance-compani-rcna168804" target="_blank">reignited the issue</a>&nbsp;in August when he said his administration would mandate health insurance companies pay for IVF — a significant break with how the GOP has approached the issue.“We are going to be, under the Trump administration, we are going to be paying for that treatment,” Trump said during an interview with NBC News. “We’re going to be mandating that the insurance company pay.”<h2>Alabama ruling</h2>Democrats began speaking at length about preserving access to IVF earlier this year after the Alabama state Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2024/02/19/alabama-supreme-court-ruling-could-end-ivf-treatments-in-state/" target="_blank">issued an opinion</a>&nbsp;in February that frozen embryos constitute children under state law.That ruling forced all the state’s IVF clinics to halt their work until the state legislature&nbsp;<a href="https://alabamareflector.com/2024/03/06/alabama-legislature-gives-final-approval-to-in-vitro-fertilization-bill/" target="_blank">passed a bill</a>&nbsp;providing criminal and civil protections for those clinics.Democrats have since argued that legislating the belief life begins at conception, which is championed by most conservative Republicans, is at odds with access to IVF, which typically freezes more embryos than would be implanted.Those frozen embryos can be preserved or discarded, depending on the patient’s wishes, the clinic’s policies and state law. Some conservatives believe that discarding shouldn’t be legal or are opposed to the process altogether.The Southern Baptist Convention, for example,<a href="https://kentuckylantern.com/2024/06/12/republican-ivf-bill-fails-in-u-s-senate/" target="_blank">&nbsp;voted earlier this year to oppose IVF</a>, writing in a resolution that couples should consider adoption and that the process “engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life.”“We grieve alongside couples who have been diagnosed with infertility or are currently struggling to conceive, affirm their godly desire for children, and encourage them to consider the ethical implications of assisted reproductive technologies as they look to God for hope, grace, and wisdom amid suffering,” it stated.Senate Democrats’ press for IVF protections has gone hand-in-hand with their efforts to bolster other reproductive rights, like access to birth control and abortion.The issues could play a significant role in determining the outcome of the presidential election this November as well which political party controls the House and Senate.Republican vice presidential nominee and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance missed Tuesday’s vote, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1182/vote_118_2_00197.htm" target="_blank">voted against advancing Democrats’ IVF bill</a>&nbsp;when it was on the floor in June.<h2>IVF bill from Cruz, Britt</h2>Before the Senate held a vote on Democrats’ bill, Cruz asked for quick approval of an IVF bill he and Britt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-sen-katie-britt-introduces-bill-end-states-medicaid-funding-if-it-blocks-ivf" target="_blank">introduced earlier this year</a>.Washington state Democratic Sen. Patty Murray blocked his unanimous consent request.During debate on that bill, Britt questioned why Democrats haven’t scheduled a recorded vote on her legislation, saying it could get the 60 votes needed to advance toward final passage.“Today, we have an opportunity to act quickly and overwhelmingly to protect continued nationwide IVF access for loving American families,” Britt said. “Our bill is the only bill that protects IVF access while safeguarding religious liberty.”The Britt-Cruz legislation has three co-sponsors, including Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker.Murray said the Britt-Cruz bill didn’t address what would happen in states that legislate fetal personhood, which she called “the biggest threat to IVF.”“It is silent on whether states can demand that an embryo be treated the same as a living, breathing person,” Murray said. “Or whether parents should be allowed to have clinics dispose of unused embryos, something that is a common, necessary part of the IVF process.”Cruz tried to pass his legislation through the unanimous consent process, which allows any one senator to ask for approval. Any one senator can then block that request from moving forward — as Murray did. There is no recorded vote as part of the UC process.Cruz previously&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/republican-ivf-bill-fails-us-senate" target="_blank">asked for unanimous consent to pass the bill in June</a>, but was blocked then as well.<h2>Legal protections</h2>Democrats’&nbsp;<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4445/text" target="_blank">64-page bill</a>&nbsp;would have provided legal protections for anyone seeking fertility treatment, including IVF, and for the health care professionals providing that type of care.It would have barred state and federal governments from “enacting harmful or unwarranted limitations or requirements” on IVF access.The legislation would have bolstered fertility treatment coverage for members of the military and veterans, as well as their spouses, partners, or gestational surrogates.The American Society for Reproductive Medicine supports Democrats’ legislation. Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer Sean Tipton wrote in a statement released this week that Democrats’ IVF bill would “protect the rights of Americans to seek the medical services they may need to have children and ensure no healthcare provider faces legal consequences for trying to help their patients as they seek to build their families.”“This legislation also increases access to IVF treatments for all Americans by mandating that employer-sponsored insurance plans and other public insurance plans cover fertility treatment,” Tipton wrote. “Significantly, it would ensure the federal government does right by its own employees by providing coverage for active-duty military, veterans, and civilian staff.”

In vitro fertilization bills from both Democrats and GOP blocked in U.S. Senate

(Radio Iowa) - The Des Moines City Council voted last (Monday) night for a ban on camping and sleeping on public property that targets homeless people. 

The council also approved lowering the notice time before removing tents and shelters from ten days to three. After each ordinance passed, crowds outside the chamber booed and chanted in dissent. 

Under the new bans, people who do not agree to move to a shelter can be arrested, charged with a simple misdemeanor and fined 15-dollars. The council does not have a timeline yet for when the bans will go into effect.

(Radio Iowa) - The Des Moines City Council voted last (Monday) night for a ban on camping and sleeping on public property that targets homeless people. The council also approved lowering the notice time before removing tents and shelters from ten days to three. After each ordinance passed, crowds outside the chamber booed and chanted in dissent. Under the new bans, people who do not agree to move to a shelter can be arrested, charged with a simple misdemeanor and fined 15-dollars. The council does not have a timeline yet for when the bans will go into effect.

Targeting homeless camps, Des Moines leaders ban camping, sleeping in public

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson is doing a "wonderful job," despite growing frustrations among other Senate Republicans as the deadline nears for a solution to prevent a federal government shutdown. 

Johnson is having trouble getting the votes needed to avoid the shutdown at month's end, and some in the Senate say if the House can't act by Thursday, they'll do it themselves. Grassley is offering Johnson a leeway, but says, "if the majority party doesn't stick together, you don't run the show." 

Grassley fears the type of message it would send to voters if Congress can't find a way to cooperate, saying the public may decide to "turn it over to the Democrats." He anticipates there will be a "continuing resolution" that would prevent a shutdown, or at least push back the anticipated date.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says U-S House Speaker Mike Johnson is doing a "wonderful job," despite growing frustrations among other Senate Republicans as the deadline nears for a solution to prevent a federal government shutdown. Johnson is having trouble getting the votes needed to avoid the shutdown at month's end, and some in the Senate say if the House can't act by Thursday, they'll do it themselves. Grassley is offering Johnson a leeway, but says, "if the majority party doesn't stick together, you don't run the show." Grassley fears the type of message it would send to voters if Congress can't find a way to cooperate, saying the public may decide to "turn it over to the Democrats." He anticipates there will be a "continuing resolution" that would prevent a shutdown, or at least push back the anticipated date.

Grassley: If House can't prevent gov't shutdown, GOP won't 'run the show'

Missouri has added two more port authorities to the 17 it
already had, adding to the communities attempting to make the most out of an
ancient transportation hub:&nbsp; the Missouri
and Mississippi Rivers.

Administrator of Freight and Waterways for MoDOT, Levi Woods,
says upgrades made to the infrastructure of the Missouri River channel by the
Army Corps of Engineers have made that notoriously difficult river more
navigable.

“I think the reliability has been some of the concerns of the
shippers on the river,” Woods tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The work they’re
doing to increase resiliency, I think, is much appreciated by the navigation
community.”

Woods says ports, such as the St. Joseph Port Authority, have
a big impact on the state economy. 

“Missouri public ports support nearly 290,000 jobs annually in
the state of Missouri,” according to Woods. “That results in roughly $15.7
billion in labor income and over $100 million in annual economic activity.”

Port authorities and the barge traffic they support has a
bigger impact on the Missouri economy than most people think.

“And also, approximately 34% of Missouri’s economy, one out of
every 10 jobs in Missouri, is supported by Missouri ports,” Woods says.

Barge traffic on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers makes a
difference.

“So, as those economic impact study numbers show, it does have
an effect on Missouri’s economy,” Woods says.

Barge traffic also has an indirect impact by providing an
alternative to rail traffic, which helps to keep transportation costs lower.

Woods says the state is undergoing an extensive study on the
economic impact of Missouri port authorities and hopes to have updated numbers by
the end of the year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726595773064.jpeg" alt="Loading a barge with grain at the St. Joseph Port Authority/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Loading a barge with grain at the St. Joseph Port Authority/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri has added two more port authorities to the 17 it
already had, adding to the communities attempting to make the most out of an
ancient transportation hub:&nbsp; the Missouri
and Mississippi Rivers.Administrator of Freight and Waterways for MoDOT, Levi Woods,
says upgrades made to the infrastructure of the Missouri River channel by the
Army Corps of Engineers have made that notoriously difficult river more
navigable.“I think the reliability has been some of the concerns of the
shippers on the river,” Woods tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The work they’re
doing to increase resiliency, I think, is much appreciated by the navigation
community.”Woods says ports, such as the St. Joseph Port Authority, have
a big impact on the state economy. “Missouri public ports support nearly 290,000 jobs annually in
the state of Missouri,” according to Woods. “That results in roughly $15.7
billion in labor income and over $100 million in annual economic activity.”Port authorities and the barge traffic they support has a
bigger impact on the Missouri economy than most people think.“And also, approximately 34% of Missouri’s economy, one out of
every 10 jobs in Missouri, is supported by Missouri ports,” Woods says.Barge traffic on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers makes a
difference.“So, as those economic impact study numbers show, it does have
an effect on Missouri’s economy,” Woods says.Barge traffic also has an indirect impact by providing an
alternative to rail traffic, which helps to keep transportation costs lower.Woods says the state is undergoing an extensive study on the
economic impact of Missouri port authorities and hopes to have updated numbers by
the end of the year.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Port authorities, such as in St. Joseph, make a big economic impact

Eagle Produce LLC Scottsdale, Arizona is initiating a recall of 224 cases of whole cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with&nbsp;Salmonella, according to a statement from the FDA.

Salmonella&nbsp;is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and abdominal pain. In rare cases the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illness such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The cantaloupe subject to the recall include

The products were distributed between August 13th - 17th in Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Virginia and sold in various retail supermarkets. The cantaloupes are identified with a red and white sticker with KANDY across the top and UPC number code, 4050 No other products or lot code dates are affected by this recall.

There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items to date.

The recall is the result of routine sample testing conducted by the State of Michigan which reveled the presence of&nbsp;Salmonella&nbsp;in cantaloupe sold at retail.

Customers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume the products and should dispose of them. Consumers may contact Eagle Produce LLC for further information at 1-800-627-8674 Monday – Friday 9 AM – 5PM PST. Consumers with concerns about an illness from consumption of this product should contact a health care provider.

The company is cooperating with the FDA regarding this recall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726415960149.png" alt="-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>Eagle Produce LLC Scottsdale, Arizona is initiating a recall of 224 cases of whole cantaloupe because they have the potential to be contaminated with&nbsp;Salmonella, according to a statement from the FDA.Salmonella&nbsp;is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people may experience fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and abdominal pain. In rare cases the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illness such as arterial infections (i.e. infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.The cantaloupe subject to the recall include<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726415779663.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The products were distributed between August 13th - 17th in Missouri, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Virginia and sold in various retail supermarkets. The cantaloupes are identified with a red and white sticker with KANDY across the top and UPC number code, 4050 No other products or lot code dates are affected by this recall.There have been no reported illnesses attributed to the recalled items to date.The recall is the result of routine sample testing conducted by the State of Michigan which reveled the presence of&nbsp;Salmonella&nbsp;in cantaloupe sold at retail.Customers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume the products and should dispose of them. Consumers may contact Eagle Produce LLC for further information at 1-800-627-8674 Monday – Friday 9 AM – 5PM PST. Consumers with concerns about an illness from consumption of this product should contact a health care provider.The company is cooperating with the FDA regarding this recall.

Cantaloupe brand recalled over possible salmonella contamination

While the 2024 Farm Bill has been stalled for multiple months, the legislative logjam is showing a few signs of breaking after key ag groups took to Capitol Hill last week to share the economic reality facing farmers and ranchers. In a letter last week to House Ag Committee Democrats, Ranking Member David Scott said, “We all know that Congress needs pressure to act. That’s why Chairman Thompson, Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, and I agree that we are better off without another extension at this point.” 

After he met with farmers, Scott said if it looks like Congress won’t be able to pass a farm bill, they asked him if Congress would consider doing a two-year ad hoc package that would bolster the safety net for the 2024 and 2025 crop years. Scott added, “Farmers need the certainty and support, and we need to step up to this challenge.”

While the 2024 Farm Bill has been stalled for multiple months, the legislative logjam is showing a few signs of breaking after key ag groups took to Capitol Hill last week to share the economic reality facing farmers and ranchers. In a letter last week to House Ag Committee Democrats, Ranking Member David Scott said, “We all know that Congress needs pressure to act. That’s why Chairman Thompson, Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, and I agree that we are better off without another extension at this point.” After he met with farmers, Scott said if it looks like Congress won’t be able to pass a farm bill, they asked him if Congress would consider doing a two-year ad hoc package that would bolster the safety net for the 2024 and 2025 crop years. Scott added, “Farmers need the certainty and support, and we need to step up to this challenge.”-NAFB

Cracks showing in the farm bill logjam

(Radio Iowa) - Leaders of the Iowa Medical Society say the state faces a workforce crisis in the health care sector.

 Iowa already ranks 45th in doctor-to-patient ratio. Iowa Medical Society C-E-O Steve Churchill says the group will ask the 2025 Iowa Legislature to provide state funding to significantly increase the residency slots for medical students at Iowa hospitals and academic centers. 

The group will also recommend expanding state programs that erase college debt for physicians who choose to practice in Iowa after getting their medical license.

(Radio Iowa) - Leaders of the Iowa Medical Society say the state faces a workforce crisis in the health care sector. Iowa already ranks 45th in doctor-to-patient ratio. Iowa Medical Society C-E-O Steve Churchill says the group will ask the 2025 Iowa Legislature to provide state funding to significantly increase the residency slots for medical students at Iowa hospitals and academic centers. The group will also recommend expanding state programs that erase college debt for physicians who choose to practice in Iowa after getting their medical license.

Iowa Medical Society says Iowa faces worsening physician shortage

A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows revenue growth in most states is below inflation after two years of abundant tax receipts

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

Missouri’s general revenue has lagged behind inflation for two years in a row. And with that gap widening, the next few months could determine whether state revenue will see a year-over-year decline for the first time in more than a decade.&nbsp;

“September is a good sort of bellwether one for us, because that’s where we get quarterly payments from both individuals and corporations,” Dan Haug, Gov. Mike Parson’s budget director, said in an interview with The Independent last week. “There’s not a lot of significant due dates in July and August, so we try not to even really look at what trends are until we get through the end of September.”

Through Friday, general revenue receipts are down more than 3% compared to the same period in fiscal 2024.

Revenue grew 2.74% in fiscal 2023, while inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/consumer-prices-up-3-0-percent-over-the-year-ended-june-2023.htm" target="_blank">calculated at 3%</a>&nbsp;by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fiscal 2024, which ended June 30, revenue grew 1.47%, while inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/consumer-prices-up-3-0-percent-from-june-2023-to-june-2024.htm#:~:text=The%20Consumer%20Price%20Index%20for,on%20a%2012%2Dmonth%20basis." target="_blank">again pegged at 3%</a>.

Missouri isn’t the only state suffering from sluggish revenue growth, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2024/08/how-a-pandemic-era-surge-in-tax-collections-drove-a-revenue-wave" target="_blank">recent report</a>&nbsp;from Pew Charitable Trusts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states — including Missouri — enjoyed a surge of revenue that drove new spending and tax cuts.

Missouri enjoyed double-digit revenue growth for two years, a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/06/economic-slowdown-tax-cuts-likely-to-limit-missouri-revenue-growth-officials-say/">trend that ended</a>&nbsp;in early 2023. Nationally since the start of fiscal 2023, the report states, state government revenues have fallen below inflation rates and below the growth trend seen before the pandemic. That is the first time in 40 years that has happened outside of an economic recession.

“There’s less fiscal flexibility, but it’s unclear whether states will be really under strain or not, but it’s going to be more difficult than before,” said Alexandre Fall, a senior associate with Pew who was the main author of the report.

As they wrote this year’s budget in the spring, the Republican-led legislature tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/27/state-budget-loaded-with-earmarks-nears-deadline-for-action-by-missouri-gov-mike-parson/">limit ongoing general revenue spending</a>&nbsp;to the anticipated revenue of $13.2 billion. But even after Gov. Mike Parson vetoed $1 billion, the budget anticipates spending $15.1 billion in general revenue, dipping into surpluses accumulated during the surge in 2021 and 2022.

House Budget Committee Vice Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said lawmakers must continue to limit ongoing spending to new revenue.

“If revenue is lower in the future we will have to look carefully at core spending items to make sure the state budget is on a sustainable path and Missouri is well positioned to balance the budget year after year,” Deaton said.

State revenue was down in the early part of fiscal 2024 but ended up with modest growth, Deaton noted.

State Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said future legislatures should commit to meeting state needs instead of hanging on to surpluses. Merideth is not returning to the House due to term limits.

Any spending cuts tied to the flow of revenue, rather than to the state’s total available resources, will fall heavily on education programs, Merideth predicted.

“We will cut education further,” he said. “Maybe it’s on the transportation line, or maybe it’s somewhere else, and we will cut higher education because those are about the only two slightly discretionary places that the legislature has to cut with large sums of money.”

On June 30, the general revenue fund held $4.8 billion, down $960 million from the balance a year earlier. That is still the third-highest year-end balance in state history.

Some of that money is committed to multi-year building projects, such as a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">$300 million mental health hospital</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, but most of it is unencumbered.

Other surplus money was stashed elsewhere. The state is holding $2.4 billion transferred from general revenue for major projects including rebuilding Interstate 70 and expanding the state Capitol Building.&nbsp;

Another $1.8 billion was held in accounts that can be spent like general revenue.

The question for lawmakers and state officials is how to spend from surplus funds without exhausting them, said Liz Farmer, a fiscal policy writer at Pew.

“States are spending down balance dollars at a rapid rate,” Farmer said.&nbsp;

The budget presented by Parson in January anticipated an unencumbered general revenue balance of $1.9 billion on June 30, 2025.&nbsp;

Along with major projects, in the past two years lawmakers have used the surplus to fund smaller items in their districts. Parson has vetoed many of those items as he cut&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/30/despite-8-billion-surplus-missouri-governor-vetoes-550-million-in-state-spending/">$550 million from the budget</a>&nbsp;in 2023 and $1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/28/missouri-governor-slashes-1-billion-from-state-budget-approved-by-lawmakers/">approved this year</a>.&nbsp;

Future lawmakers need to resist the urge to earmark funds for their district, Merideth said. Stagnant or declining state revenue should mean extra funds are reserved for filling shortfalls in important programs.

“We have a surplus to work with in the short term but we haven’t hit an economic crash, which at some point will happen in the future,” Merideth said. “That’s when we’re going to be in real trouble.”

During the recession that began in 2008, revenues fell from about $8 billion annual to $6.7 billion a few years later. Haug, who has worked for both the legislature and the executive branch, said the state is in good shape in case of a recession.

“We’ve got a very healthy fund balance to help us get through a minor downturn, if there is one, although I’m not sure that there even will be one,” Haug said. “We’re in a lot better spot to weather this kind of stuff than we’ve been probably in any of the time I’ve been here.”

There are structural changes in the cost of state government that are permanent, thanks to the surge of revenue.&nbsp;

The pay of every state worker hired before the beginning of 2022 has increased at least 20.7% under pay raise plans proposed by Parson. Some workers have received much larger percentage boosts, from a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/24/gov-mike-parson-proposes-record-52-7-billion-missouri-state-budget/">longevity pay plan</a>&nbsp;approved this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-state-employee-pay-raise-heads-to-governors-desk/">increases in night pay</a>&nbsp;for workers in prisons, mental health hospitals and other custodial institutions and approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/12/06/missouri-gov-parson-proposes-15-minimum-pay-for-state-employees/">minimum salary of $15</a>&nbsp;an hour for all state jobs.

With state agency staff vacancy rates averaging more than 10%, the cost of running the state will go up as workers are added.

“Increased state employee pay and salaries, as well as permanent tax cuts, were two very popular policy choices that were made across states and were made in Missouri,” Fall said. “But now that we’re seeing all this excess revenue kind of pull back, and states are seeing decreased flexibility, it’s unclear what comes next.”

Missouri has passed two large permanent tax cuts, with income tax rate cuts enacted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/29/legislature-sends-764-million-income-tax-cut-to-missouri-governor/">special session in 2022</a>, and a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/bill-exempting-social-security-from-missouri-income-tax-heading-to-governor/">exempting Social Security</a>&nbsp;benefits from state income tax in 2023.

Together, that legislation will reduce state revenue by $1 billion or more annually. The next step in the phased-in tax cut passed in 2022 will take effect on Jan. 1, cutting the top income tax rate to 4.7%.

Those cuts will generate economic activity that will sustain revenues, Deaton said.

“Missouri has made very clear through our tax policy we are more interested in growing the bank accounts of the people as opposed to growing the amount of monies coming to Jefferson City,” he said.

With a new governor coming into office in January and new legislative leadership, tapping the surplus could be a temptation.

“Whoever is sitting in that governor’s mansion and whoever is sitting in the budget committee chair will make a significant difference and it’s hard to predict,” Merideth said.

In the last full fiscal year before the pandemic, the Missouri general revenue fund took in $9.6 billion. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the total was $13.4 billion, 1.47% more than in the previous year.

Two of the main sources of state revenue — personal and corporate income taxes — saw a decline in collections in fiscal 2024. So far this year, the decline in revenue received so far has extended to sales tax collections.

The surge in revenue coincided with the highest inflation rates in 40 years and sales tax growth led the way, thanks to consumers spending federal pandemic relief aid along with higher wages and prices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726575308777.png" alt=" House Budget Chair Cody Smith, R-Carthage, summarizes his budget proposal to reporters in March. State revenues fell in the first portion of the fiscal year, raising concerns about future tax receipts. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> House Budget Chair Cody Smith, R-Carthage, summarizes his budget proposal to reporters in March. State revenues fell in the first portion of the fiscal year, raising concerns about future tax receipts. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A new report from Pew Charitable Trusts shows revenue growth in most states is below inflation after two years of abundant tax receipts</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s general revenue has lagged behind inflation for two years in a row. And with that gap widening, the next few months could determine whether state revenue will see a year-over-year decline for the first time in more than a decade.&nbsp;“September is a good sort of bellwether one for us, because that’s where we get quarterly payments from both individuals and corporations,” Dan Haug, Gov. Mike Parson’s budget director, said in an interview with The Independent last week. “There’s not a lot of significant due dates in July and August, so we try not to even really look at what trends are until we get through the end of September.”Through Friday, general revenue receipts are down more than 3% compared to the same period in fiscal 2024.Revenue grew 2.74% in fiscal 2023, while inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/consumer-prices-up-3-0-percent-over-the-year-ended-june-2023.htm" target="_blank">calculated at 3%</a>&nbsp;by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. In fiscal 2024, which ended June 30, revenue grew 1.47%, while inflation was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/consumer-prices-up-3-0-percent-from-june-2023-to-june-2024.htm#:~:text=The%20Consumer%20Price%20Index%20for,on%20a%2012%2Dmonth%20basis." target="_blank">again pegged at 3%</a>.Missouri isn’t the only state suffering from sluggish revenue growth, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/issue-briefs/2024/08/how-a-pandemic-era-surge-in-tax-collections-drove-a-revenue-wave" target="_blank">recent report</a>&nbsp;from Pew Charitable Trusts. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states — including Missouri — enjoyed a surge of revenue that drove new spending and tax cuts.Missouri enjoyed double-digit revenue growth for two years, a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/06/economic-slowdown-tax-cuts-likely-to-limit-missouri-revenue-growth-officials-say/">trend that ended</a>&nbsp;in early 2023. Nationally since the start of fiscal 2023, the report states, state government revenues have fallen below inflation rates and below the growth trend seen before the pandemic. That is the first time in 40 years that has happened outside of an economic recession.“There’s less fiscal flexibility, but it’s unclear whether states will be really under strain or not, but it’s going to be more difficult than before,” said Alexandre Fall, a senior associate with Pew who was the main author of the report.As they wrote this year’s budget in the spring, the Republican-led legislature tried to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/27/state-budget-loaded-with-earmarks-nears-deadline-for-action-by-missouri-gov-mike-parson/">limit ongoing general revenue spending</a>&nbsp;to the anticipated revenue of $13.2 billion. But even after Gov. Mike Parson vetoed $1 billion, the budget anticipates spending $15.1 billion in general revenue, dipping into surpluses accumulated during the surge in 2021 and 2022.House Budget Committee Vice Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said lawmakers must continue to limit ongoing spending to new revenue.“If revenue is lower in the future we will have to look carefully at core spending items to make sure the state budget is on a sustainable path and Missouri is well positioned to balance the budget year after year,” Deaton said.State revenue was down in the early part of fiscal 2024 but ended up with modest growth, Deaton noted.State Rep. Peter Merideth of St. Louis, the ranking Democrat on the Budget Committee, said future legislatures should commit to meeting state needs instead of hanging on to surpluses. Merideth is not returning to the House due to term limits.Any spending cuts tied to the flow of revenue, rather than to the state’s total available resources, will fall heavily on education programs, Merideth predicted.“We will cut education further,” he said. “Maybe it’s on the transportation line, or maybe it’s somewhere else, and we will cut higher education because those are about the only two slightly discretionary places that the legislature has to cut with large sums of money.”<h2>Sitting on a surplus</h2>On June 30, the general revenue fund held $4.8 billion, down $960 million from the balance a year earlier. That is still the third-highest year-end balance in state history.Some of that money is committed to multi-year building projects, such as a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">$300 million mental health hospital</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City, but most of it is unencumbered.Other surplus money was stashed elsewhere. The state is holding $2.4 billion transferred from general revenue for major projects including rebuilding Interstate 70 and expanding the state Capitol Building.&nbsp;Another $1.8 billion was held in accounts that can be spent like general revenue.The question for lawmakers and state officials is how to spend from surplus funds without exhausting them, said Liz Farmer, a fiscal policy writer at Pew.“States are spending down balance dollars at a rapid rate,” Farmer said.&nbsp;The budget presented by Parson in January anticipated an unencumbered general revenue balance of $1.9 billion on June 30, 2025.&nbsp;Along with major projects, in the past two years lawmakers have used the surplus to fund smaller items in their districts. Parson has vetoed many of those items as he cut&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/30/despite-8-billion-surplus-missouri-governor-vetoes-550-million-in-state-spending/">$550 million from the budget</a>&nbsp;in 2023 and $1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/28/missouri-governor-slashes-1-billion-from-state-budget-approved-by-lawmakers/">approved this year</a>.&nbsp;Future lawmakers need to resist the urge to earmark funds for their district, Merideth said. Stagnant or declining state revenue should mean extra funds are reserved for filling shortfalls in important programs.“We have a surplus to work with in the short term but we haven’t hit an economic crash, which at some point will happen in the future,” Merideth said. “That’s when we’re going to be in real trouble.”During the recession that began in 2008, revenues fell from about $8 billion annual to $6.7 billion a few years later. Haug, who has worked for both the legislature and the executive branch, said the state is in good shape in case of a recession.“We’ve got a very healthy fund balance to help us get through a minor downturn, if there is one, although I’m not sure that there even will be one,” Haug said. “We’re in a lot better spot to weather this kind of stuff than we’ve been probably in any of the time I’ve been here.”There are structural changes in the cost of state government that are permanent, thanks to the surge of revenue.&nbsp;The pay of every state worker hired before the beginning of 2022 has increased at least 20.7% under pay raise plans proposed by Parson. Some workers have received much larger percentage boosts, from a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/24/gov-mike-parson-proposes-record-52-7-billion-missouri-state-budget/">longevity pay plan</a>&nbsp;approved this year,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-state-employee-pay-raise-heads-to-governors-desk/">increases in night pay</a>&nbsp;for workers in prisons, mental health hospitals and other custodial institutions and approval of a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/12/06/missouri-gov-parson-proposes-15-minimum-pay-for-state-employees/">minimum salary of $15</a>&nbsp;an hour for all state jobs.With state agency staff vacancy rates averaging more than 10%, the cost of running the state will go up as workers are added.“Increased state employee pay and salaries, as well as permanent tax cuts, were two very popular policy choices that were made across states and were made in Missouri,” Fall said. “But now that we’re seeing all this excess revenue kind of pull back, and states are seeing decreased flexibility, it’s unclear what comes next.”Missouri has passed two large permanent tax cuts, with income tax rate cuts enacted in a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/29/legislature-sends-764-million-income-tax-cut-to-missouri-governor/">special session in 2022</a>, and a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/bill-exempting-social-security-from-missouri-income-tax-heading-to-governor/">exempting Social Security</a>&nbsp;benefits from state income tax in 2023.Together, that legislation will reduce state revenue by $1 billion or more annually. The next step in the phased-in tax cut passed in 2022 will take effect on Jan. 1, cutting the top income tax rate to 4.7%.Those cuts will generate economic activity that will sustain revenues, Deaton said.“Missouri has made very clear through our tax policy we are more interested in growing the bank accounts of the people as opposed to growing the amount of monies coming to Jefferson City,” he said.With a new governor coming into office in January and new legislative leadership, tapping the surplus could be a temptation.“Whoever is sitting in that governor’s mansion and whoever is sitting in the budget committee chair will make a significant difference and it’s hard to predict,” Merideth said.<h2>Revenue picture</h2>In the last full fiscal year before the pandemic, the Missouri general revenue fund took in $9.6 billion. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, the total was $13.4 billion, 1.47% more than in the previous year.Two of the main sources of state revenue — personal and corporate income taxes — saw a decline in collections in fiscal 2024. So far this year, the decline in revenue received so far has extended to sales tax collections.The surge in revenue coincided with the highest inflation rates in 40 years and sales tax growth led the way, thanks to consumers spending federal pandemic relief aid along with higher wages and prices.There is no evidence in the Missouri economy that would show the current decline in sales tax collections is anything but temporary, Haug said.“People may be pulling back a little bit temporarily to pay off debt and things like that, but eventually the fundamentals are what’s going to drive it,” Haug said.&nbsp;Missouri added&nbsp;<a href="https://meric.mo.gov/missouri-monthly-jobs-report" target="_blank">62,400 jobs</a>&nbsp;from July 2023 to July 2024 and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bea.gov/news/2024/gross-domestic-product-state-and-personal-income-state-1st-quarter-2024" target="_blank">personal income</a>&nbsp;grew at an annual rate of 6.7% in the first quarter of the year. State GDP is up 1.6% on an annual basis and inflation,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/09/11/nx-s1-5108607/inflation-consumer-prices-economy-interest-rates" target="_blank">while slowing</a>, continues, with prices nationally about 2.5% higher than a year ago.“Long term, that’s what’s going to drive our revenues, and I think that’s still what’s going to drive our revenues,” Haug said.With the end of pandemic restrictions, consumers are spending more on non-taxed services and travel, Farmer said, as well as substituting cheaper goods when they make purchases.Missouri estimates its revenue each December for the remainder of the fiscal year and the coming year. A longer horizon for budget outlooks would make the state better prepared for possible trouble, she said.“That is one of our key benchmarks for state fiscal health, and something that could be really helpful for assessing what these impacts on personal income tax and those cuts look like for the state down the line for revenue,” she said.A longer-term outlook may be helpful, Deaton said, but experience shows that the short-term estimates aren’t particularly accurate.“There have been times they were very close and other years when estimates missed badly,” Deaton said. “The further you extend out, the greater the margin of error.”

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