KANSAS CITY—A woman wounded in a shooting in Kansas City last week has died.

On August 4, police were dispatched to the 600 block of E. Gregory Boulevard on medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'. 

First responders found a man and and woman in a vehicle suffering from gunshot trauma.&nbsp; Both were transported to an area hospital. He was treated and released. She died of her injuries, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Police have not released her name or reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—A woman wounded in a shooting in Kansas City last week has died.On August 4, police were dispatched to the 600 block of E. Gregory Boulevard on medical call, according to Sheriff Daryl Forte'. First responders found a man and and woman in a vehicle suffering from gunshot trauma.&nbsp; Both were transported to an area hospital. He was treated and released. She died of her injuries, according to Forte'.&nbsp; Police have not released her name or reported an arrest.

Sheriff: Woman wounded in Kansas City shooting has died

(Radio Iowa) - You will no longer need a doctor's prescription in order to get Medicaid-funded repairs to your wheelchair. 

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has removed the requirement following concerns about barriers and delays. State Representative Josh Turek (TUR-ek), a Democrat from Council Bluffs who uses a wheelchair, sponsored a bill last session to change the rule. 

He says that unnecessary requirement could delay repairs for weeks, plus, the state was paying for the person's transportation to the doctor’s office and for the appointment itself. H-H-S’s change to the requirement went into effect last month.

(Radio Iowa) - You will no longer need a doctor's prescription in order to get Medicaid-funded repairs to your wheelchair. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has removed the requirement following concerns about barriers and delays. State Representative Josh Turek (TUR-ek), a Democrat from Council Bluffs who uses a wheelchair, sponsored a bill last session to change the rule. He says that unnecessary requirement could delay repairs for weeks, plus, the state was paying for the person's transportation to the doctor’s office and for the appointment itself. H-H-S’s change to the requirement went into effect last month.

Rule change helps Iowans get repairs on their wheelchairs more quickly

The first Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph for several Chiefs rookies is coming to an end.  

Many of the young players have impressed during camp as they try to survive the roster cut to 53 players coming up on August 29th.  

Assistant General Manager Mike Borgonzi says he's been impressed with the rookies that have been thrown right into the mix, like left tackle Kingsley Suamataia. 

"Playing left tackle as a rookie in the NFL is not an easy job and he's going to go through his ups and downs, but he's coachable, the consistency with him, all the rookies really," Borgonzi tells reporters following practice. 

Borgonzi says he was also impressed with safety Jaden Hicks during Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars.

It was a bit of a disappointing season last year for Chiefs first round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, though some of his biggest plays came in the Super Bowl.  

But during this year's camp Anudike-Uzomah has shown he could be an impact player along the defensive line.  

Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen says Anudike-Uzomah has entered this year's camp in better physical shape, and is more in tune with the defense 

"Just mentally, I mean he knows the playbook, he's playing faster, I was really pleased he did some really good things in the game against two of their better tackles in his pass rush and he's continuing to develop and get better," Cullen says. 

Anudike-Uzomah also worked out this offseason with former Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali, something that was a tremendous help to George Karlaftis following his rookie year

Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars gave the Chiefs special teams unit their first look at the new kickoff rule in game action.  

While Special Teams coordinator Dave Toub has his guys working every day during training camp in St. Joseph at learning the details of the new rule, Toub says there was really nothing from the game to learn that hadn't been done in practice.  

"Just the game speed and the guy's barrel assing down at you to tackle you makes a difference, and then you've got to make smart decisions out there," Toub explains. "It was a great learning experience for everybody, and I think we made a great training tape for the whole league really to be honest with you." 

The Chiefs did have one miscue on the new kickoff when Mecole Hardman took the ball back into the endzone, resulting in a safety, which Toub says has been addressed 

The Chiefs will wrap up their time in St. Joseph tomorrow with practice at 8:15 at Missouri Western.  It's Military Appreciation Day 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723663248924.jpeg" alt="Chiefs logo painted on hill at Missouri Western/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs logo painted on hill at Missouri Western/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>=By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The first Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph for several Chiefs rookies is coming to an end. Many of the young players have impressed during camp as they try to survive the roster cut to 53 players coming up on August 29th. Assistant General Manager Mike Borgonzi says he's been impressed with the rookies that have been thrown right into the mix, like left tackle Kingsley Suamataia. "Playing left tackle as a rookie in the NFL is not an easy job and he's going to go through his ups and downs, but he's coachable, the consistency with him, all the rookies really," Borgonzi tells reporters following practice. Borgonzi says he was also impressed with safety Jaden Hicks during Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722969461905.jpeg" alt="Chiefs rookie safety Jaden Hicks makes a play on Travis Kelce/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs rookie safety Jaden Hicks makes a play on Travis Kelce/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>It was a bit of a disappointing season last year for Chiefs first round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah, though some of his biggest plays came in the Super Bowl. But during this year's camp Anudike-Uzomah has shown he could be an impact player along the defensive line. Defensive Line Coach Joe Cullen says Anudike-Uzomah has entered this year's camp in better physical shape, and is more in tune with the defense "Just mentally, I mean he knows the playbook, he's playing faster, I was really pleased he did some really good things in the game against two of their better tackles in his pass rush and he's continuing to develop and get better," Cullen says. Anudike-Uzomah also worked out this offseason with former Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali, something that was a tremendous help to George Karlaftis following his rookie year<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721674165746.jpeg" alt="The Chiefs defense huddles up during the first training camp practice at Missouri Western State University/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>The Chiefs defense huddles up during the first training camp practice at Missouri Western State University/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>Saturday's preseason game against the Jaguars gave the Chiefs special teams unit their first look at the new kickoff rule in game action. While Special Teams coordinator Dave Toub has his guys working every day during training camp in St. Joseph at learning the details of the new rule, Toub says there was really nothing from the game to learn that hadn't been done in practice. "Just the game speed and the guy's barrel assing down at you to tackle you makes a difference, and then you've got to make smart decisions out there," Toub explains. "It was a great learning experience for everybody, and I think we made a great training tape for the whole league really to be honest with you." The Chiefs did have one miscue on the new kickoff when Mecole Hardman took the ball back into the endzone, resulting in a safety, which Toub says has been addressed The Chiefs will wrap up their time in St. Joseph tomorrow with practice at 8:15 at Missouri Western. It's Military Appreciation Day You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs coaches, front office impressed by rookies as Training Camp nears end

(Radio Iowa) - While we're in the season of state fair corndogs and cotton candy, soon enough, the wicked winds of winter will blow into Iowa, and the new edition of the Farmers' Almanac isn't boding well for the seasons to come. 

Almanac editor Sandi Duncan says their forecast for what lies ahead is under the headline "Wet Winter Whirlwind," and it predicts Iowa and the rest of the Great Plains states will be facing lower-than-normal temperatures. 

Since 1818, the almanac has been using a proprietary formula to forecast the weather, based on historical and celestial factors. In addition to the cold, Duncan says they're calling for an Iowa winter with average snowfall, with major storms in December and in both early and late February.

(Radio Iowa) - While we're in the season of state fair corndogs and cotton candy, soon enough, the wicked winds of winter will blow into Iowa, and the new edition of the Farmers' Almanac isn't boding well for the seasons to come. Almanac editor Sandi Duncan says their forecast for what lies ahead is under the headline "Wet Winter Whirlwind," and it predicts Iowa and the rest of the Great Plains states will be facing lower-than-normal temperatures. Since 1818, the almanac has been using a proprietary formula to forecast the weather, based on historical and celestial factors. In addition to the cold, Duncan says they're calling for an Iowa winter with average snowfall, with major storms in December and in both early and late February.

Farmers' Almanac predicts Iowa will face 'Wet Whirlwind' in winter ahead

Only one initiative campaign that submitted signatures, for a casino near the Lake of the Ozarks, failed to obtain enough signatures for the ballot, says secretary of state

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

An end run around the Missouri General Assembly has the nation’s two largest sports books driving hard to their goal of crossing home plate with a big payday.

A constitutional amendment to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/pro-sports-teams-submit-petition-signatures-to-legalize-sports-gambling-in-missouri/">legalize sports wagering</a>&nbsp;will be Amendment 2 on the Nov. 5 ballot, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office said Tuesday, after finding that backers had enough signatures in six congressional districts to qualify.

And a proposal for a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/01/group-turns-in-signatures-to-put-minimum-wage-hike-paid-sick-leave-on-missouri-ballot/">higher minimum wage</a>&nbsp;will be on the ballot as Proposition A. It is the third time a measure to increase the minimum wage has been before voters. It has been successful both times previously and this time it is paired with a requirement that all employers provide paid time off to their workers at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.

A third initiative, to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/backers-of-a-new-missouri-casino-near-the-lake-of-the-ozarks-submit-signatures-seeking-ballot-slot/">allow a new casino</a>&nbsp;to be licensed on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks, did not make the ballot. The casino, intended to compete directly with a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/10/29/osage-nation-plans-casino-hotel-for-missouris-lake-of-the-ozarks/">planned Osage Nation casino</a>, was 2,031 valid signatures short in the 2nd Congressional District.

Organizers of the initiative under the name Osage River Gaming and Convention issued a statement that they are considering their next move.&nbsp;

“We are confident that after all the signatures are counted and verified we will appear on the November 2024 ballot,” spokesman Ed Rhode said in the statement.

Each initiative needed to hit a minimum number of signatures in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to make the ballot. There were 11,732 signatures that were deemed invalid in the submissions for the 2nd District.

A constitutional amendment intended to protect reproductive rights, including the right to an abortion, was also certified. Barring a reversal on the Osage casino, there will be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">four proposed constitutional amendments</a>&nbsp;on the ballot and one statutory change, the minimum wage petition.&nbsp;Each measure placed on the ballot will require a majority of votes to pass.

The sports wagering initiative was launched late last year after major sports teams and casino companies were&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/players-in-missouri-gambling-debate-chase-stakes-worth-billions/">frustrated again in passing legislation</a>. The public-facing part of the campaign has been taken by the<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/players-in-missouri-gambling-debate-chase-stakes-worth-billions/">&nbsp;major pro sports teams</a>, but the money – $6.3 million for the signature campaign – has been provided by the two largest online sports wagering platforms, FanDuel and DraftKings.

“Missouri is now just one step away from joining most other states in legalizing sports betting and being able to provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms,” Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, said in a statement issued by the Winning for Missouri Education campaign. “On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot.”

Each of those six teams would be able to offer fans a branded wagering platform and receive exclusive advertising rights in and near their stadiums. The online wagering platforms could be licensed to operate independent of the teams and casinos, which would also receive the ability to apply for a license.

The money won by the gaming industry would be taxed at 10% of the net after promotions and other costs. In Kansas, which legalized sports wagering in 2022, a similar taxing structure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covers.com/industry/kansas-sports-betting-handle-rises-43-percent-year-over-year-in-may-june-13-2024" target="_blank">brought in $9.8 million for $172 million wagered</a>&nbsp;during June.

The ballot language anticipates Missouri revenue would be up to $28.9 million annually that would be spent on education programs.

Sports wagering has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/" target="_blank">legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia</a>&nbsp;since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down federal laws banning sports betting nationally. Large numbers of fans have crossed into Illinois and Kansas to place wagers.

“By keeping sports betting dollars in-state, we can invest in our students and communities and ensure a brighter future for Missouri,” campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti said.

The minimum wage and paid leave proposal builds on successful efforts in 2006 and 2018 to boost the pay of Missouri’s lowest wage workers.&nbsp;

The 2006 change set the wage at $6.50 an hour at a time when the federal minimum wage was $5.15 an hour. It also included indexing for inflation, which had increased the minimum to $7.80 an hour by 2018.

That year, voters approved a measure boosting the minimum wage to $8.60, with built-in boosts to $12 an hour by the start of 2023. The current rate, $12.30 an hour, is because of a cost-of-living adjustment applied Jan. 1.

If approved, the minimum wage would go to $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1 and go up again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. After that, it would again be indexed for inflation.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and it has not been increased since 2009.

In a statement after the certification, backers said the proposal will make families more secure financially and healthier because workers will be able to stay home if they are sick or a loved one needs care.

“Allowing workers to earn paid sick days and increasing the minimum wage is a huge step in the right direction,” Lora Gulley, director of community mobilization and advocacy at Generate Health in St Louis, said in the statement.

It cost backers $855,000 to put Proposition A on the ballot and the campaign fund had $1 million on hand on June 30. More than $1 million of the money raised has been donated by the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a Washington D.C.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/sixteen-thirty-fund/" target="_blank">liberal dark money organization</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723635529784.png" alt=" Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, foreground, testifies in favor of sports wagering alongside Todd George, executive vice president of Penn National Gaming, center, and Jeremy Kudon, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, during a legislative hearing in February 2024 (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, foreground, testifies in favor of sports wagering alongside Todd George, executive vice president of Penn National Gaming, center, and Jeremy Kudon, president of the Sports Betting Alliance, during a legislative hearing in February 2024 (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Only one initiative campaign that submitted signatures, for a casino near the Lake of the Ozarks, failed to obtain enough signatures for the ballot, says secretary of state</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>An end run around the Missouri General Assembly has the nation’s two largest sports books driving hard to their goal of crossing home plate with a big payday.A constitutional amendment to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/pro-sports-teams-submit-petition-signatures-to-legalize-sports-gambling-in-missouri/">legalize sports wagering</a>&nbsp;will be Amendment 2 on the Nov. 5 ballot, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office said Tuesday, after finding that backers had enough signatures in six congressional districts to qualify.And a proposal for a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/01/group-turns-in-signatures-to-put-minimum-wage-hike-paid-sick-leave-on-missouri-ballot/">higher minimum wage</a>&nbsp;will be on the ballot as Proposition A. It is the third time a measure to increase the minimum wage has been before voters. It has been successful both times previously and this time it is paired with a requirement that all employers provide paid time off to their workers at the rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked.A third initiative, to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/backers-of-a-new-missouri-casino-near-the-lake-of-the-ozarks-submit-signatures-seeking-ballot-slot/">allow a new casino</a>&nbsp;to be licensed on the Osage River near the Lake of the Ozarks, did not make the ballot. The casino, intended to compete directly with a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/10/29/osage-nation-plans-casino-hotel-for-missouris-lake-of-the-ozarks/">planned Osage Nation casino</a>, was 2,031 valid signatures short in the 2nd Congressional District.Organizers of the initiative under the name Osage River Gaming and Convention issued a statement that they are considering their next move.&nbsp;“We are confident that after all the signatures are counted and verified we will appear on the November 2024 ballot,” spokesman Ed Rhode said in the statement.Each initiative needed to hit a minimum number of signatures in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts to make the ballot. There were 11,732 signatures that were deemed invalid in the submissions for the 2nd District.A constitutional amendment intended to protect reproductive rights, including the right to an abortion, was also certified. Barring a reversal on the Osage casino, there will be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">four proposed constitutional amendments</a>&nbsp;on the ballot and one statutory change, the minimum wage petition.&nbsp;Each measure placed on the ballot will require a majority of votes to pass.The sports wagering initiative was launched late last year after major sports teams and casino companies were&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/players-in-missouri-gambling-debate-chase-stakes-worth-billions/">frustrated again in passing legislation</a>. The public-facing part of the campaign has been taken by the<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/07/players-in-missouri-gambling-debate-chase-stakes-worth-billions/">&nbsp;major pro sports teams</a>, but the money – $6.3 million for the signature campaign – has been provided by the two largest online sports wagering platforms, FanDuel and DraftKings.“Missouri is now just one step away from joining most other states in legalizing sports betting and being able to provide millions of dollars to Missouri classrooms,” Bill DeWitt III, president of the St. Louis Cardinals, said in a statement issued by the Winning for Missouri Education campaign. “On behalf of all six of Missouri’s professional sports teams, I would like to thank everyone who signed a petition to get this on the ballot.”Each of those six teams would be able to offer fans a branded wagering platform and receive exclusive advertising rights in and near their stadiums. The online wagering platforms could be licensed to operate independent of the teams and casinos, which would also receive the ability to apply for a license.The money won by the gaming industry would be taxed at 10% of the net after promotions and other costs. In Kansas, which legalized sports wagering in 2022, a similar taxing structure&nbsp;<a href="https://www.covers.com/industry/kansas-sports-betting-handle-rises-43-percent-year-over-year-in-may-june-13-2024" target="_blank">brought in $9.8 million for $172 million wagered</a>&nbsp;during June.The ballot language anticipates Missouri revenue would be up to $28.9 million annually that would be spent on education programs.Sports wagering has been&nbsp;<a href="https://www.americangaming.org/research/state-gaming-map/" target="_blank">legalized in 38 states and the District of Columbia</a>&nbsp;since the 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down federal laws banning sports betting nationally. Large numbers of fans have crossed into Illinois and Kansas to place wagers.“By keeping sports betting dollars in-state, we can invest in our students and communities and ensure a brighter future for Missouri,” campaign spokesman Jack Cardetti said.The minimum wage and paid leave proposal builds on successful efforts in 2006 and 2018 to boost the pay of Missouri’s lowest wage workers.&nbsp;The 2006 change set the wage at $6.50 an hour at a time when the federal minimum wage was $5.15 an hour. It also included indexing for inflation, which had increased the minimum to $7.80 an hour by 2018.That year, voters approved a measure boosting the minimum wage to $8.60, with built-in boosts to $12 an hour by the start of 2023. The current rate, $12.30 an hour, is because of a cost-of-living adjustment applied Jan. 1.If approved, the minimum wage would go to $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1 and go up again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026. After that, it would again be indexed for inflation.The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour and it has not been increased since 2009.In a statement after the certification, backers said the proposal will make families more secure financially and healthier because workers will be able to stay home if they are sick or a loved one needs care.“Allowing workers to earn paid sick days and increasing the minimum wage is a huge step in the right direction,” Lora Gulley, director of community mobilization and advocacy at Generate Health in St Louis, said in the statement.It cost backers $855,000 to put Proposition A on the ballot and the campaign fund had $1 million on hand on June 30. More than $1 million of the money raised has been donated by the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a Washington D.C.-based&nbsp;<a href="https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/sixteen-thirty-fund/" target="_blank">liberal dark money organization</a>.

Sports wagering, minimum wage hike headed for November vote in Missouri

SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide&nbsp; continue asking for the public’s help in locating 19-year-old Nassir Gill of Topeka, according to a media release from police.

 Gill is a person of interest in the homicide of Brian M. Wright Jr., 23, that occurred on June 21, in the 3100 block of SW Westover Road in Topeka.

Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.

If you see or know where Gill may be, please call or email investigators at 785-368-9551 and telltpd@topeka.org. You can also report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719693545861.png" alt="Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police." />
 <figcaption>Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating a homicide&nbsp; continue asking for the public’s help in locating 19-year-old Nassir Gill of Topeka, according to a media release from police. Gill is a person of interest in the homicide of Brian M. Wright Jr., 23, that occurred on June 21, in the 3100 block of SW Westover Road in Topeka.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719001082126.png" alt="Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV" />
 <figcaption>Police on the scene of the investigation -photo courtesy WIBW TV</figcaption>
 </figure>Gill is described as 5-foot-6 and weighs approximately 160 pounds. He may no longer have blue/green hair, as seen in the photo released by police.If you see or know where Gill may be, please call or email investigators at 785-368-9551 and telltpd@topeka.org. You can also report anonymously to Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at 785-234-0007 or online at www.p3tips.com/128.

Search continues for Kansas teen homicide suspect

(Radio Iowa) - A long-anticipated connection between two of Iowa's most popular bike trails opens this weekend. 

The trail extension from Woodward to Perry creates a nearly-continuous 120-mile paved loop for bikers, runners and walkers on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail. Andrea Boulton (BOLT-un) is the trails and community conservation director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, one partner behind the nine-mile project that’s been years in the making. 

The new segment links two iconic and nationally-recognized trails, and makes the network a destination for Iowans and out-of-state visitors. To mark the opening, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association has organized a bike ride and ribbon cutting on Saturday and Boulton says there are more trails to come.

(Radio Iowa) - A long-anticipated connection between two of Iowa's most popular bike trails opens this weekend. The trail extension from Woodward to Perry creates a nearly-continuous 120-mile paved loop for bikers, runners and walkers on the Raccoon River Valley Trail and the High Trestle Trail. Andrea Boulton (BOLT-un) is the trails and community conservation director for the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, one partner behind the nine-mile project that’s been years in the making. The new segment links two iconic and nationally-recognized trails, and makes the network a destination for Iowans and out-of-state visitors. To mark the opening, the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association has organized a bike ride and ribbon cutting on Saturday and Boulton says there are more trails to come.

Cyclists will soon have a 120-mile paved loop to ride in central Iowa

After spending most of Training Camp in St. Joseph recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson returned to practice last week.  

Watson played through most of last season with a shoulder injury, choosing not to sit out.  

Since returning from the physically unable to perform list near the end of camp, his first practice coming at the start of last week, Watson says it's been a challenge 

"You know the coach is pushing me to get my conditioning back, get my legs back, so it's been going good as of late," Watson tells reporters following practice. 

Watson is competing with players like Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson to earn the number two cornerback spot behind Trent McDuffie.

Watson says the competition has been fun, but it's nothing new.  

"We've been doing this for three years, it's always been healthy competition, we always root for each other's success, and whoever is going to take the spot is going to be willing of it," Watson says. 

On top of a battle for the second cornerback spot, another battle has caught the eyes of fans during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph.  

The battle for the starting left tackle between second year pro Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia has been one of the biggest camp battles.  

Suamataia got his first bit of game action on Saturday against the Jaguars and says he feels good about his performance 

"I went against one of the pass rushers in the league Josh Allen, he's a dog I've watched him since I was in college and high school, so it was a great experience," Suamataia says. "It's funny, I went against this guy, and I was like 'Ok I belong here, I can play with these guys', but I just can't wait for Detroit now." 

With Morris currently injured, Suamataia has been getting most of the reps with the first team offense and does look poised to earn the starting job.  

The Chiefs were on the practice fields for just over two hours today.  They practice again tomorrow at 9:15.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723574554305.jpeg" alt="Chiefs fans have been treated to several players competing to win a spot at their position during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs fans have been treated to several players competing to win a spot at their position during Chiefs Training Camp/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After spending most of Training Camp in St. Joseph recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson returned to practice last week. Watson played through most of last season with a shoulder injury, choosing not to sit out. Since returning from the physically unable to perform list near the end of camp, his first practice coming at the start of last week, Watson says it's been a challenge "You know the coach is pushing me to get my conditioning back, get my legs back, so it's been going good as of late," Watson tells reporters following practice. Watson is competing with players like Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson to earn the number two cornerback spot behind Trent McDuffie.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723574620919.jpeg" alt="Joshua Wiliams, one player competing for the second cornerback spot, walks down the hill to practice/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Joshua Wiliams, one player competing for the second cornerback spot, walks down the hill to practice/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>Watson says the competition has been fun, but it's nothing new. "We've been doing this for three years, it's always been healthy competition, we always root for each other's success, and whoever is going to take the spot is going to be willing of it," Watson says. On top of a battle for the second cornerback spot, another battle has caught the eyes of fans during Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. The battle for the starting left tackle between second year pro Wanya Morris and rookie Kingsley Suamataia has been one of the biggest camp battles. Suamataia got his first bit of game action on Saturday against the Jaguars and says he feels good about his performance "I went against one of the pass rushers in the league Josh Allen, he's a dog I've watched him since I was in college and high school, so it was a great experience," Suamataia says. "It's funny, I went against this guy, and I was like 'Ok I belong here, I can play with these guys', but I just can't wait for Detroit now." With Morris currently injured, Suamataia has been getting most of the reps with the first team offense and does look poised to earn the starting job. The Chiefs were on the practice fields for just over two hours today. They practice again tomorrow at 9:15.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721759260951.jpeg" alt="Kingsley Suamataia signs autographs for fans/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Kingsley Suamataia signs autographs for fans/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>

Chiefs fans see position battles play out during Training Camp in St. Joseph

The ballot question was among four citizen-led measures certified by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office for the November ballot

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

Abortion will be on Missouri’s statewide ballot in November.

A citizen-led initiative petition hoping to enshrine the right to abortion up until the point of fetal viability received final approval Tuesday, securing a place on the general election ballot.&nbsp;

The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office had until 5 p.m. to certify all ballot measures that received enough verified signatures to qualify. It certified the measures as sufficient&nbsp;hours before that deadline. Also certified to be on the November ballot were proposals to legalize sports wagering and raise the minimum wage.&nbsp;

In Missouri, the first state to ban abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure two years ago, abortion is expected to be a focal point of the general election campaign.

Missouri is among&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/24/abortion-state-laws-criminalization-roe/" target="_blank">18 states with an abortion ban</a>, and among several states working to put abortion on the ballot. In each state that put the issue on the ballot, citizens ultimately choose to protect the procedure.

Abortion is illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions only in cases of medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest.

If the amendment receives more than 50% of votes in approval, the measure would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability, an undefined period of time generally seen as the point in which the fetus could survive outside the womb on its own, generally around 24 weeks, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/understanding-and-navigating-viability#:~:text=Later%20in%20pregnancy%2C%20a%20clinician,fully%20develop%20in%20the%20uterus." target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.&nbsp;</a>

Such an amendment would return Missouri to the standard of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which also legalized abortion up to the point of fetal viability. Missouri’s amendment also includes exceptions after viability&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">“to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”</a>

Missouri’s amendment also states that women and those performing or assisting in abortions cannot be prosecuted. Under current Missouri law, doctors who perform abortions deemed unnecessary can be charged with a class B felony and face up to 15 years in prison. Their medical license can also be suspended or revoked.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the coalition leading the reproductive-rights campaigns, is headed by Abortion Action Missouri, the ACLU of Missouri and the state’s Planned Parenthood affiliates.&nbsp;

A decade ago, when abortion was still legal with fewer limitations, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in the state, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. But by 2020, that number dropped to 167 due to a series of “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws passed, including a mandatory&nbsp;72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions.

Since the Supreme Court decision in June 2022&nbsp;through March 2024, there were 64 abortions performed in Missouri under the state’s emergency exemption, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;

<a href="https://guttmacherinstitute.github.io/provision-dashboard/" target="_blank">A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute,&nbsp;</a>a reproductive rights research group, showed that in 2023 alone, 8,710 Missourians traveled to Illinois and 2,860 Missourians went to Kansas for the procedure, which remains legal in both states.&nbsp;

Despite the relative proximity to clinics in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis and the Kansas suburbs of Kansas City, abortion access for Missourians has remained precarious at best.

Missourians hoping for abortions have increasingly found themselves competing for limited resources — including abortion funds and clinic appointment openings — especially as more southern states have outlawed the procedure, making Illinois and Kansas critical access points for women in states like Florida, Oklahoma and Texas.&nbsp;

This has led many Missourians to increasingly rely on self-managed medication abortions. Rather than traveling across state lines, it’s estimated that thousands of Missourians received Mifepristone and Misoprostol to end their pregnancies at home in the past two years according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2816817?utm_campaign=articlePDF&amp;utm_medium=articlePDFlink&amp;utm_source=articlePDF&amp;utm_content=jama.2024.4266" target="_blank">JAMA, the American Medical Association’s journal.</a>

The initial attempt to place abortion on the ballot began in March 2023.&nbsp;

Legal fights with Republican state officials over the ballot language and internal disagreements on whether to include a viability ban stalled signature gathering attempts until January.&nbsp;

As a result, the coalition had just 90 days to fundraise and collect signatures across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers were prioritizing an attempt to raise the threshold for approving citizen-led ballot measures. After a series of Senate filibusters, including one that<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/14/missouri-senate-filibuster-day-two-initiative-petitions/">&nbsp;broke records at 41 hours</a>, the legislation failed on the final day of session.&nbsp;

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/missouri-session-initiative-petition-senate/">Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher&nbsp;</a>on the day of adjournment said that if abortion made it to the ballot and then passed in November under the current initiative petition guidelines, “the burden of abortion falls squarely on the Senate and its leadership.”

Despite these obstacles, the initiative petition garnered wide support across the state.&nbsp;

As of July, the campaign raised nearly $7.3 million in donations, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom turned in 380,000 signatures by their May deadline, including from each of Missouri’s 114 counties. To qualify for the ballot, they had to get signatures from 8% of registered voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts, which equates to about 171,000 signatures.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As of mid-July, the campaign had turned in more than enough valid signatures to land on the ballot, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/abortion-minimum-wage-campaigns-missouri-ballot/">preliminary records from Missouri election authorities.</a>

Once all verified signatures were turned in by election authorities in late July, the secretary of state’s office had two weeks to determine whether there were any final issues, like duplicate pages or missing affidavits signed by circulators.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723570570886.png" alt=" Attendees cheer during a Missourians for Constitutional Freedom rally after the campaign turned in more than 380,000 signatures for its initiative petition to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution Friday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Attendees cheer during a Missourians for Constitutional Freedom rally after the campaign turned in more than 380,000 signatures for its initiative petition to enshrine abortion rights in Missouri’s constitution Friday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The ballot question was among four citizen-led measures certified by the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office for the November ballot</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Abortion will be on Missouri’s statewide ballot in November.A citizen-led initiative petition hoping to enshrine the right to abortion up until the point of fetal viability received final approval Tuesday, securing a place on the general election ballot.&nbsp;The Missouri Secretary of State’s Office had until 5 p.m. to certify all ballot measures that received enough verified signatures to qualify. It certified the measures as sufficient&nbsp;hours before that deadline. Also certified to be on the November ballot were proposals to legalize sports wagering and raise the minimum wage.&nbsp;In Missouri, the first state to ban abortion after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to the procedure two years ago, abortion is expected to be a focal point of the general election campaign.Missouri is among&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/06/24/abortion-state-laws-criminalization-roe/" target="_blank">18 states with an abortion ban</a>, and among several states working to put abortion on the ballot. In each state that put the issue on the ballot, citizens ultimately choose to protect the procedure.<h2>What would the amendment do?</h2>Abortion is illegal in Missouri, with limited exceptions only in cases of medical emergencies. There are no exceptions for survivors of rape or incest.If the amendment receives more than 50% of votes in approval, the measure would legalize abortion up until the point of fetal viability, an undefined period of time generally seen as the point in which the fetus could survive outside the womb on its own, generally around 24 weeks, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/advocacy/facts-are-important/understanding-and-navigating-viability#:~:text=Later%20in%20pregnancy%2C%20a%20clinician,fully%20develop%20in%20the%20uterus." target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.&nbsp;</a>Such an amendment would return Missouri to the standard of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which also legalized abortion up to the point of fetal viability. Missouri’s amendment also includes exceptions after viability&nbsp;<a href="https://moconstitutionalfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Missourians-for-Constitutional-Freedom-Amendment.pdf" target="_blank">“to protect the life or physical or mental health of the pregnant person.”</a>Missouri’s amendment also states that women and those performing or assisting in abortions cannot be prosecuted. Under current Missouri law, doctors who perform abortions deemed unnecessary can be charged with a class B felony and face up to 15 years in prison. Their medical license can also be suspended or revoked.Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the coalition leading the reproductive-rights campaigns, is headed by Abortion Action Missouri, the ACLU of Missouri and the state’s Planned Parenthood affiliates.&nbsp;A decade ago, when abortion was still legal with fewer limitations, more than 5,000 abortions were performed in the state, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services. But by 2020, that number dropped to 167 due to a series of “targeted regulation of abortion providers” laws passed, including a mandatory&nbsp;72-hour waiting period between the initial appointment and a surgical abortion and mandatory pelvic exams for medication abortions.Since the Supreme Court decision in June 2022&nbsp;through March 2024, there were 64 abortions performed in Missouri under the state’s emergency exemption, according to data from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;<a href="https://guttmacherinstitute.github.io/provision-dashboard/" target="_blank">A recent study by the Guttmacher Institute,&nbsp;</a>a reproductive rights research group, showed that in 2023 alone, 8,710 Missourians traveled to Illinois and 2,860 Missourians went to Kansas for the procedure, which remains legal in both states.&nbsp;Despite the relative proximity to clinics in the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis and the Kansas suburbs of Kansas City, abortion access for Missourians has remained precarious at best.Missourians hoping for abortions have increasingly found themselves competing for limited resources — including abortion funds and clinic appointment openings — especially as more southern states have outlawed the procedure, making Illinois and Kansas critical access points for women in states like Florida, Oklahoma and Texas.&nbsp;This has led many Missourians to increasingly rely on self-managed medication abortions. Rather than traveling across state lines, it’s estimated that thousands of Missourians received Mifepristone and Misoprostol to end their pregnancies at home in the past two years according to&nbsp;<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2816817?utm_campaign=articlePDF&amp;utm_medium=articlePDFlink&amp;utm_source=articlePDF&amp;utm_content=jama.2024.4266" target="_blank">JAMA, the American Medical Association’s journal.</a><h2>Wide support despite initial delays</h2>The initial attempt to place abortion on the ballot began in March 2023.&nbsp;Legal fights with Republican state officials over the ballot language and internal disagreements on whether to include a viability ban stalled signature gathering attempts until January.&nbsp;As a result, the coalition had just 90 days to fundraise and collect signatures across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers were prioritizing an attempt to raise the threshold for approving citizen-led ballot measures. After a series of Senate filibusters, including one that<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/14/missouri-senate-filibuster-day-two-initiative-petitions/">&nbsp;broke records at 41 hours</a>, the legislation failed on the final day of session.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/missouri-session-initiative-petition-senate/">Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher&nbsp;</a>on the day of adjournment said that if abortion made it to the ballot and then passed in November under the current initiative petition guidelines, “the burden of abortion falls squarely on the Senate and its leadership.”Despite these obstacles, the initiative petition garnered wide support across the state.&nbsp;As of July, the campaign raised nearly $7.3 million in donations, according to filings with the Missouri Ethics Commission.Missourians for Constitutional Freedom turned in 380,000 signatures by their May deadline, including from each of Missouri’s 114 counties. To qualify for the ballot, they had to get signatures from 8% of registered voters in six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts, which equates to about 171,000 signatures.&nbsp;&nbsp;As of mid-July, the campaign had turned in more than enough valid signatures to land on the ballot, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/abortion-minimum-wage-campaigns-missouri-ballot/">preliminary records from Missouri election authorities.</a>Once all verified signatures were turned in by election authorities in late July, the secretary of state’s office had two weeks to determine whether there were any final issues, like duplicate pages or missing affidavits signed by circulators.&nbsp;

Missouri voters will decide whether to legalize abortion in November

 The 2024-2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is calling for larger corn supplies, lower domestic use, greater exports, and smaller ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, 47 million higher than last month. Ending stocks are forecast down 24 million bushels to 2.1 billion. The season-average corn price dropped a dime to $4.20 a bushel. 

The outlook for soybeans includes higher production, exports, and ending stocks. Production is forecast at 4.6 billion bushels, 154 million higher than in July. Ending stocks are forecast at 560 million bushels, 125 million more than last month. The season-average soybean price dropped 30 cents to $10.80 per bushel. 

The wheat outlook is for lower supplies, slightly higher domestic use, unchanged exports, and smaller ending stocks. Projected ending stocks are down 28 million bushels. The season-average farm price is unchanged from last month at $5.70 per bushel.

The 2024-2025 World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report is calling for larger corn supplies, lower domestic use, greater exports, and smaller ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 15.1 billion bushels, 47 million higher than last month. Ending stocks are forecast down 24 million bushels to 2.1 billion. The season-average corn price dropped a dime to $4.20 a bushel. The outlook for soybeans includes higher production, exports, and ending stocks. Production is forecast at 4.6 billion bushels, 154 million higher than in July. Ending stocks are forecast at 560 million bushels, 125 million more than last month. The season-average soybean price dropped 30 cents to $10.80 per bushel. The wheat outlook is for lower supplies, slightly higher domestic use, unchanged exports, and smaller ending stocks. Projected ending stocks are down 28 million bushels. The season-average farm price is unchanged from last month at $5.70 per bushel.-NAFB

August WASDE calls for lower corn, higher soybean ending stocks

Senate Agriculture Committee members Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve its process for the electronic submission and retention of foreign-owned farmland disclosures. The bi-partisan letter, signed by a bevy of other senators, follows alleged inaccuracies posted online by the Farm Service Agency, pursuant to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act.  

The senators wrote to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, “The current practice of manual data entry, including the re-typing of paper-filed reports into FSA systems, can lead to the publication of problematic and inaccurate information,” 

Senate Agriculture Committee members Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to improve its process for the electronic submission and retention of foreign-owned farmland disclosures. The bi-partisan letter, signed by a bevy of other senators, follows alleged inaccuracies posted online by the Farm Service Agency, pursuant to the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act. The senators wrote to USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, “The current practice of manual data entry, including the re-typing of paper-filed reports into FSA systems, can lead to the publication of problematic and inaccurate information,”

FSA under fire for AFIDA mishandling

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

The ballot language written by lawmakers for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=433" target="_blank">proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;stating&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/04/already-outlawed-in-missouri-noncitizen-voting-ban-will-appear-on-statewide-ballot/">“only citizens of the United States”</a>&nbsp;can vote and banning ranked-choice voting is fair and should be on the Nov. 5 ballot without changes, a Cole County judge ruled Monday.

The “fair ballot language” summary written by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft also correctly conveys the central features of the measure, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">will be Amendment 7</a>&nbsp;on the ballot, Circuit Judge Cotton Walker wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=3257565" target="_blank">an 11-page decision</a>.

The summary statement for the proposal, Walker wrote, “is not untrue or partial, and it does not use language that is intentionally argumentative or likely to create prejudice for the measure nor does it incorrectly describe SJR78.”

Two voters, one from St. Louis and one from Webster Groves, sued over the language, arguing that it is imprecise in its references to the current legal status of non-citizen voting and omits the fact that it is currently illegal in Missouri for non-citizens to vote. The lawsuit named legislative leaders and Ashcroft as defendants in their official capacity for the 50-word summary written by lawmakers and the language intended to give a full description written by Ashcroft.

While the attorneys defending the language wouldn’t give a definitive answer on whether non-citizens can currently vote during the July 29 trial, Walker noted, “the court doubts whether the defendants or their counsel actually believe that non-citizens are currently allowed to vote.”

Lawmakers voted to put the measure on the ballot when they were unable to pass&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/">a more controversial proposal</a>&nbsp;to change how a majority is calculated on constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition.&nbsp;

That measure also included the provisions barring non-citizens from voting.

The ban on ranked-choice voting is a reaction to a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/16/ranked-choice-voting-proposal-may-miss-missouri-ballot-campaign-says/">failed 2022 initiative</a>&nbsp;to institute the process where voters are allowed to designate candidates as their second and third choices for an office, with votes for candidates who have the fewest votes distributed to their other choices in races where no candidate receives a majority.

The language written by lawmakers asks whether the constitution should be amended to:

The first bullet point “conveys the feature without bias, prejudice, deception or favoritism,” Walker wrote in his ruling.&nbsp;

The challengers wanted “state statute” substituted for “state law” in the first point because a statute currently requires anyone registering to vote to state whether they are a citizen.

“The court does not believe a reasonable voter will be misled or deceived into what the measure will do or that the word ‘law’ is unfair and insufficient as it is used as synonym for ‘state statute’,” Walker wrote.

Missouri allowed non-citizens to vote from 1865 to 1924, when an amendment proposed by a state Constitutional Convention&nbsp;<a href="https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/bluebook/id/12864/rec/25" target="_blank">passed with 53.5% of the vote</a>.

The language describing provisions on how elections should be run is also fair, Walker said. He rejected arguments that it should include a reference to a carve-out allowing St. Louis to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/02/28/st-louis-candidates-mayor-nonpartisan-primary/">using “approval voting” in local elections</a>&nbsp;or that voters might think it allows only one candidate per office in the general election.

“The court does not believe,” Walker wrote, “that any voter will be misled into thinking that when casting future ballots if (the proposal) is adopted, that they can only vote for one specific person on the ballot and no others.”

The decision came a day before Ashcroft is required to certify whether&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/abortion-minimum-wage-campaigns-missouri-ballot/">four measures proposed by initiative</a>&nbsp;had enough signatures to make the ballot. Three measures, to secure abortion rights, legalize sports wagering and allow a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks, would amend the constitution. The fourth, to increase the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid personal leave, would amend state statute.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723565113046.png" alt=" Ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment banning non-citizen and ranked-choice voting will not be changed, a judge ruled Monday (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Ballot language for a proposed constitutional amendment banning non-citizen and ranked-choice voting will not be changed, a judge ruled Monday (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</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>The ballot language written by lawmakers for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=433" target="_blank">proposed constitutional amendment</a>&nbsp;stating&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/04/already-outlawed-in-missouri-noncitizen-voting-ban-will-appear-on-statewide-ballot/">“only citizens of the United States”</a>&nbsp;can vote and banning ranked-choice voting is fair and should be on the Nov. 5 ballot without changes, a Cole County judge ruled Monday.The “fair ballot language” summary written by Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft also correctly conveys the central features of the measure, which&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/petitions/2024BallotMeasures" target="_blank">will be Amendment 7</a>&nbsp;on the ballot, Circuit Judge Cotton Walker wrote in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=3257565" target="_blank">an 11-page decision</a>.The summary statement for the proposal, Walker wrote, “is not untrue or partial, and it does not use language that is intentionally argumentative or likely to create prejudice for the measure nor does it incorrectly describe SJR78.”Two voters, one from St. Louis and one from Webster Groves, sued over the language, arguing that it is imprecise in its references to the current legal status of non-citizen voting and omits the fact that it is currently illegal in Missouri for non-citizens to vote. The lawsuit named legislative leaders and Ashcroft as defendants in their official capacity for the 50-word summary written by lawmakers and the language intended to give a full description written by Ashcroft.While the attorneys defending the language wouldn’t give a definitive answer on whether non-citizens can currently vote during the July 29 trial, Walker noted, “the court doubts whether the defendants or their counsel actually believe that non-citizens are currently allowed to vote.”Lawmakers voted to put the measure on the ballot when they were unable to pass&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/05/as-few-as-1-in-5-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-senate-proposal/">a more controversial proposal</a>&nbsp;to change how a majority is calculated on constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition.&nbsp;That measure also included the provisions barring non-citizens from voting.The ban on ranked-choice voting is a reaction to a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/16/ranked-choice-voting-proposal-may-miss-missouri-ballot-campaign-says/">failed 2022 initiative</a>&nbsp;to institute the process where voters are allowed to designate candidates as their second and third choices for an office, with votes for candidates who have the fewest votes distributed to their other choices in races where no candidate receives a majority.The language written by lawmakers asks whether the constitution should be amended to:<ul>
 <li>Make the Constitution consistent with state law by only allowing citizens of the United States to vote;</li><li>Prohibit the ranking of candidates by limiting voters to a single vote per candidate or issue; and</li><li>Require the plurality winner of a political party primary to be the single candidate at a general election?</li>
 </ul>The first bullet point “conveys the feature without bias, prejudice, deception or favoritism,” Walker wrote in his ruling.&nbsp;The challengers wanted “state statute” substituted for “state law” in the first point because a statute currently requires anyone registering to vote to state whether they are a citizen.“The court does not believe a reasonable voter will be misled or deceived into what the measure will do or that the word ‘law’ is unfair and insufficient as it is used as synonym for ‘state statute’,” Walker wrote.Missouri allowed non-citizens to vote from 1865 to 1924, when an amendment proposed by a state Constitutional Convention&nbsp;<a href="https://mdh.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/bluebook/id/12864/rec/25" target="_blank">passed with 53.5% of the vote</a>.The language describing provisions on how elections should be run is also fair, Walker said. He rejected arguments that it should include a reference to a carve-out allowing St. Louis to continue&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/02/28/st-louis-candidates-mayor-nonpartisan-primary/">using “approval voting” in local elections</a>&nbsp;or that voters might think it allows only one candidate per office in the general election.“The court does not believe,” Walker wrote, “that any voter will be misled into thinking that when casting future ballots if (the proposal) is adopted, that they can only vote for one specific person on the ballot and no others.”The decision came a day before Ashcroft is required to certify whether&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/abortion-minimum-wage-campaigns-missouri-ballot/">four measures proposed by initiative</a>&nbsp;had enough signatures to make the ballot. Three measures, to secure abortion rights, legalize sports wagering and allow a new casino near the Lake of the Ozarks, would amend the constitution. The fourth, to increase the minimum wage and require employers to provide paid personal leave, would amend state statute.

Judge upholds ballot language to ban noncitizen voting, already illegal in Missouri

(Radio Iowa) - A writer of historical fiction from the West Coast will make several appearances in Iowa this week to launch her latest novel, which takes place in eastern Iowa more than a century ago. 

Rachel Fordham, who lives in Washington state, has set many or her books in Iowa. "Beyond Ivy Walls" follows a young woman in 1903 who lives in the town of Monticello and works in a feather duster plant, which Fordham says was a real factory at that time. She says extensive research is key, as helpful folks at the Monticello library were able to connect Fordham with a descendant of the factory's owners, and others, who knew a wealth of information about the town's history. 

The author will make stops over the next several days at libraries and book stores in Anamosa, Monticello, Iowa City and Des Moines.

(Radio Iowa) - A writer of historical fiction from the West Coast will make several appearances in Iowa this week to launch her latest novel, which takes place in eastern Iowa more than a century ago. Rachel Fordham, who lives in Washington state, has set many or her books in Iowa. "Beyond Ivy Walls" follows a young woman in 1903 who lives in the town of Monticello and works in a feather duster plant, which Fordham says was a real factory at that time. She says extensive research is key, as helpful folks at the Monticello library were able to connect Fordham with a descendant of the factory's owners, and others, who knew a wealth of information about the town's history. The author will make stops over the next several days at libraries and book stores in Anamosa, Monticello, Iowa City and Des Moines.

Small town Iowa is setting for new novel, as well as locale for book's launch

KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man and woman now have been charged in connection with a knife assault on Aug. 5, 2024, on a KCATA public bus as it ran its route with multiple passengers, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

Shaunte L. Washington faces Assault in the 1st Degree and Mohummah S. Baker faces Assault in the 1st Degree.

According to court records, Washington boarded a KCATA bus and began wielding a knife and making threatening stabbing motions toward another female passenger. The victim confronted Washington and&nbsp; Baker t struck the victim several times with a fist. Washington then began stabbing the victim. One stab wound severed an artery.&nbsp;

Prosecutors asked for $75,000/10 percent bonds for each defendant..

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723558799265.png" alt="Washington-photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Washington-photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —A Kansas City man and woman now have been charged in connection with a knife assault on Aug. 5, 2024, on a KCATA public bus as it ran its route with multiple passengers, according to Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.Shaunte L. Washington faces Assault in the 1st Degree and Mohummah S. Baker faces Assault in the 1st Degree.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723558924081.png" alt="Baker photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Baker photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>According to court records, Washington boarded a KCATA bus and began wielding a knife and making threatening stabbing motions toward another female passenger. The victim confronted Washington and&nbsp; Baker t struck the victim several times with a fist. Washington then began stabbing the victim. One stab wound severed an artery.&nbsp;Prosecutors asked for $75,000/10 percent bonds for each defendant..

2 charged for knife attack on Kansas City bus 

NEW YORK — Donald Trump discussed the assassination attempt,&nbsp; shared a plan to shut down the U.S. Education Department and much more during an online visit with&nbsp;X, formerly Twitter, owner Elon Musk Monday evening.&nbsp;

The  conversation had technical glitches but was viewed by over a billion, according to Musk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723512136730.png" alt="Photo by Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Deputy Director of Communications, Donald J. Trump for President&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK — Donald Trump discussed the assassination attempt,&nbsp; shared a plan to shut down the U.S. Education Department and much more during an online visit with&nbsp;X, formerly Twitter, owner Elon Musk Monday evening.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/cPUMFx9Qu5">pic.twitter.com/cPUMFx9Qu5</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1823254086126608862?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The conversation had technical glitches but was viewed by over a billion, according to Musk.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Combined views of the conversation with <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> and subsequent discussion by other accounts now ~1 billion <a href="https://t.co/s8x8QmdmnY">https://t.co/s8x8QmdmnY</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1823249070296797515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

🎥 A billion combined views: The Trump-Musk full conversation

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

TOPEKA — The next personalized license plate will feature the Flint Hills design after more than 30,000 Kansans&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/kansas-invites-voting-on-five-design-options-for-states-new-personalized-license-plate/">voted among five potential designs</a>.

Kansas Department of Revenue spokesman Zach Denny said the design was the “clear favorite,” receiving more than 56% of the vote.

The new design will be ready for purchase in 2025 for $45.50 at county treasurer’s offices.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/press/2020/pr01132020.html" target="_blank">“Powering the Future”</a>&nbsp;personalized plate, the 2020 design that featured a sunset and wind turbines, will no longer be available after Jan. 1, 2025. Kansans with the “Powering the Future” plate must replace their plate during their next renewal period to keep their personalized plate text, Denny said.

“We know how passionate Kansans are about license plates, and this initiative aims to give the public a direct say in selecting the next personalized plate design that will be featured on vehicles across the state for years to come,” KDOR Division of Vehicles director David Harper said in a statement at the beginning of the vote.

The new personalized plate, which is available along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates.html" target="_blank">many distinctive plates</a>, comes after last year’s controversy around the standard plate design.

The first design for the state’s new standard plate was met with bipartisan criticism, with complaints that it looked too much like the University of Missouri’s colors and that it looked like the state of New York’s standard plate. Gov. Laura Kelly pulled the plate from production and allowed Kansans to vote on alternate designs. More than half the votes went to a design featuring the state Capitol.

As of January 2024, KDOR started to replace the old standard plate with the new one.

A KDOR statement said feedback during the voting process for the standard plate led to the decision to hold another vote for the personalized plate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723474905874.png" alt="&nbsp;Kansans voted for the new personalized license plate, with the design of the Flint Hills winning more than 56% of the vote.&nbsp; (Kansas Department of Revenue)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Kansans voted for the new personalized license plate, with the design of the Flint Hills winning more than 56% of the vote.&nbsp; (Kansas Department of Revenue)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ghills/">GRACE HILLS</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a> TOPEKA — The next personalized license plate will feature the Flint Hills design after more than 30,000 Kansans&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/05/kansas-invites-voting-on-five-design-options-for-states-new-personalized-license-plate/">voted among five potential designs</a>.Kansas Department of Revenue spokesman Zach Denny said the design was the “clear favorite,” receiving more than 56% of the vote.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723544227052.png" alt=" The Kansas Department of Revenue is had Kansans take part in an online vote to select a new background for the state’s personalized license plates. There were five options. (Kansas Department of Revenue)" />
 <figcaption> The Kansas Department of Revenue is had Kansans take part in an online vote to select a new background for the state’s personalized license plates. There were five options. (Kansas Department of Revenue)</figcaption>
 </figure>The new design will be ready for purchase in 2025 for $45.50 at county treasurer’s offices.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/press/2020/pr01132020.html" target="_blank">“Powering the Future”</a>&nbsp;personalized plate, the 2020 design that featured a sunset and wind turbines, will no longer be available after Jan. 1, 2025. Kansans with the “Powering the Future” plate must replace their plate during their next renewal period to keep their personalized plate text, Denny said.“We know how passionate Kansans are about license plates, and this initiative aims to give the public a direct say in selecting the next personalized plate design that will be featured on vehicles across the state for years to come,” KDOR Division of Vehicles director David Harper said in a statement at the beginning of the vote.The new personalized plate, which is available along with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksrevenue.gov/dovplates.html" target="_blank">many distinctive plates</a>, comes after last year’s controversy around the standard plate design.The first design for the state’s new standard plate was met with bipartisan criticism, with complaints that it looked too much like the University of Missouri’s colors and that it looked like the state of New York’s standard plate. Gov. Laura Kelly pulled the plate from production and allowed Kansans to vote on alternate designs. More than half the votes went to a design featuring the state Capitol.As of January 2024, KDOR started to replace the old standard plate with the new one.A KDOR statement said feedback during the voting process for the standard plate led to the decision to hold another vote for the personalized plate.

Kansas reveals winning personalized license plate design

&nbsp;Perrigo Company plc is issuing a voluntary recall at the retailer and warehouse level of three lots within one batch, or 16,500 cans, of store brand Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder due to levels of Vitamin D above the maximum level permitted, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration.&nbsp;

The recalled product was shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP in TX ; and CVS Missouri, Florida, California, South Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. No other products or retailers are impacted by this recall.

The Company is initiating this voluntary recall in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There have been no reports of adverse events to date attributed to the elevated levels of Vitamin D in the product subject to this recall, which was determined through routine testing.

For the vast majority of infants, short-term consumption of the affected lot codes is unlikely to cause adverse health implications. In a small subset of physiologically vulnerable infants (e.g., impaired renal function), there is the potential that consumption of the recalled product could result in health complications. Parents and caregivers who may have purchased the product should look for the lot codes below with “use by” dates, which can be found on the bottom of the package and should contact their health care provider if they have any concerns.

Perrigo has taken immediate action by notifying H-E-B Grocery Company, LP and CVS directly and asking them to examine their retail and warehouse inventory and isolate the product.

Product shipped to CVS beginning February 6, 2024, being recalled:

T11LMYC – USE BY 11NOV2025(Material: 975261, UPC: 050428318034)

Product shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP beginning February 2, 2024, being recalled:

T11LMXC – USE BY 11NOV2025T09LMXC – USE BY 09NOV2025(Material: 788362, UPC: 041220164578)

No other lot codes are impacted by this recall.

If infants experience any symptoms while using the product, report them to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm">www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm</a>. Additionally, please contact your healthcare provider.

Any questions or concerns regarding the recall or adverse events associated with these lot codes can be communicated to Perrigo Consumer Affairs at 1-800-538-9543, M-F from 8:00am-5:00pm EST.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723490770406.png" alt="Photo FDA" />
 <figcaption>Photo FDA</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;Perrigo Company plc is issuing a voluntary recall at the retailer and warehouse level of three lots within one batch, or 16,500 cans, of store brand Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder due to levels of Vitamin D above the maximum level permitted, according to a statement from the Food and Drug Administration.&nbsp;The recalled product was shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP in TX ; and CVS Missouri, Florida, California, South Carolina, Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee, New Jersey, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. No other products or retailers are impacted by this recall.The Company is initiating this voluntary recall in consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). There have been no reports of adverse events to date attributed to the elevated levels of Vitamin D in the product subject to this recall, which was determined through routine testing.For the vast majority of infants, short-term consumption of the affected lot codes is unlikely to cause adverse health implications. In a small subset of physiologically vulnerable infants (e.g., impaired renal function), there is the potential that consumption of the recalled product could result in health complications. Parents and caregivers who may have purchased the product should look for the lot codes below with “use by” dates, which can be found on the bottom of the package and should contact their health care provider if they have any concerns.Perrigo has taken immediate action by notifying H-E-B Grocery Company, LP and CVS directly and asking them to examine their retail and warehouse inventory and isolate the product.Product shipped to CVS beginning February 6, 2024, being recalled:T11LMYC – USE BY 11NOV2025(Material: 975261, UPC: 050428318034)Product shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP beginning February 2, 2024, being recalled:T11LMXC – USE BY 11NOV2025T09LMXC – USE BY 09NOV2025(Material: 788362, UPC: 041220164578)No other lot codes are impacted by this recall.If infants experience any symptoms while using the product, report them to the FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm">www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm</a>. Additionally, please contact your healthcare provider.Any questions or concerns regarding the recall or adverse events associated with these lot codes can be communicated to Perrigo Consumer Affairs at 1-800-538-9543, M-F from 8:00am-5:00pm EST.

Recall: Baby formula sold at CVS, H-E-B in Missouri, 11 other states

In October,&nbsp; the world's largest steam locomotive will return to Kansas City and travel across Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm">Click here&nbsp;</a>to additional details.

Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:&nbsp;&nbsp;

The train stops in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm" target="_blank">Kansas and Missouri</a>&nbsp;are listed below.

Note: All schedule times and locations are subject to change.&nbsp;Please check back periodically for updates and be aware there is&nbsp;no public access&nbsp;to the Big Boy outside these listed stops. Overnight stops are closed to the public unless otherwise noted; afternoon arrival times&nbsp;are not available

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574297319646.png" alt="File photo by Bryan Dennett" />
 <figcaption>File photo by Bryan Dennett</figcaption>
 </figure>In October,&nbsp; the world's largest steam locomotive will return to Kansas City and travel across Kansas.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm">Click here&nbsp;</a>to additional details.Big Boy No. 4014 will depart on the "Heartland of America Tour" on Wednesday, Aug. 28 from Cheyenne, Wyoming, and travel across nine additional states: Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas. The eight-week tour concludes in late October. No. 4014 will be on display in the following locations:&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723494736139.png" alt="map Union Pacific" />
 <figcaption>map Union Pacific</figcaption>
 </figure>The train stops in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm" target="_blank">Kansas and Missouri</a>&nbsp;are listed below.Tuesday, Oct. 15<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Coffeyville, Kan. to Kansas City, Mo.</li><li>2:15 p.m. arrival; 2:45 p.m. departure — Osawatomie, Kan. (West Pacific Avenue Crossing)</li><li>6:45 p.m. arrival — Kansas City, Mo. (Union Station – 30 W. Pershing Road)</li>
 </ul>Wednesday, Oct. 16<ul>
 <li>Viewing only — Kansas City, Mo. (Union Station – 30 W. Pershing Road)</li>
 </ul>Thursday, Oct. 17<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Kansas City, Mo. to Salina Kan.</li><li>12:15 p.m. arrival; 12:45 departure — Topeka, Kan. (Great Overland Station – 701 N. Kansas Avenue)</li>
 </ul>Friday, Oct. 18<ul>
 <li>Viewing only — Salina Kan. (Salina Depot – 400 N. 13th Street)</li>
 </ul>Saturday, Oct. 19<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Salina Kan. to Hays, Kan.</li><li>11 a.m. arrival; 11:30 a.m. departure — Wilson Kan. (Avenue East Crossing)</li>
 </ul>Sunday, Oct. 20<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Hays, Kan. to Sharon Springs, Kan.</li><li>Noon arrival; 12:30 p.m. departure — Grainfield, Kan. (Main Street Crossing)</li>
 </ul>Monday, Oct. 21<ul>
 <li>9 a.m. departure — Sharon Springs, Kan. to Denver, Colo.</li>
 </ul>Note: All schedule times and locations are subject to change.&nbsp;Please check back periodically for updates and be aware there is&nbsp;no public access&nbsp;to the Big Boy outside these listed stops. Overnight stops are closed to the public unless otherwise noted; afternoon arrival times&nbsp;are not available

Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ will steam into Kansas City this fall

(Radio Iowa) - Classes resume in most Iowa schools in the next week or two, and Iowa parents are being warned to be careful with what they share online about their children. 

Jim Temmer, with the Better Business Bureau, says those cute social media posts about your kid's first day in their new grade give away a lot of key details of their lives that could be misused by scammers or predators. 

Photos of a kid holding up a chalkboard showing their name, age, height, grade and other information could be used, Temmer says, to steal their identities or even gain your child's trust. He says if you are going to share those pictures on social media, make sure they're only going out to actual friends.

(Radio Iowa) - Classes resume in most Iowa schools in the next week or two, and Iowa parents are being warned to be careful with what they share online about their children. Jim Temmer, with the Better Business Bureau, says those cute social media posts about your kid's first day in their new grade give away a lot of key details of their lives that could be misused by scammers or predators. Photos of a kid holding up a chalkboard showing their name, age, height, grade and other information could be used, Temmer says, to steal their identities or even gain your child's trust. He says if you are going to share those pictures on social media, make sure they're only going out to actual friends.

Iowa parents need to regulate who sees those back-to-school photos

The Bureau of Land Management announced its intent to develop a Federal Advisory Committee to engage the public and help inform the BLM’s implementation of the Public Lands Rule. The committee will allow the agency to continue working with and hearing from a range of experts and the public to support successful rule implementation.  BLM Director Tracy Manning-Stone says “The Public Lands Rule provides essential tools to help the Bureau improve and conserve the health of the lands we’ve been entrusted with for present and future generations.”  

In the weeks ahead, BLM will publish a call for nominations and a charter for the committee to the Federal Register. The BLM also released a set of initial guidance documents to support clear and consistent implementation of the rule across the Bureau’s 12 state and 175 field offices. The guidance documents will give direction to field personnel on how the rule will work.

The Bureau of Land Management announced its intent to develop a Federal Advisory Committee to engage the public and help inform the BLM’s implementation of the Public Lands Rule. The committee will allow the agency to continue working with and hearing from a range of experts and the public to support successful rule implementation. BLM Director Tracy Manning-Stone says “The Public Lands Rule provides essential tools to help the Bureau improve and conserve the health of the lands we’ve been entrusted with for present and future generations.” In the weeks ahead, BLM will publish a call for nominations and a charter for the committee to the Federal Register. The BLM also released a set of initial guidance documents to support clear and consistent implementation of the rule across the Bureau’s 12 state and 175 field offices. The guidance documents will give direction to field personnel on how the rule will work.-NAFB

Bureau of Land Management lands rule implementation

Leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council were not happy about the indictment of Charles and Heather Maude, family ranchers in western South Dakota. “I’m deeply disgusted by the Forest Service’s persecution of Charles and Heather,” says NCBA President Mark Eisele. On June 20, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota indicted them on charges of theft of government property related to a small piece of Forest Service land surrounded by the Maude’s private land. 

Leaders of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council were not happy about the indictment of Charles and Heather Maude, family ranchers in western South Dakota. “I’m deeply disgusted by the Forest Service’s persecution of Charles and Heather,” says NCBA President Mark Eisele. On June 20, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Dakota indicted them on charges of theft of government property related to a small piece of Forest Service land surrounded by the Maude’s private land. The family has stewarded that government land for generations. “The Forest Service’s deference to the heavy-handed special agent with a long history of abusing permittees is unconscionable,” says NCBA V.P. of Government Affairs Ethan Lane. The groups say the Forest Service has a long and shameful history of confronting ranchers in South Dakota, and their escalation to imprisonment over a century-old fence line has shaken the confidence of every permittee.-NAFB

Kbct