The highly anticipated <a href="https://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/events/60th-annual-mid-america-farm-exposition">Mid America Farm Expo</a>&nbsp;returns to Salina, Kansas, from March 26-28, 2025, bringing together farmers, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural enthusiasts for three days of cutting-edge innovation, valuable networking, and industry insights.

The Mid-America Farm Expo, held annually, is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is considered to be one of the best places for anyone involved in the farming and agricultural sectors to get connected with dealers showcasing equipment.&nbsp; This year’s Expo will offer a wide range of exhibitors, including the latest agricultural technologies, equipment, machinery, and services, designed to help the farming community improve efficiency and sustainability.

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest products and services transforming the agricultural landscape, attend informative sessions featuring thought leaders and industry experts, network with fellow professionals, suppliers, and farmers, and participate in live demonstrations of advanced farming equipment and technologies.

“I think there’s a misconception that agriculture is a dying industry, when of course, here in the Midwest, we know that couldn’t be any further from the truth,” Renee Duxler, President and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “The Farm Expo continues to evolve as the industry evolves with advanced technology, innovative methods, and emerging research. The Farm Expo is a great place for farmers and industry leaders to capture that knowledge.”

Special features of the Expo, in addition to the farm equipment displays, will include a variety of programs and seminars. Wednesday morning’s session will be Kansas Forage &amp; Grassland Council Talks with a panel of experts from across the region and will be held on the second floor of Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Wednesday afternoon will host a Central Kansas Irrigation Panel in the 4-H Building with a panel consisting of Dr. Johnathan Aguilar, KSU Extension Irrigation Specialist; Mark Billinger, KDA Assistant Water Commissioner; and Ryan Flickner, KFB Senior Director of Public Policy &amp; Central Kansas Farmer.

On Thursday, Washburn University’s Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation, Roger McEowen, will discuss Hot Topics in Agricultural Law at 10:30 a.m. on the second floor of Tony’s Pizza Events Center. In addition to the morning session, McEowen will be discussing farm succession planning at 1:30 p.m. in the 4-H Building.

To conclude the 60th Annual Mid America Farm Expo, there will be a Women in Agriculture session on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center on the second floor.

The Expo began 60 years ago as a project of the Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. It was named the Salina Materials Handling Show and had 44 exhibits on display at the Saline County Fairgrounds, now called the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. With the construction of the Tony’s Pizza Events Center directly across from the Expo Center, the Farm Expo expanded and is now one of the largest spring farm shows in the Midwest, attracting a few thousand attendees over the three days.

The Expo is headquartered in the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, with additional displays in the Saline County Livestock &amp; Expo Center's Agricultural Hall. Exhibits are also located outside in front of Ag Hall and in the Events Center's west parking lot.

There is no charge for admission or parking. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 27, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 28. The event is sponsored by the Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1743003798464.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The highly anticipated <a href="https://www.tonyspizzaeventscenter.com/events/60th-annual-mid-america-farm-exposition">Mid America Farm Expo</a>&nbsp;returns to Salina, Kansas, from March 26-28, 2025, bringing together farmers, agribusiness professionals, and agricultural enthusiasts for three days of cutting-edge innovation, valuable networking, and industry insights.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742998261596.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Mid-America Farm Expo, held annually, is celebrating its 60th anniversary and is considered to be one of the best places for anyone involved in the farming and agricultural sectors to get connected with dealers showcasing equipment.&nbsp; This year’s Expo will offer a wide range of exhibitors, including the latest agricultural technologies, equipment, machinery, and services, designed to help the farming community improve efficiency and sustainability.Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest products and services transforming the agricultural landscape, attend informative sessions featuring thought leaders and industry experts, network with fellow professionals, suppliers, and farmers, and participate in live demonstrations of advanced farming equipment and technologies.“I think there’s a misconception that agriculture is a dying industry, when of course, here in the Midwest, we know that couldn’t be any further from the truth,” Renee Duxler, President and CEO of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce, said. “The Farm Expo continues to evolve as the industry evolves with advanced technology, innovative methods, and emerging research. The Farm Expo is a great place for farmers and industry leaders to capture that knowledge.”Special features of the Expo, in addition to the farm equipment displays, will include a variety of programs and seminars. Wednesday morning’s session will be Kansas Forage &amp; Grassland Council Talks with a panel of experts from across the region and will be held on the second floor of Tony’s Pizza Events Center. Wednesday afternoon will host a Central Kansas Irrigation Panel in the 4-H Building with a panel consisting of Dr. Johnathan Aguilar, KSU Extension Irrigation Specialist; Mark Billinger, KDA Assistant Water Commissioner; and Ryan Flickner, KFB Senior Director of Public Policy &amp; Central Kansas Farmer.On Thursday, Washburn University’s Professor of Agricultural Law and Taxation, Roger McEowen, will discuss Hot Topics in Agricultural Law at 10:30 a.m. on the second floor of Tony’s Pizza Events Center. In addition to the morning session, McEowen will be discussing farm succession planning at 1:30 p.m. in the 4-H Building.To conclude the 60th Annual Mid America Farm Expo, there will be a Women in Agriculture session on Friday morning at 10 a.m. at the Tony’s Pizza Events Center on the second floor.The Expo began 60 years ago as a project of the Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce. It was named the Salina Materials Handling Show and had 44 exhibits on display at the Saline County Fairgrounds, now called the Saline County Livestock and Expo Center. With the construction of the Tony’s Pizza Events Center directly across from the Expo Center, the Farm Expo expanded and is now one of the largest spring farm shows in the Midwest, attracting a few thousand attendees over the three days.The Expo is headquartered in the Tony’s Pizza Events Center, with additional displays in the Saline County Livestock &amp; Expo Center's Agricultural Hall. Exhibits are also located outside in front of Ag Hall and in the Events Center's west parking lot.There is no charge for admission or parking. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March 27, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. March 28. The event is sponsored by the Agriculture Committee of the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce.

Schedule for 60th Annual Mid America Farm Expo in Salina

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

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump Tuesday signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/" target="_blank">sweeping executive order</a>&nbsp;that overhauls the administration of U.S. elections, including requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

It’s likely to face legal challenges from voting rights groups and Democratic state attorneys general.

The order is an extension of the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">rhetoric on the campaign trail</a>&nbsp;about noncitizens voting in federal elections and his crackdown on immigration since returning to office.

Trump has often pushed back against other issues in elections administration, railing against early voting and vote-by-mail. He falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through voter fraud.&nbsp;

Tuesday’s order aligns with&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">a priority for House Republicans</a>&nbsp;to pass the&nbsp;Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22" target="_blank">&nbsp;SAVE, Act</a>&nbsp;that would require proof of citizenship in federal elections. That bill, if signed into law, would codify parts of the executive order.

States are responsible for administering elections&nbsp;—&nbsp;even those at the federal level&nbsp;— but the order uses federal funding to compel states to follow it. Those&nbsp;that do not comply with the order will have federal funds revoked, according to the order.

The order directs the federal&nbsp;Election Assistance Commission, which distributes grants to states, within 30 days to start requiring people registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or state-issued identification that indicates citizenship.

The order also prohibits the counting of absentee or mail-in ballots that are received after Election Day. States set their own rules for ballot counting and many allow those that arrive after Election Day but postmarked before.

The order also instructs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with Trump megadonor Elon Musk’s&nbsp;U.S. DOGE Service, to gain access to state voter rolls in order to ensure the voter lists are up to date. Those entities will also have access to immigration databases and states will be allowed to request DHS to verify if any noncitizen is on the state’s list of voters.

The Department of Government Efficiency, which is not actually a federal department, has come under scrutiny for the access it has been given to Americans’ private data housed in other federal departments.

The order instructs DHS Secretary Kristi Noem within 90 days to provide the attorney general “information on all foreign nationals who have indicated on any immigration form that they have registered or voted in a Federal, State, or local election, and shall also take all appropriate action to submit to relevant State or local election officials such information.”

While noncitizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections,&nbsp;certain municipalities in California, Maryland and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia, allow noncitizens to participate in local elections. If someone who is not a U.S. citizen votes, it could lead to a felony charge and subject that person to deportation.

Congressional Republicans and the president have taken aim at noncitizen voting, even though it’s extremely rare. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.heritage.org/voterfraud/search?combine=citizenship&amp;state=All&amp;year=&amp;case_type=All&amp;fraud_type=24491&amp;page=0" target="_blank">conducted an analysis of election conduct</a>&nbsp;from 2003 to 2023 and found 29 instances of noncitizens voting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742940038269.png" alt="Image from White House video of the signing during a Tuesday cabinet meeting" />
 <figcaption>Image from White House video of the signing during a Tuesday cabinet meeting</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/ariana-figueroa/">ARIANA FIGUEROA</a>WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump Tuesday signed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/preserving-and-protecting-the-integrity-of-american-elections/" target="_blank">sweeping executive order</a>&nbsp;that overhauls the administration of U.S. elections, including requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.It’s likely to face legal challenges from voting rights groups and Democratic state attorneys general.The order is an extension of the president’s&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/05/06/though-noncitizens-can-vote-in-few-local-elections-gop-goes-big-to-make-it-illegal/" target="_blank">rhetoric on the campaign trail</a>&nbsp;about noncitizens voting in federal elections and his crackdown on immigration since returning to office.Trump has often pushed back against other issues in elections administration, railing against early voting and vote-by-mail. He falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him through voter fraud.&nbsp;Tuesday’s order aligns with&nbsp;<a href="https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/04/12/trump-supports-u-s-house-speaker-johnson-elections-agenda-in-joint-appearance/" target="_blank">a priority for House Republicans</a>&nbsp;to pass the&nbsp;Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or<a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/22" target="_blank">&nbsp;SAVE, Act</a>&nbsp;that would require proof of citizenship in federal elections. That bill, if signed into law, would codify parts of the executive order.States are responsible for administering elections&nbsp;—&nbsp;even those at the federal level&nbsp;— but the order uses federal funding to compel states to follow it. Those&nbsp;that do not comply with the order will have federal funds revoked, according to the order.The order directs the federal&nbsp;Election Assistance Commission, which distributes grants to states, within 30 days to start requiring people registering to vote to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport or state-issued identification that indicates citizenship.The order also prohibits the counting of absentee or mail-in ballots that are received after Election Day. States set their own rules for ballot counting and many allow those that arrive after Election Day but postmarked before.The order also instructs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, along with Trump megadonor Elon Musk’s&nbsp;U.S. DOGE Service, to gain access to state voter rolls in order to ensure the voter lists are up to date. Those entities will also have access to immigration databases and states will be allowed to request DHS to verify if any noncitizen is on the state’s list of voters.The Department of Government Efficiency, which is not actually a federal department, has come under scrutiny for the access it has been given to Americans’ private data housed in other federal departments.The order instructs DHS Secretary Kristi Noem within 90 days to provide the attorney general “information on all foreign nationals who have indicated on any immigration form that they have registered or voted in a Federal, State, or local election, and shall also take all appropriate action to submit to relevant State or local election officials such information.”While noncitizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections,&nbsp;certain municipalities in California, Maryland and Vermont, as well as the District of Columbia, allow noncitizens to participate in local elections. If someone who is not a U.S. citizen votes, it could lead to a felony charge and subject that person to deportation.Congressional Republicans and the president have taken aim at noncitizen voting, even though it’s extremely rare. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.heritage.org/voterfraud/search?combine=citizenship&amp;state=All&amp;year=&amp;case_type=All&amp;fraud_type=24491&amp;page=0" target="_blank">conducted an analysis of election conduct</a>&nbsp;from 2003 to 2023 and found 29 instances of noncitizens voting.

Trump signs broad elections order requiring proof of citizenship

House Democrat accuses GOP leadership of trying to avoid gun-control debate

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

<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB416&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">School safety legislation</a>&nbsp;that requires school districts create a policy governing cell phone use by students won initial approval Monday afternoon in the Missouri House.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, called the bill a “comprehensive approach to school safety.”

It includes provisions to equip schools with bleeding-control kits, require intruder-response training and develop emergency response plans. Public schools would be required to use bullet-proof window film and anti-intruder locks in new construction by 2029.

“School safety is much more than hardening the exterior of a building but having a safe environment for learning,” Shields said during House debate. “We know that teaching and learning does not occur if a student doesn’t feel safe.”

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, added an amendment that would encourage schools to bar cell-phone use. Schools would be able to craft the policy to their preferences. But at a minimum, those policies must ban cell phones during instructional time.

State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, was one of three representatives to file a bill on cell phones in schools. She said safety threats can come from within the walls of the school.

“This is going to help our students be able to focus on instruction and not let things get in the way that have to do with dangerous situations in our school,” she said. “When we talk about cyber bullying and sexting, all of that really has an impact on the school itself and can lead to dangerous physical alterations as well.”

Others worried that restricting cell phones would hinder security.

State Rep. Justin Sparks, a Republican from Wildwood, said access to cell phones can help students report school shootings quickly.

“We have had students actually contact the police and be on the phone with them during the event, providing invaluable intelligence as to where the shots are occurring, where the bad guy is,” Sparks said.

Another sponsor of a cell-phone bill, Republican state Rep. Jamie Gragg of Ozark, said schools can decide whether phones can be in students’ possession or not, so long as the devices aren’t a distraction.

“This is not the legislature making the rule. This is strictly the actual districts making those rules,” he said.

Another&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/amendpdf/1498H01.04H.pdf" target="_blank">amendment</a>&nbsp;added to the bill would require schools to create a cardiac response plan.

Three amendments were filed but not discussed. State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said in an inquiry with another Democrat that he wanted to offer an amendment to ban the sale of semi-automatic firearms to teenagers, but he was not called upon during Monday’s debate.

“I filed an amendment, and they will not call on me because they don’t want to have the conversation. Let’s have the conversation about this,” Smith said.

State Rep. Bill Owen, a Republican from Springfield, said to leave “the rhetoric out of it.”

“Accidents happen in shop classes. Accidents happen everywhere in that building where (bleeding-control kits) would be necessary. It doesn’t take a gun to do so,” he said. “I’m going to say that the legislation isn’t about guns. It’s about taking care of the safety of our children.”

The bill needs to be approved one more time in the House before it heads to the Senate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742985564468.png" alt=" Rep. Brenda Shields. a St. Joseph Republican, speaks during debate in the Missouri House during the 2021 legislative session. On Monday, the House gave initial approval to her school safety bill (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> Rep. Brenda Shields. a St. Joseph Republican, speaks during debate in the Missouri House during the 2021 legislative session. On Monday, the House gave initial approval to her school safety bill (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>House Democrat accuses GOP leadership of trying to avoid gun-control debate</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a><a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB416&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">School safety legislation</a>&nbsp;that requires school districts create a policy governing cell phone use by students won initial approval Monday afternoon in the Missouri House.The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, called the bill a “comprehensive approach to school safety.”It includes provisions to equip schools with bleeding-control kits, require intruder-response training and develop emergency response plans. Public schools would be required to use bullet-proof window film and anti-intruder locks in new construction by 2029.“School safety is much more than hardening the exterior of a building but having a safe environment for learning,” Shields said during House debate. “We know that teaching and learning does not occur if a student doesn’t feel safe.”State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, added an amendment that would encourage schools to bar cell-phone use. Schools would be able to craft the policy to their preferences. But at a minimum, those policies must ban cell phones during instructional time.State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, a Democrat from Columbia, was one of three representatives to file a bill on cell phones in schools. She said safety threats can come from within the walls of the school.“This is going to help our students be able to focus on instruction and not let things get in the way that have to do with dangerous situations in our school,” she said. “When we talk about cyber bullying and sexting, all of that really has an impact on the school itself and can lead to dangerous physical alterations as well.”Others worried that restricting cell phones would hinder security.State Rep. Justin Sparks, a Republican from Wildwood, said access to cell phones can help students report school shootings quickly.“We have had students actually contact the police and be on the phone with them during the event, providing invaluable intelligence as to where the shots are occurring, where the bad guy is,” Sparks said.Another sponsor of a cell-phone bill, Republican state Rep. Jamie Gragg of Ozark, said schools can decide whether phones can be in students’ possession or not, so long as the devices aren’t a distraction.“This is not the legislature making the rule. This is strictly the actual districts making those rules,” he said.Another&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/amendpdf/1498H01.04H.pdf" target="_blank">amendment</a>&nbsp;added to the bill would require schools to create a cardiac response plan.Three amendments were filed but not discussed. State Rep. David Tyson Smith, a Columbia Democrat, said in an inquiry with another Democrat that he wanted to offer an amendment to ban the sale of semi-automatic firearms to teenagers, but he was not called upon during Monday’s debate.“I filed an amendment, and they will not call on me because they don’t want to have the conversation. Let’s have the conversation about this,” Smith said.State Rep. Bill Owen, a Republican from Springfield, said to leave “the rhetoric out of it.”“Accidents happen in shop classes. Accidents happen everywhere in that building where (bleeding-control kits) would be necessary. It doesn’t take a gun to do so,” he said. “I’m going to say that the legislation isn’t about guns. It’s about taking care of the safety of our children.”The bill needs to be approved one more time in the House before it heads to the Senate.

School safety bill advances in Missouri House with restrictions on cell phone use

(Radio Iowa) - A bill to establish a new committee to help navigate the re-alignment of high school athletic conferences is headed to the governor after passing the Senate Tuesday. 

Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville says state education officials believe they lack the authority under current law to help Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah find new conferences. The bill directs the Iowa High School Athletic Union and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to establish a conference realignment committee.

 Nine superintendents and nine athletic directors would serve on the panel, evaluate a school's request to join a new conference and issue a decision. Schools could appeal that decision to the director of the Iowa Department of Education.

(Radio Iowa) - A bill to establish a new committee to help navigate the re-alignment of high school athletic conferences is headed to the governor after passing the Senate Tuesday. Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville says state education officials believe they lack the authority under current law to help Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah find new conferences. The bill directs the Iowa High School Athletic Union and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to establish a conference realignment committee. Nine superintendents and nine athletic directors would serve on the panel, evaluate a school's request to join a new conference and issue a decision. Schools could appeal that decision to the director of the Iowa Department of Education.

Committee could help schools find new athletic conferences

(Radio Iowa) - A "Freedom to Garden Act" has passed the Iowa Senate unanimously. The bill would forbid state and local governments from regulating vegetable gardens on property the gardener owns or rents. 

Senator Cherielynn Westrich of Ottumwa says in some other states, heavy handed regulators have used local zoning ordinances to ban home vegetable gardens or limit what home gardeners can plant. 

The bill says Iowans have a right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume food they grow in their own garden -- and home gardeners would have a right to sell what they grow. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

(Radio Iowa) - A "Freedom to Garden Act" has passed the Iowa Senate unanimously. The bill would forbid state and local governments from regulating vegetable gardens on property the gardener owns or rents. Senator Cherielynn Westrich of Ottumwa says in some other states, heavy handed regulators have used local zoning ordinances to ban home vegetable gardens or limit what home gardeners can plant. The bill says Iowans have a right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume food they grow in their own garden -- and home gardeners would have a right to sell what they grow. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.

Bill would ensure Iowans have a right to garden

Northern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves calls talks toward a cease fire in the Ukrainian war
“very delicate negotiations.”

Graves, a
Republican, says he is cautiously optimistic discussions with Russian President
Vladimir Putin will bear fruit.

“I can’t predict
how it’s going to come out,” Graves tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “I know
the president’s pushing very hard and is making some great strides in terms of
trying to get both sides to compromise, I guess you might say. Is Zelensky going
to have to give up some territory, cede that to Russia?&nbsp; That’s a possibility. Is Russia going to back
out what they have taken?”

Russia invaded
Ukraine in February of 2022. What some thought would be a short conflict has
turned into a slog; a grinding war that has cost countless lives as well as
staggering destruction in Ukraine.

Negotiations, led
by the Trump administration, are ongoing in Saudia Arabia. The U.S. has been
pushing for a broad ceasefire by about the middle of next month. It appears,
though, that there is a wide gap between Russia and Ukraine.

Graves says both
sides must give some if the fighting is to cease. Graves is uncertain whether
Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to concede territory Russia has
taken since attacking Ukraine three years ago, though Graves says the war
hasn’t gone the way Russia envisioned.

“Putin went into
this thing thinking that it was going to be over with in a week,” Graves says. “And
he has lost a tremendous amount of resources in this process. He’s lost 23
ships in the Black Sea.”

Graves insists the
United States has a vested interest in ending the war in Ukraine. The
Congressman worries the conflict will broaden and is wary of the ultimate aim
of Putin.

“I would rather
fight him in Ukraine and let the Ukrainians prosecute the war, rather than the
United States having to get into it if he moves into the Balkans,” Graves says.
“If he moves into Lithuania or Estonia or Lativa or Poland, for that matter, we’re
in it.”

The United States
has obligations to those countries through the alliance with NATO.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742922366254.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves calls talks toward a cease fire in the Ukrainian war
“very delicate negotiations.”Graves, a
Republican, says he is cautiously optimistic discussions with Russian President
Vladimir Putin will bear fruit.“I can’t predict
how it’s going to come out,” Graves tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “I know
the president’s pushing very hard and is making some great strides in terms of
trying to get both sides to compromise, I guess you might say. Is Zelensky going
to have to give up some territory, cede that to Russia?&nbsp; That’s a possibility. Is Russia going to back
out what they have taken?”Russia invaded
Ukraine in February of 2022. What some thought would be a short conflict has
turned into a slog; a grinding war that has cost countless lives as well as
staggering destruction in Ukraine.Negotiations, led
by the Trump administration, are ongoing in Saudia Arabia. The U.S. has been
pushing for a broad ceasefire by about the middle of next month. It appears,
though, that there is a wide gap between Russia and Ukraine.Graves says both
sides must give some if the fighting is to cease. Graves is uncertain whether
Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to concede territory Russia has
taken since attacking Ukraine three years ago, though Graves says the war
hasn’t gone the way Russia envisioned.“Putin went into
this thing thinking that it was going to be over with in a week,” Graves says. “And
he has lost a tremendous amount of resources in this process. He’s lost 23
ships in the Black Sea.”Graves insists the
United States has a vested interest in ending the war in Ukraine. The
Congressman worries the conflict will broaden and is wary of the ultimate aim
of Putin.“I would rather
fight him in Ukraine and let the Ukrainians prosecute the war, rather than the
United States having to get into it if he moves into the Balkans,” Graves says.
“If he moves into Lithuania or Estonia or Lativa or Poland, for that matter, we’re
in it.”The United States
has obligations to those countries through the alliance with NATO.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves says talks for cease fire in Ukrainian war are delicate

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

The state budget will go to the full House next week with 96 earmarked items costing $162.2 million total added to the spending plan presented in January by Gov. Mike Kehoe

The House Budget Committee squeezed $139 million in general revenue out of the Missouri state budget for road, port and other earmarked projects Monday night, but Republicans thwarted an effort by Democrats to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/24/education-funding-child-care-subsidies-central-to-missouri-state-budget-debate/">shift $50 million into public schools</a>.

During a stop-and-go work session that stretched late into the night, the committee approved a $47.9 billion budget for state operations in the coming fiscal year. The committee reduced Gov. Mike Kehoe’s budget by $2.1 billion overall and about $750 million in general revenue.

The mark-up session boosted the total for general revenue earmarks by $20 million and the package going to the full House will have 96 earmarked items tracked by The Independent costing $162.2 million total added since Kehoe&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">proposed his budget in January</a>.

Some of the biggest general revenue earmarks — $15 million for a new state park in McDonald County and $12 million for a climbing lane on Interstate 44 — are in the southwest Missouri district of House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton.

Among the largest earmarks added Monday are $5 million for ramps and an outer road on U.S. Highway 60 in Sikeston and $4 million for the Marion County Port Authority.

While Democrats succeeded in adding a handful of earmarks, they were shot down on almost every proposal to increase or shift funding for state programs.

Two major spending proposals — one Kehoe endorsed in January and another he did not — were backed by Democrats on the committee but could not win support from Republicans.

Kehoe wants the state to spend an extra $107 million in federal funds on child care to revise how payments are calculated to one based on enrollment and change when checks arrive. Meanwhile, he does not want to spend $300 million in state general revenue to fully fund the public school foundation formula.

“Our providers have been through quite a lot this past year, to some extent from what they’ve had to deal with with the state,” state Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Democrat from Springfield, said as she sought to restore part of the child care funding. “This would help provide them stability within their budgeting process for the upcoming year.”

Republicans questioned whether the federal funding used this year will be available in the future.&nbsp;

“There’s no ongoing federal money for this,” said committee vice chairman Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic.&nbsp;

Because of a rule requiring cuts in general revenue from one line to spend it in another, Democrats did not attempt to shift the full $300 million into the school foundation formula. Instead, they tried to delete another of Kehoe’s major initiatives,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/05/major-corporations-wealthy-donors-fuel-growth-of-missouri-private-school-scholarship/">$50 million for a tax credit program</a>&nbsp;supporting private school tuition scholarships.

“When I look through some of the schools that receive taxpayer dollars now through the form of the tax credit program, there are schools that are getting dollars, that wouldn’t have educated, some of us in this room and I think it’s really important that we are spending our money in the right places and fully funding the foundation formula,” said state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the committee.

Republicans said the credits are available for students who want to switch public schools as well as attend private schools.&nbsp;

“One thing we lack is parental engagement,” Davidson said. “Another thing we lack are any sort of competitive forces and we get to have both of those things when it comes to the (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts) program.”

The foundation formula distributes state aid on a per-pupil basis, with factors that give more money for students with disabilities or who are from low-income households. It cost $3.7 billion in the current year and the amount needed to fully fund it is determined by applying the calculation to what is called the state adequacy target.

To fully fund the formula for the coming year, the adequacy target would be $7,145 per student. To keep the cost down, Kehoe and the House Budget Committee are funding a target of $6,760 per student.

Kehoe wants the formula to be revised. One Republican said he wants no more money for the formula until it is changed.

“We need to fix it or get rid of it,” said GOP state Rep. Don Mayhew of Crocker.&nbsp;

The Democratic proposal that drew the most support from Republicans would have increased the amount paid for home-delivered meals for the elderly and disabled from $6.21 per meal to $7.14 per meal at a cost of $2.1 million, including $787,120 of general revenue.

“This is a warranted increase,” said state Rep. John Voss, a Republican from Cape Girardeau. “Many of the counties surrounding my district are very, very poor. In fact, I think we have many of the top 10 poorest counties. That is a lot of food insecurity and anything that we can do to support our seniors here, I would sure be supportive of.”

The full House will debate the budget next week. Democrats and Republicans will each have three hours to present their amendments and arguments.&nbsp;

At the end of Monday’s meeting, Deaton asked members whether six hours was too much. Some Republicans said it was.

“I don’t see that too much of the floor debate has changed my mind,” said state Rep. Mitch Boggs of LaRussell. “This is where the main meat and potatoes is done.”

Democrats objected to any change, saying it was the only time for most House members to have a say on spending.&nbsp;

“It doesn’t mean we have to burn all of it,” said Democratic state Rep. Del Taylor of St. Louis.

Mayhew agreed and at the end, Deaton did not recommend any change.

“This, folks, is really our only constitutional duty, and providing the opportunity for members who were elected to be here to make comments on that,” Mayhew said. “I’m okay with our standing normal procedure, and I don’t think it’s unfair or overly burdensome for us, especially when we’re talking about upwards of $52 billion of the taxpayers money.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742925525368.png" alt=" State Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, was defeated Monday in an attempt to shift $50 million into the state public school foundation formula. Fogle is shown at a Feb. 13 news conference (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee, was defeated Monday in an attempt to shift $50 million into the state public school foundation formula. Fogle is shown at a Feb. 13 news conference (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>The state budget will go to the full House next week with 96 earmarked items costing $162.2 million total added to the spending plan presented in January by Gov. Mike Kehoe</h2>The House Budget Committee squeezed $139 million in general revenue out of the Missouri state budget for road, port and other earmarked projects Monday night, but Republicans thwarted an effort by Democrats to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/24/education-funding-child-care-subsidies-central-to-missouri-state-budget-debate/">shift $50 million into public schools</a>.During a stop-and-go work session that stretched late into the night, the committee approved a $47.9 billion budget for state operations in the coming fiscal year. The committee reduced Gov. Mike Kehoe’s budget by $2.1 billion overall and about $750 million in general revenue.The mark-up session boosted the total for general revenue earmarks by $20 million and the package going to the full House will have 96 earmarked items tracked by The Independent costing $162.2 million total added since Kehoe&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">proposed his budget in January</a>.Some of the biggest general revenue earmarks — $15 million for a new state park in McDonald County and $12 million for a climbing lane on Interstate 44 — are in the southwest Missouri district of House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton.Among the largest earmarks added Monday are $5 million for ramps and an outer road on U.S. Highway 60 in Sikeston and $4 million for the Marion County Port Authority.While Democrats succeeded in adding a handful of earmarks, they were shot down on almost every proposal to increase or shift funding for state programs.Two major spending proposals — one Kehoe endorsed in January and another he did not — were backed by Democrats on the committee but could not win support from Republicans.Kehoe wants the state to spend an extra $107 million in federal funds on child care to revise how payments are calculated to one based on enrollment and change when checks arrive. Meanwhile, he does not want to spend $300 million in state general revenue to fully fund the public school foundation formula.“Our providers have been through quite a lot this past year, to some extent from what they’ve had to deal with with the state,” state Rep. Stephanie Hein, a Democrat from Springfield, said as she sought to restore part of the child care funding. “This would help provide them stability within their budgeting process for the upcoming year.”Republicans questioned whether the federal funding used this year will be available in the future.&nbsp;“There’s no ongoing federal money for this,” said committee vice chairman Bishop Davidson, a Republican from Republic.&nbsp;Because of a rule requiring cuts in general revenue from one line to spend it in another, Democrats did not attempt to shift the full $300 million into the school foundation formula. Instead, they tried to delete another of Kehoe’s major initiatives,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/05/major-corporations-wealthy-donors-fuel-growth-of-missouri-private-school-scholarship/">$50 million for a tax credit program</a>&nbsp;supporting private school tuition scholarships.“When I look through some of the schools that receive taxpayer dollars now through the form of the tax credit program, there are schools that are getting dollars, that wouldn’t have educated, some of us in this room and I think it’s really important that we are spending our money in the right places and fully funding the foundation formula,” said state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield, ranking Democrat on the committee.Republicans said the credits are available for students who want to switch public schools as well as attend private schools.&nbsp;“One thing we lack is parental engagement,” Davidson said. “Another thing we lack are any sort of competitive forces and we get to have both of those things when it comes to the (Empowerment Scholarship Accounts) program.”The foundation formula distributes state aid on a per-pupil basis, with factors that give more money for students with disabilities or who are from low-income households. It cost $3.7 billion in the current year and the amount needed to fully fund it is determined by applying the calculation to what is called the state adequacy target.To fully fund the formula for the coming year, the adequacy target would be $7,145 per student. To keep the cost down, Kehoe and the House Budget Committee are funding a target of $6,760 per student.Kehoe wants the formula to be revised. One Republican said he wants no more money for the formula until it is changed.“We need to fix it or get rid of it,” said GOP state Rep. Don Mayhew of Crocker.&nbsp;The Democratic proposal that drew the most support from Republicans would have increased the amount paid for home-delivered meals for the elderly and disabled from $6.21 per meal to $7.14 per meal at a cost of $2.1 million, including $787,120 of general revenue.“This is a warranted increase,” said state Rep. John Voss, a Republican from Cape Girardeau. “Many of the counties surrounding my district are very, very poor. In fact, I think we have many of the top 10 poorest counties. That is a lot of food insecurity and anything that we can do to support our seniors here, I would sure be supportive of.”The full House will debate the budget next week. Democrats and Republicans will each have three hours to present their amendments and arguments.&nbsp;At the end of Monday’s meeting, Deaton asked members whether six hours was too much. Some Republicans said it was.“I don’t see that too much of the floor debate has changed my mind,” said state Rep. Mitch Boggs of LaRussell. “This is where the main meat and potatoes is done.”Democrats objected to any change, saying it was the only time for most House members to have a say on spending.&nbsp;“It doesn’t mean we have to burn all of it,” said Democratic state Rep. Del Taylor of St. Louis.Mayhew agreed and at the end, Deaton did not recommend any change.“This, folks, is really our only constitutional duty, and providing the opportunity for members who were elected to be here to make comments on that,” Mayhew said. “I’m okay with our standing normal procedure, and I don’t think it’s unfair or overly burdensome for us, especially when we’re talking about upwards of $52 billion of the taxpayers money.”

Republicans block push to increase funding for schools, child care in Missouri budget

The U.S. has almost doubled egg imports from Brazil and is considering relaxing regulations for eggs laid by chickens raised for meat. The moves come as the Trump Administration is trying to lower record-high egg prices caused by avian influenza. Reports say the administration is also pushing for more imports from countries like Turkey and South Korea, which usually send few eggs to the U.S., and has asked the EU to send more eggs. 

None of the Brazilian or broiler chicken eggs will make it to the grocery store, but they could be used in more processed foods like cake mixes, ice cream, or salad dressing, freeing up more fresh eggs for American shoppers. Ag Secretary Brook Rollins has said they’re talking about importing hundreds of millions of eggs in the short term. It’s significant enough that it will help continue to bring the prices down in the short term.

The U.S. has almost doubled egg imports from Brazil and is considering relaxing regulations for eggs laid by chickens raised for meat. The moves come as the Trump Administration is trying to lower record-high egg prices caused by avian influenza. Reports say the administration is also pushing for more imports from countries like Turkey and South Korea, which usually send few eggs to the U.S., and has asked the EU to send more eggs. None of the Brazilian or broiler chicken eggs will make it to the grocery store, but they could be used in more processed foods like cake mixes, ice cream, or salad dressing, freeing up more fresh eggs for American shoppers. Ag Secretary Brook Rollins has said they’re talking about importing hundreds of millions of eggs in the short term. It’s significant enough that it will help continue to bring the prices down in the short term.- NAFB

U.S. increasing egg imports to combat high prices

The legislature is still tinkering with the governor's plan to require that Iowa school districts adopt policies that restrict students from using smart phones when they're in classes. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, says the bill is designed to give a nudge to Iowa public schools that haven't developed a smart phone policy yet.

Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, notes the bill doesn't prohibit cell phones during class, but calls for restrictions. The House approved a bill on the topic last week. Monday, senators added a requirement that Iowa's Education Department provide model cell phone guidelines to schools by May 1st. 

The policies must be in place on July 1st. Governor Reynolds also had recommended sixth, seventh and eighth grade students have social media training in school, but that's been removed from the bill.

The legislature is still tinkering with the governor's plan to require that Iowa school districts adopt policies that restrict students from using smart phones when they're in classes. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, says the bill is designed to give a nudge to Iowa public schools that haven't developed a smart phone policy yet.Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, notes the bill doesn't prohibit cell phones during class, but calls for restrictions. The House approved a bill on the topic last week. Monday, senators added a requirement that Iowa's Education Department provide model cell phone guidelines to schools by May 1st. The policies must be in place on July 1st. Governor Reynolds also had recommended sixth, seventh and eighth grade students have social media training in school, but that's been removed from the bill.

Senate adjusts, then approves governor's proposed cell phone policy for Iowa school districts

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed legislation that would eliminate a three-day grace period for advance mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day.

The proposal would result in thousands of ballots from lawfully registered voters being thrown in the trash during high-turnout elections.

Under current law, ballots are counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by the following Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 4</a>&nbsp;would require ballots to be returned instead by 7 p.m. on Election Day.

“Not only will removing the three-day grace period for mail ballots disenfranchise thousands of Kansas voters, but it also shows a lack of understanding of our elections in Kansas,” Kelly said. “Implementing this will create confusion among county election officials.”

House Republican leadership promised to override the governor’s “reckless” veto.

“We eagerly anticipate overriding the governor’s misguided veto to safeguard our elections and ensure quick, reliable outcomes,” the House GOP leaders said in a joint statement. “By setting a firm Election Day deadline, we reaffirm Kansans’ trust in our elections.”

Republican claims about “reliable outcomes” being available on the night of the election are rooted in widespread lies about the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in a safe and secure election.

Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the election committee, told Republicans in a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/14/in-private-video-house-elections-chair-says-he-wants-to-end-early-voting-grace-period-in-kansas/">private meeting in February 2024</a>&nbsp;that he intended to end the three-day grace period because he doesn’t support advance voting and because he wanted to punish Democrats and advocacy groups who wouldn’t accept a compromise he had offered.

“I had a deal, and then Loud Light and Appleseed, which are the kind of bomb throwers in the election debate, they blew it up,” Proctor said in&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/0X7MLXASbWE?feature=shared" target="_blank">a leaked video clip</a>. “And I told all of them — and you know, please don’t put this on Facebook or in the news — I told them all, this is your year for a deal. You can either negotiate and we can get a deal, or next year I’m ramming the thing through the way I want it to look.”

“If it was up to me, Election Day would be Election Day,” Proctor added. “There wouldn’t be early voting. Mail-in ballots would only be for military or severely disabled. But I got to bring 84 people with me, so I’m trying to chip away at it.”

The House passed&nbsp;SB 4 80-39 on Feb. 27 and the Senate passed it 30-10 on March 6.

In her veto message, the governor said the bill is an attack on rural Kansans who are more vulnerable to delays in processing of mail.

“I will not sign legislation that deprives Kansans from having their vote counted,” Kelly said.

Loud Light advocacy director Melissa Stiehler said the three-day grace period is “a common sense solution” to ongoing mail delays. She also said the bill to repeal it “was born from the conspiracy theories during the 2020 election.”

“The reality is that the only thing this bill does is throw out our Kansans votes for no good reason,” Stiehler said. “We are thankful that the governor stood up for democracy today and encourage the Legislature to do the same by voting to sustain the veto.”

The Legislature could vote at any time this week to override the governor’s veto, which would require support from two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742863728293.png" alt="Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday she would refuse to "sign legislation that deprives Kansans from having their vote counted." (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Laura Kelly said Monday she would refuse to "sign legislation that deprives Kansans from having their vote counted." (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/sherman-smith/">SHERMAN SMITH</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/01/03/kansas-state-garden-city-cc-striving-to-shrink-bachelors-degree-educational-desert/?emci=8e6f56cf-3bca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;emdi=a9416bb1-82ca-ef11-88d0-0022482a9b45&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly on Monday vetoed legislation that would eliminate a three-day grace period for advance mail-in ballots to arrive after Election Day.The proposal would result in thousands of ballots from lawfully registered voters being thrown in the trash during high-turnout elections.Under current law, ballots are counted if they are postmarked by Election Day and received by the following Friday.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb4/" target="_blank">Senate Bill 4</a>&nbsp;would require ballots to be returned instead by 7 p.m. on Election Day.“Not only will removing the three-day grace period for mail ballots disenfranchise thousands of Kansas voters, but it also shows a lack of understanding of our elections in Kansas,” Kelly said. “Implementing this will create confusion among county election officials.”House Republican leadership promised to override the governor’s “reckless” veto.“We eagerly anticipate overriding the governor’s misguided veto to safeguard our elections and ensure quick, reliable outcomes,” the House GOP leaders said in a joint statement. “By setting a firm Election Day deadline, we reaffirm Kansans’ trust in our elections.”Republican claims about “reliable outcomes” being available on the night of the election are rooted in widespread lies about the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in a safe and secure election.Rep. Pat Proctor, a Leavenworth Republican who chairs the election committee, told Republicans in a&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/02/14/in-private-video-house-elections-chair-says-he-wants-to-end-early-voting-grace-period-in-kansas/">private meeting in February 2024</a>&nbsp;that he intended to end the three-day grace period because he doesn’t support advance voting and because he wanted to punish Democrats and advocacy groups who wouldn’t accept a compromise he had offered.“I had a deal, and then Loud Light and Appleseed, which are the kind of bomb throwers in the election debate, they blew it up,” Proctor said in&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/0X7MLXASbWE?feature=shared" target="_blank">a leaked video clip</a>. “And I told all of them — and you know, please don’t put this on Facebook or in the news — I told them all, this is your year for a deal. You can either negotiate and we can get a deal, or next year I’m ramming the thing through the way I want it to look.”“If it was up to me, Election Day would be Election Day,” Proctor added. “There wouldn’t be early voting. Mail-in ballots would only be for military or severely disabled. But I got to bring 84 people with me, so I’m trying to chip away at it.”The House passed&nbsp;SB 4 80-39 on Feb. 27 and the Senate passed it 30-10 on March 6.In her veto message, the governor said the bill is an attack on rural Kansans who are more vulnerable to delays in processing of mail.“I will not sign legislation that deprives Kansans from having their vote counted,” Kelly said.Loud Light advocacy director Melissa Stiehler said the three-day grace period is “a common sense solution” to ongoing mail delays. She also said the bill to repeal it “was born from the conspiracy theories during the 2020 election.”“The reality is that the only thing this bill does is throw out our Kansans votes for no good reason,” Stiehler said. “We are thankful that the governor stood up for democracy today and encourage the Legislature to do the same by voting to sustain the veto.”The Legislature could vote at any time this week to override the governor’s veto, which would require support from two-thirds of the members of both the House and Senate.

Kan. governor vetoes legislation that would disqualify slow-arriving mail-in ballots

Missouri home educators have pushed for their children to be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools for over a decade. This year, they have their best chance yet

A bill that would require public schools to offer extracurricular activities to local homeschooled students is gaining traction after more than a decade of consideration by Missouri lawmakers.

High school senior Lydia Meredith, whose family annually drives from Joplin to testify in favor of the bill, told the Senate Education Committee in February it was her fourth time&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/26/missouri-lawmakers-renew-push-to-open-public-school-sports-to-homeschool-students/">asking for them to pass the legislation</a>.

Meredith was part of a competitive swimming team growing up and enjoyed racing with her friends. But when they reached high school, her friends joined the team at their public school. Meredith, who is homeschooled, was left behind.

“Before me came other Missouri students asking to be given the same opportunity to play for local sports teams, to join band or join a local debate team,” she said. “Every year this bill is not passed is another year the Missouri Legislature is complicit in denying key educational experiences for students.”

She said it was time for senators “to see this bill through to the end.”

For years, legislation seeking to give homeschooled students access to activities in public schools has been filed in Missouri. Most legislative sessions, the bill is passed by a committee but surpassed by other education priorities and never makes it to discussion by either legislative chamber.

The proposal was&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1347&amp;year=2014&amp;code=R" target="_blank">first offered in 2014</a>, under then-Rep. Elijah Haahr, a Springfield Republican and homeschooled student who later became Missouri House speaker. The legislation didn’t make it to the House or Senate floor until 2021. The chamber gave its initial approval to the bill but never passed it to the Senate.

In 2023, the bill had its longest run, making it into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=419482" target="_blank">a larger education package</a>&nbsp;that passed the Senate with only two opposed and clearing a House committee late in session.

This year, the Senate in February unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Ben Brown of Washington, and House leadership referred the bill to its education committee over legislative spring break. This is the fastest the legislation has passed its originating chamber.

The bill has also garnered approval by former critics.&nbsp;

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, voted against the legislation in prior years but said during the Senate debate that she had changed her mind after hearing from homeschooling families.

“I really see the benefit of having students, and the more the merrier, be able to participate in activities,” she said.

Nurrenbern previously worried that public school and homeschool students could be held to different standards and access the same privileges.

A school counselor had those concerns in the committee hearing. Other opposition came from a homeschooling group called Family Covenant Ministries, which has concerns about applying the state’s homeschooling law to public activities.

Home educators in Missouri have been split over the years about bills that would expand opportunities for homeschoolers but connect them closer to state government. Some say it could open them up for more state oversight of homeschoolers, of which Missouri has very little.

In a large education package passed last year, lawmakers created a new category of homeschool called family-paced education. This group would be able to take advantage of the state’s education tax-credit program while allowing those wary of governmental intrusion to have separation in state law.

David Klarich, a lobbyist for Family Covenant Ministries, said Brown’s bill should only apply to family-paced education.

Another homeschooling organization, Families for Home Education, spoke in favor of the bill — not because of the extracurricular activities but for a provision that often evades discussion.

The bill seeks to remove a part of state law that describes a declaration of intent to homeschool. The declaration is optional and is intended to reduce truancy investigations.

Kim Quon, a director for Families for Home Education, said the law has had “the opposite effect.” Some families who have sent a letter of their intent to homeschool have reported the district did not remove their children from enrollment records.

“It has spurred many unnecessary discussions and investigations,” she said.

The organization has otherwise taken a neutral stance on the bill’s provisions on student athletes,<a href="https://fhe-mo.org/capitolreport" target="_blank">&nbsp;according to its website</a>.

The bill is one of 28 awaiting a hearing by the House Elementary and Secondary Education committee, of which only two are Senate bills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742899245498.png" alt=" Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor. For the second year, Brown has sponsored a bill seeking to give homeschoolers access to public school activities (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Sen. Ben Brown, a Republican from Washington, speaks on the Missouri Senate floor. For the second year, Brown has sponsored a bill seeking to give homeschoolers access to public school activities (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Missouri home educators have pushed for their children to be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities in public schools for over a decade. This year, they have their best chance yet</h2>A bill that would require public schools to offer extracurricular activities to local homeschooled students is gaining traction after more than a decade of consideration by Missouri lawmakers.High school senior Lydia Meredith, whose family annually drives from Joplin to testify in favor of the bill, told the Senate Education Committee in February it was her fourth time&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/26/missouri-lawmakers-renew-push-to-open-public-school-sports-to-homeschool-students/">asking for them to pass the legislation</a>.Meredith was part of a competitive swimming team growing up and enjoyed racing with her friends. But when they reached high school, her friends joined the team at their public school. Meredith, who is homeschooled, was left behind.“Before me came other Missouri students asking to be given the same opportunity to play for local sports teams, to join band or join a local debate team,” she said. “Every year this bill is not passed is another year the Missouri Legislature is complicit in denying key educational experiences for students.”She said it was time for senators “to see this bill through to the end.”For years, legislation seeking to give homeschooled students access to activities in public schools has been filed in Missouri. Most legislative sessions, the bill is passed by a committee but surpassed by other education priorities and never makes it to discussion by either legislative chamber.The proposal was&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1347&amp;year=2014&amp;code=R" target="_blank">first offered in 2014</a>, under then-Rep. Elijah Haahr, a Springfield Republican and homeschooled student who later became Missouri House speaker. The legislation didn’t make it to the House or Senate floor until 2021. The chamber gave its initial approval to the bill but never passed it to the Senate.In 2023, the bill had its longest run, making it into&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=419482" target="_blank">a larger education package</a>&nbsp;that passed the Senate with only two opposed and clearing a House committee late in session.This year, the Senate in February unanimously passed a bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Ben Brown of Washington, and House leadership referred the bill to its education committee over legislative spring break. This is the fastest the legislation has passed its originating chamber.The bill has also garnered approval by former critics.&nbsp;State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, voted against the legislation in prior years but said during the Senate debate that she had changed her mind after hearing from homeschooling families.“I really see the benefit of having students, and the more the merrier, be able to participate in activities,” she said.Nurrenbern previously worried that public school and homeschool students could be held to different standards and access the same privileges.A school counselor had those concerns in the committee hearing. Other opposition came from a homeschooling group called Family Covenant Ministries, which has concerns about applying the state’s homeschooling law to public activities.Home educators in Missouri have been split over the years about bills that would expand opportunities for homeschoolers but connect them closer to state government. Some say it could open them up for more state oversight of homeschoolers, of which Missouri has very little.In a large education package passed last year, lawmakers created a new category of homeschool called family-paced education. This group would be able to take advantage of the state’s education tax-credit program while allowing those wary of governmental intrusion to have separation in state law.David Klarich, a lobbyist for Family Covenant Ministries, said Brown’s bill should only apply to family-paced education.Another homeschooling organization, Families for Home Education, spoke in favor of the bill — not because of the extracurricular activities but for a provision that often evades discussion.The bill seeks to remove a part of state law that describes a declaration of intent to homeschool. The declaration is optional and is intended to reduce truancy investigations.Kim Quon, a director for Families for Home Education, said the law has had “the opposite effect.” Some families who have sent a letter of their intent to homeschool have reported the district did not remove their children from enrollment records.“It has spurred many unnecessary discussions and investigations,” she said.The organization has otherwise taken a neutral stance on the bill’s provisions on student athletes,<a href="https://fhe-mo.org/capitolreport" target="_blank">&nbsp;according to its website</a>.The bill is one of 28 awaiting a hearing by the House Elementary and Secondary Education committee, of which only two are Senate bills.

Support grows for homeschooled athletes bill in 12th year in Missouri legislature

The longest serving President of Northwest Missouri State University Dean L. Hubbard has died.&nbsp;

Hubbard served as President of the University from 1984 to 2009.&nbsp; The University announced it learned Hubbard died Sunday evening at his Kansas City home at the age of 85 after a battle with a kidney disease.

In honor of Hubbard, Northwest President Lance Tatum has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff on the University’s campus on Tuesday, March 25, from sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 4.

“Jill and I extend our deepest sympathy to Aleta and the Hubbard family on the passing of Dr. Dean Hubbard, Northwest’s ninth president,” Tatum said in a news release from the university. “His 25 years of dedicated service to this institution were extraordinary, and his contributions to Northwest set the foundation for many of today’s accomplishments.

“Dr. Hubbard’s influence is woven into the very fabric of Northwest. His dedication, innovation and passion for education will always be remembered. Today, we mourn his loss, but we also celebrate a life devoted to making Northwest better for all who pass through its doors.”

During his quarter-century leading Northwest, Hubbard oversaw unprecedented growth, success and recognition for the institution.  

Under Hubbard’s leadership, Northwest gained national recognition for its “Culture of Quality,” an initiative designed to foster continuous improvement in all aspects of the University’s operations. Northwest received the Missouri Quality Award four times – in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008 – making it the only educational institution to accomplish the feat.

Hubbard was internationally recognized for his work in the field of total quality management. He served as a member of the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award as well as the Excellence in Missouri Foundation Board of Directors. He received the Missouri Governor’s Quality Leadership Award in 1998.

During the 1980s, Hubbard was instrumental in making Northwest the first comprehensive “electronic campus” in the United States. With the flip of a ceremonial switch in the fall of 1987, Northwest became the first public institution in the nation with networked computers in each residence hall room and faculty office. The initiative remains a hallmark of Northwest, which now provides fully loaded notebook computers and technical support to all enrolled students.

A first-generation college graduate, Hubbard also dedicated himself to making higher education affordable for individuals lacking the financial means to continue their education. He envisioned Northwest’s American Dream Grant as a needs-based program that provided tuition, room and board, books and the use of a computer to lower-income students during their first two years. That innovative program to help eliminate financial barriers for students continues today as the Northwest Promise.

Other initiatives rooted in Hubbard’s presidency and its focus on affordability and economic opportunity included Northwest’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The facility, completed in 2009 as a research center and high-tech business incubator, was renamed in Hubbard’s honor in 2014 and today, as the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation, serves as the home of the School of Agricultural Sciences while maintaining its stake as a research center that also supports the Department of Natural Sciences.

Hubbard also supported the expansion of Northwest’s pioneering alternative fuels program, which converted recycled cardboard, paper and agricultural waste into energy that was used to heat and cool the campus. The University estimated that it saved more than $12 million compared to the cost of natural gas during the two decades prior to Hubbard’s retirement from Northwest on July 31, 2009.

Significant renovations and expansions of University facilities also occurred during Hubbard’s presidency, including Roberta Hall, Lamkin Activity Center, Colden Hall, the J.W. Jones Student Union, South Complex and the construction of Hudson and Perrin residence halls. Additionally, the Northwest campus was designated by the state legislature as the Missouri Arboretum in 1993, and the Joyce and Harvey International Flag Plaza – a showcase of Northwest’s global enrollment but also a vision seeded in Hubbard’s affinity for multinational relationships – was dedicated during the fall of 1998.

Among other milestones during Hubbard’s tenure, the Bearcat football team won the school’s first national championship in 1998 and Northwest’s enrollment eclipsed 7,000 students for the first time in 2008.

An educator with broad international experience, Hubbard lived in Seoul, Korea, from 1966 to 1971 and helped develop language programs in six countries. In addition to extensive work in Asia, he served as a consultant to educational institutions in Europe and Central America and was a member of the board of the Alliance of Universities for Democracy.

Prior to coming to Northwest, he was president of Union College, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Upon retiring from Northwest, he served as the president of St. Luke's College of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri.

He held a Ph.D. from Stanford University, a degree in Korean language from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Hubbard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Aleta; daughter Melody Messner (Andrew Morse), son D. Paul J. (Barbara) Hubbard and daughter Joy Crimmins; and grandchildren Charlie (Nhi) Lowe, Jake Hubbard, Taylor Crimmins, Alexa Crimmins, Calum (Jocelyn) Hubbard and Aiden Crimmins.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742850179738.jpeg" alt="Dean L. Hubbard/ Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri State University" />
 <figcaption>Dean L. Hubbard/ Photo courtesy of Northwest Missouri State University</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe longest serving President of Northwest Missouri State University Dean L. Hubbard has died.&nbsp;Hubbard served as President of the University from 1984 to 2009.&nbsp; The University announced it learned Hubbard died Sunday evening at his Kansas City home at the age of 85 after a battle with a kidney disease.In honor of Hubbard, Northwest President Lance Tatum has ordered that the U.S. and Missouri flags be flown at half-staff on the University’s campus on Tuesday, March 25, from sunrise to sunset on Friday, April 4.“Jill and I extend our deepest sympathy to Aleta and the Hubbard family on the passing of Dr. Dean Hubbard, Northwest’s ninth president,” Tatum said in a news release from the university. “His 25 years of dedicated service to this institution were extraordinary, and his contributions to Northwest set the foundation for many of today’s accomplishments.“Dr. Hubbard’s influence is woven into the very fabric of Northwest. His dedication, innovation and passion for education will always be remembered. Today, we mourn his loss, but we also celebrate a life devoted to making Northwest better for all who pass through its doors.”During his quarter-century leading Northwest, Hubbard oversaw unprecedented growth, success and recognition for the institution. Under Hubbard’s leadership, Northwest gained national recognition for its “Culture of Quality,” an initiative designed to foster continuous improvement in all aspects of the University’s operations. Northwest received the Missouri Quality Award four times – in 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2008 – making it the only educational institution to accomplish the feat.Hubbard was internationally recognized for his work in the field of total quality management. He served as a member of the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award as well as the Excellence in Missouri Foundation Board of Directors. He received the Missouri Governor’s Quality Leadership Award in 1998.During the 1980s, Hubbard was instrumental in making Northwest the first comprehensive “electronic campus” in the United States. With the flip of a ceremonial switch in the fall of 1987, Northwest became the first public institution in the nation with networked computers in each residence hall room and faculty office. The initiative remains a hallmark of Northwest, which now provides fully loaded notebook computers and technical support to all enrolled students.A first-generation college graduate, Hubbard also dedicated himself to making higher education affordable for individuals lacking the financial means to continue their education. He envisioned Northwest’s American Dream Grant as a needs-based program that provided tuition, room and board, books and the use of a computer to lower-income students during their first two years. That innovative program to help eliminate financial barriers for students continues today as the Northwest Promise.Other initiatives rooted in Hubbard’s presidency and its focus on affordability and economic opportunity included Northwest’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The facility, completed in 2009 as a research center and high-tech business incubator, was renamed in Hubbard’s honor in 2014 and today, as the Dean L. Hubbard Center for Innovation, serves as the home of the School of Agricultural Sciences while maintaining its stake as a research center that also supports the Department of Natural Sciences.Hubbard also supported the expansion of Northwest’s pioneering alternative fuels program, which converted recycled cardboard, paper and agricultural waste into energy that was used to heat and cool the campus. The University estimated that it saved more than $12 million compared to the cost of natural gas during the two decades prior to Hubbard’s retirement from Northwest on July 31, 2009.Significant renovations and expansions of University facilities also occurred during Hubbard’s presidency, including Roberta Hall, Lamkin Activity Center, Colden Hall, the J.W. Jones Student Union, South Complex and the construction of Hudson and Perrin residence halls. Additionally, the Northwest campus was designated by the state legislature as the Missouri Arboretum in 1993, and the Joyce and Harvey International Flag Plaza – a showcase of Northwest’s global enrollment but also a vision seeded in Hubbard’s affinity for multinational relationships – was dedicated during the fall of 1998.Among other milestones during Hubbard’s tenure, the Bearcat football team won the school’s first national championship in 1998 and Northwest’s enrollment eclipsed 7,000 students for the first time in 2008.An educator with broad international experience, Hubbard lived in Seoul, Korea, from 1966 to 1971 and helped develop language programs in six countries. In addition to extensive work in Asia, he served as a consultant to educational institutions in Europe and Central America and was a member of the board of the Alliance of Universities for Democracy.Prior to coming to Northwest, he was president of Union College, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Upon retiring from Northwest, he served as the president of St. Luke's College of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri.He held a Ph.D. from Stanford University, a degree in Korean language from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.Hubbard is survived by his wife of 66 years, Aleta; daughter Melody Messner (Andrew Morse), son D. Paul J. (Barbara) Hubbard and daughter Joy Crimmins; and grandchildren Charlie (Nhi) Lowe, Jake Hubbard, Taylor Crimmins, Alexa Crimmins, Calum (Jocelyn) Hubbard and Aiden Crimmins.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Former NWMSU President Dean Hubbard dies, remembered for impact

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa saw more children in foster care who were referred to a home last year than there were licensed foster families, according to Four Oaks, the state’s contractor for licensing foster and adoptive parents.

 Kai (KYE) McGee, director of foster care and adoption at the nonprofit, says the gap is actually worse, as not every home is always readily available to take in a child. McGee says children who don’t have relatives to stay with must leave wherever they live, then they may end up spending some time in emergency shelters. There were about 24-hundred referrals for children needing a foster home last year, and only about 17-hundred licensed foster families. Four Oaks C-E-O Mary Beth O’Neill says rates need to go up to recruit more parents. 

The typical rate is about 600 dollars a month per child, depending on the child’s age and needs. McGee says foster parents are essentially unpaid volunteers, who don't usually break even.

(Radio Iowa) - Iowa saw more children in foster care who were referred to a home last year than there were licensed foster families, according to Four Oaks, the state’s contractor for licensing foster and adoptive parents. Kai (KYE) McGee, director of foster care and adoption at the nonprofit, says the gap is actually worse, as not every home is always readily available to take in a child. McGee says children who don’t have relatives to stay with must leave wherever they live, then they may end up spending some time in emergency shelters. There were about 24-hundred referrals for children needing a foster home last year, and only about 17-hundred licensed foster families. Four Oaks C-E-O Mary Beth O’Neill says rates need to go up to recruit more parents. The typical rate is about 600 dollars a month per child, depending on the child’s age and needs. McGee says foster parents are essentially unpaid volunteers, who don't usually break even.

Iowa sees shortage of foster families as kids face going to emergency shelters

(Radio Iowa) - The Cass County Sheriff's Office is releasing the names of two men whose bodies were found late last week in southwest Iowa. 

Friday afternoon, deputies responded to a property southeast of Anita, after a body was found on the ground near an outbuilding. He's identified as 30-year-old Spencer Rochholz, who was living on the property along with his mother. Another dead man was found in the outbuilding. He was identified as 63-year-old Robert Finch of Kellogg. 

Authorities would not comment on a suspected cause of death. The bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny for autopsy.

(Radio Iowa) - The Cass County Sheriff's Office is releasing the names of two men whose bodies were found late last week in southwest Iowa. Friday afternoon, deputies responded to a property southeast of Anita, after a body was found on the ground near an outbuilding. He's identified as 30-year-old Spencer Rochholz, who was living on the property along with his mother. Another dead man was found in the outbuilding. He was identified as 63-year-old Robert Finch of Kellogg. Authorities would not comment on a suspected cause of death. The bodies were sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny for autopsy.

Two bodies found in SW Iowa are now identified

The USDA announced Bill Beam as the next administrator of the Farm Service Agency. Beam is a Pennsylvania farmer and president of Rural Investment to Protect our Environment, or RIPE. The new administrator will work with the USDA to provide leadership and manage conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing programs. Beam is the Owner and Operator of Beam Farms, Inc., a fourth-generation farmer raising corn, soy, wheat, hay, specialty crops, and beef in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

The USDA announced Bill Beam as the next administrator of the Farm Service Agency. Beam is a Pennsylvania farmer and president of Rural Investment to Protect our Environment, or RIPE. The new administrator will work with the USDA to provide leadership and manage conservation, commodity, disaster, and farm marketing programs. Beam is the Owner and Operator of Beam Farms, Inc., a fourth-generation farmer raising corn, soy, wheat, hay, specialty crops, and beef in Elverson, Pennsylvania.

FSA gets new administrator

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted a stakeholder update to provide a progress report on USDA’s five-pronged strategy to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and lower egg prices. Less than a month after the plan’s rollout, USDA reports significant advancements across all five areas. “Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting some relief, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” Rollins said. “USDA is making targeted investments and driving innovation to keep our food supply strong and affordable.”

Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins hosted a stakeholder update to provide a progress report on USDA’s five-pronged strategy to combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and lower egg prices. Less than a month after the plan’s rollout, USDA reports significant advancements across all five areas. “Egg prices are falling, farmers are getting some relief, and we are seeing meaningful progress in the fight against avian flu,” Rollins said. “USDA is making targeted investments and driving innovation to keep our food supply strong and affordable.”

USDA updates public on avian flu strategy 

A veteran of the
Atchison County Clerk’s Office has been appointed Atchison County Treasurer.

Gov. Mike Kehoe
has appointed Tasha Zach of Rock Port, who had been filling the vacancy in the
Treasurer’s Office since appointed by the Atchison County Commission in
December of last year.

Zach previously
served as an accounts payable deputy and the election deputy in the Atchison
County Clerk's Office for more than nine years.

Zach holds an
Office Information Systems Technology certificate from Iowa Western Community
College.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA veteran of the
Atchison County Clerk’s Office has been appointed Atchison County Treasurer.Gov. Mike Kehoe
has appointed Tasha Zach of Rock Port, who had been filling the vacancy in the
Treasurer’s Office since appointed by the Atchison County Commission in
December of last year.Zach previously
served as an accounts payable deputy and the election deputy in the Atchison
County Clerk's Office for more than nine years.Zach holds an
Office Information Systems Technology certificate from Iowa Western Community
College.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Kbct