(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa House has overwhelming voted in favor of requiring schools to ban students from using their cell phones while they're in class. 

Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Birmingham, praised the Ottumwa School District and Des Moines Hoover High School for being trailblazers on the issue. A principal at Hoover where cell phones must be kept in a student's backpack, told Axios Des Moines there was a 31 percent increase in As and Bs earned by students in the fall semester and a six percent drop in the number of failing grades. 

The bill, which has the backing of Governor Kim Reynolds, passed the House by an 88-to-nine vote. A similar bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa House has overwhelming voted in favor of requiring schools to ban students from using their cell phones while they're in class. Representative Jeff Shipley, a Republican from Birmingham, praised the Ottumwa School District and Des Moines Hoover High School for being trailblazers on the issue. A principal at Hoover where cell phones must be kept in a student's backpack, told Axios Des Moines there was a 31 percent increase in As and Bs earned by students in the fall semester and a six percent drop in the number of failing grades. The bill, which has the backing of Governor Kim Reynolds, passed the House by an 88-to-nine vote. A similar bill is eligible for debate in the Iowa Senate.

House votes to require schools ban cell phone use during classes

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt has returned from a visit to the southern border.

Schmidt, a
Republican, says his visit with a small U.S. House delegation to Arizona came as a stark
contrast with his visit earlier as the Kansas Attorney General.

“When I was at the
border, I think it was about almost three years ago now, masses of people,
chaos, huge waves of humanity trying to migrate into the border, trying to come
across. This time, completely different,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “In
fact, we actually visited a border patrol holding facility. It holds about a
thousand people at capacity. They day we were there:&nbsp; zero.”

Schmidt says the
huge influx of illegal immigrants has been reduced to a trickle, allowing border
patrol agents to focus on their actual duties.

“And that is to
focus on enforcing our border security and immigration laws. It is to combat
the cartels and prevent those criminal entities that obviously are working very
hard to move drugs and people across the border so they can distribute them
throughout the United States,” according to Schmidt. “Now, our law enforcement
and military and other assets can focus on that.”

Schmidt says it’s
now up to Congress to put into law what the president has signed into executive
order.

“Remain in Mexico,
no catch and release, some asylum reform provisions; the types of things that
we know work, because they have stopped the waves of people coming, we now need
to make permanent so that a future president can’t with a stroke of a pen undo
those and take us back to where we were in the chaos of the Biden administration.”

Schmidt points out
what can be implemented by executive order can be reverse by executive order.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742323044841.jpeg" alt="Congressman Derek Schmidt joins the U.S. House delegation at the southern border in Arizona/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Derek Schmidt joins the U.S. House delegation at the southern border in Arizona/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt has returned from a visit to the southern border.Schmidt, a
Republican, says his visit with a small U.S. House delegation to Arizona came as a stark
contrast with his visit earlier as the Kansas Attorney General.“When I was at the
border, I think it was about almost three years ago now, masses of people,
chaos, huge waves of humanity trying to migrate into the border, trying to come
across. This time, completely different,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “In
fact, we actually visited a border patrol holding facility. It holds about a
thousand people at capacity. They day we were there:&nbsp; zero.”Schmidt says the
huge influx of illegal immigrants has been reduced to a trickle, allowing border
patrol agents to focus on their actual duties.“And that is to
focus on enforcing our border security and immigration laws. It is to combat
the cartels and prevent those criminal entities that obviously are working very
hard to move drugs and people across the border so they can distribute them
throughout the United States,” according to Schmidt. “Now, our law enforcement
and military and other assets can focus on that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742323154298.jpeg" alt="Congressman Derek Schmidt listens as a border patrol agent discusses the situation at the southern border/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Derek Schmidt listens as a border patrol agent discusses the situation at the southern border/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office</figcaption>
 </figure>Schmidt says it’s
now up to Congress to put into law what the president has signed into executive
order.“Remain in Mexico,
no catch and release, some asylum reform provisions; the types of things that
we know work, because they have stopped the waves of people coming, we now need
to make permanent so that a future president can’t with a stroke of a pen undo
those and take us back to where we were in the chaos of the Biden administration.”Schmidt points out
what can be implemented by executive order can be reverse by executive order.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742323257301.jpeg" alt="The U.S. House delegation receives a briefing from a border patrol agent/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office" />
 <figcaption>The U.S. House delegation receives a briefing from a border patrol agent/Photo courtesy of Congressman Schmidt's office</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Schmidt says recent visit to southern border contrasts earlier visit

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

In most Missouri counties, children linger in foster care longer than the federal standard, according to data compiled by the state social services agency.

Under national standards, at least 35% of kids entering foster care should exit with a permanent living situation within one year. That can mean reunification with family, adoption or guardianship.&nbsp;

But only 12 of Missouri’s 114 counties met that standard every month between July and September last year.

That’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/docs/hb-1414/quarterly-report-january-2025.pdf" target="_blank">according to a report</a>&nbsp;the Missouri Department of Social Services is required to release on a quarterly basis. A&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1414&amp;year=2020&amp;code=R" target="_blank">law passed in 2020</a>&nbsp;mandated those reports and created a “response and evaluation” team tasked with reviewing state foster care practices. The team, which includes Children’s Division staff and foster care case management agency staff, met Tuesday.

In the previous&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/docs/hb-1414/quarterly-report-october-2024.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>, covering April through June, there were 23 counties meeting that benchmark.

Missouri’s Children’s Division is acting under a&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/mo-cfsr-r4-pip.pdf" target="_blank">performance improvement plan</a>&nbsp;with the federal Children’s Bureau over the issue of timely permanent placements. The state’s performance “has continued to decline over the last several reporting periods,” a&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/mo-cfsr-r4-pip.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from last summer states.&nbsp;

While in care, foster kids have also faced more instability with their placements than nationally, meaning they can be frequently moved around among foster homes or other placements.

Marcia Wetzel, a program coordinator with the social services department, said during Tuesday’s public meeting that a plan is in the works to&nbsp;establish what are called team decision-making meetings statewide before a foster child is moved to a new placement.

<a href="https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/child-welfare-manual/section-1-chapter-10-team-decision-making-meetings/" target="_blank">Team decision-making meetings&nbsp;</a>involve those closest to the child and a facilitator. There will be training before it’s rolled out in each region across the state, Wetzel said, with the expectation that the meetings&nbsp;“hopefully will help us improve the data…to really try to stabilize placements.”

As of&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/cd/cfsplan/2025-2029/child-family-plan.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">February 2024</a>, for every 1,000 days a child spent in foster care in Missouri, they were moved 6.23 times. The federal rate was 4.48. Wetzel said more data will come out related to this issue in April.

According to the department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/FY26_DSS_Programs_Book.pdf" target="_blank">budget request,</a>&nbsp;team decision-making meetings have been implemented in some parts of the state and will be expanding statewide.&nbsp;

Missouri’s foster care system has faced scrutiny for years and is a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/bill-banning-state-from-seizing-foster-kids-benefits-clears-missouri-senate/">major focus</a>&nbsp;of the 2025 legislative session.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/bill-banning-state-from-seizing-foster-kids-benefits-clears-missouri-senate/">bill</a>&nbsp;sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater of Holts Summit seeks to reduce the amount of time foster children languish in care by changing the model of legal representation for them. Under the proposal, older foster children would be assigned client-director counsel, who act based on the child’s own wishes and goals.&nbsp;Currently, foster children have guardians ad litem, who are attorneys tasked with acting in what they view as the child’s best interest, which Fitzwater said means children are sometimes left without a voice, drawing out their time in care.&nbsp;

Lawmakers are also concerned with foster kids being held in inappropriate placements, such as hospitals, hotels, offices and out-of-state residential treatment facilities.&nbsp;

There are around 85 kids receiving treatment out of state, according to department data shared at an appropriations hearing. And last year, there were 314 foster children residing in hospitals.

Issues with foster care&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/28/missouri-senate-delays-vote-on-new-social-services-director-over-foster-care-concerns/">delayed Senate confirmation</a>&nbsp;of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s pick to lead the social services department. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, briefly held up the appointment to force the agency to provide answers about chronic problems that have plagued the foster care system for years and what she says has been the agency’s failure to implement laws designed to help.

Bax was eventually confirmed after Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/missouri-senate-approves-massive-child-welfare-bill-aimed-at-foster-care-system/">said the department was responsive</a>&nbsp;to her inquiries.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742387121902.png" alt="Department of Social Services resource center in Poplar Bluff, July 17, 2023 (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>Department of Social Services resource center in Poplar Bluff, July 17, 2023 (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>In most Missouri counties, children linger in foster care longer than the federal standard, according to data compiled by the state social services agency.Under national standards, at least 35% of kids entering foster care should exit with a permanent living situation within one year. That can mean reunification with family, adoption or guardianship.&nbsp;But only 12 of Missouri’s 114 counties met that standard every month between July and September last year.That’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/docs/hb-1414/quarterly-report-january-2025.pdf" target="_blank">according to a report</a>&nbsp;the Missouri Department of Social Services is required to release on a quarterly basis. A&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1414&amp;year=2020&amp;code=R" target="_blank">law passed in 2020</a>&nbsp;mandated those reports and created a “response and evaluation” team tasked with reviewing state foster care practices. The team, which includes Children’s Division staff and foster care case management agency staff, met Tuesday.In the previous&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/docs/hb-1414/quarterly-report-october-2024.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>, covering April through June, there were 23 counties meeting that benchmark.Missouri’s Children’s Division is acting under a&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/mo-cfsr-r4-pip.pdf" target="_blank">performance improvement plan</a>&nbsp;with the federal Children’s Bureau over the issue of timely permanent placements. The state’s performance “has continued to decline over the last several reporting periods,” a&nbsp;<a href="https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/cb/mo-cfsr-r4-pip.pdf" target="_blank">report</a>&nbsp;from last summer states.&nbsp;While in care, foster kids have also faced more instability with their placements than nationally, meaning they can be frequently moved around among foster homes or other placements.Marcia Wetzel, a program coordinator with the social services department, said during Tuesday’s public meeting that a plan is in the works to&nbsp;establish what are called team decision-making meetings statewide before a foster child is moved to a new placement.<a href="https://dssmanuals.mo.gov/child-welfare-manual/section-1-chapter-10-team-decision-making-meetings/" target="_blank">Team decision-making meetings&nbsp;</a>involve those closest to the child and a facilitator. There will be training before it’s rolled out in each region across the state, Wetzel said, with the expectation that the meetings&nbsp;“hopefully will help us improve the data…to really try to stabilize placements.”As of&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/cd/cfsplan/2025-2029/child-family-plan.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com" target="_blank">February 2024</a>, for every 1,000 days a child spent in foster care in Missouri, they were moved 6.23 times. The federal rate was 4.48. Wetzel said more data will come out related to this issue in April.According to the department’s&nbsp;<a href="https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/FY26_DSS_Programs_Book.pdf" target="_blank">budget request,</a>&nbsp;team decision-making meetings have been implemented in some parts of the state and will be expanding statewide.&nbsp;Missouri’s foster care system has faced scrutiny for years and is a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/bill-banning-state-from-seizing-foster-kids-benefits-clears-missouri-senate/">major focus</a>&nbsp;of the 2025 legislative session.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/bill-banning-state-from-seizing-foster-kids-benefits-clears-missouri-senate/">bill</a>&nbsp;sponsored by Sen. Travis Fitzwater of Holts Summit seeks to reduce the amount of time foster children languish in care by changing the model of legal representation for them. Under the proposal, older foster children would be assigned client-director counsel, who act based on the child’s own wishes and goals.&nbsp;Currently, foster children have guardians ad litem, who are attorneys tasked with acting in what they view as the child’s best interest, which Fitzwater said means children are sometimes left without a voice, drawing out their time in care.&nbsp;Lawmakers are also concerned with foster kids being held in inappropriate placements, such as hospitals, hotels, offices and out-of-state residential treatment facilities.&nbsp;There are around 85 kids receiving treatment out of state, according to department data shared at an appropriations hearing. And last year, there were 314 foster children residing in hospitals.Issues with foster care&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/28/missouri-senate-delays-vote-on-new-social-services-director-over-foster-care-concerns/">delayed Senate confirmation</a>&nbsp;of Gov. Mike Kehoe’s pick to lead the social services department. State Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican, briefly held up the appointment to force the agency to provide answers about chronic problems that have plagued the foster care system for years and what she says has been the agency’s failure to implement laws designed to help.Bax was eventually confirmed after Coleman&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/missouri-senate-approves-massive-child-welfare-bill-aimed-at-foster-care-system/">said the department was responsive</a>&nbsp;to her inquiries.&nbsp;

Kids stay in foster care longer than the federal standard in most Missouri counties

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday released their preliminary report on the incident that led to the gas line explosion and fire on Feb. 22. &nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD25FR003.aspx" target="_blank">Click here to read the full preliminary report&nbsp;</a>

In the first portion of the report, the NTSB states that an underline gas leak resulted in a commercial building explosion which destroyed the building and caused an evacuation of the surrounding community. &nbsp;&nbsp;

No injuries or deaths occurred and the NTSB states that the damages are to be approximately $975,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The report states that the Reno County dispatch received a gas odor report from the public at approximately 9:26 a.m., and that Hutchinson Fire Department arrived on the scene approximately seven minutes later at 9:33 a.m. &nbsp;

After the explosion ONE Gas, the parent company of Kansas Gas Service, excavated the area exposing approximately 120-feet of the ten-inch steel gas main. &nbsp;During the excavation, a leak was found at a girth weld, which is where two gas pipes are welded along their circumference. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The NTSB while on scene conducted a visual examination of the pipeline, collected physical evidence and conducted interviews. &nbsp;A portion of the gas line was later transported to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington DC for evaluation and testing. &nbsp;&nbsp;Currently the investigation by the NTSB is ongoing. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The report says that future investigative activity will focus on previous failures and the leak history of the pipeline as well as aspects o ONE Gas’s integrity management program and state regulatory oversite; ONE Gas emergency response training and ONE Gas’s leak response, safety management system program and isolation planning tool. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742323605763.png" alt="Photo NTSB report" />
 <figcaption>Photo NTSB report</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday released their preliminary report on the incident that led to the gas line explosion and fire on Feb. 22. &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD25FR003.aspx" target="_blank">Click here to read the full preliminary report&nbsp;</a>In the first portion of the report, the NTSB states that an underline gas leak resulted in a commercial building explosion which destroyed the building and caused an evacuation of the surrounding community. &nbsp;&nbsp;No injuries or deaths occurred and the NTSB states that the damages are to be approximately $975,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740255614106.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Fire Department (file photo)&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Fire Department (file photo)&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>The report states that the Reno County dispatch received a gas odor report from the public at approximately 9:26 a.m., and that Hutchinson Fire Department arrived on the scene approximately seven minutes later at 9:33 a.m. &nbsp;After the explosion ONE Gas, the parent company of Kansas Gas Service, excavated the area exposing approximately 120-feet of the ten-inch steel gas main. &nbsp;During the excavation, a leak was found at a girth weld, which is where two gas pipes are welded along their circumference. &nbsp;&nbsp;The NTSB while on scene conducted a visual examination of the pipeline, collected physical evidence and conducted interviews. &nbsp;A portion of the gas line was later transported to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington DC for evaluation and testing. &nbsp;&nbsp;Currently the investigation by the NTSB is ongoing. &nbsp;&nbsp;The report says that future investigative activity will focus on previous failures and the leak history of the pipeline as well as aspects o ONE Gas’s integrity management program and state regulatory oversite; ONE Gas emergency response training and ONE Gas’s leak response, safety management system program and isolation planning tool. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Read the NTSB preliminary report on the gas explosion in Hutchinson

(Radio Iowa) - Forecasters say travel could be difficult if not impossible across Iowa's northwestern third Wednesday. 

Blizzard conditions are in the forecast for some 30 counties with winds gusting up to 65 miles an hour and heavy snow of up to twelve inches in some areas. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says the storm front will start moving into Iowa late tonight and early tomorrow. 

It'll begin as rain and thunderstorms, shifting to all snow eventually, but may also include "thunder-snow." Jimenez says white-out conditions are likely and some areas may see snowfall at the rate of two inches per hour.

(Radio Iowa) - Forecasters say travel could be difficult if not impossible across Iowa's northwestern third Wednesday. Blizzard conditions are in the forecast for some 30 counties with winds gusting up to 65 miles an hour and heavy snow of up to twelve inches in some areas. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says the storm front will start moving into Iowa late tonight and early tomorrow. It'll begin as rain and thunderstorms, shifting to all snow eventually, but may also include "thunder-snow." Jimenez says white-out conditions are likely and some areas may see snowfall at the rate of two inches per hour.

Blizzard forecast to hit NW Iowa on the last day of winter

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate has voted to expand a 2024 law that made it a crime to fly drones over animal feeding operations. 

The bill seeks to prohibit drones from being flown without permission over a farmstead that covers at least 40 acres and generates at least 15-thousand dollars in annual sales from livestock or other commodities. The bill also would prohibit drones from flying within 400 feet of farm animals, farm equipment, barns and a farmer's home. 

If the drone is equipped to record video and audio to identify objects and animals, it would be a serious misdemeanor. The bill passed the Senate on a 43-to-three vote and goes to the House for consideration.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate has voted to expand a 2024 law that made it a crime to fly drones over animal feeding operations. The bill seeks to prohibit drones from being flown without permission over a farmstead that covers at least 40 acres and generates at least 15-thousand dollars in annual sales from livestock or other commodities. The bill also would prohibit drones from flying within 400 feet of farm animals, farm equipment, barns and a farmer's home. If the drone is equipped to record video and audio to identify objects and animals, it would be a serious misdemeanor. The bill passed the Senate on a 43-to-three vote and goes to the House for consideration.

Bill would ban flying drones over farmsteads without permission

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate has again passed a bill that would penalize motorists who handle a smart phone while driving. Republican Senator Mark Lofgren of Muscatine says it hopefully will reign in distracted drivers. 

The bill has passed the senate in previous years and the vote on it Tuesday was 47-1. The bill now goes to the House, where it has stalled over the past several years. Governor Kim Reynolds used part of her annual address to lawmakers in January to call on them to send the bill to her desk this year.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Senate has again passed a bill that would penalize motorists who handle a smart phone while driving. Republican Senator Mark Lofgren of Muscatine says it hopefully will reign in distracted drivers. The bill has passed the senate in previous years and the vote on it Tuesday was 47-1. The bill now goes to the House, where it has stalled over the past several years. Governor Kim Reynolds used part of her annual address to lawmakers in January to call on them to send the bill to her desk this year.

Iowa Senate passes bill to ban handling a cell phone while driving

WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-stakes phone call Tuesday on the Ukraine-Russia war.

Shortly after the call, the White House released a brief summary of the conversation. It is below.

&nbsp;Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia.

The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.
 
This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts.

The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace.

These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East. 
 
The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application.

The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel. 
 
The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742207940676.png" alt="File photo President Trump discussed calling Putin during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday-image courtesy White House" />
 <figcaption>File photo President Trump discussed calling Putin during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday-image courtesy White House</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-stakes phone call Tuesday on the Ukraine-Russia war.Shortly after the call, the White House released a brief summary of the conversation. It is below.&nbsp;Today, President Trump and President Putin spoke about the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war. Both leaders agreed this conflict needs to end with a lasting peace. They also stressed the need for improved bilateral relations between the United States and Russia. The blood and treasure that both Ukraine and Russia have been spending in this war would be better spent on the needs of their people.
 
This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts. The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace. These negotiations will begin immediately in the Middle East. 
 
The leaders spoke broadly about the Middle East as a region of potential cooperation to prevent future conflicts. They further discussed the need to stop proliferation of strategic weapons and will engage with others to ensure the broadest possible application. The two leaders shared the view that Iran should never be in a position to destroy Israel. 
 
The two leaders agreed that a future with an improved bilateral relationship between the United States and Russia has huge upside. This includes enormous economic deals and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved.

See the readout : Trump and Putin discuss Ukraine-Russia ceasefire deal 

After some reorganization, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office has formed a new division to help combat crime.  

Captain Shawn Collie now heads the Special Operations Division, which combines three units within the Sheriff's Office into one. 

"We've taken Drug Strike Force and made it more of a unit and created a Special Operations type division that I oversee now," Collie tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "And it includes not only Drug Strike Force, but we now have people assigned to a career criminal unit that works hand in hand with the drug unit, and then we have an interdiction unit, so all that falls under me under a Special Operations Division now." 

Collie says this new division helps to add to the team at the Sheriff's Office.  

"And now to add in the career criminal group to help go after those career criminals who are repeat offenders and to take the time and kind of slow down and prosecute them the way they should be prosecuted is going to be a whole new tool for us to add and to help protect our community," Collie explains. 

Collie who heads the new division says the way this unit operates will take some stress off the Sheriff's Offices resources 

"You know instead of trying to run from the drug side to the fugitive side to the shootings, to be able to have people that specifically can concentrate on helping in those areas," Collie says.  "There's only so many hours in the day and only so many people, so it allows us to divide and conquer on certain assignments." 

Collie says this structure will help people in these specific assignments stay focused on the assignments they are interested in and were hired for. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After some reorganization, the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office has formed a new division to help combat crime. Captain Shawn Collie now heads the Special Operations Division, which combines three units within the Sheriff's Office into one. "We've taken Drug Strike Force and made it more of a unit and created a Special Operations type division that I oversee now," Collie tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And it includes not only Drug Strike Force, but we now have people assigned to a career criminal unit that works hand in hand with the drug unit, and then we have an interdiction unit, so all that falls under me under a Special Operations Division now." Collie says this new division helps to add to the team at the Sheriff's Office. "And now to add in the career criminal group to help go after those career criminals who are repeat offenders and to take the time and kind of slow down and prosecute them the way they should be prosecuted is going to be a whole new tool for us to add and to help protect our community," Collie explains. Collie who heads the new division says the way this unit operates will take some stress off the Sheriff's Offices resources "You know instead of trying to run from the drug side to the fugitive side to the shootings, to be able to have people that specifically can concentrate on helping in those areas," Collie says. "There's only so many hours in the day and only so many people, so it allows us to divide and conquer on certain assignments." Collie says this structure will help people in these specific assignments stay focused on the assignments they are interested in and were hired for. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Reorganization forms new unit in the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office

KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr announced his retirement this
morning.

Birr, a staple of KFEQ programming for decades, made the
announcement during the opening of his show.

“It’s kind of a long time coming,” Birr told his audience. “I
did semi-retirement at the end of 2015 and continued on a part-time basis until
now. And my last day here at 680 KFEQ is going to be on Friday, the 28th
of March.”

Birr came to KFEQ in 1984 to serve as news director. Though he
retired as news director in 2015, Birr continued to host the KFEQ Hotline
between 8am and 10am each morning.

“It’s been a huge, huge part of my life. You’ve been a huge
part of my life and a part of my life that has (been) among the very highlights
of my life,” Birr told listeners. “And so, I deeply appreciate all the help that
you’ve given me doing this program; the help being listening and calling in.”

Birr thanked his callers for their participation over the years.

“We’ve just been blessed with magnificent callers over the
years, the 33-some-odd years that I’ve been doing this program,” Birr said. “And
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”

With that, Birr began the open-line portion of the Hotline,
discussing the day’s current events, just as he has since 1992.

Birr created the KFEQ Hotline shortly after KFEQ became a Rush
Limbaugh affiliate. Birr discussed his motivation during the celebration of
KFEQ’s 100th anniversary in 2023.

“That’s a national program.,” Birr said during an interview on
the radio stations’ centennial. “What if we had a local program that addressed
issues in the news and took calls?”

The Hotline proved its worth a year after it began, expanding
programming nearly non-stop to cover the 1993 Missouri River flood. It became a
vital communication link with a city and a region coping with devastating
flooding that also wiped out the St. Joseph water plant, leaving the community without
drinkable water for a nearly a week.

The KFEQ Hotline again served as a vital community link during
another natural disaster in 2007. An ice storm that winter knocked out other
radio stations and the city’s only television station. KFEQ kept on the air
with a generator and listeners could tune in with a battery-powered radio.

“For quite a while we were the only broadcast facility that
was operating,” Birr said during an anniversary celebration interview.

Soon after the storm created widespread power outages, it
became apparent to Birr and others KFEQ needed to expand the Hotline and serve
the community more directly.

“This became a kind of place where ideas were exchanged,” Birr
said. “People would share information about, well you can get water here;
different things at different places. And here’s what it’s like in my
neighborhood.”

Other special celebrations are planned before Birr retires at
the end of the month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742308174703.jpeg" alt="KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr/file photo" />
 <figcaption>KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostKFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr announced his retirement this
morning.Birr, a staple of KFEQ programming for decades, made the
announcement during the opening of his show.“It’s kind of a long time coming,” Birr told his audience. “I
did semi-retirement at the end of 2015 and continued on a part-time basis until
now. And my last day here at 680 KFEQ is going to be on Friday, the 28th
of March.”Birr came to KFEQ in 1984 to serve as news director. Though he
retired as news director in 2015, Birr continued to host the KFEQ Hotline
between 8am and 10am each morning.“It’s been a huge, huge part of my life. You’ve been a huge
part of my life and a part of my life that has (been) among the very highlights
of my life,” Birr told listeners. “And so, I deeply appreciate all the help that
you’ve given me doing this program; the help being listening and calling in.”Birr thanked his callers for their participation over the years.“We’ve just been blessed with magnificent callers over the
years, the 33-some-odd years that I’ve been doing this program,” Birr said. “And
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742308246492.jpeg" alt="Birr was honored in 2023 as the Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Conservation Federation of Missouri/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Birr was honored in 2023 as the Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Conservation Federation of Missouri/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>With that, Birr began the open-line portion of the Hotline,
discussing the day’s current events, just as he has since 1992.Birr created the KFEQ Hotline shortly after KFEQ became a Rush
Limbaugh affiliate. Birr discussed his motivation during the celebration of
KFEQ’s 100th anniversary in 2023.“That’s a national program.,” Birr said during an interview on
the radio stations’ centennial. “What if we had a local program that addressed
issues in the news and took calls?”The Hotline proved its worth a year after it began, expanding
programming nearly non-stop to cover the 1993 Missouri River flood. It became a
vital communication link with a city and a region coping with devastating
flooding that also wiped out the St. Joseph water plant, leaving the community without
drinkable water for a nearly a week.The KFEQ Hotline again served as a vital community link during
another natural disaster in 2007. An ice storm that winter knocked out other
radio stations and the city’s only television station. KFEQ kept on the air
with a generator and listeners could tune in with a battery-powered radio.“For quite a while we were the only broadcast facility that
was operating,” Birr said during an anniversary celebration interview.Soon after the storm created widespread power outages, it
became apparent to Birr and others KFEQ needed to expand the Hotline and serve
the community more directly.“This became a kind of place where ideas were exchanged,” Birr
said. “People would share information about, well you can get water here;
different things at different places. And here’s what it’s like in my
neighborhood.”Other special celebrations are planned before Birr retires at
the end of the month.<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Barry-Birr-announces-retirement-e30bb4e/a-abrbs83" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr announces retirement

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa House has voted to make indoor tanning bed businesses off limits for minors -- unless the teenager's parent provides written permission in person. 

Tanning beds emit far more ultraviolet radiation than the sun and Iowa is one of only six states that does not ban or regulate the use of tanning beds by minors. According to the National Institutes of Health, using a tanning bed even one time before age 35 raises your risk of developing malignant melanoma by 75 percent. 

Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says cancer prevention is just as important as cancer research. Iowa is the only state in the country with a rising cancer rate.

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa House has voted to make indoor tanning bed businesses off limits for minors -- unless the teenager's parent provides written permission in person. Tanning beds emit far more ultraviolet radiation than the sun and Iowa is one of only six states that does not ban or regulate the use of tanning beds by minors. According to the National Institutes of Health, using a tanning bed even one time before age 35 raises your risk of developing malignant melanoma by 75 percent. Representative Hans Wilz of Ottumwa says cancer prevention is just as important as cancer research. Iowa is the only state in the country with a rising cancer rate.

Iowa may join 44 states that regulate teen access to tanning beds

KANSAS CITY —The cause of a fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City is under investigation.

Just after 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Missouri Fire crews responded to a reported fire at the Tesla car lot, 10111 Stateline Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

Crews found two Tesla Cyber Trucks on fire. KCFD sent an additional company for additional water and a Battalion Chief. 

The fire was brought under control and the vehicles were covered with a fire blanket to prevent reignition. 

Kansas City Fire officials ordered Bomb and Arson officials to investigate. The Kansas City Police Department will assist withe the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742306039181.png" alt="Image courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The cause of a fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City is under investigation.Just after 11p.m. Monday, Kansas City Missouri Fire crews responded to a reported fire at the Tesla car lot, 10111 Stateline Avenue, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742305766866.png" alt="Image courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>Crews found two Tesla Cyber Trucks on fire. KCFD sent an additional company for additional water and a Battalion Chief. The fire was brought under control and the vehicles were covered with a fire blanket to prevent reignition. Kansas City Fire officials ordered Bomb and Arson officials to investigate. The Kansas City Police Department will assist withe the investigation.

Arson investigation: Tesla Cyber trucks burn at KC dealership

During Kim Evans’ tenure, the department faced criticism from state lawmakers, the federal government and advocacy organizations over its administration of public benefits

The head of the Missouri agency that for years has struggled to administer public benefit programs like food assistance and Medicaid announced her retirement on Friday afternoon, effective immediately.

Kim Evans had served as director of the Family Support Division within the Missouri Department of Social Services since 2020. She spent over two decades working for the department, including as a program eligibility specialist, manager and deputy director.

“(The Department of Social Services) is grateful for her service and wishes her the best in the next chapter,” Baylee Watts, the department’s spokeswoman, said in an email.

The interim director will be Mandi Adams, who is currently one of the division’s deputy directors.

Evans’ departure last week is the latest in a series of leadership changes underway at Missouri’s embattled social services agency since Gov. Mike Kehoe was elected in November. A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/mike-kehoe-appoints-new-leader-for-missouri-social-services-agency/">new department director</a>, Jessica Bax, began in January, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-social-services-agency-appoints-new-child-welfare-director/">new director for the child welfare division</a>, Sara Smith, was named last week.&nbsp;

During Evans’ tenure, the department faced criticism from state lawmakers, the federal government and advocacy organizations over its administration of public benefits — which affect the lives of millions of Missourians.&nbsp;

A federal judge last year&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/09/federal-court-rules-missourians-were-illegally-denied-food-aid-by-the-state/">ruled</a>&nbsp;Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state due to hours-long call center wait times for participants to receive a required interview.&nbsp;

Those delays — which leadership has largely&nbsp;blamed&nbsp;on call center&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">staffing issues&nbsp;</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">—&nbsp;</a>translate to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/02/broken-system-call-center-backlogs-impede-missouri-families-seeking-food-assistance/">families struggling to feed their young children</a>&nbsp;while rearranging their days to wait on hold, Missourians with disabilities who can’t understand the application forms being unable to get help and some subsisting on little food while using up prepaid phone minutes on hold.

“While call wait times fluctuate and have shown some improvement, the record demonstrates too little progress,” the judge in that case, U.S. District Court Judge M. Douglas Harpool, wrote last year. “Consequently, Missourians who suffer food insecurity have been forced to either go hungry or seek alternative sources of food when their applications are denied.”

The state has been required to submit monthly reports as part of the lawsuit.&nbsp;The average wait time for the interview line for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was 45 minutes in January, the&nbsp;<a href="https://legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/25589928-2-18-25-status-report-dss-snap-lawsuit/" target="_blank">most recent monthly data</a>&nbsp;states.&nbsp;

The average wait time for the general call line, which handles all other inquiries — for programs including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and non-interview related SNAP queries — was just under one hour in January.

That&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63105919/holmes-v-knodell/?order_by=desc" target="_blank">case is still ongoing</a>, and the parties are in mediation.

The department in its budget request to the state legislature asked for $11 million to hire 220 new staff in the Family Support Division to help ensure the agency complies with federal and state rules on timely processing, and “maintains a reasonable wait time in the call centers,” the budget&nbsp;<a href="https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/FY26_DSS_Appropriation_Book.pdf" target="_blank">request</a>&nbsp;stated. The governor recommended only 55 new positions.&nbsp;

Asked about the call center issues in a Senate appropriations committee hearing last month, Bax was candid about the ongoing problems, stating that over 10,000 applications for SNAP were rejected solely due to failure to interview in January.

Bax told the committee the agency is looking at “overall efficiencies” including trying to get a shortened and condensed SNAP interview approved, and specializing some of the call center staff.&nbsp;

“So that is where the plan is: to really kind of take back those specialized teams and then have an ability to condense that interview so that we can free up the phone lines,” Bax said.

Democratic state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City said she continues to hear from constituents about their issues accessing aid to which they’re entitled.

“This is one of the things that I continue to have very grave concerns about,” Nurrenbern said at last months’s appropriations committee hearing. “How long people are waiting online for essential services, and hear a lot of frustration from constituents reaching out and saying, ‘I’ve been waiting online all day and nobody’s getting back to us.’

“So I really hope that this is something that this committee can put some emphasis on and making sure that we are being as efficient as possible with these services,” she added.&nbsp;

Bax replied that she “could not agree more.”&nbsp;

Bax’s testimony differed from prior testimony of Evans, who typically&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">downplayed</a>&nbsp;issues with wait times to legislators.&nbsp;At one hearing in late 2023, Evans told lawmakers she was “excited” the wait time was only a few minutes the morning of a hearing, though&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">records obtained by The Independent would later show the average that month was actually over an hour.&nbsp;</a>

There have also been years-long problems with Medicaid application processing, leading to issues like&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/perfect-storm-missouri-advocates-decry-medicaid-application-delays-coverage-losses/">pregnant Missourians going without prenatal care</a>.

Last summer, the federal Medicaid agency&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">announced</a>&nbsp;it was intervening to help bring the state back into compliance with timely processing.

Bax said last month, regarding some Medicaid cases, “we’re about three months behind on the applications.”

According to&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0125-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf" target="_blank">data for January</a>, the average time to process Medicaid applications for aged, blind and disabled applications was 107 days. The federal limit is 90 days for those applications. The average for the other category of Medicaid applications was 29 days, climbing in recent months but still below the 45-day standard. Bax also said last month the department is looking at using contractors to help with annual Medicaid renewals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1742250970378.png" alt=" Kim Evans, center, announced Friday she was retiring from her position as director of the Family Support Division. She's pictured here speaking to the media in Jefferson City on March 28, 2023, about Medicaid renewals, alongside MO HealthNet director Todd Richardson, right, and former department director, Robert Knodell (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Kim Evans, center, announced Friday she was retiring from her position as director of the Family Support Division. She's pictured here speaking to the media in Jefferson City on March 28, 2023, about Medicaid renewals, alongside MO HealthNet director Todd Richardson, right, and former department director, Robert Knodell (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>During Kim Evans’ tenure, the department faced criticism from state lawmakers, the federal government and advocacy organizations over its administration of public benefits</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>The head of the Missouri agency that for years has struggled to administer public benefit programs like food assistance and Medicaid announced her retirement on Friday afternoon, effective immediately.Kim Evans had served as director of the Family Support Division within the Missouri Department of Social Services since 2020. She spent over two decades working for the department, including as a program eligibility specialist, manager and deputy director.“(The Department of Social Services) is grateful for her service and wishes her the best in the next chapter,” Baylee Watts, the department’s spokeswoman, said in an email.The interim director will be Mandi Adams, who is currently one of the division’s deputy directors.Evans’ departure last week is the latest in a series of leadership changes underway at Missouri’s embattled social services agency since Gov. Mike Kehoe was elected in November. A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/mike-kehoe-appoints-new-leader-for-missouri-social-services-agency/">new department director</a>, Jessica Bax, began in January, and a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-social-services-agency-appoints-new-child-welfare-director/">new director for the child welfare division</a>, Sara Smith, was named last week.&nbsp;During Evans’ tenure, the department faced criticism from state lawmakers, the federal government and advocacy organizations over its administration of public benefits — which affect the lives of millions of Missourians.&nbsp;A federal judge last year&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/09/federal-court-rules-missourians-were-illegally-denied-food-aid-by-the-state/">ruled</a>&nbsp;Missourians were illegally denied food aid by the state due to hours-long call center wait times for participants to receive a required interview.&nbsp;Those delays — which leadership has largely&nbsp;blamed&nbsp;on call center&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">staffing issues&nbsp;</a><a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">—&nbsp;</a>translate to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/02/broken-system-call-center-backlogs-impede-missouri-families-seeking-food-assistance/">families struggling to feed their young children</a>&nbsp;while rearranging their days to wait on hold, Missourians with disabilities who can’t understand the application forms being unable to get help and some subsisting on little food while using up prepaid phone minutes on hold.“While call wait times fluctuate and have shown some improvement, the record demonstrates too little progress,” the judge in that case, U.S. District Court Judge M. Douglas Harpool, wrote last year. “Consequently, Missourians who suffer food insecurity have been forced to either go hungry or seek alternative sources of food when their applications are denied.”The state has been required to submit monthly reports as part of the lawsuit.&nbsp;The average wait time for the interview line for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, was 45 minutes in January, the&nbsp;<a href="https://legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/25589928-2-18-25-status-report-dss-snap-lawsuit/" target="_blank">most recent monthly data</a>&nbsp;states.&nbsp;The average wait time for the general call line, which handles all other inquiries — for programs including Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and non-interview related SNAP queries — was just under one hour in January.That&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63105919/holmes-v-knodell/?order_by=desc" target="_blank">case is still ongoing</a>, and the parties are in mediation.The department in its budget request to the state legislature asked for $11 million to hire 220 new staff in the Family Support Division to help ensure the agency complies with federal and state rules on timely processing, and “maintains a reasonable wait time in the call centers,” the budget&nbsp;<a href="https://oa.mo.gov/sites/default/files/FY26_DSS_Appropriation_Book.pdf" target="_blank">request</a>&nbsp;stated. The governor recommended only 55 new positions.&nbsp;Asked about the call center issues in a Senate appropriations committee hearing last month, Bax was candid about the ongoing problems, stating that over 10,000 applications for SNAP were rejected solely due to failure to interview in January.Bax told the committee the agency is looking at “overall efficiencies” including trying to get a shortened and condensed SNAP interview approved, and specializing some of the call center staff.&nbsp;“So that is where the plan is: to really kind of take back those specialized teams and then have an ability to condense that interview so that we can free up the phone lines,” Bax said.Democratic state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City said she continues to hear from constituents about their issues accessing aid to which they’re entitled.“This is one of the things that I continue to have very grave concerns about,” Nurrenbern said at last months’s appropriations committee hearing. “How long people are waiting online for essential services, and hear a lot of frustration from constituents reaching out and saying, ‘I’ve been waiting online all day and nobody’s getting back to us.’“So I really hope that this is something that this committee can put some emphasis on and making sure that we are being as efficient as possible with these services,” she added.&nbsp;Bax replied that she “could not agree more.”&nbsp;Bax’s testimony differed from prior testimony of Evans, who typically&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">downplayed</a>&nbsp;issues with wait times to legislators.&nbsp;At one hearing in late 2023, Evans told lawmakers she was “excited” the wait time was only a few minutes the morning of a hearing, though&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/14/records-show-call-center-wait-times-for-missouri-medicaid-food-assistance-on-the-rise/">records obtained by The Independent would later show the average that month was actually over an hour.&nbsp;</a>There have also been years-long problems with Medicaid application processing, leading to issues like&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/perfect-storm-missouri-advocates-decry-medicaid-application-delays-coverage-losses/">pregnant Missourians going without prenatal care</a>.Last summer, the federal Medicaid agency&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/17/feds-to-scrutinize-missouris-worst-in-the-nation-medicaid-application-delays/">announced</a>&nbsp;it was intervening to help bring the state back into compliance with timely processing.Bax said last month, regarding some Medicaid cases, “we’re about three months behind on the applications.”According to&nbsp;<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/0125-family-support-mohealthnet-report.pdf" target="_blank">data for January</a>, the average time to process Medicaid applications for aged, blind and disabled applications was 107 days. The federal limit is 90 days for those applications. The average for the other category of Medicaid applications was 29 days, climbing in recent months but still below the 45-day standard. Bax also said last month the department is looking at using contractors to help with annual Medicaid renewals.

Director of Missouri’s long-troubled public assistance agency announces retirement

(Radio Iowa) - Republicans on an Iowa House Subcommittee have voted to require that Deere and Company return half of the lucrative state tax credit it received for reearch activities in 2024 -- due to what the bill describes as "mass layoffs." 

Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson calls it an "America First" proposal -- suggesting it goes along with President Trump's threat to slap tariffs on John Deere products if the company moves more production to Mexico. About 17-hundred workers at Deere plants in Iowa were laid off in 2024. 

Stacey Pellet, a lobbyist for Deere and Company, says the bill sends a concerning message to industries, companies and individuals who invest in research in Iowa. She says layoffs are a last resort and not uncommon at Deere during market downturns.

(Radio Iowa) - Republicans on an Iowa House Subcommittee have voted to require that Deere and Company return half of the lucrative state tax credit it received for reearch activities in 2024 -- due to what the bill describes as "mass layoffs." Republican Representative Derek Wulf of Hudson calls it an "America First" proposal -- suggesting it goes along with President Trump's threat to slap tariffs on John Deere products if the company moves more production to Mexico. About 17-hundred workers at Deere plants in Iowa were laid off in 2024. Stacey Pellet, a lobbyist for Deere and Company, says the bill sends a concerning message to industries, companies and individuals who invest in research in Iowa. She says layoffs are a last resort and not uncommon at Deere during market downturns.

House bill would claw back Deere & Co. tax credits due to layoffs

A young motorcycle rider has been killed after a collision with a car at a busy
intersection in St. Joseph.

The St. Joseph
Police Department identifies the victim as 19-year-old Josue Ezequiel Turcio Ramirez.

Police say Ramirez
was riding south on the Belt Highway Thursday afternoon. A northbound
vehicle attempted to make a left turn onto Beck Road and the two collided. The
impact ejected Ramirez from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The motorcycle
crashed into five other vehicles, four at the car dealership on the corner. The
driver of the car involved in the crash was not injured. St. Joseph police are
not releasing the driver’s identification at this time. The driver in the car
hit after the wreck was not injured, either.

The article has been updated to provide the correct identification of the victim. We regret the error.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA young motorcycle rider has been killed after a collision with a car at a busy
intersection in St. Joseph.The St. Joseph
Police Department identifies the victim as 19-year-old Josue Ezequiel Turcio Ramirez.Police say Ramirez
was riding south on the Belt Highway Thursday afternoon. A northbound
vehicle attempted to make a left turn onto Beck Road and the two collided. The
impact ejected Ramirez from the motorcycle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.The motorcycle
crashed into five other vehicles, four at the car dealership on the corner. The
driver of the car involved in the crash was not injured. St. Joseph police are
not releasing the driver’s identification at this time. The driver in the car
hit after the wreck was not injured, either.The investigation
continues.The article has been updated to provide the correct identification of the victim. We regret the error.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Motorcycle rider killed in St. Joseph crash

(Radio Iowa) - Governor Reynolds and other Republicans say the latest state revenue projections show tax cuts are working as intended. 

Democrats say the data shows a looming crisis as the governor's budget plan calls for spending more than the state will collect in taxes and requires using 900 million dollars in state reserves. Kraig Paulsen, the governor's top budget advisor, says there are no surprises in the numbers because recently passed tax cuts are working as expected. Paulsen and other members of the state Revenue Estimating Conference predict tax collections will fall well over six percent during the current year and drop nearly seven percent the following year.

 Democrats say using one-time withdrawals from state reserves for on-going state operations is bad budgeting.

(Radio Iowa) - Governor Reynolds and other Republicans say the latest state revenue projections show tax cuts are working as intended. Democrats say the data shows a looming crisis as the governor's budget plan calls for spending more than the state will collect in taxes and requires using 900 million dollars in state reserves. Kraig Paulsen, the governor's top budget advisor, says there are no surprises in the numbers because recently passed tax cuts are working as expected. Paulsen and other members of the state Revenue Estimating Conference predict tax collections will fall well over six percent during the current year and drop nearly seven percent the following year. Democrats say using one-time withdrawals from state reserves for on-going state operations is bad budgeting.

Iowa tax collections projected to drop 6.9% next year

The egg industry has been watched closely as rising egg prices and shortages in retail stores across the U.S. have drawn negative attention to the industry. Feedstuffs says the supply has gotten short enough that some stores are limiting how many packages of eggs customers can buy at one time, while restaurants are adding extra charges to diners who order items with eggs. Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, says the disruption in supply and rising prices are due to the continued impact of bird flu on the nation’s poultry flocks. 

The egg industry has been watched closely as rising egg prices and shortages in retail stores across the U.S. have drawn negative attention to the industry. Feedstuffs says the supply has gotten short enough that some stores are limiting how many packages of eggs customers can buy at one time, while restaurants are adding extra charges to diners who order items with eggs. Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board, says the disruption in supply and rising prices are due to the continued impact of bird flu on the nation’s poultry flocks.

Egg board CEO talks about high egg prices

This year's ARC/PLC decision is due a month later than usual. The farm safety net program choice doesn't need to be made until April 15. For the bulk of the Corn Belt, ag economist Gary Schnitkey says PLC is likely to pay less for corn, soybeans, and wheat this season than ARC County.&nbsp; “Obviously, we don't know all the prices and yields that will happen in 2025. If we have extremely low prices, PLC will pay more, but that's a pretty remote case yet,” Schnitkey said.

So, the Farmdoc team at the University of Illinois leans toward taking ARC County rather than PLC for all three crops: corn, soybeans, and wheat. Unlike federal crop insurance, which requires a premium to be paid for the coverage level, the federal farm safety net programs are free of charge.

This year's ARC/PLC decision is due a month later than usual. The farm safety net program choice doesn't need to be made until April 15. For the bulk of the Corn Belt, ag economist Gary Schnitkey says PLC is likely to pay less for corn, soybeans, and wheat this season than ARC County.&nbsp; “Obviously, we don't know all the prices and yields that will happen in 2025. If we have extremely low prices, PLC will pay more, but that's a pretty remote case yet,” Schnitkey said.So, the Farmdoc team at the University of Illinois leans toward taking ARC County rather than PLC for all three crops: corn, soybeans, and wheat. Unlike federal crop insurance, which requires a premium to be paid for the coverage level, the federal farm safety net programs are free of charge.

ARC or PLC decision deadline moved to April 15th

MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline McConnell’s 2026 Frontiers in Flight Open House and Air Show, now scheduled for Oct. 17-18, 2026, according to a statement from the base.

The Thunderbirds are the Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team, performing precision aerial maneuvers displaying Air Force high-performance aircraft to people worldwide. The show involves a mix of precision formation flying and intense solo routines demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force pilots and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

The Thunderbirds last performed above the Wichita skies in September 2022.

Over 65,000 visitors arrived on day one of McConnell’s last air show on Aug. 24, 2024. The show never continued its second day after an unexpected wet microburst brought 54 mph wind gusts and torrential rain, leaving debris strewn around the flightline and air acts unable to operate safely.

The base looks forward to milder October weather and a historically lower chance of precipitation during next year’s show.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741967975433.png" alt="U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons flies under a KC-135A, over the United States Aug. 16, 2024. The F-16 has a wingspan of 32 feet 8 inches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paula Arce)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Air Force Thunderbird F-16 Fighting Falcons flies under a KC-135A, over the United States Aug. 16, 2024. The F-16 has a wingspan of 32 feet 8 inches. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Paula Arce)</figcaption>
 </figure>MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan.&nbsp;– The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds will headline McConnell’s 2026 Frontiers in Flight Open House and Air Show, now scheduled for Oct. 17-18, 2026, according to a statement from the base.The Thunderbirds are the Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team, performing precision aerial maneuvers displaying Air Force high-performance aircraft to people worldwide. The show involves a mix of precision formation flying and intense solo routines demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force pilots and the F-16 Fighting Falcon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741968104926.png" alt="The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" perform air shows across the United States from March-November, 2023. During the 2023 season, the Thunderbirds performed 63 demonstrations across 32 locations as they celebrated their 70th anniversary. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter)" />
 <figcaption>The United States Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron "Thunderbirds" perform air shows across the United States from March-November, 2023. During the 2023 season, the Thunderbirds performed 63 demonstrations across 32 locations as they celebrated their 70th anniversary. (U.S. Air Force video by Staff Sgt. Dakota Carter)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Thunderbirds last performed above the Wichita skies in September 2022.Over 65,000 visitors arrived on day one of McConnell’s last air show on Aug. 24, 2024. The show never continued its second day after an unexpected wet microburst brought 54 mph wind gusts and torrential rain, leaving debris strewn around the flightline and air acts unable to operate safely.The base looks forward to milder October weather and a historically lower chance of precipitation during next year’s show.

U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds set to return to Kansas air show

The measure overturning a 1976 initiative banning charges for construction work in progress on new power plants is the third bill approved by lawmakers this year

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 Missouri House on Thursday voted to repeal a utility&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">consumer protection law</a>&nbsp;passed by voters almost 50 years ago.

The bill that originated in the state Senate drew bipartisan support and opposition on the 96-44 vote, with 20 Democrats joining 76 Republicans to support it and 23 Republicans lining up with 21 Democrats to oppose it. Three Democratic members voted “present.”

With the vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">the bill</a>&nbsp;became the third measure to clear both chambers this session.

While the bill makes a variety of changes to utility law, the most controversial piece would give the Missouri Public Service Commission authority to allow customers to be charged for building new electric generating plants.

Known as a charge for Construction Work in Progress, or CWIP, it has been banned since 1976, when consumers were worried about the cost of nuclear power.

For backers of the bill, the question to be answered is whether Missouri will become the home to new electric generation plants. For opponents, the question is whether it will force power rates up faster than they would increase otherwise.

If Missouri utilities aren’t given the CWIP allowance, they will be forced to buy power in the interstate competitive market when demand peaks, state Rep. Josh Hurlbert, the bill’s handler, said during debate.

“If you truly care about the utility bills of your constituents, voting for this bill actually helps them, because it protects them from those massive prices at the other market,” Hurlbert said.

Opponents of the measure have argued it will add as much as $1,100 a year to residential utility bills. Arguments that the power will be cheaper with the bill than without it are hard to accept, said state Rep. Ray Reed, a Democrat from St. Louis County.

“Folks don’t care how bad it could have been,” Reed said. “They just see that eggs are $9 and that we voted for utility bills to go higher.”

The CWIP charge would be allowed for power plants that use natural gas to generate electricity. In another section, it would be allowed for new generating plants, including nuclear, that are part of an approved plan for meeting power demands.

Supporters have said it is unlikely it will be used for nuclear power because the plant would have to be completed by 2035, when the allowance for CWIP charges expires.

Passage of the CWIP repeal is the culmination of decades of work by utility companies. The last major effort came in 2009, as Ameren was seeking a license to build a new reactor at the Callaway nuclear plant.

Some of the Republican opponents to the measure objected to the heavy lobbying pressure for the bill. State Rep. Don Mayhew, a Republican from Crocker, said there were “squadrons” of lobbyists “roaming our halls” but he hadn’t heard from any utility customers asking for the bill to be passed.&nbsp;

Instead, he noted, even his voters, who get their power from rural electric cooperatives, are worried about higher prices. Electric cooperatives are not regulated by the PSC.

“I’ve had no less than 25 emails from constituents who are concerned about this, and I’ve reassured them that they’re in coop, this doesn’t affect them,” Mayhew said. “But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about my friends and the Kansas City and the St Louis areas.”

State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, said power from generating plants built in Missouri is more reliable than power from plants built elsewhere. Pollitt sponsored one of the House bills to repeal CWIP.

“It’s important that when we flip the switch, our lights come on,” Pollitt said. “In agriculture, it’s important that when we have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grain and grain bins, that those dryers are going to work.”

Passage of the bill drew praise from business interests and scorn from environmentalists.

“Reliable, resilient and affordable energy is essential to retaining and attracting business to the state,” said Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “This legislation will help Missouri meet the growing demand for energy.”

The bill upsets the balanced utility ratemaking process that weighs consumer protection against utility profits, the Sierra Club said in a statement.

“This bill will financially harm families and businesses,” said Jenn DeRose, Missouri senior organizer with the Sierra Club, “because increasing electric bills several years before a power plant begins producing power will drive up the price of everything, from eggs to electronics and beyond.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671461254643.png" alt="Photo by (Aaron Sanderford)" />
 <figcaption>Photo by (Aaron Sanderford)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The measure overturning a 1976 initiative banning charges for construction work in progress on new power plants is the third bill approved by lawmakers this year</h2>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 Missouri House on Thursday voted to repeal a utility&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">consumer protection law</a>&nbsp;passed by voters almost 50 years ago.The bill that originated in the state Senate drew bipartisan support and opposition on the 96-44 vote, with 20 Democrats joining 76 Republicans to support it and 23 Republicans lining up with 21 Democrats to oppose it. Three Democratic members voted “present.”With the vote,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">the bill</a>&nbsp;became the third measure to clear both chambers this session.While the bill makes a variety of changes to utility law, the most controversial piece would give the Missouri Public Service Commission authority to allow customers to be charged for building new electric generating plants.Known as a charge for Construction Work in Progress, or CWIP, it has been banned since 1976, when consumers were worried about the cost of nuclear power.For backers of the bill, the question to be answered is whether Missouri will become the home to new electric generation plants. For opponents, the question is whether it will force power rates up faster than they would increase otherwise.If Missouri utilities aren’t given the CWIP allowance, they will be forced to buy power in the interstate competitive market when demand peaks, state Rep. Josh Hurlbert, the bill’s handler, said during debate.“If you truly care about the utility bills of your constituents, voting for this bill actually helps them, because it protects them from those massive prices at the other market,” Hurlbert said.Opponents of the measure have argued it will add as much as $1,100 a year to residential utility bills. Arguments that the power will be cheaper with the bill than without it are hard to accept, said state Rep. Ray Reed, a Democrat from St. Louis County.“Folks don’t care how bad it could have been,” Reed said. “They just see that eggs are $9 and that we voted for utility bills to go higher.”The CWIP charge would be allowed for power plants that use natural gas to generate electricity. In another section, it would be allowed for new generating plants, including nuclear, that are part of an approved plan for meeting power demands.Supporters have said it is unlikely it will be used for nuclear power because the plant would have to be completed by 2035, when the allowance for CWIP charges expires.Other provisions in the bill would:<ul>
 <li>Allow “future test year” rates. Currently, rates are set after the PSC examines the actual costs incurred to deliver service and determines if each expense was prudent and necessary. In a future test year scenario, the utility would outline what it expects to spend and the costs would be pre-approved by the PSC.</li><li>Require electric utilities to submit plans projecting demand for at least 16 years into the future and plans for meeting those demands. This is the section that allows CWIP for any form of generation approved in the resource plan.</li><li>Increase the assessment on utility revenue to fund the PSC and, for the first time, add an assessment to support the Office of Public Counsel, which represents consumer interests before the commission.</li><li>Change the shut-off rule for hot and cold weather. Instead of using 24-hour forecasts, the rule would use 72-hour forecasts, prohibiting shutoffs for non-payment in summer if the temperature is expected to exceed 95 and winter if it is forecast to go below 32 within that period.</li>
 </ul>Passage of the CWIP repeal is the culmination of decades of work by utility companies. The last major effort came in 2009, as Ameren was seeking a license to build a new reactor at the Callaway nuclear plant.Some of the Republican opponents to the measure objected to the heavy lobbying pressure for the bill. State Rep. Don Mayhew, a Republican from Crocker, said there were “squadrons” of lobbyists “roaming our halls” but he hadn’t heard from any utility customers asking for the bill to be passed.&nbsp;Instead, he noted, even his voters, who get their power from rural electric cooperatives, are worried about higher prices. Electric cooperatives are not regulated by the PSC.“I’ve had no less than 25 emails from constituents who are concerned about this, and I’ve reassured them that they’re in coop, this doesn’t affect them,” Mayhew said. “But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t care about my friends and the Kansas City and the St Louis areas.”State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, said power from generating plants built in Missouri is more reliable than power from plants built elsewhere. Pollitt sponsored one of the House bills to repeal CWIP.“It’s important that when we flip the switch, our lights come on,” Pollitt said. “In agriculture, it’s important that when we have hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grain and grain bins, that those dryers are going to work.”Passage of the bill drew praise from business interests and scorn from environmentalists.“Reliable, resilient and affordable energy is essential to retaining and attracting business to the state,” said Kara Corches, president and CEO of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “This legislation will help Missouri meet the growing demand for energy.”The bill upsets the balanced utility ratemaking process that weighs consumer protection against utility profits, the Sierra Club said in a statement.“This bill will financially harm families and businesses,” said Jenn DeRose, Missouri senior organizer with the Sierra Club, “because increasing electric bills several years before a power plant begins producing power will drive up the price of everything, from eggs to electronics and beyond.”

Bill repealing Missouri law limiting utility charges heads to Gov. Mike Kehoe

(Radio Iowa) - Forecasters say there's a rising risk of severe weather across a wide portion of Iowa Friday afternoon and evening, along with a drastic downshift in temperatures. 

National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Pierce in the Davenport office says there's the potential for damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. Pierce warns you to be "weather aware" tomorrow, especially between 5 and 11 P-M, as these storms will be moving at highway speeds, meaning, there will be less time to react. A powerful blizzard swept across Iowa last Wednesday, knocking out the lights to more than 20-thousand Iowa houses and bringing traffic to a standstill with whiteout conditions. Pierce says this approaching system may be even worse. 

While most of Iowa can expect high temperatures in the 70s today and tomorrow, Pierce says this incoming storm will bring much colder weather behind it. Lows by Saturday night will be in the 20s, with snow possible.

(Radio Iowa) - Forecasters say there's a rising risk of severe weather across a wide portion of Iowa Friday afternoon and evening, along with a drastic downshift in temperatures. National Weather Service Meteorologist Brian Pierce in the Davenport office says there's the potential for damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. Pierce warns you to be "weather aware" tomorrow, especially between 5 and 11 P-M, as these storms will be moving at highway speeds, meaning, there will be less time to react. A powerful blizzard swept across Iowa last Wednesday, knocking out the lights to more than 20-thousand Iowa houses and bringing traffic to a standstill with whiteout conditions. Pierce says this approaching system may be even worse. While most of Iowa can expect high temperatures in the 70s today and tomorrow, Pierce says this incoming storm will bring much colder weather behind it. Lows by Saturday night will be in the 20s, with snow possible.

Storm system approaching Iowa may be stronger than last week's blizzard

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Attorney General says two Black Hawk and one Bremer County deputy acted appropriately following the death of a man they arrested. 

(Radio Iowa) - The Iowa Attorney General says two Black Hawk and one Bremer County deputy acted appropriately following the death of a man they arrested. Deputies say Willie Earl Washington fled at speeds of more than 120 miles an hour when they tried to stop him for a traffic violation in December. Once he was stopped, deputies say Washington battled with them and they held him face down to put handcuffs on him. Washington said he couldn't breathe and was unresponsive when deputies turned him over. He later died at the hospital. The D-C-I investigation found Washington was face down approximately 87 seconds and the cause of death was a combination of cardiorespiratory arrest, an enlarged heart, obesity, methamphetamine use, and positioning. It concluded officers used no more force or time than was necessary to handcuff him.

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