BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC Canyon driven by Gary R. Power, 73, Easton was eastbound on MO 6 two miles east of St. Joseph.

The pickup struck the front left wheel well of an eastbound 2010 Ford Econoline E150 driven by Antonio Abilez Wilmer, 44, Kansas City, Kansas, who slowed to make a left turn onto River Ridge road.

Buchanan County EMS transported Power, Wilmer and a passenger in the van Sergio O. Velazquez, 31, Kansas City, Kansas, to Mosaic Life Care. Power was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 10a.m. Tuesday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 GMC Canyon driven by Gary R. Power, 73, Easton was eastbound on MO 6 two miles east of St. Joseph.The pickup struck the front left wheel well of an eastbound 2010 Ford Econoline E150 driven by Antonio Abilez Wilmer, 44, Kansas City, Kansas, who slowed to make a left turn onto River Ridge road.Buchanan County EMS transported Power, Wilmer and a passenger in the van Sergio O. Velazquez, 31, Kansas City, Kansas, to Mosaic Life Care. Power was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

3 hospitalized after Buchanan Co. rear-end crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on new allegations after a second arrest within the past ten days.

On Monday, police arrested 58-year-old Bryan W. Keys of Atchison, on a Community Corrections detain order, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

On October 30, police arrested Keys on requested charges of criminal trespass in defiance of order, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699367280320.png" alt="Keys-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Keys-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on new allegations after a second arrest within the past ten days.On Monday, police arrested 58-year-old Bryan W. Keys of Atchison, on a Community Corrections detain order, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.On October 30, police arrested Keys on requested charges of criminal trespass in defiance of order, according to online jail records.He is no longer in custody.

Kansas man jailed second time in 10 days

With holidays around the corner, the Salvation Army of St. Joseph is accepting applications for its holiday assistance programs. 

One popular program is the Salvation Army Angel Tree which provides toys for children. 

Major Laura Key with the Salvation Army says helping provide toys to kids in need is huge. 

"I know that when you have multiple children and you're already struggling financially coming up with Christmas gifts is a really hard thing," Key points out.

Applications will be accepted for the Angel Tree program through December 8th.

Key says the Salvation Army also has a program to provide assistance to senior citizens. 

"What they do is come in and fill out an application and as long as they are in the income guidelines they come and we give them a gift card," Key explains.

The program is open to people 65 and older.

Applications are also available for families to receive a meal voucher as well as toys for children. 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostWith holidays around the corner, the Salvation Army of St. Joseph is accepting applications for its holiday assistance programs. One popular program is the Salvation Army Angel Tree which provides toys for children. Major Laura Key with the Salvation Army says helping provide toys to kids in need is huge. "I know that when you have multiple children and you're already struggling financially coming up with Christmas gifts is a really hard thing," Key points out.Applications will be accepted for the Angel Tree program through December 8th.Key says the Salvation Army also has a program to provide assistance to senior citizens. "What they do is come in and fill out an application and as long as they are in the income guidelines they come and we give them a gift card," Key explains.The program is open to people 65 and older.Applications are also available for families to receive a meal voucher as well as toys for children.

Holiday assistance available through the Salvation Army of St. Joseph

St. Joseph looks to turn sporting events into a tourist
attraction for the city.

The city has targeted specific, niche events that might be overlooked
in larger cities.

Christian Mengel with the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors
Bureau points to hosting the NCAA Division-2 women’s Elite Eight basketball
tournament as well as this week’s NCAA Division-2 Women’s Basketball Central
Regional Crossover as examples. 

“Not everybody in Dallas thinks, oh, I’m going to go to this
at this arena,” Mengel says. &nbsp;“But, for a
community this size, everybody does. Everybody knows about it. The downtown
shops know about it, because they’re like, man, why are we getting so many
people coming in our door downtown? And they’ve started to pay attention to
things like that, too. They’re like, oh, we’ve got this tournament coming, there’s
going to be people in my door.”

The key, according to officials with the Convention Bureau, is
to find the just right event; one that can be done right and one that fits with
St. Joseph’s growing reputation as a city that turns out for good basketball. Mengel
points to the upcoming Bill Snyder Women’s Basketball Classic featuring Kansas
State against Missouri as an example, saying it is more than just a basketball
game at the Civic Arena, something downtown St. Joseph businesses understand.

“And they know, there’s going to be Mizzou fans and K-State
fans downtown and the shops, they’ve already got decoration ideas, how to draw
those fans to the shops,” according to Mengel. “They’re already thinking. And
so, when you really look back and think, what does this do for the local economy?
They’re not just here and going home. But they’re coming here for an overall
experience and that’s something that they don’t just get anywhere.”

Missouri plays Kansas State December 9th in a homecoming
for K-State head coach Jeff Mittie, who once coach the Missouri Western State
University women’s team.

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says the
city is working to get just the right fit of sporting events that it can handle
professionally and that will attract tourists to the city. Esely says the St.
Joseph pitch to sporting events looking for a home needs to be different than
other cities.

“A Panama City, Florida that is a vacation destination and a
sports tourism destination; I think we all understand the similarities and the differences
there,” Esely says. “But, the one thing that we always need to leverage here is
that location. You can get here. It is easier to get here.”

Esely says the city works to provide a quality experience for
sporting events. He says St. Joseph provides just the right atmosphere and
support for such events as the NCAA Division-2 Women’s Basketball Central
Regional Crossover as well the NCAA Division-2 women’s Elite Eight basketball
tournament.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph looks to turn sporting events into a tourist
attraction for the city.But, not just any sporting event.The city has targeted specific, niche events that might be overlooked
in larger cities.Christian Mengel with the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors
Bureau points to hosting the NCAA Division-2 women’s Elite Eight basketball
tournament as well as this week’s NCAA Division-2 Women’s Basketball Central
Regional Crossover as examples. “Not everybody in Dallas thinks, oh, I’m going to go to this
at this arena,” Mengel says. &nbsp;“But, for a
community this size, everybody does. Everybody knows about it. The downtown
shops know about it, because they’re like, man, why are we getting so many
people coming in our door downtown? And they’ve started to pay attention to
things like that, too. They’re like, oh, we’ve got this tournament coming, there’s
going to be people in my door.”The key, according to officials with the Convention Bureau, is
to find the just right event; one that can be done right and one that fits with
St. Joseph’s growing reputation as a city that turns out for good basketball. Mengel
points to the upcoming Bill Snyder Women’s Basketball Classic featuring Kansas
State against Missouri as an example, saying it is more than just a basketball
game at the Civic Arena, something downtown St. Joseph businesses understand.“And they know, there’s going to be Mizzou fans and K-State
fans downtown and the shops, they’ve already got decoration ideas, how to draw
those fans to the shops,” according to Mengel. “They’re already thinking. And
so, when you really look back and think, what does this do for the local economy?
They’re not just here and going home. But they’re coming here for an overall
experience and that’s something that they don’t just get anywhere.”Missouri plays Kansas State December 9th in a homecoming
for K-State head coach Jeff Mittie, who once coach the Missouri Western State
University women’s team.St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says the
city is working to get just the right fit of sporting events that it can handle
professionally and that will attract tourists to the city. Esely says the St.
Joseph pitch to sporting events looking for a home needs to be different than
other cities.“A Panama City, Florida that is a vacation destination and a
sports tourism destination; I think we all understand the similarities and the differences
there,” Esely says. “But, the one thing that we always need to leverage here is
that location. You can get here. It is easier to get here.”Esely says the city works to provide a quality experience for
sporting events. He says St. Joseph provides just the right atmosphere and
support for such events as the NCAA Division-2 Women’s Basketball Central
Regional Crossover as well the NCAA Division-2 women’s Elite Eight basketball
tournament.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Sports-is-a-tourism-driver-in-St--Joseph-e2bjvd6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Sports might just provide a tourism niche for St. Joseph

While pro teams prepare for sports-betting initiative, casinos and video lottery promoters remain at odds over expansion of games

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

Missourians spend billions every year in pursuit of instant riches.

They buy lottery tickets, play casino games and dab bingo cards.&nbsp;

And increasingly in recent years, they play games of questionable legality in convenience stores, truck stops and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/gaming-parlors-are-popping-up-across-missouri-a-judge-will-determine-if-they-are-illegal/">small gaming parlors</a>.

Everyone involved in the industry thinks people would spend more, if given the chance. None of the players pursuing those new markets wants anyone else sitting in on their game.

Major professional league teams, now banding together behind a sports wagering initiative petition, don’t want to be paired legislatively with promoters of legal video lottery games.

“The video lottery terminal issue is pretty contentious and has hair all over it and we’d rather that not that we not hold up progress in the state of Missouri because of some issues, some contentious issue that really, from our perspective, doesn’t have anything to do with legal legalizing sports wagering,” Mike Whittle, general counsel for the St. Louis Cardinals, said in an interview with The Independent.

The issue is that video lottery players are small-dollar gamblers, direct competition for slot machines and the small wagers gamblers might make during the course of a sporting event, said Andy Arnold, lobbyist for the Missouri Coalition for Video Lottery.

“The casinos don’t want to give any opportunity for anybody outside of a casino to have a gaming opportunity at all,” Arnold said “And even if they could participate in that opportunity, they want to control it all.”

Purveyors of the machines found in convenience stores and truck stops don’t want any change in the law to pass because it might put them out of business. Torch Electronics and Warrenton Oil are making large campaign contributions to influence the politics of gambling and using legal tactics to prevent a decision that would put a firm stamp of illegality on what are called “gray market” machines.

One path closed for Torch last month when&nbsp;Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/judge-tosses-torch-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">dismissed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;aimed at blocking criminal investigations of its machines by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. An appeal is pending, but it could only revive the case, not settle the issues involved.

A handful of criminal cases are pending, some involving Torch machines, but no trial is scheduled before spring.

That puts the issue of whether and how to expand gambling before lawmakers, and perhaps voters themselves through the petition process.

Hundreds of people attending the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium in January&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">tested the geofencing</a>&nbsp;that blocks bets from people in a state where sports wagering is illegal.

There’s no chance Missouri will legalize sports betting before the regular NFL season ends – the legislative session opens Jan. 3 – and only movement at a speed beyond the current reputation of the General Assembly would have it in place before the next Super Bowl on Feb. 11.

For the past two years, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/06/senators-seek-higher-tax-on-profits-at-hearing-for-bill-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">state’s casinos and major league teams</a>&nbsp;have lobbied intensely for a sports wagering bill that divys up the market. A key element is requiring online providers to partner with a sports team or casino operator to serve the Missouri market.

The failure of that bill –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-house-approves-sports-wagering-bill-favored-by-casinos-sports-teams/">passed repeatedly</a>&nbsp;in the Missouri House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/10/sports-wagering-bill-remains-mired-in-missouri-senate-split-over-gambling-expansion/">only to die in the Senate</a>&nbsp;– is causing Missouri sports franchises to prepare a go-it-alone initiative.&nbsp;Franchises from Major League Baseball, the NFL,&nbsp;Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League will decide in early December which of 12 proposals it will present for signatures, Whittle said.

“We’ve always said we’d prefer a legislative solution to this thing,” Whittle said. “We’re not extremely optimistic that that’s going to happen. I mean, we’ve kind of seen that movie way too many times.”

Some of the proposed initiatives would allow casinos to obtain sports wagering licenses. Other versions would only allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to license sports teams and online vendors to offer betting on games.

The casinos, who still hold out hope for legislative action, haven’t been involved in drafting the initiatives, said Mike Winter, lobbyist for the Missouri Gaming Association, a trade group representing the state’s 13 casinos.

“We would like to see the legislature move forward and get a sports betting bill through the General Assembly and that’s what we’re gonna try to do again next session,” Winter said.

Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal laws banning sports betting nationally in 2018, sports wagering has been legalized in every state adjoining Missouri except Oklahoma.

Sports wagering in Missouri promises to be a market with at least as much money available as is spent on the lottery or in casinos each year. The Missouri Lottery sold $1.8 billion in tickets each of the past three years, and casinos won $1.9 billion from players in the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Kansas recorded&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-collects-7m-from-1-85b-in-sports-bets-in-first-year-of-legalized-gambling/">$1.85 billion of wagers in the first year</a>&nbsp;of legalized sports betting. While a lot of that money was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">Missourians crossing the state line</a>, the number of in-state sports betting accounts opened in the first few months was equal to one-quarter of Kansas’ adult population.

Kansas state coffers received $7 million in tax revenue from sports wagering. The fiscal note summary for the four sports wagering initiatives approved for circulation estimate Missouri would take in $6.4 million to $26.7 million by the fourth year of implementation.

State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, has been the main opponent of a stand-alone sports wagering bill. The problem, he said, is that it is a lot of money for the operators and very little for the state.

“When you talk to people they are like, ‘Oh, we’re missing out on all this revenue,’” Hoskins said. “Well, they’re looking at that total handle, but if you actually look at the tax revenues coming in on sports books, it’s just not very much.”

Backers of sports wagering will again oppose any effort to link passage to legalizing video lottery games, Winter said.&nbsp;

“We’ve always had the opinion that sports betting and any discussion on VLTs or those type topics need to be separate discussions, and that’s still where we are on that,” he said.

The potential state revenue from video lottery games in bars, truck stops, veterans and fraternal halls is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2023-1/0613S.03I.ORG.pdf">estimated to be five times</a>&nbsp;larger than the highest estimate for the sports wagering initiatives. The bill filed this year by Hoskins projected $126.7 million a year for the lottery fund, plus about $30 million more for other funds.

Revenue at that level translates into $2.3 billion being spent on the games. If legalized, they would payout at least 85% of the amount bet. The state’s cut of the remainder would be 36%.

The games would be set apart from the rest of the establishment, in a fully enclosed room off-limits to anyone under 21.&nbsp;

One limitation in Hoskins’ bill, which he intends to introduce again for the upcoming session, is that it does not allow video lottery games in convenience stores and other retail locations, including storefront gaming parlors, offering the gray market games.

The number of those games – and how much is being spent – is unknown, but clearly thousands, if not tens of thousands, are deployed across the state.&nbsp;

Operators contend they are legal because a player can see, through a pre-reveal function and before committing their money, whether the next play of a game will be a winner. In the dismissed lawsuit, attorneys for the patrol argued that it was the enticement to chance that the play beyond would win that made the games illegal gambling devices.

The opening of a storefront parlor with pre-reveal games in Moberly in her district was news to Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina.

“That’s just wrong,” she said. “I don’t know how we as a state can say if you’re going to run a casino, here’s all the things you need to do to be legal and then let this go on and proliferate all over.”

Taking on the gray-market games is a daunting task. Despite his position as the chamber’s top leader, former Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz was stymied in his efforts to outlaw the games in 2021 and 2022.

“You need somebody that is willing to take it on and push as hard as they can,” O’Laughlin said.

The court case left the games in limbo, with Torch and other vendors able to say their games are legal, Arnold said.

But the end of the case against the highway patrol could also spur a wave of enforcement, he said.

“If the patrol goes out and starts making seizures again like they did before, it could spur the guys that are running the gray games into trying to seek a change in the legislature to either A, legalize the game or B, stop the patrol or any state agency from being able to do anything regarding them,” Arnold said.

A standalone gaming parlor similar to the one in Moberly, and owned by the same retailer, is open in Warrensburg.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“I don’t think that the mini-casino-only is what the voters approved,” Hoskins said. “So I do have concerns about what kind of machines are in there and how the owner believes that having a business that only has video poker machines and slot machines is legal under the Missouri Constitution and Missouri state statute.”

In the high-stakes game of what new gambling will be legal and who will run it, each player except the major sports teams already has thrown in a big stack of chips.

Since the start of 2022, casinos have made $267,077 in political contributions reported through the Missouri Ethics Commission, much of it to the PAC controlled by the Missouri Gaming Association. Video game companies from Illinois, where video lottery is legal, have contributed $551,875.

Torch Electronics and Warrenton Oil, the two companies who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/judge-tosses-torch-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">unsuccessfully sued</a>&nbsp;the Missouri State Highway Patrol, have contributed $740,012, much of it through PACs controlled by Torch’s lobbyist, Steve Tilley.

The professional sports teams are not significant contributors. No donations listing the Cardinals as a source were made in the past two years. The Kansas City Chiefs have donated $15,000 – $10,000 last year to the Republican committees supporting legislative candidates and $5,000 this year to Democratic committees with the same purpose.

The sports teams, however, are committing themselves to a multimillion dollar effort to collect signatures and then promote their ballot initiative. The teams are ready for that expense, Whittle said.

“We believe that it’s a way for us, as Missouri businesses that have a long history in the state of Missouri, to increase engagement with our fans,” Whittle said.&nbsp;

Whether the casinos will help is unknown and depend on the language being offered to voters.

The antagonism among the players means thwarting the plans of an opponent is as important, if not more important, than winning.

Because backers of sports wagering won’t go along with video lottery, Arnold said, the stalemate will continue.

“Our attitude is, as long as you keep that attitude, we’re going to do what we can do to basically stop you from getting what you want,” he said.

The only reasonable way to break the impasse is to bring the interested parties together and force them to work it out, O’Laughlin said.

“If you want to try to get something done, you have to sit down with people and not make a big theater out of it, but try to figure out a path forward,” she said. “I am not for any of it, but it’s pretty hard to say you can’t have video lottery terminals while you’re also turning your heads to the fact that you have all of these other unregulated machines just popping up everywhere.”

Hoskins said he’s ready to join in talks with any of the players and has done so in the past.

“Every year, I hold out hope that everyone will come to their senses and we can come up with a good compromise,” Hoskins said.

One problem, he said, is that during negotiations, one group or another will declare that something being proposed is unacceptable. The interest groups should not be the ones deciding what is or is not acceptable in legislation, Hoskins said.

“I’ve been a big supporter of the idea that we, as senators, are the ones that have the votes in the room, not the casinos, not the professional sports teams, not the VLT operators, not anyone else,” Hoskins said. “And so ultimately, we’re the ones with votes and we’re the ones that need to make sure that we pass a bill that accomplishes everything and takes care of problem compulsive gamblers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616024436395.jpg" alt="For the past two years, the state’s casinos and major league teams have lobbied intensely for a sports wagering bill that divys up the market" />
 <figcaption>For the past two years, the state’s casinos and major league teams have lobbied intensely for a sports wagering bill that divys up the market</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>While pro teams prepare for sports-betting initiative, casinos and video lottery promoters remain at odds over expansion of games</h2>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missourians spend billions every year in pursuit of instant riches.They buy lottery tickets, play casino games and dab bingo cards.&nbsp;And increasingly in recent years, they play games of questionable legality in convenience stores, truck stops and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/gaming-parlors-are-popping-up-across-missouri-a-judge-will-determine-if-they-are-illegal/">small gaming parlors</a>.Everyone involved in the industry thinks people would spend more, if given the chance. None of the players pursuing those new markets wants anyone else sitting in on their game.Major professional league teams, now banding together behind a sports wagering initiative petition, don’t want to be paired legislatively with promoters of legal video lottery games.“The video lottery terminal issue is pretty contentious and has hair all over it and we’d rather that not that we not hold up progress in the state of Missouri because of some issues, some contentious issue that really, from our perspective, doesn’t have anything to do with legal legalizing sports wagering,” Mike Whittle, general counsel for the St. Louis Cardinals, said in an interview with The Independent.The issue is that video lottery players are small-dollar gamblers, direct competition for slot machines and the small wagers gamblers might make during the course of a sporting event, said Andy Arnold, lobbyist for the Missouri Coalition for Video Lottery.“The casinos don’t want to give any opportunity for anybody outside of a casino to have a gaming opportunity at all,” Arnold said “And even if they could participate in that opportunity, they want to control it all.”Purveyors of the machines found in convenience stores and truck stops don’t want any change in the law to pass because it might put them out of business. Torch Electronics and Warrenton Oil are making large campaign contributions to influence the politics of gambling and using legal tactics to prevent a decision that would put a firm stamp of illegality on what are called “gray market” machines.One path closed for Torch last month when&nbsp;Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/judge-tosses-torch-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">dismissed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;aimed at blocking criminal investigations of its machines by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. An appeal is pending, but it could only revive the case, not settle the issues involved.A handful of criminal cases are pending, some involving Torch machines, but no trial is scheduled before spring.That puts the issue of whether and how to expand gambling before lawmakers, and perhaps voters themselves through the petition process.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699214082070.jpeg" alt="Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)" />
 <figcaption>Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023, in Frankfurt, Germany. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Sports wagering</h2>Hundreds of people attending the AFC Championship game at Arrowhead Stadium in January&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">tested the geofencing</a>&nbsp;that blocks bets from people in a state where sports wagering is illegal.There’s no chance Missouri will legalize sports betting before the regular NFL season ends – the legislative session opens Jan. 3 – and only movement at a speed beyond the current reputation of the General Assembly would have it in place before the next Super Bowl on Feb. 11.For the past two years, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/04/06/senators-seek-higher-tax-on-profits-at-hearing-for-bill-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">state’s casinos and major league teams</a>&nbsp;have lobbied intensely for a sports wagering bill that divys up the market. A key element is requiring online providers to partner with a sports team or casino operator to serve the Missouri market.The failure of that bill –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-house-approves-sports-wagering-bill-favored-by-casinos-sports-teams/">passed repeatedly</a>&nbsp;in the Missouri House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/10/sports-wagering-bill-remains-mired-in-missouri-senate-split-over-gambling-expansion/">only to die in the Senate</a>&nbsp;– is causing Missouri sports franchises to prepare a go-it-alone initiative.&nbsp;Franchises from Major League Baseball, the NFL,&nbsp;Major League Soccer and the National Women’s Soccer League will decide in early December which of 12 proposals it will present for signatures, Whittle said.“We’ve always said we’d prefer a legislative solution to this thing,” Whittle said. “We’re not extremely optimistic that that’s going to happen. I mean, we’ve kind of seen that movie way too many times.”Some of the proposed initiatives would allow casinos to obtain sports wagering licenses. Other versions would only allow the Missouri Gaming Commission to license sports teams and online vendors to offer betting on games.The casinos, who still hold out hope for legislative action, haven’t been involved in drafting the initiatives, said Mike Winter, lobbyist for the Missouri Gaming Association, a trade group representing the state’s 13 casinos.“We would like to see the legislature move forward and get a sports betting bill through the General Assembly and that’s what we’re gonna try to do again next session,” Winter said.Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down federal laws banning sports betting nationally in 2018, sports wagering has been legalized in every state adjoining Missouri except Oklahoma.Sports wagering in Missouri promises to be a market with at least as much money available as is spent on the lottery or in casinos each year. The Missouri Lottery sold $1.8 billion in tickets each of the past three years, and casinos won $1.9 billion from players in the fiscal year that ended June 30.Kansas recorded&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/briefs/kansas-collects-7m-from-1-85b-in-sports-bets-in-first-year-of-legalized-gambling/">$1.85 billion of wagers in the first year</a>&nbsp;of legalized sports betting. While a lot of that money was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/08/lawmakers-renew-push-to-legalize-sports-wagering-in-missouri/">Missourians crossing the state line</a>, the number of in-state sports betting accounts opened in the first few months was equal to one-quarter of Kansas’ adult population.Kansas state coffers received $7 million in tax revenue from sports wagering. The fiscal note summary for the four sports wagering initiatives approved for circulation estimate Missouri would take in $6.4 million to $26.7 million by the fourth year of implementation.State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, has been the main opponent of a stand-alone sports wagering bill. The problem, he said, is that it is a lot of money for the operators and very little for the state.“When you talk to people they are like, ‘Oh, we’re missing out on all this revenue,’” Hoskins said. “Well, they’re looking at that total handle, but if you actually look at the tax revenues coming in on sports books, it’s just not very much.”Backers of sports wagering will again oppose any effort to link passage to legalizing video lottery games, Winter said.&nbsp;“We’ve always had the opinion that sports betting and any discussion on VLTs or those type topics need to be separate discussions, and that’s still where we are on that,” he said.<h2>Video gaming</h2>The potential state revenue from video lottery games in bars, truck stops, veterans and fraternal halls is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2023-1/0613S.03I.ORG.pdf">estimated to be five times</a>&nbsp;larger than the highest estimate for the sports wagering initiatives. The bill filed this year by Hoskins projected $126.7 million a year for the lottery fund, plus about $30 million more for other funds.Revenue at that level translates into $2.3 billion being spent on the games. If legalized, they would payout at least 85% of the amount bet. The state’s cut of the remainder would be 36%.The games would be set apart from the rest of the establishment, in a fully enclosed room off-limits to anyone under 21.&nbsp;One limitation in Hoskins’ bill, which he intends to introduce again for the upcoming session, is that it does not allow video lottery games in convenience stores and other retail locations, including storefront gaming parlors, offering the gray market games.The number of those games – and how much is being spent – is unknown, but clearly thousands, if not tens of thousands, are deployed across the state.&nbsp;Operators contend they are legal because a player can see, through a pre-reveal function and before committing their money, whether the next play of a game will be a winner. In the dismissed lawsuit, attorneys for the patrol argued that it was the enticement to chance that the play beyond would win that made the games illegal gambling devices.The opening of a storefront parlor with pre-reveal games in Moberly in her district was news to Senate Majority Leader Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina.“That’s just wrong,” she said. “I don’t know how we as a state can say if you’re going to run a casino, here’s all the things you need to do to be legal and then let this go on and proliferate all over.”Taking on the gray-market games is a daunting task. Despite his position as the chamber’s top leader, former Senate President Pro Tem Dave Schatz was stymied in his efforts to outlaw the games in 2021 and 2022.“You need somebody that is willing to take it on and push as hard as they can,” O’Laughlin said.The court case left the games in limbo, with Torch and other vendors able to say their games are legal, Arnold said.But the end of the case against the highway patrol could also spur a wave of enforcement, he said.“If the patrol goes out and starts making seizures again like they did before, it could spur the guys that are running the gray games into trying to seek a change in the legislature to either A, legalize the game or B, stop the patrol or any state agency from being able to do anything regarding them,” Arnold said.A standalone gaming parlor similar to the one in Moberly, and owned by the same retailer, is open in Warrensburg.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I don’t think that the mini-casino-only is what the voters approved,” Hoskins said. “So I do have concerns about what kind of machines are in there and how the owner believes that having a business that only has video poker machines and slot machines is legal under the Missouri Constitution and Missouri state statute.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696350548337.png" alt=" Two “no-chance” gambling machines await customers in a Columbia convenience store (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Two “no-chance” gambling machines await customers in a Columbia convenience store (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Political bets</h2>In the high-stakes game of what new gambling will be legal and who will run it, each player except the major sports teams already has thrown in a big stack of chips.Since the start of 2022, casinos have made $267,077 in political contributions reported through the Missouri Ethics Commission, much of it to the PAC controlled by the Missouri Gaming Association. Video game companies from Illinois, where video lottery is legal, have contributed $551,875.Torch Electronics and Warrenton Oil, the two companies who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/02/judge-tosses-torch-lawsuit-seeking-to-block-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">unsuccessfully sued</a>&nbsp;the Missouri State Highway Patrol, have contributed $740,012, much of it through PACs controlled by Torch’s lobbyist, Steve Tilley.The professional sports teams are not significant contributors. No donations listing the Cardinals as a source were made in the past two years. The Kansas City Chiefs have donated $15,000 – $10,000 last year to the Republican committees supporting legislative candidates and $5,000 this year to Democratic committees with the same purpose.The sports teams, however, are committing themselves to a multimillion dollar effort to collect signatures and then promote their ballot initiative. The teams are ready for that expense, Whittle said.“We believe that it’s a way for us, as Missouri businesses that have a long history in the state of Missouri, to increase engagement with our fans,” Whittle said.&nbsp;Whether the casinos will help is unknown and depend on the language being offered to voters.The antagonism among the players means thwarting the plans of an opponent is as important, if not more important, than winning.Because backers of sports wagering won’t go along with video lottery, Arnold said, the stalemate will continue.“Our attitude is, as long as you keep that attitude, we’re going to do what we can do to basically stop you from getting what you want,” he said.The only reasonable way to break the impasse is to bring the interested parties together and force them to work it out, O’Laughlin said.“If you want to try to get something done, you have to sit down with people and not make a big theater out of it, but try to figure out a path forward,” she said. “I am not for any of it, but it’s pretty hard to say you can’t have video lottery terminals while you’re also turning your heads to the fact that you have all of these other unregulated machines just popping up everywhere.”Hoskins said he’s ready to join in talks with any of the players and has done so in the past.“Every year, I hold out hope that everyone will come to their senses and we can come up with a good compromise,” Hoskins said.One problem, he said, is that during negotiations, one group or another will declare that something being proposed is unacceptable. The interest groups should not be the ones deciding what is or is not acceptable in legislation, Hoskins said.“I’ve been a big supporter of the idea that we, as senators, are the ones that have the votes in the room, not the casinos, not the professional sports teams, not the VLT operators, not anyone else,” Hoskins said. “And so ultimately, we’re the ones with votes and we’re the ones that need to make sure that we pass a bill that accomplishes everything and takes care of problem compulsive gamblers.”

Players in Missouri gambling debate chase stakes worth billions

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect for an alleged violent crime.

On Sunday, police arrested 34-year-old Jessica M. Martin of Atchison on a Leavenworth County warrant on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

She bonded out and is not longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699317187864.png" alt="Martin-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Martin-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating suspect for an alleged violent crime.On Sunday, police arrested 34-year-old Jessica M. Martin of Atchison on a Leavenworth County warrant on a requested charge of domestic battery, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.She bonded out and is not longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman accused of domestic battery

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Arial J.&nbsp; Parker, 19, St. Joseph, was northbound on MO 371 at Barnett Road four miles south of St. Joseph.

The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne for approximately 80 feet, struck the ground and rolled.

Buchanan County EMS transported Parker and passengers Dakota J. Tollefson, 23 and Spenceer A. Tollefson, 29, both of St. Joseph to Mosaic Life Care. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Arial J.&nbsp; Parker, 19, St. Joseph, was northbound on MO 371 at Barnett Road four miles south of St. Joseph.The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne for approximately 80 feet, struck the ground and rolled.Buchanan County EMS transported Parker and passengers Dakota J. Tollefson, 23 and Spenceer A. Tollefson, 29, both of St. Joseph to Mosaic Life Care. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

3 from St. Joe hospitalized after violent pickup crash

A veteran Congressman and a fairly new Congressman who serve
our area disagree on what might be the impact of the trouble House Republicans
had in finding a new Speaker.

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, the dean of the
Missouri delegation in his 12th term, believes if the new Speaker,
Mike Johnson of Louisiana, concentrates on the budget, the Farm Bill, and
reauthorizing the FAA, the impact will be minimal.

“His priorities align with the majority of the Republican
conference,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And so, I don’t think it’s
going to have any real impact.”

Eight staunch conservatives broke with the Republican Caucus
and joined with Democrats to get rid of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. It took
three weeks and four candidates to replace him with Mike Johnson.

Though the selection process drug on and left the House
without leadership, Graves doesn’t see much of an impact if the House gets back
to work.

“Oh, I think that if we get our work done and we get the
appropriations bills completed and completed on time I think the public…they’re
going to be happy with that,” Graves says. “I’m not too terribly worried about
that.”

“Mike’s going to make a great Speaker and I’m very happy to
have supported him,” Graves says “He’s a friend. So, I’m looking forward to working
with him.”

While supporting Johnson, eastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner is less dismissive of the impact Republican infighting exposed during
the outset of McCarthy and the messy process to choose Johnson will have on the
party. LaTurner, a Republican in his second term says if the infighting doesn’t
end, Republicans will be punished at the polls.

“You can’t act like a school kid. You can’t take your ball and
go home just because you don’t like something about a person,” LaTurner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “You have to keep your eye on the prize and realize why
you were hired and it was to come here to do a job.”

LaTurner says the narrow majority
Republicans hold in the House of Representatives gives individual members
outsized power in pushing their own agendas. LaTurner says Republicans must
learn from this.

“You can dislike something about
the Speaker personally. You can dislike something about his agenda. And you
have every right to voice that. But you should not be willing to bring the
government to a standstill,” according to LaTurner.

LaTurner says no single Republican has the right to assert a
personal agenda over the good of the country.

“People were frustrated, because we weren’t working," LaTurner says.&nbsp; "The world
is on fire and we were not doing our jobs here in the House, because of a few
people.”

LaTurner says each Republican should be willing to support the
person who receives majority support in the Republican Conference.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA veteran Congressman and a fairly new Congressman who serve
our area disagree on what might be the impact of the trouble House Republicans
had in finding a new Speaker.Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, the dean of the
Missouri delegation in his 12th term, believes if the new Speaker,
Mike Johnson of Louisiana, concentrates on the budget, the Farm Bill, and
reauthorizing the FAA, the impact will be minimal.“His priorities align with the majority of the Republican
conference,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And so, I don’t think it’s
going to have any real impact.”Eight staunch conservatives broke with the Republican Caucus
and joined with Democrats to get rid of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. It took
three weeks and four candidates to replace him with Mike Johnson.Though the selection process drug on and left the House
without leadership, Graves doesn’t see much of an impact if the House gets back
to work.“Oh, I think that if we get our work done and we get the
appropriations bills completed and completed on time I think the public…they’re
going to be happy with that,” Graves says. “I’m not too terribly worried about
that.”Graves places a lot of faith in Johnson.“Mike’s going to make a great Speaker and I’m very happy to
have supported him,” Graves says “He’s a friend. So, I’m looking forward to working
with him.”While supporting Johnson, eastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner is less dismissive of the impact Republican infighting exposed during
the outset of McCarthy and the messy process to choose Johnson will have on the
party. LaTurner, a Republican in his second term says if the infighting doesn’t
end, Republicans will be punished at the polls.“You can’t act like a school kid. You can’t take your ball and
go home just because you don’t like something about a person,” LaTurner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “You have to keep your eye on the prize and realize why
you were hired and it was to come here to do a job.”LaTurner says the narrow majority
Republicans hold in the House of Representatives gives individual members
outsized power in pushing their own agendas. LaTurner says Republicans must
learn from this.“You can dislike something about
the Speaker personally. You can dislike something about his agenda. And you
have every right to voice that. But you should not be willing to bring the
government to a standstill,” according to LaTurner.LaTurner says no single Republican has the right to assert a
personal agenda over the good of the country.“People were frustrated, because we weren’t working," LaTurner says.&nbsp; "The world
is on fire and we were not doing our jobs here in the House, because of a few
people.”LaTurner says each Republican should be willing to support the
person who receives majority support in the Republican Conference.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Sam-Graves-and-Jake-LaTurner-talk-new-Speaker-of-the-House-e2bjv73" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Republican Congressmen disagree on impact of messy Speaker transition

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Venture driven by Bradley R. Davis, 23, Jefferson City, was westbound on LIV 2164 approaching LIV 235 one half mile west of Chillicothe.

 The van traveled off the northwest corner of the intersection, down an embankment and overturned.

A private vehicle transported Davis to Hedrick Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Venture driven by Bradley R. Davis, 23, Jefferson City, was westbound on LIV 2164 approaching LIV 235 one half mile west of Chillicothe. The van traveled off the northwest corner of the intersection, down an embankment and overturned.A private vehicle transported Davis to Hedrick Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after van travels down embankment

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Mason W. Hudson, 20, Hannibal, was northbound on MO 13 one mile north of Kingston.

The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.&nbsp; After investigating, officers arrested Hudson on requested charges of driving while intoxicated and carless imprudent driving.&nbsp;

Caldwell County EMS transported Hudson to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Mason W. Hudson, 20, Hannibal, was northbound on MO 13 one mile north of Kingston.The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.&nbsp; After investigating, officers arrested Hudson on requested charges of driving while intoxicated and carless imprudent driving.&nbsp;Caldwell County EMS transported Hudson to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man accused of DWI after pickup rollover crash

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Matrix driven by Thomas J. Simonson, 26, St. Joseph, was southbound on Route D six miles north of St. Joseoph.

The driver attempted to avoid a deer. The car crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the west side of the road and overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported Simonson, and passengers Brittany M. Cunningham, 34, and a 3-year-old girl both from St. Joseph, to Mosaic Life Care. Simonson was&nbsp; not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Matrix driven by Thomas J. Simonson, 26, St. Joseph, was southbound on Route D six miles north of St. Joseoph.The driver attempted to avoid a deer. The car crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the west side of the road and overturned.Andrew County EMS transported Simonson, and passengers Brittany M. Cunningham, 34, and a 3-year-old girl both from St. Joseph, to Mosaic Life Care. Simonson was&nbsp; not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

2 adults, 3-year-old from St. Joe injured in crash 

Missouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.

They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.

The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.

Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.

That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.

It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.

The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.

Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.

Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.

Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.

The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.

Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.

Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.

Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor.

 Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.

Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.

Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.

Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.

The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.

Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.

That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.

Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.

Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.

Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.

The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.

The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.

Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.

But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.

On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.

Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.

Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.

Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.

Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. 

The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.

Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.

2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143341347.jpeg" alt="MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor. Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143903495.jpeg" alt="Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Tyler-Fenwick---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9go" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Dakari-Streeter---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9e2/a-aailkk6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Full audio broadcast<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---Full-Game-e2bg976/a-aailk67" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Video highlights<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Down goes #2 Pitt State.<a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MWSU_Football</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 <a href="https://t.co/qSXNdzgguV">pic.twitter.com/qSXNdzgguV</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Athletics (@MWSUGriffons) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSUGriffons/status/1720950301207712017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let&#39;s relive that final moment against Pitt real quick.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/A10Mentality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#A10Mentality</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxDeH8Mezp">pic.twitter.com/VxDeH8Mezp</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Football (@MWSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football/status/1720935941664071870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Closing moments<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---closing-moments-e2bg8po/a-aaili74" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-football---2023-radio-highlights-e2bfsh5/a-aaik8na" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western knocks off #2 Pitt State at Spratt Saturday, bolsters playoff hopes

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured just after noon Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by Evonne R. Meyer, 74, Wittemore, Iowa, was exiting from northbound Interstate 35 to Route&nbsp; PP.

The driver failed to negotiate the cure in the off ramp. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the ramp and struck the ground.

Holt ambulance transported a passenger Cindy F. Iwen, 56 Cylinder, Iowa, to Liberty Hospital. Meyer was not injured. Iwen was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured just after noon Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by Evonne R. Meyer, 74, Wittemore, Iowa, was exiting from northbound Interstate 35 to Route&nbsp; PP.The driver failed to negotiate the cure in the off ramp. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the ramp and struck the ground.Holt ambulance transported a passenger Cindy F. Iwen, 56 Cylinder, Iowa, to Liberty Hospital. Meyer was not injured. Iwen was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Woman hospitalized after Jeep falls off I-35 ramp

A 19-year-old St. Joseph man has been charged in the Friday night shooting of a 17-year-old in the South Belt Walmart in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police say 19-year-old Sean R. McCush has been charged with Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action in the shooting that left the juvenile, who is from St. Joseph, with a severe wound to his abdomen. Initially treated at Mosaic Life Care, the victim has been transferred to another hospital for further treatment.

St. Joseph police responded to the shooting inside the store around seven o'clock Friday evening. Officers found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect had fled.

Officers took McCush into custody later in the evening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699117801503.png" alt="Sean R. McCush/Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>Sean R. McCush/Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 19-year-old St. Joseph man has been charged in the Friday night shooting of a 17-year-old in the South Belt Walmart in St. Joseph.St. Joseph police say 19-year-old Sean R. McCush has been charged with Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action in the shooting that left the juvenile, who is from St. Joseph, with a severe wound to his abdomen. Initially treated at Mosaic Life Care, the victim has been transferred to another hospital for further treatment.St. Joseph police responded to the shooting inside the store around seven o'clock Friday evening. Officers found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect had fled.Officers took McCush into custody later in the evening.The investigation continues.

19-year-old St. Joseph man charged in Walmart shooting

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Honda Navi driven by Peter G. NJoo, 53, Smithville, was eastbound on private property on Bush Street in Plattsburg.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and the driver was ejected. A private vehicle transported Njoo to Liberty Hospital. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Honda Navi driven by Peter G. NJoo, 53, Smithville, was eastbound on private property on Bush Street in Plattsburg.The driver lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and the driver was ejected. A private vehicle transported Njoo to Liberty Hospital. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after scooter accident 

St. Joseph police are investigating a shooting inside the South Belt Walmart that left the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen area.

Police report officers arrived at the scene around seven o'clock Friday evening to find one victim. Police have a 19-year-man in custody. The victim is being treated at the hospital.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph police are investigating a shooting inside the South Belt Walmart that left the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen area.Police report officers arrived at the scene around seven o'clock Friday evening to find one victim. Police have a 19-year-man in custody. The victim is being treated at the hospital.Police report the scene has been contained while the investigation proceeds.Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4777.

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