Voters in St. Joseph will be headed to the polls today to vote on a school bond issue, school board members, a library tax issue,&nbsp; as well as proposed city charter changes.  

However, Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack Garvey is only expecting voter turnout to tick up slightly from last year's April election 

"Last year for the April election we almost hit 13%, and the ballot is somewhat similar to what it was last year," Baack Garvey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, I'm hoping we have an uptick in turnout, always for our local elections, so 15% it is." 

Baack Garvey says local elections do typically see a lower turnout than a national election, though she's not sure why 

"They affect us right away immediately as a local level election, so you would think that we would have a better turnout for these tax issues and such, but I don't know why people just really only want to vote for President," Baack Garvey says. "It's just the way it's been, that's the trend, I wish people would start coming out more in these local elections." 

Issues on today's ballot include voting on three new school board members. A $20 million bond issue for the school district, and a reduced tax levy for the Rolling Hills Library. The city also has seven proposed changes to the city charter.

Baack Garvey says as voters head to the polls, they should be sure to know what exactly they are voting for.

"They need to do their homework and see who they want to vote for and turnout each election," Baack Garvey says. 

Polls opened at 6am and will close at 7pm.  You can contact the Buchanan County Clerk's office if you are unsure of your polling location.

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Voters in St. Joseph will be headed to the polls today to vote on a school bond issue, school board members, a library tax issue,&nbsp; as well as proposed city charter changes. However, Buchanan County Clerk Mary Baack Garvey is only expecting voter turnout to tick up slightly from last year's April election "Last year for the April election we almost hit 13%, and the ballot is somewhat similar to what it was last year," Baack Garvey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, I'm hoping we have an uptick in turnout, always for our local elections, so 15% it is." Baack Garvey says local elections do typically see a lower turnout than a national election, though she's not sure why "They affect us right away immediately as a local level election, so you would think that we would have a better turnout for these tax issues and such, but I don't know why people just really only want to vote for President," Baack Garvey says. "It's just the way it's been, that's the trend, I wish people would start coming out more in these local elections." Issues on today's ballot include voting on three new school board members. A $20 million bond issue for the school district, and a reduced tax levy for the Rolling Hills Library. The city also has seven proposed changes to the city charter.Baack Garvey says as voters head to the polls, they should be sure to know what exactly they are voting for."They need to do their homework and see who they want to vote for and turnout each election," Baack Garvey says. Polls opened at 6am and will close at 7pm. You can contact the Buchanan County Clerk's office if you are unsure of your polling location.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Low voter turnout expected in Buchanan County for Tuesday election

An advocate for charter schools his entire career, the Republican from Boone County hopes to see expansion before his time in the legislature ends this year

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

Caleb Rowden only has a few more months left as a Missouri lawmaker, and he wants to leave a legacy in his hometown of Columbia.&nbsp;

The Senate president pro tem will leave office this year because of term limits, and before he’s done he wants to change state law to allow charter schools in the local district. And even though nearly every school district in his county opposes the change, Rowden knows this might be the last chance to get it done.

“My stated goal is not to abolish public education and just make everything private. That is never going to happen,” he told reporters Thursday. “I want public education to be functioning, hitting on all cylinders. I want those schools to be museums where people can go and get the best education that they can get anywhere in the world, in a public school in Missouri, that would be incredible.”

Rowden’s district was redrawn for this election, with population growth in Columbia requiring Boone County to get its own Senate seat.&nbsp;That gives Democrats a major advantage, and the frontrunner in the race to replace Rowden in the seat — former Democratic state Rep. Stephen Webber — is not on board with the charter school expansion.&nbsp;

Suzette Waters, president of Columbia Public Schools’ Board of Education, said Rowden referred to the situation as they talked about her opposition to authorizing charter schools in the county. Rowden, she said, didn’t think the incoming senator would have the same appetite for charters.

“This was his last chance to get something done in Boone County, because with Stephen Webber coming in, it wasn’t gonna go,” Waters told The Independent.

Waters met with Rowden after&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/12/missouri-senate-strikes-deal-to-boost-public-school-funding-in-private-school-tax-credit-bill/">the Senate approved</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=244">153-page education bill</a>&nbsp;that coupled charter school expansion in Boone County with myriad other provisions, from an expansion of a private school tax credit scholarship to a change to the formula that funds public schools.

Currently, Missouri only has charter schools in Kansas City and St. Louis. Charter schools, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, are “independent public schools that are free from some rules and regulations that apply to traditional public school districts.”

Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, prepared an amendment to the legislation that would have required a vote of Boone County residents to authorize charters. After a brief meeting in Rowden’s office, he ditched the idea.

Hoskins is currently running for Secretary of State, and was expecting to run against Rowden, who had announced his candidacy but had not yet filed at the time of their conversation.

Hoskins told The Independent that the meeting with Rowden didn’t include talk of the Secretary of State’s race nor any promises or deals. Less than a week after that meeting,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/18/caleb-rowden-drops-out-of-gop-race-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">Rowden announced his withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from the race, saying a retirement from politics is what is best for his family.

“There were rumors and speculation that had been going on for several days because he had not yet filed,” Hoskins said, “but his decision to not run for Secretary of State had nothing to do with me not offering (my amendment).”

Hoskins has spoken negatively about Rowden’s role as president pro tem this session, especially after Rowden removed Hoskins and other members of the Senate Freedom Caucus&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/missouri-freedom-caucus-leaders-ousted-from-senate-chairmanships-over-stall-tactics/">from key committee positions</a>. But when Rowden asked him not to offer the amendment, Hoskins agreed.

“Sen. Rowden has been an advocate for charter schools, and he’d like to see those going in Boone County,” Hoskins said. “This is his last year as well as my last year. I have supported charter schools in the past and ultimately decided not to offer that amendment.”

Rowden, who has represented Columbia since being elected to the Missouri House in 2012, has long called himself a “supporter of education reform.”

His advocacy for charter schools and K-12 tax-credit scholarships has earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from like-minded donors, most notably retired investor Rex Sinquefield. Since 2020, Sinquefield and his wife have donated $625,000 to Rowden’s political action committee, Missouri Forward PAC.

Yet as the charter expansion makes its way through the legislative process, some critics have even begun to question Rowden’s motives.

Jeanne Snodgrass, vice president of Columbia Public Schools’ Board of Education, during a public hearing on the legislation Thursday in a Missouri House committee, voiced her opposition and wondered aloud, without naming names, whether “someone with a sister that runs private schools might want to expand to charters and then get public taxpayer money for that.”

Rowden’s sister, Rebekah Jouret, is the principal of Christian Chapel Academy in Columbia, a private Christian school with students grades K-8.

Rowden balked at the accusation, telling reporters his support for charters is not based on any personal or familial benefit.

“Their Christian school would never become a charter school because they’d have to give up a tremendous amount of autonomy and their ability to teach things that are grounded in faith. I can’t imagine that they would ever do that,” he said. “I, frankly, never had that conversation with my sister.

&nbsp;“My support for education reform has been well-documented and has been long-running long before my sister was in that role.”

The legislation that could bring charter schools to Boone County&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/10/missouri-senate-panel-debates-expanding-tax-credit-scholarships-for-private-school-tuition/">originated as an expansion of the tax-credit scholarships</a>. Rowden is in support of enlarging the program and told reporters earlier this year he would even be in favor of a state appropriation for the K-12 scholarships.

All but one of Boone County’s superintendents wrote in a letter earlier this month that lawmakers should focus on funding public schools.

“In Boone County, our public schools are the heart of our communities. Strong public schools mean strong, thriving communities. Public schools impact economic growth, workforce development, employment, and populations,” the superintendents of five Boone County school districts wrote. “Dismantling those structures by introducing charter schools will hurt the very fabric of our communities.”

Centralia was the only district left out of the signed letter to lawmakers.

Waters told The Independent that districts have concerns that introducing charter schools to Boone County will worsen an already restrictive budget.

“If every kid that leaves CPS and goes to a charter school comes from the same building in the same grade level, yes, we can economize by reducing our staff, just for those classes. But that’s not how it works,” she said. “They come from all different grade levels, a couple at this building, a couple at that building.”

She worries the district would have to cut services even if just a few hundred children leave Columbia Public Schools. She discussed this with Rowden earlier this month after the Senate approved the legislation.

Rowden described it as a “great conversation.”

“(Rowden) kept saying, ‘We’re only talking about a couple hundred kids. It is not going to hurt you guys that much,’” Waters recalls of their talk.

She told him her concerns, pushing against his lack of fear.

“I would say it was a respectful conversation, but at the&nbsp; end of it, we come from polar opposite viewpoints on what is appropriate for Boone County public schools,” she said.

Rowden told reporters he hopes the legislation will pass with the inclusion of charter schools in his home county.

“I don’t think that the implementation of a charter school or two or three in Columbia would in any way keep public education from continuing to flourish and grow and regain the trust in the community,” he said.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/28/opposition-remains-for-sprawling-education-bill-expanding-missouri-private-school-tax-credits/">Missouri House committee</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to vote on the legislation Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712054484070.png" alt=" Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, names education policy as a top priority in a speech after his colleagues unanimously approved his appointment as president pro tem on Jan. 4, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Sen. Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, names education policy as a top priority in a speech after his colleagues unanimously approved his appointment as president pro tem on Jan. 4, 2023 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>An advocate for charter schools his entire career, the Republican from Boone County hopes to see expansion before his time in the legislature ends this year</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">ANNELISE HANSHAW</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Caleb Rowden only has a few more months left as a Missouri lawmaker, and he wants to leave a legacy in his hometown of Columbia.&nbsp;The Senate president pro tem will leave office this year because of term limits, and before he’s done he wants to change state law to allow charter schools in the local district. And even though nearly every school district in his county opposes the change, Rowden knows this might be the last chance to get it done.“My stated goal is not to abolish public education and just make everything private. That is never going to happen,” he told reporters Thursday. “I want public education to be functioning, hitting on all cylinders. I want those schools to be museums where people can go and get the best education that they can get anywhere in the world, in a public school in Missouri, that would be incredible.”Rowden’s district was redrawn for this election, with population growth in Columbia requiring Boone County to get its own Senate seat.&nbsp;That gives Democrats a major advantage, and the frontrunner in the race to replace Rowden in the seat — former Democratic state Rep. Stephen Webber — is not on board with the charter school expansion.&nbsp;Suzette Waters, president of Columbia Public Schools’ Board of Education, said Rowden referred to the situation as they talked about her opposition to authorizing charter schools in the county. Rowden, she said, didn’t think the incoming senator would have the same appetite for charters.“This was his last chance to get something done in Boone County, because with Stephen Webber coming in, it wasn’t gonna go,” Waters told The Independent.Waters met with Rowden after&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/12/missouri-senate-strikes-deal-to-boost-public-school-funding-in-private-school-tax-credit-bill/">the Senate approved</a>&nbsp;a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=244">153-page education bill</a>&nbsp;that coupled charter school expansion in Boone County with myriad other provisions, from an expansion of a private school tax credit scholarship to a change to the formula that funds public schools.Currently, Missouri only has charter schools in Kansas City and St. Louis. Charter schools, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, are “independent public schools that are free from some rules and regulations that apply to traditional public school districts.”Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, prepared an amendment to the legislation that would have required a vote of Boone County residents to authorize charters. After a brief meeting in Rowden’s office, he ditched the idea.Hoskins is currently running for Secretary of State, and was expecting to run against Rowden, who had announced his candidacy but had not yet filed at the time of their conversation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712054443612.png" alt=" State Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, a candidate for secretary of state, speaks at the Boone County Republican Lincoln Days dinner in Columbia in February (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, a candidate for secretary of state, speaks at the Boone County Republican Lincoln Days dinner in Columbia in February (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Hoskins told The Independent that the meeting with Rowden didn’t include talk of the Secretary of State’s race nor any promises or deals. Less than a week after that meeting,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/18/caleb-rowden-drops-out-of-gop-race-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">Rowden announced his withdrawal</a>&nbsp;from the race, saying a retirement from politics is what is best for his family.“There were rumors and speculation that had been going on for several days because he had not yet filed,” Hoskins said, “but his decision to not run for Secretary of State had nothing to do with me not offering (my amendment).”Hoskins has spoken negatively about Rowden’s role as president pro tem this session, especially after Rowden removed Hoskins and other members of the Senate Freedom Caucus&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/23/missouri-freedom-caucus-leaders-ousted-from-senate-chairmanships-over-stall-tactics/">from key committee positions</a>. But when Rowden asked him not to offer the amendment, Hoskins agreed.“Sen. Rowden has been an advocate for charter schools, and he’d like to see those going in Boone County,” Hoskins said. “This is his last year as well as my last year. I have supported charter schools in the past and ultimately decided not to offer that amendment.”Rowden, who has represented Columbia since being elected to the Missouri House in 2012, has long called himself a “supporter of education reform.”His advocacy for charter schools and K-12 tax-credit scholarships has earned him hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from like-minded donors, most notably retired investor Rex Sinquefield. Since 2020, Sinquefield and his wife have donated $625,000 to Rowden’s political action committee, Missouri Forward PAC.Yet as the charter expansion makes its way through the legislative process, some critics have even begun to question Rowden’s motives.Jeanne Snodgrass, vice president of Columbia Public Schools’ Board of Education, during a public hearing on the legislation Thursday in a Missouri House committee, voiced her opposition and wondered aloud, without naming names, whether “someone with a sister that runs private schools might want to expand to charters and then get public taxpayer money for that.”Rowden’s sister, Rebekah Jouret, is the principal of Christian Chapel Academy in Columbia, a private Christian school with students grades K-8.Rowden balked at the accusation, telling reporters his support for charters is not based on any personal or familial benefit.“Their Christian school would never become a charter school because they’d have to give up a tremendous amount of autonomy and their ability to teach things that are grounded in faith. I can’t imagine that they would ever do that,” he said. “I, frankly, never had that conversation with my sister.&nbsp;“My support for education reform has been well-documented and has been long-running long before my sister was in that role.”The legislation that could bring charter schools to Boone County&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/10/missouri-senate-panel-debates-expanding-tax-credit-scholarships-for-private-school-tuition/">originated as an expansion of the tax-credit scholarships</a>. Rowden is in support of enlarging the program and told reporters earlier this year he would even be in favor of a state appropriation for the K-12 scholarships.All but one of Boone County’s superintendents wrote in a letter earlier this month that lawmakers should focus on funding public schools.“In Boone County, our public schools are the heart of our communities. Strong public schools mean strong, thriving communities. Public schools impact economic growth, workforce development, employment, and populations,” the superintendents of five Boone County school districts wrote. “Dismantling those structures by introducing charter schools will hurt the very fabric of our communities.”Centralia was the only district left out of the signed letter to lawmakers.Waters told The Independent that districts have concerns that introducing charter schools to Boone County will worsen an already restrictive budget.“If every kid that leaves CPS and goes to a charter school comes from the same building in the same grade level, yes, we can economize by reducing our staff, just for those classes. But that’s not how it works,” she said. “They come from all different grade levels, a couple at this building, a couple at that building.”She worries the district would have to cut services even if just a few hundred children leave Columbia Public Schools. She discussed this with Rowden earlier this month after the Senate approved the legislation.Rowden described it as a “great conversation.”“(Rowden) kept saying, ‘We’re only talking about a couple hundred kids. It is not going to hurt you guys that much,’” Waters recalls of their talk.She told him her concerns, pushing against his lack of fear.“I would say it was a respectful conversation, but at the&nbsp; end of it, we come from polar opposite viewpoints on what is appropriate for Boone County public schools,” she said.Rowden told reporters he hopes the legislation will pass with the inclusion of charter schools in his home county.“I don’t think that the implementation of a charter school or two or three in Columbia would in any way keep public education from continuing to flourish and grow and regain the trust in the community,” he said.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/28/opposition-remains-for-sprawling-education-bill-expanding-missouri-private-school-tax-credits/">Missouri House committee</a>&nbsp;is scheduled to vote on the legislation Tuesday.

Caleb Rowden pushes for charter schools in his county over objections from local districts

A $20 million bond issue highlights the decisions facing St.
Joseph voters today.

Co-chair of Friends of the St. Joseph School District, Kevin
Kelly, says this is an important issue with a profound impact well beyond just
the dollar figure.

“Frankly and simply put, we are trying to reverse the course
of the St. Joseph School District to bring it more into a positive realm and
positive movement, because we have under-invested here in St. Joe for
generations and that’s not an exaggeration,” Kelly tells host Barry Birr on the
KFEQ Hotline.

It will take a 57% majority to approve the bond issue.

Kelly says failure to approve this bond issue diminishes the
district’s ability to borrow in the future.

“If this bond issue does not pass, we actually go backwards in
our capacity,” Kelly says. “And, again, not to get into the details, but the
capacity to spend, to improve the school district, is diminished.”

The St. Joseph School District has paid down enough debt to
borrow an additional $80 million without a tax increase. If a bond issue is not
approved, the school tax levy could drop and it would take a vote of the people
to raise it.

Friends co-chair, Melanie Barnes, points out the district can
issue the bonds without a tax increase, because of how well the district has
handled taxpayer dollars.

“We have got to get out of the mindset from the past and we
have got to put more trust into our administrators,” Barnes says. “They’ve done
a good job paying down the debt thus far and we’ve got to continue moving
forward.”

Barnes says it’s fiscally responsible to approve the bonds.

“If we don’t do this now and we realize in four years we need
to do it then, it’s only going to cost more,” Barnes says. “So, we’ve got to
take advantage now. We have waited too long and we have not invested in so many
years and it’s only going to cost more.”

Money will be spent to install turf fields at the high
schools, upgrade heating and cooling systems, install a district-wide intercom
system, build roads at Oak Grove and Carden Park elementary schools, upgrade
sidewalks, and expand Hosea Elementary school among other improvements.

The St. Joseph School District has a full list <a href="https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/our-district/community/prop-sjsd">HERE</a>.

St. Joseph voters will choose three school board members. Ten
names appear on the ballot, but candidate Steven Carillo has dropped out of the
race. St. Joseph School Board President LaTonya T. Williams and school board Vice
President Kenneth W. Reeder are running for re-election. Others on the ballot
include Warren H. Ingram III, Sean Connors, Ronda Chesney, Mike Moore, Jacob
McMillian, Kimberly Dragoo, and Tami L. Pasley.

The City of St. Joseph has placed seven charter changes on the
ballot, including a proposal to establish staggered city council member terms,
Proposition 1 on the ballot. Other charter changes would allow citizens to run
for only one city offices at a time (Proposition 2), require a two-thirds vote
of the city council to fire the city manager (Proposition 3), allow the city
council to modify city departments without a charter change (Proposition 4), to
move the Personnel Board and the Museum Oversight Board from the city charter
to the city code (Proposition 5), allow the city to broaden media outlets used
for official notices (Proposition 6), and establish a retirement age of 70 for
municipal judge (Proposition 7).

Question #1 on the ballot would decrease the tax levy for the Rolling
Hills Consolidated Library from 31 cents to 28 cents and remove the sunset
clause attached to 15 cents of the library levy.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA $20 million bond issue highlights the decisions facing St.
Joseph voters today.Co-chair of Friends of the St. Joseph School District, Kevin
Kelly, says this is an important issue with a profound impact well beyond just
the dollar figure.“Frankly and simply put, we are trying to reverse the course
of the St. Joseph School District to bring it more into a positive realm and
positive movement, because we have under-invested here in St. Joe for
generations and that’s not an exaggeration,” Kelly tells host Barry Birr on the
KFEQ Hotline.It will take a 57% majority to approve the bond issue.Kelly says failure to approve this bond issue diminishes the
district’s ability to borrow in the future.“If this bond issue does not pass, we actually go backwards in
our capacity,” Kelly says. “And, again, not to get into the details, but the
capacity to spend, to improve the school district, is diminished.”The St. Joseph School District has paid down enough debt to
borrow an additional $80 million without a tax increase. If a bond issue is not
approved, the school tax levy could drop and it would take a vote of the people
to raise it.Friends co-chair, Melanie Barnes, points out the district can
issue the bonds without a tax increase, because of how well the district has
handled taxpayer dollars.“We have got to get out of the mindset from the past and we
have got to put more trust into our administrators,” Barnes says. “They’ve done
a good job paying down the debt thus far and we’ve got to continue moving
forward.”Barnes says it’s fiscally responsible to approve the bonds.“If we don’t do this now and we realize in four years we need
to do it then, it’s only going to cost more,” Barnes says. “So, we’ve got to
take advantage now. We have waited too long and we have not invested in so many
years and it’s only going to cost more.”Money will be spent to install turf fields at the high
schools, upgrade heating and cooling systems, install a district-wide intercom
system, build roads at Oak Grove and Carden Park elementary schools, upgrade
sidewalks, and expand Hosea Elementary school among other improvements.The St. Joseph School District has a full list <a href="https://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/our-district/community/prop-sjsd">HERE</a>.St. Joseph voters will choose three school board members. Ten
names appear on the ballot, but candidate Steven Carillo has dropped out of the
race. St. Joseph School Board President LaTonya T. Williams and school board Vice
President Kenneth W. Reeder are running for re-election. Others on the ballot
include Warren H. Ingram III, Sean Connors, Ronda Chesney, Mike Moore, Jacob
McMillian, Kimberly Dragoo, and Tami L. Pasley.The City of St. Joseph has placed seven charter changes on the
ballot, including a proposal to establish staggered city council member terms,
Proposition 1 on the ballot. Other charter changes would allow citizens to run
for only one city offices at a time (Proposition 2), require a two-thirds vote
of the city council to fire the city manager (Proposition 3), allow the city
council to modify city departments without a charter change (Proposition 4), to
move the Personnel Board and the Museum Oversight Board from the city charter
to the city code (Proposition 5), allow the city to broaden media outlets used
for official notices (Proposition 6), and establish a retirement age of 70 for
municipal judge (Proposition 7).Question #1 on the ballot would decrease the tax levy for the Rolling
Hills Consolidated Library from 31 cents to 28 cents and remove the sunset
clause attached to 15 cents of the library levy.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/20M-School-Bond-issue-highlighs-St--Joseph-April-election-e2hrg2s" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

$20M school bond levy highlights St. Joseph ballot today

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Gentry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge 1500 driven by Bryar E. Ginther, 31, Stanberry, was&nbsp; westbound on U.S. 136 four miles west of Stanberry.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck two highway signs and rolled into a ditch.

A private vehicle transported Ginther to Mosaic in Maryville. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2:30p.m. Monday in Gentry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge 1500 driven by Bryar E. Ginther, 31, Stanberry, was&nbsp; westbound on U.S. 136 four miles west of Stanberry.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck two highway signs and rolled into a ditch.A private vehicle transported Ginther to Mosaic in Maryville. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after pickup rolls into ditch

A new camping experience coming to Camp Farwesta this summer will provide a getaway for students who have lost a sibling or parent to cancer.  

Camp Haven is designed to provide a safe space for those children, ages eight through 14.  

Volunteer Tony Martinez says the camp will provide a bonding experience for children going through a similar tragedy, who might think they are alone. . . 

"I can share my experiences what I went through with you and you with me, and that joining of spirits I guess is pretty critical, because at the time they probably think they're the only kid alive that ever lost a parent," Martinez tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

The camp will be held this June providing several fun events for kids, including a trip to see the St. Joseph Mustangs. 

Camp Farwesta Marketing Director Trish Heath says the camp aims to help children cope with life after the loss of a loved one. . . 

"We want to do what we can to help that be more successful for them without so much grief, we know it will never go away, but like I said if we can help each other with that that week that's kind of our plan," Heath says. 

The week-long camp will run this June for up to 50 children. 

More details and registration can be found online 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A new camping experience coming to Camp Farwesta this summer will provide a getaway for students who have lost a sibling or parent to cancer. Camp Haven is designed to provide a safe space for those children, ages eight through 14. Volunteer Tony Martinez says the camp will provide a bonding experience for children going through a similar tragedy, who might think they are alone. . . "I can share my experiences what I went through with you and you with me, and that joining of spirits I guess is pretty critical, because at the time they probably think they're the only kid alive that ever lost a parent," Martinez tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. The camp will be held this June providing several fun events for kids, including a trip to see the St. Joseph Mustangs. Camp Farwesta Marketing Director Trish Heath says the camp aims to help children cope with life after the loss of a loved one. . . "We want to do what we can to help that be more successful for them without so much grief, we know it will never go away, but like I said if we can help each other with that that week that's kind of our plan," Heath says. The week-long camp will run this June for up to 50 children. More details and registration can be found online

Camp Farwesta to host a new camp for children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer

BROWN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Monday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Buick Encore driven by&nbsp;Britney L.&nbsp;Achten, 23, Netawaka, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 75 just north of Kansas 20 highway. The SUV struck a deer crossing the roadway and stopped on the outside shoulder.

EMS transporte Achten to the&nbsp;Holton Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to&nbsp; the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Monday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Buick Encore driven by&nbsp;Britney L.&nbsp;Achten, 23, Netawaka, Kansas, was northbound on U.S. 75 just north of Kansas 20 highway. The SUV struck a deer crossing the roadway and stopped on the outside shoulder.EMS transporte Achten to the&nbsp;Holton Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to&nbsp; the KHP.

Kansas woman injured after SUV strikes a deer

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

Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because they are made from hemp, which is federally legal

Proposed legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products could potentially ban the majority of the Delta-8 drinks and edibles on the market in Missouri today, the state’s top marijuana regulator told an industry meeting late last week in St. Louis.&nbsp;

“This is really an unanswered question,” said Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation.

Moore was among a panel of speakers at the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Missouri Stakeholder Summit who discussed legislation in the state House and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">Senate</a>&nbsp;that would create the “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act.”

Currently, Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because the intoxicating ingredient is derived from hemp, not marijuana.

Hemp is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">federally legal</a>.

There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;

The legislation would place these products under the same constitutional framework and rules that the marijuana industry must abide by — including an age restriction, labeling and testing requirements and a mandate that products are only sold at licensed dispensaries regulated by the cannabis division within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;

However, the state’s rules also currently ban the “chemical conversion” process used to create the majority of hemp-derived THC products.&nbsp;

When asked how many hemp-derived THC products would still be left on Missouri shelves if the legislation passed and this rule was enforced, Moore said the department would have to take a hard look at the “intent” of the law.

“Everyone knows the rules are part of our regulatory framework,” Moore said in an interview with The Independent after the summit. “Does that indicate intent that chemical conversion, at least, remain prohibited?”

Or, she said, it could also be the law’s intent to simply put these products under the same guidelines marijuana products follow, and the state would need to adapt its rules to be able to keep them on the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“We don’t really have a position right now about what that would mean in the future,” she said.

Three weeks ago, Krey Distributing Company, the wholesale company for Anheuser Busch, released hemp-derived Delta-9 THC drinks, and it’s already selling them to nearly 120 bars, liquor stores and convenience across the state.&nbsp;

The products aren’t made using a chemical conversion process, so they wouldn’t be banned if the legislation goes into effect. But sales would definitely plummet if they could only be sold in dispensaries, said Steven Busch, the company’s president.&nbsp;

“This legislation would really hurt our business,” Busch said. “It would also limit the business our customers are doing already, and it would also limit consumer choice by forcing consumers to go into a dispensary to buy these products.”

Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high.&nbsp;

It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.

But much has changed since hemp was taken off the controlled substance list in 2018 by the last&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2">U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act</a>, more commonly known as the farm bill.&nbsp;

Now state regulators can barely keep up with the constantly evolving ways that people have found to make intoxicating products from hemp — largely through a chemical process of converting CBD to THC. The market for things like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">Delta-8 drinks</a>&nbsp;and edibles is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.&nbsp;

The fact that it is legal federally was the basis for St. Louis Democratic Sen. Karla May’s opposition to a bill sponsored by&nbsp;state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.&nbsp;

“The feds are not stopping the sale of this product,” May said, during a Senate floor debate last week. “What you’re saying is we need to shut down all the businesses that are currently selling this product and making revenue from this product, and then transfer them to all of the people that have gotten marijuana licenses.”&nbsp;

While May was the most vocal critic in the Senate last week, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the idea of forcing the hemp industry under the umbrella of DHSS, saying that would allow the “marijuana monopoly” to take over this market given the limited number of licenses for dispensaries available.

After voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in 2018, competition for licenses became fierce when the state capped the number of applications it would approve — initially issuing 338 licenses to sell, grow and process marijuana.

Widespread reports of irregularities in how applications were scored fueled criticism of the industry and accusations that insiders were building a monopoly. That criticism spilled into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022, though the proposal still won voter approval.

Some applicants who didn’t land medical marijuana licenses turned to producing hemp-derived THC products.

May and others have expressed concern that because hemp is federally legal, lumping it in with the regulations of a controlled substance could result in lawsuits.

Schroer told The Independent in December that he’s closely watching the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">ongoing legal case</a>&nbsp;of Robertsville-based marijuana manufacturer Delta Extraction.

Delta Extraction had its<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/16/cannabis-regulators-to-revoke-license-of-missouri-company-at-center-of-recall/">&nbsp;license to manufacture cannabis products revoked</a>&nbsp;in November, months after a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">massive recall</a>&nbsp;pulled more than 60,000 products off the shelves — which the state says were illegally made with a hemp-derived THC concentrate imported from out of state.

While hemp is federally legal, state regulators argue that once hemp-derived THC comes into the marijuana realm, they can regulate it.&nbsp;

The question currently before the Administrative Hearing Commission is whether or not Missouri regulators have the authority to prohibit licensed companies from infusing Missouri-grown marijuana products with hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;

If the company loses its appeal before the commission, then Delta will continue to fight in court, the company’s attorneys have said.

And Delta will be arguing the state has no authority to regulate hemp products at all.&nbsp;

“The Division of Cannabis Regulation’s authority to regulate is limited to non-hemp marijuana and does not depend on whether it is used to make THC,” Delta’s attorney, Chuck Hatfield, wrote in a recent letter to the state.&nbsp;

Interestingly, one of the processes the state cracked down on Delta for wouldn’t be banned under the Schroer’s bill. Delta was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">importing THC-A</a>, a cannabinoid that’s extracted from the hemp plant the same way it is with marijuana. It did not go through the banned chemical conversion process, and Moore said the THC-A process would likely be allowed.

However, state rules also require that&nbsp;THC in marijuana products can only be derived from marijuana cultivated by a Missouri-licensed cultivation facility. Most hemp-derived THC is currently brought in from other states.

The panelists at the summit Thursday were overwhelmingly in support of Schroer’s bill and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">companion bill</a>&nbsp;sponsored by&nbsp;state Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican.&nbsp;

Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical and another panelist at the summit, said the intent of the bill was to put the hemp-derived products under the strict packaging and other requirements that marijuana companies must go through.

“So that’s why we’re just in complete amazement that this stuff just can be out there without any of these checks and balances,” Meyers said.

The Missouri Hemp Trade Association has continuously advocated for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.

However, the association opposes requiring the products to be made and sold by marijuana licensed facilities. A number of hemp businesses testified&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/push-for-restrictions-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-spurs-clash-over-who-should-regulate/">during committee hearings in February</a>&nbsp;about the harmful impact the bill would have on them.

Several legislators said they were sympathetic to these businesses’ concerns and that they’d only agree to advance the bill if Schroer negotiated with the hemp industry and found a way to protect hemp businesses.

At the summit Thursday, Jamey Murphy, Schroer’s chief of staff and another of the panelists, said negotiations can only go so far.&nbsp;

“We have to make sure that when we do negotiate, that we’re doing what we set out to do,” Murphy said, “which is make sure that these things are sold in the correct way in the correct setting, and that they’re not harmful to the consumer.”&nbsp;

The hemp association has demanded the products don’t come under the Division of Cannabis Regulation’s framework, but instead be regulated by the same rules that tobacco and alcohol products abide by under the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Alcohol and Tobacco.

Murphy said he’s not sure they have a “perfect solution” to solve these differences.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“There’s some other bills in other states that we’re definitely going to look at to see if we could solve some of those,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that the bill we have now is potentially the bill that we can get across the finish line.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711980898936.png" alt=" Amy Moore, (right) director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, talks with attendees at the National Cannabis Industry Association’s summit on March 28, 2024 in St. Louis (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Amy Moore, (right) director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation, talks with attendees at the National Cannabis Industry Association’s summit on March 28, 2024 in St. Louis (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because they are made from hemp, which is federally legal</h2>Proposed legislation to regulate intoxicating hemp products could potentially ban the majority of the Delta-8 drinks and edibles on the market in Missouri today, the state’s top marijuana regulator told an industry meeting late last week in St. Louis.&nbsp;“This is really an unanswered question,” said Amy Moore, director of the Missouri Division of Cannabis Regulation.Moore was among a panel of speakers at the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Missouri Stakeholder Summit who discussed legislation in the state House and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">Senate</a>&nbsp;that would create the “Intoxicating Cannabinoid Control Act.”Currently, Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because the intoxicating ingredient is derived from hemp, not marijuana.Hemp is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">federally legal</a>.There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;The legislation would place these products under the same constitutional framework and rules that the marijuana industry must abide by — including an age restriction, labeling and testing requirements and a mandate that products are only sold at licensed dispensaries regulated by the cannabis division within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;However, the state’s rules also currently ban the “chemical conversion” process used to create the majority of hemp-derived THC products.&nbsp;When asked how many hemp-derived THC products would still be left on Missouri shelves if the legislation passed and this rule was enforced, Moore said the department would have to take a hard look at the “intent” of the law.“Everyone knows the rules are part of our regulatory framework,” Moore said in an interview with The Independent after the summit. “Does that indicate intent that chemical conversion, at least, remain prohibited?”Or, she said, it could also be the law’s intent to simply put these products under the same guidelines marijuana products follow, and the state would need to adapt its rules to be able to keep them on the market.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We don’t really have a position right now about what that would mean in the future,” she said.Three weeks ago, Krey Distributing Company, the wholesale company for Anheuser Busch, released hemp-derived Delta-9 THC drinks, and it’s already selling them to nearly 120 bars, liquor stores and convenience across the state.&nbsp;The products aren’t made using a chemical conversion process, so they wouldn’t be banned if the legislation goes into effect. But sales would definitely plummet if they could only be sold in dispensaries, said Steven Busch, the company’s president.&nbsp;“This legislation would really hurt our business,” Busch said. “It would also limit the business our customers are doing already, and it would also limit consumer choice by forcing consumers to go into a dispensary to buy these products.”<h2>Pushback from both sides</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711980960475.png" alt=" State Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, discusses legislation on the Senate floor (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis, discusses legislation on the Senate floor (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high.&nbsp;It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.But much has changed since hemp was taken off the controlled substance list in 2018 by the last&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2">U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act</a>, more commonly known as the farm bill.&nbsp;Now state regulators can barely keep up with the constantly evolving ways that people have found to make intoxicating products from hemp — largely through a chemical process of converting CBD to THC. The market for things like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">Delta-8 drinks</a>&nbsp;and edibles is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.&nbsp;The fact that it is legal federally was the basis for St. Louis Democratic Sen. Karla May’s opposition to a bill sponsored by&nbsp;state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.&nbsp;“The feds are not stopping the sale of this product,” May said, during a Senate floor debate last week. “What you’re saying is we need to shut down all the businesses that are currently selling this product and making revenue from this product, and then transfer them to all of the people that have gotten marijuana licenses.”&nbsp;While May was the most vocal critic in the Senate last week, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the idea of forcing the hemp industry under the umbrella of DHSS, saying that would allow the “marijuana monopoly” to take over this market given the limited number of licenses for dispensaries available.After voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in 2018, competition for licenses became fierce when the state capped the number of applications it would approve — initially issuing 338 licenses to sell, grow and process marijuana.Widespread reports of irregularities in how applications were scored fueled criticism of the industry and accusations that insiders were building a monopoly. That criticism spilled into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in 2022, though the proposal still won voter approval.Some applicants who didn’t land medical marijuana licenses turned to producing hemp-derived THC products.May and others have expressed concern that because hemp is federally legal, lumping it in with the regulations of a controlled substance could result in lawsuits.Schroer told The Independent in December that he’s closely watching the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/03/07/three-day-hearing-reveals-behind-the-scenes-details-of-missouri-marijuana-recall/">ongoing legal case</a>&nbsp;of Robertsville-based marijuana manufacturer Delta Extraction.Delta Extraction had its<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/16/cannabis-regulators-to-revoke-license-of-missouri-company-at-center-of-recall/">&nbsp;license to manufacture cannabis products revoked</a>&nbsp;in November, months after a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">massive recall</a>&nbsp;pulled more than 60,000 products off the shelves — which the state says were illegally made with a hemp-derived THC concentrate imported from out of state.While hemp is federally legal, state regulators argue that once hemp-derived THC comes into the marijuana realm, they can regulate it.&nbsp;The question currently before the Administrative Hearing Commission is whether or not Missouri regulators have the authority to prohibit licensed companies from infusing Missouri-grown marijuana products with hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;If the company loses its appeal before the commission, then Delta will continue to fight in court, the company’s attorneys have said.And Delta will be arguing the state has no authority to regulate hemp products at all.&nbsp;“The Division of Cannabis Regulation’s authority to regulate is limited to non-hemp marijuana and does not depend on whether it is used to make THC,” Delta’s attorney, Chuck Hatfield, wrote in a recent letter to the state.&nbsp;Interestingly, one of the processes the state cracked down on Delta for wouldn’t be banned under the Schroer’s bill. Delta was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">importing THC-A</a>, a cannabinoid that’s extracted from the hemp plant the same way it is with marijuana. It did not go through the banned chemical conversion process, and Moore said the THC-A process would likely be allowed.However, state rules also require that&nbsp;THC in marijuana products can only be derived from marijuana cultivated by a Missouri-licensed cultivation facility. Most hemp-derived THC is currently brought in from other states.<h2>Cannabis summit</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711981072283.png" alt=" John Pennington, CEO of Proper Brands; Jamey Murphy, chief of staff for Sen. Nick Schroer; Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical; Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation; and John Payne, managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, discuss legislation at an industry summit in downtown St. Louis on March 28 (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> John Pennington, CEO of Proper Brands; Jamey Murphy, chief of staff for Sen. Nick Schroer; Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical; Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation; and John Payne, managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, discuss legislation at an industry summit in downtown St. Louis on March 28 (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>The panelists at the summit Thursday were overwhelmingly in support of Schroer’s bill and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">companion bill</a>&nbsp;sponsored by&nbsp;state Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican.&nbsp;Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical and another panelist at the summit, said the intent of the bill was to put the hemp-derived products under the strict packaging and other requirements that marijuana companies must go through.“So that’s why we’re just in complete amazement that this stuff just can be out there without any of these checks and balances,” Meyers said.The Missouri Hemp Trade Association has continuously advocated for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.However, the association opposes requiring the products to be made and sold by marijuana licensed facilities. A number of hemp businesses testified&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/push-for-restrictions-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-spurs-clash-over-who-should-regulate/">during committee hearings in February</a>&nbsp;about the harmful impact the bill would have on them.Several legislators said they were sympathetic to these businesses’ concerns and that they’d only agree to advance the bill if Schroer negotiated with the hemp industry and found a way to protect hemp businesses.At the summit Thursday, Jamey Murphy, Schroer’s chief of staff and another of the panelists, said negotiations can only go so far.&nbsp;“We have to make sure that when we do negotiate, that we’re doing what we set out to do,” Murphy said, “which is make sure that these things are sold in the correct way in the correct setting, and that they’re not harmful to the consumer.”&nbsp;The hemp association has demanded the products don’t come under the Division of Cannabis Regulation’s framework, but instead be regulated by the same rules that tobacco and alcohol products abide by under the Department of Public Safety’s Division of Alcohol and Tobacco.Murphy said he’s not sure they have a “perfect solution” to solve these differences.&nbsp;&nbsp;“There’s some other bills in other states that we’re definitely going to look at to see if we could solve some of those,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that the bill we have now is potentially the bill that we can get across the finish line.”

Proposed legislation could ban the majority of Delta-8 drinks and edibles in Missouri

A man suffered wounds significant enough to send him to the
hospital to be checked out after what St. Joseph police describe as a domestic
disturbance late Sunday night.

The St. Joseph Police Department reports the wounds to the
face and stomach weren’t severe. A woman was taken into custody after the
altercation in the 1600 block of Faraon Street. A juvenile in the home who tried
to break up the fight also suffered a cut.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA man suffered wounds significant enough to send him to the
hospital to be checked out after what St. Joseph police describe as a domestic
disturbance late Sunday night.The St. Joseph Police Department reports the wounds to the
face and stomach weren’t severe. A woman was taken into custody after the
altercation in the 1600 block of Faraon Street. A juvenile in the home who tried
to break up the fight also suffered a cut.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Stabbing sends St. Joseph man to hospital in apparent domestic dispute

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Jacob Latimer, 21, Polo, was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of Route B four miles east of Hamilton.

The car traveled off the north side of the road, rolled and the driver was ejected. Life Flight transported Latimer to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Jacob Latimer, 21, Polo, was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of Route B four miles east of Hamilton.The car traveled off the north side of the road, rolled and the driver was ejected. Life Flight transported Latimer to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man air-lifted to hospital after rollover accident

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/trekent/">TRE KENT</a>&nbsp;

A recent legal settlement agreed to by the National Association of Realtors leaves Missouri realtors unsure of what the future holds.

The association, which represents about 1.5 million realtors nationally, announced March 15 that it will settle several antitrust lawsuits, pending court approval.

The industry group denied any wrongdoing, but it will pay out $418 million over approximately four years, remove compensation offers from multiple listing services, and require multiple listing service participants to enter written agreements with buyers.

A multiple listing service, commonly referred to as an MLS, is a private database used by real estate professionals to assist clients in buying and selling properties.

The settlement comes after a Kansas City jury in October ordered the National Association of Realtors and major real estate brokers to pay approximately $1.8 billion, finding they had used anti-competitive trade practices that resulted in inflated costs for Missourians selling their homes.

After this month’s settlement, people in the industry are waiting to determine what their next steps should be, according to Brian Toohey, CEO of the Columbia Board of Realtors.

“It’s really just wait and see where the settlement goes when the judge or the court approves it,” Toohey said, “and then seeing what changes we might potentially have to make at that point.”

The settlement will prohibit offers of broker compensation from being communicated on multiple listing services.

Historically, an MLS shows compensation, which allows users to know what is being paid out to buyers’ agents for homes listed on the database.

Jessica Simpson, a Columbia realtor, said the terms of the settlement address the potential ethical violation of some buyers’ agents using MLS postings to consider possible commissions before alerting clients to available houses.

Michael Ketchmark, the lead trial attorney for the plaintiffs in the Kansas City case against the National Association of Realtors, said the elimination of broker compensation from the MLS is a victory for consumers.

“We think it’s going to result in a tremendous benefit to home sellers and home buyers by lowering the amounts of commissions and costs of buying and selling a home,” Ketchmark said.

The association has emphasized that commission rates have been negotiable. However, some say agents have implied that rates are fixed at 6%. Simpson said that contributed to the lawsuits in the first place.

Ketchmark argued in the Kansas City case that large interests within the industry made efforts to present commissions as fixed.

“We put on evidence, live witness testimony, internal training videos and documents that showed … there actually had been collusion at the highest corporate levels to fix commissions at 6%,” Ketchmark said.

Another change under the settlement is that multiple listing service participants working with buyers must enter into written agreements specifying what services they will provide and at what cost.

In the past, brokers could wait until an offer was made to enter into this agreement. Starting in July, they will be required to do so before touring a home.

Some believe the changes within the industry could affect the overall housing market by contributing to houses sitting on the market longer.

“We’re just going to have to explore this and see how things go,” Simpson said. “I think that if sellers begin paying drastically less in commissions, it’s going to impact the sale of their home.”

Lower commissions may also turn away some agents, Simpson said. Agents must account for the costs they incur, and that could result in hesitancy to take on clients who want lower commissions.

To avoid commissions altogether, some home buyers do not use an agent. Simpson said that can be dangerous to those unfamiliar with the practice due to the gravity of the purchase.

“Purchasing a home is huge,” Simpson said. “A lot of times it’s the biggest purchase they have ever made in their life.”

Residential real estate is facing changes to the way business has been conducted for decades, Ketchmark said.

“There’s a hundred-year history of stabilizing the prices there …” he said. “The industry has used MLS and has used the (association’s) rules to stabilize prices, and they’re no longer able to do that.”

While these changes are still months away, their implementation will introduce uncertainty for the industry to navigate.

“I think this is all going to get messy before it gets smoothed out,” Simpson said. “But, it’s hard to say exactly what will happen, and we’re just going to have to wait and see.”

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/missouri_business/wait-and-see-realtors-brace-for-changes-after-settlement-over-commissions/article_9395114f-aefa-53d2-9199-bbf304be8aa1.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">the Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659001075252.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Photo AP" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Photo AP</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/trekent/">TRE KENT</a>&nbsp;A recent legal settlement agreed to by the National Association of Realtors leaves Missouri realtors unsure of what the future holds.The association, which represents about 1.5 million realtors nationally, announced March 15 that it will settle several antitrust lawsuits, pending court approval.The industry group denied any wrongdoing, but it will pay out $418 million over approximately four years, remove compensation offers from multiple listing services, and require multiple listing service participants to enter written agreements with buyers.A multiple listing service, commonly referred to as an MLS, is a private database used by real estate professionals to assist clients in buying and selling properties.The settlement comes after a Kansas City jury in October ordered the National Association of Realtors and major real estate brokers to pay approximately $1.8 billion, finding they had used anti-competitive trade practices that resulted in inflated costs for Missourians selling their homes.After this month’s settlement, people in the industry are waiting to determine what their next steps should be, according to Brian Toohey, CEO of the Columbia Board of Realtors.“It’s really just wait and see where the settlement goes when the judge or the court approves it,” Toohey said, “and then seeing what changes we might potentially have to make at that point.”<h2>Settlement terms</h2>The settlement will prohibit offers of broker compensation from being communicated on multiple listing services.Historically, an MLS shows compensation, which allows users to know what is being paid out to buyers’ agents for homes listed on the database.Jessica Simpson, a Columbia realtor, said the terms of the settlement address the potential ethical violation of some buyers’ agents using MLS postings to consider possible commissions before alerting clients to available houses.Michael Ketchmark, the lead trial attorney for the plaintiffs in the Kansas City case against the National Association of Realtors, said the elimination of broker compensation from the MLS is a victory for consumers.“We think it’s going to result in a tremendous benefit to home sellers and home buyers by lowering the amounts of commissions and costs of buying and selling a home,” Ketchmark said.The association has emphasized that commission rates have been negotiable. However, some say agents have implied that rates are fixed at 6%. Simpson said that contributed to the lawsuits in the first place.Ketchmark argued in the Kansas City case that large interests within the industry made efforts to present commissions as fixed.“We put on evidence, live witness testimony, internal training videos and documents that showed … there actually had been collusion at the highest corporate levels to fix commissions at 6%,” Ketchmark said.Another change under the settlement is that multiple listing service participants working with buyers must enter into written agreements specifying what services they will provide and at what cost.In the past, brokers could wait until an offer was made to enter into this agreement. Starting in July, they will be required to do so before touring a home.<h2>Industry impact</h2>Some believe the changes within the industry could affect the overall housing market by contributing to houses sitting on the market longer.“We’re just going to have to explore this and see how things go,” Simpson said. “I think that if sellers begin paying drastically less in commissions, it’s going to impact the sale of their home.”Lower commissions may also turn away some agents, Simpson said. Agents must account for the costs they incur, and that could result in hesitancy to take on clients who want lower commissions.To avoid commissions altogether, some home buyers do not use an agent. Simpson said that can be dangerous to those unfamiliar with the practice due to the gravity of the purchase.“Purchasing a home is huge,” Simpson said. “A lot of times it’s the biggest purchase they have ever made in their life.”Residential real estate is facing changes to the way business has been conducted for decades, Ketchmark said.“There’s a hundred-year history of stabilizing the prices there …” he said. “The industry has used MLS and has used the (association’s) rules to stabilize prices, and they’re no longer able to do that.”While these changes are still months away, their implementation will introduce uncertainty for the industry to navigate.“I think this is all going to get messy before it gets smoothed out,” Simpson said. “But, it’s hard to say exactly what will happen, and we’re just going to have to wait and see.”This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/missouri_business/wait-and-see-realtors-brace-for-changes-after-settlement-over-commissions/article_9395114f-aefa-53d2-9199-bbf304be8aa1.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">the Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

‘Wait and see’: Missouri Realtors brace for changes after settlement over commissions

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Yamaha Raptor driven by Anthony W. Hecker, 32, Laredo, was southbound on Railway Street in Laredo attempting a right turn on 3rd Street.

The driver was traveling too fast for roadway condition, according to the&nbsp; Patrol.&nbsp; The Sport ATV began to slide and struck the left side of an eastbound 2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660 driven by Patty M. Eckert, 50, Laredo.50, Laredo.

A private vehicle transported Eckert to Wright Memorial Hospital. Hecker did not seek medical treatment. They were not wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Yamaha Raptor driven by Anthony W. Hecker, 32, Laredo, was southbound on Railway Street in Laredo attempting a right turn on 3rd Street.The driver was traveling too fast for roadway condition, according to the&nbsp; Patrol.&nbsp; The Sport ATV began to slide and struck the left side of an eastbound 2002 Yamaha Grizzly 660 driven by Patty M. Eckert, 50, Laredo.50, Laredo.A private vehicle transported Eckert to Wright Memorial Hospital. Hecker did not seek medical treatment. They were not wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after ATVs collide

Minnesota State women's basketball completed an inspired run through the NCAA tournament winning the Division II championship with an 89-73 win over Texas Woman's University on Friday night at Civic Arena in St. Joseph.

In front of a packed house, Minnesota State (32-5) was humming from the get-go, jumping out to a 26-13 lead by the end of the first quarter and a 46-32 lead at halftime.

The Mavericks' lead grew to 25 points at 76-51 with 8:56 to play. Texas Woman's (34-5) didn't give up, getting to within 81-71 with 2:09 to go, but the Mavericks made 8-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.

Like they normally do, Minnesota State's defense created a bunch of turnovers and scored a lot of points off of them. In this case, the Mavericks scored 40 points off of 30 Pioneers turnovers.

Minnesota State came away with 21 steals. The Mavericks also sunk 10-of-23 from long range. Sophomore Natalie Bremer led the way with a game-high 27 points. Ava Stier had 13 points and Emily Herzberg had 12.

Ashley Ingram led Texas Woman's in defeat with 24 points. Jada Celsur was close behind with 20.

The Pioneers shot a respectable 43.9 percent (25-of-57), but they lost the turnover battle 30-15.

Minnesota State, which ended the season on an 11-game winning streak, tied a school record with 32 wins and won its second national title in program history and its first since 2009.

The Mavericks, who started the season 2-4, got revenge on all four of those teams that beat them in that stretch; Fort Hays State in regional semifinals, Southern Nazarene in the regional championship, Minnesota-Duluth on January 30, and now Texas Woman's.

The Pioneers had beaten Minnesota State, 76-71, on November 4th in Billings, Montana.

The Mavericks got the last laugh, but for the team, that's the not the lasting message.

"Yeah it was a revenge tour, but it was a chance to prove to ourselves that we were a different basketball team," Minnesota State head coach Emilee Thiesee said. "It was never about 'we're better than anyone else out there.' It was just, let's do what we do and prove to ourselves that we're a different team, and I think that's what our team handled so well all season long."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711774290150.jpeg" alt="Members of the Minnesota State women's basketball team hoist the national championship trophy following an 89-73 win over Texas Woman's University at Civic Arena Friday night. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Members of the Minnesota State women's basketball team hoist the national championship trophy following an 89-73 win over Texas Woman's University at Civic Arena Friday night. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMinnesota State women's basketball completed an inspired run through the NCAA tournament winning the Division II championship with an 89-73 win over Texas Woman's University on Friday night at Civic Arena in St. Joseph.In front of a packed house, Minnesota State (32-5) was humming from the get-go, jumping out to a 26-13 lead by the end of the first quarter and a 46-32 lead at halftime.The Mavericks' lead grew to 25 points at 76-51 with 8:56 to play. Texas Woman's (34-5) didn't give up, getting to within 81-71 with 2:09 to go, but the Mavericks made 8-of-10 free throws in the fourth quarter to seal the deal.Like they normally do, Minnesota State's defense created a bunch of turnovers and scored a lot of points off of them. In this case, the Mavericks scored 40 points off of 30 Pioneers turnovers.Minnesota State came away with 21 steals. The Mavericks also sunk 10-of-23 from long range. Sophomore Natalie Bremer led the way with a game-high 27 points. Ava Stier had 13 points and Emily Herzberg had 12.Ashley Ingram led Texas Woman's in defeat with 24 points. Jada Celsur was close behind with 20.The Pioneers shot a respectable 43.9 percent (25-of-57), but they lost the turnover battle 30-15.Minnesota State, which ended the season on an 11-game winning streak, tied a school record with 32 wins and won its second national title in program history and its first since 2009.The Mavericks, who started the season 2-4, got revenge on all four of those teams that beat them in that stretch; Fort Hays State in regional semifinals, Southern Nazarene in the regional championship, Minnesota-Duluth on January 30, and now Texas Woman's.The Pioneers had beaten Minnesota State, 76-71, on November 4th in Billings, Montana.The Mavericks got the last laugh, but for the team, that's the not the lasting message."Yeah it was a revenge tour, but it was a chance to prove to ourselves that we were a different basketball team," Minnesota State head coach Emilee Thiesee said. "It was never about 'we're better than anyone else out there.' It was just, let's do what we do and prove to ourselves that we're a different team, and I think that's what our team handled so well all season long."<figure>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711775597668.jpeg" alt="A large flag was unfurled during the national anthem." />
 <figcaption>A large flag was unfurled during the national anthem.</figcaption>
 </figure>Photo album<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02LYVcqqvKmc73oXznHTwPvx2y9QKp42fyxtC6CwK6USTRrtT1sAYinak9FhfyxxGYl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">FINAL 🏆🏆🏆<a href="https://twitter.com/MinnStWBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MinnStWBB</a> 89 Texas Woman’s 73 Mavericks win it all for the 2nd time in their history and the first time since 2009. <a href="https://t.co/4aAfcrIMXP">pic.twitter.com/4aAfcrIMXP</a>&mdash; Tommy Rezac (@TommyKFEQ) <a href="https://twitter.com/TommyKFEQ/status/1773897240152539571?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 30, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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