BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>

Jason Barton didn’t want to attend the Super Bowl parade this year. He told a co-worker the night before that he worried about a mass shooting. But it was Valentine’s Day, his wife is a Kansas City Chiefs superfan, and he couldn’t afford to take her to games since ticket prices soared after the team won the championship in 2020.

So Barton drove 50 miles from Osawatomie, Kansas, to downtown Kansas City with his wife, Bridget, her 13-year-old daughter, Gabriella, and Gabriella’s school friend. When they finally arrived home that night, they cleaned blood from Gabriella’s sneakers and found a bullet in Bridget’s backpack.

Gabriella’s legs were burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet, Bridget was trampled while shielding Gabriella in the chaos and Jason gave chest compressions to a man injured by gunfire. He believes it was Lyndell Mays,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-02-20/chiefs-shooting-charges-suspects-kansas-city-jackson-county-prosecutor-lyndell-mays-dominic-miller-second-degree-murder">one of two men charged</a>&nbsp;with second-degree felony murder.

“There’s never going to be a Valentine’s Day where I look back and I don’t think about it,” Gabriella said, “because that’s a day where we’re supposed to have fun and appreciate the people that we have.”

One month after the parade in which the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/gun-violence-data-public-health-experts-research-funds/">U.S. public health crisis</a>&nbsp;that is gun violence played out on live television, the Bartons are reeling from their role at its epicenter. They were just feet from 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed. Twenty-four other people were injured.

Although the Bartons aren’t included in that official victim number, they were traumatized, physically and emotionally, and pain permeates their lives: Bridget and Jason keep canceling plans to go out, opting instead to stay home together; Gabriella plans to join a boxing club instead of the dance team.

During this first month, Kansas City community leaders have weighed how to care for people caught in the bloody crossfire and how to divide more than $2 million donated to public funds for victims in the initial outpouring of grief.

The questions are far-reaching: How does a city compensate people for medical bills, recovery treatments, counseling, and lost wages? And what about those who have PTSD-like symptoms that could last years? How does a community identify and care for victims often overlooked in the first flush of reporting on a mass shooting: the injured?

The injured list could grow. Prosecutors and Kansas City police are mounting a legal case against four of the shooting suspects, and are encouraging additional victims to come forward.

“Specifically, we’re looking for individuals who suffered wounds from their trying to escape. A stampede occurred while people were trying to flee,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Anyone who “in the fleeing of this event that maybe fell down, you were trampled, you sprained an ankle, you broke a bone.”

Meanwhile, people who took charge of raising money and providing services to care for the injured are wrestling with who gets the money — and who doesn’t. Due to large donations from celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, some victims or their families will have access to hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses. Other victims may simply have their counseling covered.

The overall economic cost of U.S. firearm injuries is estimated by a recent&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2796678?guestAccessKey=55a622d7-8d12-4a34-886c-1f25eb5ced0a&amp;utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=092722">Harvard Medical School study</a>&nbsp;at $557 billion annually. Most of that — 88% — represented quality-of-life losses among those injured by firearms and their families. The JAMA-published study found that each nonfatal firearm injury leads to roughly $30,000 in direct health care spending per survivor in the first year alone.

In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, as well-intentioned GoFundMe pages popped up to help victims, executives at United Way of Greater Kansas City gathered to devise a collective donation response. They came up with “three concentric circles of victims,” said Jessica Blubaugh, the United Way’s chief philanthropy officer, and launched the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://give.unitedwaygkc.org/p/kcstrong">#KCStrong campaign</a>.

“There were folks that were obviously directly impacted by gunfire. Then the next circle out is folks that were impacted, not necessarily by gunshots, but by physical impact. So maybe they were trampled and maybe they tore a ligament or something because they were running away,” Blubaugh said. “Then third is folks that were just adjacent and/or bystanders that have a lot of trauma from all of this.”

Bridget Barton returned to Kansas City the day after the shooting to turn in the bullet she found in her backpack and to give a statement at police headquarters. Unbeknownst to her, Mayor Quinton Lucas and the police and fire chiefs had just finished a press conference outside the building. She was mobbed by the media assembled there — interviews that are now a blur.

“I don’t know how you guys do this every day,” she remembered telling a detective once she finally got inside.

The Bartons have been overwhelmed by well wishes from close friends and family as they navigate the trauma, almost to the point of exhaustion. Bridget took to social media to explain she wasn’t ignoring the messages, she’s just responding as she feels able — some days she can hardly look at her phone, she said.

A family friend bought new Barbie blankets for Gabriella and her friend after the ones they brought to the parade were lost or ruined. Bridget tried replacing the blankets herself at her local Walmart, but when she was bumped accidentally, it triggered a panic attack. She abandoned her cart and drove home.

“I’m trying to get my anxiety under control,” Bridget said.

That means therapy. Before the parade, she was already seeing a therapist and planning to begin eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a form of therapy associated with treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Now the shooting is the first thing she wants to talk about in therapy.

Since Gabriella, an eighth grader, has returned to middle school, she has dealt with the compounding immaturity of adolescence: peers telling her to get over it, pointing finger guns at her, or even saying it should have been her who was shot. But her friends are checking on her and asking how she’s doing. She wishes more people would do the same for her friend, who took off running when the shooting started and avoided injury. Gabriella feels guilty about bringing her to what turned into a horrifying experience.

“We can tell her all day long, ‘It wasn’t your fault. She’s not your responsibility.’ Just like I can tell myself, ‘It wasn’t my fault or my responsibility,’” Bridget said. “But I still bawled on her mom’s shoulder telling her how sorry I was that I grabbed my kid first.”

The two girls have spent a lot of time talking since the shooting, which Gabriella said helps with her own stress. So does spending time with her dog and her lizard, putting on makeup, and listening to music — Tech N9ne’s performance was a highlight of the Super Bowl celebration for her.

In addition to the spark burns on Gabriella’s legs, when she fell to the concrete in the pandemonium she split open a burn wound on her stomach previously caused by a styling iron.

“When I see that, I just picture my mom trying to protect me and seeing everyone run,” Gabriella said of the wound.

It’s hard not to feel forgotten by the public, Bridget said. The shooting, especially its survivors, have largely faded from the headlines aside from court dates.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article286094976.html">Two additional</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article286245420.html">high-profile</a>&nbsp;shootings have occurred in the area since the parade. Doesn’t the community care, she wonders, that her family is still living with the fallout every day?

“I’m going to put this as plainly as possible. I’m f—ing pissed because my family went through something traumatic,” Bridget vented in a recent social media post. “I don’t really want anything other [than], ‘Your story matters, too, and we want to know how you’re doing.’ Have we gotten that? Abso-f—lutely not.”

Helped in part by celebrities like Swift and Kelce, donations for the family of Lopez-Galvan, the lone fatality, and other victims poured in immediately after the shootings. Swift and Kelce donated $100,000 each. With the help of an initial $200,000 donation from the Kansas City Chiefs, the United Way’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://give.unitedwaygkc.org/p/kcstrong">#KCStrong campaign</a>&nbsp;took off, reaching $1 million in the first two weeks and sitting at $1.2 million now.

Six&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/kansas-city-parade-help">verified GoFundMe funds</a>&nbsp;were established. One solely for the Lopez-Galvan family has collected over $406,000. Smaller ones were started by a local college student and Swift fans. Churches have also stepped up, and one local coalition had raised $183,000, money set aside for Lopez-Galvan’s funeral, counseling services for five victims, and other medical bills from Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital, said Ray Jarrett, executive director of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://unitekc.org/">Unite KC</a>.

Meanwhile, those leading the efforts found models in other cities. The United Way’s Blubaugh called counterparts who’d responded to their own mass shootings in Orlando, Florida; Buffalo, New York; and Newtown, Connecticut.

“The unfortunate reality is we have a cadre of communities across the country who have already faced tragedies like this,” Blubaugh said. “So there is an unfortunate protocol that is, sort of, already in place.”

#KCStrong monies could start being paid out by the end of March, Blubaugh said. Hundreds of people called the nonprofit’s 211 line, and the United Way is consulting with hospitals and law enforcement to verify victims and then offer services they may need, she said.

The range of needs is staggering — several people are still recovering at home, some are seeking counseling, and many weren’t even counted in the beginning. For instance, a plainclothes police officer was injured in the melee but is doing fine now, said Police Chief Stacey Graves.

Determining who is eligible for assistance was one of the first conversations United Way officials had when creating the fund. They prioritized three areas of focus: first were the wounded victims and their families, second was collaborating with organizations already helping victims in violence intervention and prevention and mental health services, and third were the first responders.

Specifically, the funds will be steered to cover medical bills, or lost wages for those who haven’t been able to work since the shootings, Blubaugh said. The goal is to work quickly to help people, she said, but also to spend the money in a judicious, strategic way.

“We don’t have a clear sightline of the entire landscape that we’re dealing with,” Blubaugh said. “Not only of how much money do we have to work with, but also, what is the landscape of need? And we need both of those things to be able to make those decisions.”

Firsthand experience of daily Kansas City violence

Jason used his lone remaining sick day to stay home with Bridget and Gabriella. An overnight automation technician, he is the family’s primary breadwinner.

“I can’t take off work, you know?” he said. “It happened. It sucked. But it’s time to move on.”

“He’s a guy’s guy,” Bridget interjected.

On Jason’s first night back at work, the sudden sound of falling dishes startled Bridget and Gabriella, sending them into each other’s arms crying.

“It’s just those moments of flashbacks that are kicking our butts,” Bridget said.

In a way, the shooting has brought the family closer. They’ve been through a lot recently. Jason survived a heart attack and cancer last year. Raising a teenager is never easy.

Bridget can appreciate that the bullet lodged in her backpack, narrowly missing her, and that Gabriella’s legs were burned by sparks but she wasn’t shot.

Jason is grateful for another reason: It wasn’t a terrorist attack, as he initially feared. Instead, it fits into the type of gun violence he’d become accustomed to growing up in Kansas City, which recorded&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-12-28/kansas-city-matches-its-deadliest-year-they-dont-know-the-damage-it-does-to-the-families">its deadliest year</a>&nbsp;last year, although he’d never been this close to it before.

“This crap happens every single day,” he said. “The only difference is we were here for it.”

<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710635619692.png" alt=" The Barton family is not included in the official tally of 24 injured survivors of a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February. But Jason Barton; his wife, Bridget; and her 13-year-old daughter, Gabriella, are still reeling from their roles at its epicenter (Christopher Smith/KFF Health News)." />
 <figcaption> The Barton family is not included in the official tally of 24 injured survivors of a mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February. But Jason Barton; his wife, Bridget; and her 13-year-old daughter, Gabriella, are still reeling from their roles at its epicenter (Christopher Smith/KFF Health News).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>Jason Barton didn’t want to attend the Super Bowl parade this year. He told a co-worker the night before that he worried about a mass shooting. But it was Valentine’s Day, his wife is a Kansas City Chiefs superfan, and he couldn’t afford to take her to games since ticket prices soared after the team won the championship in 2020.So Barton drove 50 miles from Osawatomie, Kansas, to downtown Kansas City with his wife, Bridget, her 13-year-old daughter, Gabriella, and Gabriella’s school friend. When they finally arrived home that night, they cleaned blood from Gabriella’s sneakers and found a bullet in Bridget’s backpack.Gabriella’s legs were burned by sparks from a ricocheted bullet, Bridget was trampled while shielding Gabriella in the chaos and Jason gave chest compressions to a man injured by gunfire. He believes it was Lyndell Mays,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-02-20/chiefs-shooting-charges-suspects-kansas-city-jackson-county-prosecutor-lyndell-mays-dominic-miller-second-degree-murder">one of two men charged</a>&nbsp;with second-degree felony murder.“There’s never going to be a Valentine’s Day where I look back and I don’t think about it,” Gabriella said, “because that’s a day where we’re supposed to have fun and appreciate the people that we have.”One month after the parade in which the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/gun-violence-data-public-health-experts-research-funds/">U.S. public health crisis</a>&nbsp;that is gun violence played out on live television, the Bartons are reeling from their role at its epicenter. They were just feet from 43-year-old Lisa Lopez-Galvan, who was killed. Twenty-four other people were injured.Although the Bartons aren’t included in that official victim number, they were traumatized, physically and emotionally, and pain permeates their lives: Bridget and Jason keep canceling plans to go out, opting instead to stay home together; Gabriella plans to join a boxing club instead of the dance team.During this first month, Kansas City community leaders have weighed how to care for people caught in the bloody crossfire and how to divide more than $2 million donated to public funds for victims in the initial outpouring of grief.The questions are far-reaching: How does a city compensate people for medical bills, recovery treatments, counseling, and lost wages? And what about those who have PTSD-like symptoms that could last years? How does a community identify and care for victims often overlooked in the first flush of reporting on a mass shooting: the injured?The injured list could grow. Prosecutors and Kansas City police are mounting a legal case against four of the shooting suspects, and are encouraging additional victims to come forward.“Specifically, we’re looking for individuals who suffered wounds from their trying to escape. A stampede occurred while people were trying to flee,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. Anyone who “in the fleeing of this event that maybe fell down, you were trampled, you sprained an ankle, you broke a bone.”Meanwhile, people who took charge of raising money and providing services to care for the injured are wrestling with who gets the money — and who doesn’t. Due to large donations from celebrities like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, some victims or their families will have access to hundreds of thousands of dollars for medical expenses. Other victims may simply have their counseling covered.The overall economic cost of U.S. firearm injuries is estimated by a recent&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2796678?guestAccessKey=55a622d7-8d12-4a34-886c-1f25eb5ced0a&amp;utm_source=For_The_Media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=092722">Harvard Medical School study</a>&nbsp;at $557 billion annually. Most of that — 88% — represented quality-of-life losses among those injured by firearms and their families. The JAMA-published study found that each nonfatal firearm injury leads to roughly $30,000 in direct health care spending per survivor in the first year alone.In the immediate aftermath of the shootings, as well-intentioned GoFundMe pages popped up to help victims, executives at United Way of Greater Kansas City gathered to devise a collective donation response. They came up with “three concentric circles of victims,” said Jessica Blubaugh, the United Way’s chief philanthropy officer, and launched the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://give.unitedwaygkc.org/p/kcstrong">#KCStrong campaign</a>.“There were folks that were obviously directly impacted by gunfire. Then the next circle out is folks that were impacted, not necessarily by gunshots, but by physical impact. So maybe they were trampled and maybe they tore a ligament or something because they were running away,” Blubaugh said. “Then third is folks that were just adjacent and/or bystanders that have a lot of trauma from all of this.”<h2>PTSD, panic, and the echo of gunfire</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710635577719.png" alt=" A memorial for Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local DJ and Johnson County mother, sits outside Union Station days after a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade killed Lopez-Galvan and wounded 22 others (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> A memorial for Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a local DJ and Johnson County mother, sits outside Union Station days after a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII victory parade killed Lopez-Galvan and wounded 22 others (Anna Spoerre/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Bridget Barton returned to Kansas City the day after the shooting to turn in the bullet she found in her backpack and to give a statement at police headquarters. Unbeknownst to her, Mayor Quinton Lucas and the police and fire chiefs had just finished a press conference outside the building. She was mobbed by the media assembled there — interviews that are now a blur.“I don’t know how you guys do this every day,” she remembered telling a detective once she finally got inside.The Bartons have been overwhelmed by well wishes from close friends and family as they navigate the trauma, almost to the point of exhaustion. Bridget took to social media to explain she wasn’t ignoring the messages, she’s just responding as she feels able — some days she can hardly look at her phone, she said.A family friend bought new Barbie blankets for Gabriella and her friend after the ones they brought to the parade were lost or ruined. Bridget tried replacing the blankets herself at her local Walmart, but when she was bumped accidentally, it triggered a panic attack. She abandoned her cart and drove home.“I’m trying to get my anxiety under control,” Bridget said.That means therapy. Before the parade, she was already seeing a therapist and planning to begin eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, a form of therapy associated with treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Now the shooting is the first thing she wants to talk about in therapy.Since Gabriella, an eighth grader, has returned to middle school, she has dealt with the compounding immaturity of adolescence: peers telling her to get over it, pointing finger guns at her, or even saying it should have been her who was shot. But her friends are checking on her and asking how she’s doing. She wishes more people would do the same for her friend, who took off running when the shooting started and avoided injury. Gabriella feels guilty about bringing her to what turned into a horrifying experience.“We can tell her all day long, ‘It wasn’t your fault. She’s not your responsibility.’ Just like I can tell myself, ‘It wasn’t my fault or my responsibility,’” Bridget said. “But I still bawled on her mom’s shoulder telling her how sorry I was that I grabbed my kid first.”The two girls have spent a lot of time talking since the shooting, which Gabriella said helps with her own stress. So does spending time with her dog and her lizard, putting on makeup, and listening to music — Tech N9ne’s performance was a highlight of the Super Bowl celebration for her.In addition to the spark burns on Gabriella’s legs, when she fell to the concrete in the pandemonium she split open a burn wound on her stomach previously caused by a styling iron.“When I see that, I just picture my mom trying to protect me and seeing everyone run,” Gabriella said of the wound.It’s hard not to feel forgotten by the public, Bridget said. The shooting, especially its survivors, have largely faded from the headlines aside from court dates.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article286094976.html">Two additional</a>&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article286245420.html">high-profile</a>&nbsp;shootings have occurred in the area since the parade. Doesn’t the community care, she wonders, that her family is still living with the fallout every day?“I’m going to put this as plainly as possible. I’m f—ing pissed because my family went through something traumatic,” Bridget vented in a recent social media post. “I don’t really want anything other [than], ‘Your story matters, too, and we want to know how you’re doing.’ Have we gotten that? Abso-f—lutely not.”<h2>‘What is the landscape of need?’</h2>Helped in part by celebrities like Swift and Kelce, donations for the family of Lopez-Galvan, the lone fatality, and other victims poured in immediately after the shootings. Swift and Kelce donated $100,000 each. With the help of an initial $200,000 donation from the Kansas City Chiefs, the United Way’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://give.unitedwaygkc.org/p/kcstrong">#KCStrong campaign</a>&nbsp;took off, reaching $1 million in the first two weeks and sitting at $1.2 million now.Six&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/kansas-city-parade-help">verified GoFundMe funds</a>&nbsp;were established. One solely for the Lopez-Galvan family has collected over $406,000. Smaller ones were started by a local college student and Swift fans. Churches have also stepped up, and one local coalition had raised $183,000, money set aside for Lopez-Galvan’s funeral, counseling services for five victims, and other medical bills from Children’s Mercy Kansas City hospital, said Ray Jarrett, executive director of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://unitekc.org/">Unite KC</a>.Meanwhile, those leading the efforts found models in other cities. The United Way’s Blubaugh called counterparts who’d responded to their own mass shootings in Orlando, Florida; Buffalo, New York; and Newtown, Connecticut.“The unfortunate reality is we have a cadre of communities across the country who have already faced tragedies like this,” Blubaugh said. “So there is an unfortunate protocol that is, sort of, already in place.”#KCStrong monies could start being paid out by the end of March, Blubaugh said. Hundreds of people called the nonprofit’s 211 line, and the United Way is consulting with hospitals and law enforcement to verify victims and then offer services they may need, she said.The range of needs is staggering — several people are still recovering at home, some are seeking counseling, and many weren’t even counted in the beginning. For instance, a plainclothes police officer was injured in the melee but is doing fine now, said Police Chief Stacey Graves.Determining who is eligible for assistance was one of the first conversations United Way officials had when creating the fund. They prioritized three areas of focus: first were the wounded victims and their families, second was collaborating with organizations already helping victims in violence intervention and prevention and mental health services, and third were the first responders.Specifically, the funds will be steered to cover medical bills, or lost wages for those who haven’t been able to work since the shootings, Blubaugh said. The goal is to work quickly to help people, she said, but also to spend the money in a judicious, strategic way.“We don’t have a clear sightline of the entire landscape that we’re dealing with,” Blubaugh said. “Not only of how much money do we have to work with, but also, what is the landscape of need? And we need both of those things to be able to make those decisions.”<h2>Firsthand experience of daily Kansas City violence</h2>Jason used his lone remaining sick day to stay home with Bridget and Gabriella. An overnight automation technician, he is the family’s primary breadwinner.“I can’t take off work, you know?” he said. “It happened. It sucked. But it’s time to move on.”“He’s a guy’s guy,” Bridget interjected.On Jason’s first night back at work, the sudden sound of falling dishes startled Bridget and Gabriella, sending them into each other’s arms crying.“It’s just those moments of flashbacks that are kicking our butts,” Bridget said.In a way, the shooting has brought the family closer. They’ve been through a lot recently. Jason survived a heart attack and cancer last year. Raising a teenager is never easy.Bridget can appreciate that the bullet lodged in her backpack, narrowly missing her, and that Gabriella’s legs were burned by sparks but she wasn’t shot.Jason is grateful for another reason: It wasn’t a terrorist attack, as he initially feared. Instead, it fits into the type of gun violence he’d become accustomed to growing up in Kansas City, which recorded&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-12-28/kansas-city-matches-its-deadliest-year-they-dont-know-the-damage-it-does-to-the-families">its deadliest year</a>&nbsp;last year, although he’d never been this close to it before.“This crap happens every single day,” he said. “The only difference is we were here for it.”<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.

They were injured at the KC Super Bowl rally shooting. Now they feel forgotten

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a>

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2446&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow naturopathic doctors&nbsp;to become licensed in Missouri passed its first hurdle Wednesday.&nbsp;

The House Professional Registration and Licensing Committee voted 7-2 to advance the bill, sponsored by Republican&nbsp;Rep. Doug Richey of Excelsior Springs.&nbsp;

Unlike&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://naturopathic.org/page/ScopeforPatients">Kansas and 22 other states</a>, Missouri does not have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors, or&nbsp;primary care physicians with a focus on holistic care.

“As we continue to talk about the need for more access to healthcare in both rural as well as metro contexts, this is an area of medicine that is known to be effective,” Richey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/02/naturopathic-doctors-could-become-licensed-in-missouri-under-republican-backed-legislation/">told The Independent in February</a>. “There are other states that have formally recognized it as such.”

In states where the practice of naturopathic medicine is regulated, doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass a postdoctoral board examination in order to receive a license or registration.&nbsp;

Richey’s bill was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480092-amendments-hb-2446">amended</a>&nbsp;Wednesday to clarify that naturopathic doctors would only perform minor office procedures, similar to a primary care physician. And they would not be allowed to perform surgeries or prescribe opioids.&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=1415492">Senate bill</a>, sponsored by Republican Sen. Nick Schroer of Defiance, has not yet received a public hearing.

The veterans service organization, AMVETS,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480201-amvets-letter">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to Gov. Michael Parson on March 8 urging his support for the bill. Diana Johnson, director of AMVETS in Missouri, said licensed naturopathic doctors are a “vital addition” to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/">U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Whole Health</a>&nbsp;program to provide veterans more holistic care.&nbsp;

“Until we are able to license these doctors within Missouri, the veterans of our great state will continue to suffer from chronic pain and other ailments,” Johnson said, “without the full benefits of naturopathic care and the opportunity to be included in the ‘Whole Health’ program established by the V.A.”

Dr. Emily Hudson, president of the Missouri Society of Naturopathic Physicians, estimates there are currently a dozen or more naturopathic doctors working in Missouri who could be licensed under the proposed legislation’s prerequisites. And many more would return to Missouri if the bill passes.&nbsp;

Hudson called the committee’s approval a “significant milestone” towards offering Missouri residents access to licensed naturopathic doctors and being able to “incorporate safe, effective and naturally focused treatments” into veterans’ healthcare.&nbsp;

“This victory marks a collective effort towards providing comprehensive care,” Hudson said, “and honoring the well-being of those who have served our nation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710635854679.png" alt=" Emmalyn Pratt tends to a patient as part of her studies at the Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Arizona to become a naturopathic doctor (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Emmalyn Pratt tends to a patient as part of her studies at the Sonoran University of Health Sciences in Arizona to become a naturopathic doctor (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a>A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2446&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">bill</a>&nbsp;that would allow naturopathic doctors&nbsp;to become licensed in Missouri passed its first hurdle Wednesday.&nbsp;The House Professional Registration and Licensing Committee voted 7-2 to advance the bill, sponsored by Republican&nbsp;Rep. Doug Richey of Excelsior Springs.&nbsp;Unlike&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://naturopathic.org/page/ScopeforPatients">Kansas and 22 other states</a>, Missouri does not have licensing or registration laws for naturopathic doctors, or&nbsp;primary care physicians with a focus on holistic care.“As we continue to talk about the need for more access to healthcare in both rural as well as metro contexts, this is an area of medicine that is known to be effective,” Richey&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/02/naturopathic-doctors-could-become-licensed-in-missouri-under-republican-backed-legislation/">told The Independent in February</a>. “There are other states that have formally recognized it as such.”In states where the practice of naturopathic medicine is regulated, doctors are required to graduate from accredited four-year residential naturopathic medical programs and pass a postdoctoral board examination in order to receive a license or registration.&nbsp;Richey’s bill was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480092-amendments-hb-2446">amended</a>&nbsp;Wednesday to clarify that naturopathic doctors would only perform minor office procedures, similar to a primary care physician. And they would not be allowed to perform surgeries or prescribe opioids.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=1415492">Senate bill</a>, sponsored by Republican Sen. Nick Schroer of Defiance, has not yet received a public hearing.The veterans service organization, AMVETS,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24480201-amvets-letter">sent a letter</a>&nbsp;to Gov. Michael Parson on March 8 urging his support for the bill. Diana Johnson, director of AMVETS in Missouri, said licensed naturopathic doctors are a “vital addition” to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.va.gov/wholehealth/">U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Whole Health</a>&nbsp;program to provide veterans more holistic care.&nbsp;“Until we are able to license these doctors within Missouri, the veterans of our great state will continue to suffer from chronic pain and other ailments,” Johnson said, “without the full benefits of naturopathic care and the opportunity to be included in the ‘Whole Health’ program established by the V.A.”Dr. Emily Hudson, president of the Missouri Society of Naturopathic Physicians, estimates there are currently a dozen or more naturopathic doctors working in Missouri who could be licensed under the proposed legislation’s prerequisites. And many more would return to Missouri if the bill passes.&nbsp;Hudson called the committee’s approval a “significant milestone” towards offering Missouri residents access to licensed naturopathic doctors and being able to “incorporate safe, effective and naturally focused treatments” into veterans’ healthcare.&nbsp;“This victory marks a collective effort towards providing comprehensive care,” Hudson said, “and honoring the well-being of those who have served our nation.”

House committee passes licensing bill for naturopathic doctors in Missouri

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/madelineshannon/">MADELINE SHANNON</a>

Efforts continued Thursday to move legislation forward that would allow employers, child care providers and families a tax credit in a push to expand access to child care in Missouri.

On Thursday, the Senate Government Accountability Committee passed legislation that would establish tax credits to employers who make contributions to their employees’ child care expenses, as well as grant a tax credit to families who pay for child care and child care providers.

The Missouri House passed the legislation in early February.

The bill would allow individuals to claim a tax credit equal to 75% of their contribution as a child care provider each tax year, not to exceed $200,000 a year. The minimum contribution individuals can claim a tax credit for is $100.

Companies could also claim 30% of child care contributions when employers contribute to child care expenses for their employees’ children. Another provision of the bill would see a tax credit for child care providers up to the amount of the eligible employer withholding tax and 30% of the child care provider’s capital expenditures, which can include things like construction and renovation of a child care facility.

Those provisions are capped at $200,000 per year, with a minimum qualifying contribution of $100.

The measure is meant to curb the growth of “child care deserts.” Those are defined as areas where the poverty rate is at least 20% or the median family income is less than 80% of the statewide average, and where at least 500 people, or 33% of the population, are located more than half a mile away from a child care provider in an urban area or more than 10 miles away in rural areas.

“We heard mainly from a lot of chambers of commerce, a lot of industry leaders associated with industries in Missouri who really see the lack of child care options in the state of Missouri,” said Will Wheeler, chief of staff to Sen. Karla Eslinger, a Republican from Wasola, and chair of the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee.

“It has great bipartisan support,” he said. “This is a priority for the governor, this is a priority to the Senate Committee Chairwoman, Senator Eslinger, and we hope to get it done by the end of session.”

Gov. Mike Parson pointed to the bill as deserving the attention of the legislature in his State of the State address this year.

Testimony in support of the bill in the Thursday hearing was short, with no one testifying in opposition, underscoring its bipartisan nature. Others who testified after the initial introduction of the bill in January voiced overwhelming support for the legislation.

“A large hindrance to any workforce effort is child care,” said Allen Dillingham, director of government relations for The Builders, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors, in testimony in January. “Child care issues are becoming more and more important for every industry in the state. The construction industry is not immune to these workforce challenges.”

Parents, too, are feeling the pinch as the cost of child care goes up — making it unaffordable for many families.

“In order for my child to receive the kind of care I provided to other children, it would have taken my whole monthly paycheck,” said Alyssa Anne Morrow, who submitted testimony in support of the bill in January. “I stayed home for many reasons, but not being able to afford care was the biggest. The workforce of all industries in Missouri relies upon the availability of the child care workforce.”

The bill has received support from both Democrats and Republicans who have voiced approval for state support of child care providers.

According to previous Missourian reporting, there are about 500 fewer child care providers in Missouri than there were five years ago. Parson’s legislative director, Jamie Birch, said in a 2023 interview that 77% of Missouri’s counties were considered a child care desert, and child care providers still in business in the state can only serve 39% of children younger than 6.

Efforts to pass legislation to curtail the child care shortage in Missouri have stalled in previous years, with the House failing to pass new laws to expand child care access last year.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-child-care-tax-credit-bill-advances/article_b882ac40-e228-11ee-82b7-4f67ac550990.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710588992878.png" alt="File Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>File Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/madelineshannon/">MADELINE SHANNON</a>Efforts continued Thursday to move legislation forward that would allow employers, child care providers and families a tax credit in a push to expand access to child care in Missouri.On Thursday, the Senate Government Accountability Committee passed legislation that would establish tax credits to employers who make contributions to their employees’ child care expenses, as well as grant a tax credit to families who pay for child care and child care providers.The Missouri House passed the legislation in early February.The bill would allow individuals to claim a tax credit equal to 75% of their contribution as a child care provider each tax year, not to exceed $200,000 a year. The minimum contribution individuals can claim a tax credit for is $100.Companies could also claim 30% of child care contributions when employers contribute to child care expenses for their employees’ children. Another provision of the bill would see a tax credit for child care providers up to the amount of the eligible employer withholding tax and 30% of the child care provider’s capital expenditures, which can include things like construction and renovation of a child care facility.Those provisions are capped at $200,000 per year, with a minimum qualifying contribution of $100.The measure is meant to curb the growth of “child care deserts.” Those are defined as areas where the poverty rate is at least 20% or the median family income is less than 80% of the statewide average, and where at least 500 people, or 33% of the population, are located more than half a mile away from a child care provider in an urban area or more than 10 miles away in rural areas.“We heard mainly from a lot of chambers of commerce, a lot of industry leaders associated with industries in Missouri who really see the lack of child care options in the state of Missouri,” said Will Wheeler, chief of staff to Sen. Karla Eslinger, a Republican from Wasola, and chair of the Senate Governmental Accountability Committee.“It has great bipartisan support,” he said. “This is a priority for the governor, this is a priority to the Senate Committee Chairwoman, Senator Eslinger, and we hope to get it done by the end of session.”Gov. Mike Parson pointed to the bill as deserving the attention of the legislature in his State of the State address this year.Testimony in support of the bill in the Thursday hearing was short, with no one testifying in opposition, underscoring its bipartisan nature. Others who testified after the initial introduction of the bill in January voiced overwhelming support for the legislation.“A large hindrance to any workforce effort is child care,” said Allen Dillingham, director of government relations for The Builders, a chapter of the Associated General Contractors, in testimony in January. “Child care issues are becoming more and more important for every industry in the state. The construction industry is not immune to these workforce challenges.”Parents, too, are feeling the pinch as the cost of child care goes up — making it unaffordable for many families.“In order for my child to receive the kind of care I provided to other children, it would have taken my whole monthly paycheck,” said Alyssa Anne Morrow, who submitted testimony in support of the bill in January. “I stayed home for many reasons, but not being able to afford care was the biggest. The workforce of all industries in Missouri relies upon the availability of the child care workforce.”The bill has received support from both Democrats and Republicans who have voiced approval for state support of child care providers.According to previous Missourian reporting, there are about 500 fewer child care providers in Missouri than there were five years ago. Parson’s legislative director, Jamie Birch, said in a 2023 interview that 77% of Missouri’s counties were considered a child care desert, and child care providers still in business in the state can only serve 39% of children younger than 6.Efforts to pass legislation to curtail the child care shortage in Missouri have stalled in previous years, with the House failing to pass new laws to expand child care access last year.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-child-care-tax-credit-bill-advances/article_b882ac40-e228-11ee-82b7-4f67ac550990.html#tncms-source=Top%20Story">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Child care tax credit bill advances in Missouri Senate

KANSAS CITY—At 1:46p.m. Friday, the United State's Geological Survey reported a 3.5 magnitude earthquake near Ferrelview, just east of Kansas City International Airport. 

According to the airport on social media, "some airport personnel reported feeling the tremor."

The airport also said there was no observed damage and they were conducting inspections of the airfield and terminal.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710548165595.png" alt="Location of the earthquake on Friday near Kansas City International Airport-USGS image&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Location of the earthquake on Friday near Kansas City International Airport-USGS image&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—At 1:46p.m. Friday, the United State's Geological Survey reported a 3.5 magnitude earthquake near Ferrelview, just east of Kansas City International Airport. According to the airport on social media, "some airport personnel reported feeling the tremor."The airport also said there was no observed damage and they were conducting inspections of the airfield and terminal.&nbsp; Check the Post for additional details as they become available.

Earthquake near Kansas City International Airport

A seat on the St. Joseph City Council is now vacant as District II Councilmember Taylor Crouse has announced his resignation.  

Due to changes in his family life Crouse will soon move outside his council district, making him no longer eligible to represent District II.  Crouse's resignation is effective immediately.   

“It has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of District II. I plan to continue my presence in St. Joseph through my insurance business and as a real estate agent,” Crouse said in a written statement released by the city. 

“On behalf of the City Council, I want to express my thanks to Taylor for his service to the community and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Mayor John Josendale added. 

More information on how the vacancy will be filled will be announced at a later date. 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA seat on the St. Joseph City Council is now vacant as District II Councilmember Taylor Crouse has announced his resignation. Due to changes in his family life Crouse will soon move outside his council district, making him no longer eligible to represent District II. Crouse's resignation is effective immediately. “It has been my honor and privilege to serve the residents of District II. I plan to continue my presence in St. Joseph through my insurance business and as a real estate agent,” Crouse said in a written statement released by the city. “On behalf of the City Council, I want to express my thanks to Taylor for his service to the community and wish him well in his future endeavors,” Mayor John Josendale added. More information on how the vacancy will be filled will be announced at a later date.

Vacancy on the St. Joseph City Council

Midland Empire Hotline host Barry Birr has been honored as the
2023 Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Conservation Federation of
Missouri.

Former Missouri Conservation Agent Kyle Carroll, a regular on
the program, presented the award to Birr during the program Friday morning on
KFEQ.

“Twenty, twenty-three Conservation Communicator of the Year
presented to Barry Birr, in recognition of dedicated service and significant
contribution in the wise use of natural resources by the Conservation
Federation of Missouri,” Carroll read off the award presented to Birr.

Carroll actually accepted the award earlier during the
Conservation Federation banquet at the Lake of the Ozarks. Birr could not
attend due to illness. Carroll, who nominated Birr, returned to present the
award in person during his regularly scheduled appearance on the Hotline.

“On behalf of the Conservation Federation and all of us that
listen and participate, congratulations,” Carroll said as he presented the
award to Birr.

“I’m really touched, Kyle,” Birr said. “It’s just awfully
nice.”

The two joked that it was quite appropriate that the award
came with a small statue of a mountain lion, because for years on the program
the two discussed mountain lion sightings in northwest Missouri long before the
Missouri Conservation Department acknowledged their existence in the state.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710520157457.jpeg" alt="Former Conservation Agent Kyle Carroll (left) presents KFEQ's Barry Birr with the Conservation Communicator of the Year award/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Former Conservation Agent Kyle Carroll (left) presents KFEQ's Barry Birr with the Conservation Communicator of the Year award/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMidland Empire Hotline host Barry Birr has been honored as the
2023 Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Conservation Federation of
Missouri.Former Missouri Conservation Agent Kyle Carroll, a regular on
the program, presented the award to Birr during the program Friday morning on
KFEQ.“Twenty, twenty-three Conservation Communicator of the Year
presented to Barry Birr, in recognition of dedicated service and significant
contribution in the wise use of natural resources by the Conservation
Federation of Missouri,” Carroll read off the award presented to Birr.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710520253146.jpeg" alt="Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>Carroll actually accepted the award earlier during the
Conservation Federation banquet at the Lake of the Ozarks. Birr could not
attend due to illness. Carroll, who nominated Birr, returned to present the
award in person during his regularly scheduled appearance on the Hotline.“On behalf of the Conservation Federation and all of us that
listen and participate, congratulations,” Carroll said as he presented the
award to Birr.“I’m really touched, Kyle,” Birr said. “It’s just awfully
nice.”The two joked that it was quite appropriate that the award
came with a small statue of a mountain lion, because for years on the program
the two discussed mountain lion sightings in northwest Missouri long before the
Missouri Conservation Department acknowledged their existence in the state.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710520299012.jpeg" alt="Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ personality Birr named Conservation Communicator of Year

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:45p.m. Thursday in Worth County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Colorado driven by Matthew D. Marshall, 25, Princeton, was eastbound on State Route M at Vintage Avenue four miles east of Denver, Missouri.

The pickup began to skid, traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment and struck multiple trees.

Mercy Air transported Marshall to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:45p.m. Thursday in Worth County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Colorado driven by Matthew D. Marshall, 25, Princeton, was eastbound on State Route M at Vintage Avenue four miles east of Denver, Missouri.The pickup began to skid, traveled off the south side of the road down an embankment and struck multiple trees.Mercy Air transported Marshall to Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man airlifted to hospital after pickup strikes multiple trees

BETHANY, OK - When the Missouri Western women's basketball team watched the NCAA tournament selection show on March 6, 2022, there was a sense of uncertainty in the room.

It seemed like that Griffon team, which won 21 regular season games and finished fifth in the MIAA, had done just enough to get to the big dance.

 Beating Central Missouri three times helped.

Sure enough, the Griffons were the No. 7 seed and went onto win the Central Region championship at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas, making the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995.

That run started with a <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d4d3afca-6d7c-495a-8e5c-ef6a7c0bdcab">111-77 walloping of the No. 2 seed</a> and Great American Conference champion Southwestern Oklahoma State.

"We got in and were probably better than what people knew," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker recalled, "but with our record and our finish (in the MIAA standings), where else would you have put us, but a 7?"

In 2024, roles are reversed. Missouri Western was a lock this year. The Griffons (25-5) reeled off 15 straight wins to secure an MIAA regular season title and a No. 2 seed in the Central Region.

Their-first round challenge - No. 7 seed Minnesota State-Mankato. The Mavericks (26-5), though, are no Cinderella.

Minnesota State won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season and conference tournament championship, going 20-2 in league play and rattling off 19 straight wins at one point.

Missouri Western, the No. 2 seed in the region, is ranked No. 20 in the coaches' poll. Minnesota State? They're 13th. The No. 1 seed and regional host Southern Nazarene, is ranked 10th.

"It's very different when you're a (conference) tournament champion and conference (regular season) champion and you get a seven seed," Whitaker said of Minnesota State.

"With the WBCA (coaches' poll), they're 13th. We're 20th. It's interesting. I think DII is interesting. Regionalization is interesting. I think every game is tough, so I don't know if there's an advantage of what seed you're in. Everyone is 0-0 and you have to go compete."

Minnesota State and Missouri Western match up on Friday at 2:30 p.m. central at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Oklahoma on the campus of Southern Nazarene University.

Should the Griffons win Friday, they'd play either No. 3 Fort Hays State (24-7) or No. 6 Northwest Missouri State (23-7) in regional semifinals Saturday.

But, this first-round game is as scary as they come for the Griffons.

 Minnesota State's lead scorer and first-team all-region guard Joey Batt, missed the first five games of the season, and the Mavs started 2-4.

Batt came back, won NSIC Defensive Player of the Year for a third time in her career and the Mavs have gone 24-2 since November 21.

 Minnesota State ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (83.3), first in turnover margin (+13.52), second in made field goals (976) second in takeaways per game (28), fourth in scoring margin (+20.4) and seventh in offensive rebounding (16.5 per game).

"I'm excited about the matchup," Whitaker said. "(Minnesota State) plays a unique style which is a little like (Southwestern Oklahoma State) a couple years ago."

I think (Minnesota State) is better (than SWOSU) as far as depth, motor, relentlessness. They're going to press you for 40 minutes, they're going to run and jump. It's a bit chaotic."

These teams have a lot in common. Missouri Western also overcame a slow start, going 19-2 down the stretch after starting 5-3.

The Griffons are seventh in the country in scoring margin (+18.3), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.27), 14th in field goal percentage (45%) and field goal percentage defense (35.3%), 20th in scoring (74.8) and 17th in turnover margin (+5.27).

The Griffons also have a player in Connie Clarke, who's won multiple Defensive Player of the Year honors in her respective league. She's done it the last two years.

These teams are equally impressive on paper and play comparable styles. Fast, transition offense. Stellar, takeaway-heavy defense. High shooting percentage. Both teams play a lot of people.

Missouri Western has nine players who average 15 minutes or more per game. Minnesota State has 10.

Missouri Western freshman Tiani Ellison knows the Mavs are a big challenge and it's a solid matchup, but she has full faith the Griffons can get it done.

"They're pretty good," Ellison said of the next opponent. "I watched them, but we're definitely better and I know we can be better. (Minnesota State) doesn't take possessions off. They 'run-and-jump' press the whole game. We've never seen that. It's unique, but if we go out there and take care of the ball, we know what we need to do to get the job done."

No one, at least on the outside, expected Missouri Western to cut down nets in Hays as the No. 7 seed two years ago.

Minnesota State might feel slighted this year after winning one of the toughest DII leagues in the nation, and getting seeded seventh.

The Central Region is always stout. This year is no exception, with half of the field, four of the eight teams, being MIAA members.

But, as is the case with any postseason tournament, it's quite literally the start of a new season. And in this Central Region bracket, any of these eight teams are plenty capable of getting to Civic Arena and the Elite Eight.

"It's a new opportunity and season," Whitaker said. "We all know we're win and advance, or lose and go home. You always see people play with more sense of urgency in their prep and in games this time of year. I think our group is excited about the opportunity in front of them."

Friday's game will be heard on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app). Coverage will start at 2 p.m. Tip-off at 2:30.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710466048622.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western, the MIAA regular season champion in 2024, enters this NCAA tournament as a potential regional favorite after making a Cinderella-type run to the Elite Eight in 2022. Photo by A.J. Robbins." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western, the MIAA regular season champion in 2024, enters this NCAA tournament as a potential regional favorite after making a Cinderella-type run to the Elite Eight in 2022. Photo by A.J. Robbins.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBETHANY, OK - When the Missouri Western women's basketball team watched the NCAA tournament selection show on March 6, 2022, there was a sense of uncertainty in the room.It seemed like that Griffon team, which won 21 regular season games and finished fifth in the MIAA, had done just enough to get to the big dance. Beating Central Missouri three times helped.Sure enough, the Griffons were the No. 7 seed and went onto win the Central Region championship at Gross Memorial Coliseum in Hays, Kansas, making the Elite Eight for the first time since 1995.That run started with a <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/d4d3afca-6d7c-495a-8e5c-ef6a7c0bdcab">111-77 walloping of the No. 2 seed</a> and Great American Conference champion Southwestern Oklahoma State."We got in and were probably better than what people knew," Missouri Western coach Candi Whitaker recalled, "but with our record and our finish (in the MIAA standings), where else would you have put us, but a 7?"In 2024, roles are reversed. Missouri Western was a lock this year. The Griffons (25-5) reeled off 15 straight wins to secure an MIAA regular season title and a No. 2 seed in the Central Region.Their-first round challenge - No. 7 seed Minnesota State-Mankato. The Mavericks (26-5), though, are no Cinderella.Minnesota State won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season and conference tournament championship, going 20-2 in league play and rattling off 19 straight wins at one point.Missouri Western, the No. 2 seed in the region, is ranked No. 20 in the coaches' poll. Minnesota State? They're 13th. The No. 1 seed and regional host Southern Nazarene, is ranked 10th."It's very different when you're a (conference) tournament champion and conference (regular season) champion and you get a seven seed," Whitaker said of Minnesota State."With the WBCA (coaches' poll), they're 13th. We're 20th. It's interesting. I think DII is interesting. Regionalization is interesting. I think every game is tough, so I don't know if there's an advantage of what seed you're in. Everyone is 0-0 and you have to go compete."Minnesota State and Missouri Western match up on Friday at 2:30 p.m. central at the Sawyer Center in Bethany, Oklahoma on the campus of Southern Nazarene University.Should the Griffons win Friday, they'd play either No. 3 Fort Hays State (24-7) or No. 6 Northwest Missouri State (23-7) in regional semifinals Saturday.But, this first-round game is as scary as they come for the Griffons. Minnesota State's lead scorer and first-team all-region guard Joey Batt, missed the first five games of the season, and the Mavs started 2-4.Batt came back, won NSIC Defensive Player of the Year for a third time in her career and the Mavs have gone 24-2 since November 21. Minnesota State ranks fourth in the nation in scoring (83.3), first in turnover margin (+13.52), second in made field goals (976) second in takeaways per game (28), fourth in scoring margin (+20.4) and seventh in offensive rebounding (16.5 per game).And they're the No. 7 seed?"I'm excited about the matchup," Whitaker said. "(Minnesota State) plays a unique style which is a little like (Southwestern Oklahoma State) a couple years ago."I think (Minnesota State) is better (than SWOSU) as far as depth, motor, relentlessness. They're going to press you for 40 minutes, they're going to run and jump. It's a bit chaotic."These teams have a lot in common. Missouri Western also overcame a slow start, going 19-2 down the stretch after starting 5-3.The Griffons are seventh in the country in scoring margin (+18.3), fifth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.27), 14th in field goal percentage (45%) and field goal percentage defense (35.3%), 20th in scoring (74.8) and 17th in turnover margin (+5.27).The Griffons also have a player in Connie Clarke, who's won multiple Defensive Player of the Year honors in her respective league. She's done it the last two years.These teams are equally impressive on paper and play comparable styles. Fast, transition offense. Stellar, takeaway-heavy defense. High shooting percentage. Both teams play a lot of people.Missouri Western has nine players who average 15 minutes or more per game. Minnesota State has 10.Missouri Western freshman Tiani Ellison knows the Mavs are a big challenge and it's a solid matchup, but she has full faith the Griffons can get it done."They're pretty good," Ellison said of the next opponent. "I watched them, but we're definitely better and I know we can be better. (Minnesota State) doesn't take possessions off. They 'run-and-jump' press the whole game. We've never seen that. It's unique, but if we go out there and take care of the ball, we know what we need to do to get the job done."No one, at least on the outside, expected Missouri Western to cut down nets in Hays as the No. 7 seed two years ago.Minnesota State might feel slighted this year after winning one of the toughest DII leagues in the nation, and getting seeded seventh.The Central Region is always stout. This year is no exception, with half of the field, four of the eight teams, being MIAA members.But, as is the case with any postseason tournament, it's quite literally the start of a new season. And in this Central Region bracket, any of these eight teams are plenty capable of getting to Civic Arena and the Elite Eight."It's a new opportunity and season," Whitaker said. "We all know we're win and advance, or lose and go home. You always see people play with more sense of urgency in their prep and in games this time of year. I think our group is excited about the opportunity in front of them."Friday's game will be heard on KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com, KFEQ app). Coverage will start at 2 p.m. Tip-off at 2:30.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710466177809.jpeg" alt="Photo by Arianne Boma." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Arianne Boma.</figcaption>
 </figure>Candi Whitaker interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Candi-Whitaker---31424-e2h3oqh" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Johnni Gonzalez interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/MWSU-senior-Johnni-Gonzalez-e2h3on7/a-ab2ng9k" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Tiani Ellison interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/MWSU-freshman-Tiani-Ellison-e2h3ooh/a-ab2ngc2" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Season highlight reel<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/MWSU-WBB-2023-24-radio-montage-e2gp1rj/a-ab1s81v" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU WBB enter NCAA tournament as potential favorites after Cinderella run in 2022

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon who was caught after a chase and scooter crash.

Shortly after 11a.m. Tuesday, a police officer attempted to stop a Suzuki motor scooter in the area of 17th and Kansas Avenue in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. 

The scooter fled for several blocks and&nbsp;crashed. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Christopher Edwards fled ran from the crash and officers chased.

Edwards entered an occupied residence in the 1400 block Atchison Street. He entered that home through the front door and pushed several residents out of his way as he fled out the back door. 

Police officers located him&nbsp;a short time later hiding under a porch in the 1400 block Santa Fe.

Edwards received minor injuries from the scooter crash.  After he was taken into custody, police took him to Amberwell Hospital for examination. He was treated and released, and then taken to the County Jail. He is being held on requested charges of fleeing and attempting to elude and other traffic charges, interference with law enforcement, battery, criminal trespass, and criminal possession of a firearm.&nbsp;

Police found a handgun on the scooter.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for a sex crime and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710345595264.png" alt="Edwards-Atchison Co.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Edwards-Atchison Co.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon who was caught after a chase and scooter crash.Shortly after 11a.m. Tuesday, a police officer attempted to stop a Suzuki motor scooter in the area of 17th and Kansas Avenue in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The scooter fled for several blocks and&nbsp;crashed. The driver, later identified as 31-year-old Christopher Edwards fled ran from the crash and officers chased.Edwards entered an occupied residence in the 1400 block Atchison Street. He entered that home through the front door and pushed several residents out of his way as he fled out the back door. Police officers located him&nbsp;a short time later hiding under a porch in the 1400 block Santa Fe.Edwards received minor injuries from the scooter crash. After he was taken into custody, police took him to Amberwell Hospital for examination. He was treated and released, and then taken to the County Jail. He is being held on requested charges of fleeing and attempting to elude and other traffic charges, interference with law enforcement, battery, criminal trespass, and criminal possession of a firearm.&nbsp;Police found a handgun on the scooter.&nbsp; He has previous convictions for a sex crime and criminal possession of a weapon, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

Kansas felon crashed scooter during police chase

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Students across Missouri could have access to scholarships for private schooling through an expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-education-michael-brown-school-vouchers-fb1afe39b572359cc4f1d2b0f9397556">tax credit program</a>&nbsp;passed Thursday in the GOP-led state Senate.

Senators voted 19-10 to pass the sweeping education bill, an approval earned after weeks of bipartisan negotiation. The measure now heads to the Republican-led House for approval.

The legislation represents a win for advocates of greater access to non-traditional K-12 education, such as private, religious, charter and virtual schooling. Part of the proposal would allow charter schools to open in Boone County, for example.

“We were focusing on providing choices beyond just public school,” Republican bill sponsor Sen. Andrew Koenig said.

But the measure also includes concessions for ardent public school supporters opposed to using public funding to support charters and private schools.

Compromises included in the bill include hundreds of millions of dollars in added funding for K-12 public schools and more money for districts that keep a five-day school week.

“Senate Democrats have always held the position that we’re going to oppose privatization of education through the siphoning-off of taxpayer funding,” Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur said. “So, yes, we strongly oppose vouchers and the expansion of charters. I will say there was a lot in the bill that made it very tempting to vote for.”

The heart of the legislation is the expansion of Missouri Empowerment Scholarships Accounts, a voucher-like program that offers education grants to low-income families. The scholarships are funded by private donors, who in turn receive tax credits.

The current program limits recipients to residents of the state's largest cities and to families who make 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $62,400 a year for a family of four.

Supporters want to offer the scholarships statewide to families that make as much as 300% of the federal poverty level, or $93,600 for a family of four.

The legislation would increase the cap on tax credits from $50 million to $75 million per year.

Unrelated, the proposal would require a local vote for large-city school districts to go to four-day weeks.

In total, Republican and Democratic Senate leaders estimated the bill would cost the state between $400 million and $450 million a year once fully implemented.

In Missouri, the issue of so-called school choice has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8965cac8b27cb87e99bb2dab244fa4e">divided lawmakers</a>&nbsp;beyond typical Republican-Democrat lines.

GOP legislators from rural Missouri have pushed back for years against allowing charter schools in their areas for fear that the institutions could draw students away from traditional public schools and undermine what’s seen as the backbone of their communities. And some Democrats want more options for students in cities with underperforming schools.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Students across Missouri could have access to scholarships for private schooling through an expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-government-and-politics-education-michael-brown-school-vouchers-fb1afe39b572359cc4f1d2b0f9397556">tax credit program</a>&nbsp;passed Thursday in the GOP-led state Senate.Senators voted 19-10 to pass the sweeping education bill, an approval earned after weeks of bipartisan negotiation. The measure now heads to the Republican-led House for approval.The legislation represents a win for advocates of greater access to non-traditional K-12 education, such as private, religious, charter and virtual schooling. Part of the proposal would allow charter schools to open in Boone County, for example.“We were focusing on providing choices beyond just public school,” Republican bill sponsor Sen. Andrew Koenig said.But the measure also includes concessions for ardent public school supporters opposed to using public funding to support charters and private schools.Compromises included in the bill include hundreds of millions of dollars in added funding for K-12 public schools and more money for districts that keep a five-day school week.“Senate Democrats have always held the position that we’re going to oppose privatization of education through the siphoning-off of taxpayer funding,” Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur said. “So, yes, we strongly oppose vouchers and the expansion of charters. I will say there was a lot in the bill that made it very tempting to vote for.”The heart of the legislation is the expansion of Missouri Empowerment Scholarships Accounts, a voucher-like program that offers education grants to low-income families. The scholarships are funded by private donors, who in turn receive tax credits.The current program limits recipients to residents of the state's largest cities and to families who make 200% of the federal poverty level, which is $62,400 a year for a family of four.Supporters want to offer the scholarships statewide to families that make as much as 300% of the federal poverty level, or $93,600 for a family of four.The legislation would increase the cap on tax credits from $50 million to $75 million per year.Unrelated, the proposal would require a local vote for large-city school districts to go to four-day weeks.In total, Republican and Democratic Senate leaders estimated the bill would cost the state between $400 million and $450 million a year once fully implemented.In Missouri, the issue of so-called school choice has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8965cac8b27cb87e99bb2dab244fa4e">divided lawmakers</a>&nbsp;beyond typical Republican-Democrat lines.GOP legislators from rural Missouri have pushed back for years against allowing charter schools in their areas for fear that the institutions could draw students away from traditional public schools and undermine what’s seen as the backbone of their communities. And some Democrats want more options for students in cities with underperforming schools.

Missouri Senate passes sweeping education funding bill

Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek visited St. Joseph
Christian School this morning, promoting the recently created MOScholars
program.

The program provides scholarships of up to $6,500 for a
school-age student to attend a private school. It depends on donations. It
currently is capped at $25 million. 

Malek says MOScholars has grown quickly since the legislature
created it in 2021.

“So, the first year we received about $9 million in donations
toward the program,” Malek tells reporters after the assembly at St. Joseph
Christian. “This year, we received $17 million.”

Legislation in Jefferson City this session would raise the
program’s cap to $75 million and lift its geographic restrictions. At present,
the scholarships are only available for Missouri families living in the state’s
four largest counties or in cities of at least 30,000. MOScholars scholarships
are available to families earning below 200% of the federal poverty level or for
students with an individualized education plan.

Malek says because of how MOScholars is constructed, it doesn’t
undermine public school funding.

“Even if it gets to $75 million that’s just peanuts compared
to what DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) gets,” Malek
says. “Second, I would say, the public schools are not losing any money because
of this. If a kid decides to leave a public school system and go to a private
school like St. Joe here, the funding, as per the statute, will not be
diminished from the state or the fed.”

St. Joseph Christian has 59 students receiving money through MOScholars.

Malek says the program is specifically designed to not
undermine public education.

“Per capita, the school will actually be richer, even if a kid
leaves that school and goes to a private school,” according to Malek. “So, in
no way, is it taking away money from the public school system. I think it’s a
win-win for everybody and it just gives parents a different choice.”

A MOScholars scholarship can be used to attend a Christian
school, a parochial school, a charter school, or to receive therapeutic
services.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710441060883.jpeg" alt="Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks at St. Joseph Christian School/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Missouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek speaks at St. Joseph Christian School/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri State Treasurer Vivek Malek visited St. Joseph
Christian School this morning, promoting the recently created MOScholars
program.The program provides scholarships of up to $6,500 for a
school-age student to attend a private school. It depends on donations. It
currently is capped at $25 million. Malek says MOScholars has grown quickly since the legislature
created it in 2021.“So, the first year we received about $9 million in donations
toward the program,” Malek tells reporters after the assembly at St. Joseph
Christian. “This year, we received $17 million.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710441144060.jpeg" alt="Malek speaks to an assembly at St. Joseph Christian School gym/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Malek speaks to an assembly at St. Joseph Christian School gym/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>Legislation in Jefferson City this session would raise the
program’s cap to $75 million and lift its geographic restrictions. At present,
the scholarships are only available for Missouri families living in the state’s
four largest counties or in cities of at least 30,000. MOScholars scholarships
are available to families earning below 200% of the federal poverty level or for
students with an individualized education plan.Malek says because of how MOScholars is constructed, it doesn’t
undermine public school funding.“Even if it gets to $75 million that’s just peanuts compared
to what DESE (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education) gets,” Malek
says. “Second, I would say, the public schools are not losing any money because
of this. If a kid decides to leave a public school system and go to a private
school like St. Joe here, the funding, as per the statute, will not be
diminished from the state or the fed.”St. Joseph Christian has 59 students receiving money through MOScholars.Malek says the program is specifically designed to not
undermine public education.“Per capita, the school will actually be richer, even if a kid
leaves that school and goes to a private school,” according to Malek. “So, in
no way, is it taking away money from the public school system. I think it’s a
win-win for everybody and it just gives parents a different choice.”A MOScholars scholarship can be used to attend a Christian
school, a parochial school, a charter school, or to receive therapeutic
services.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

State Treasurer Malek visits St. Joseph Christian, promoting MOScholars program

Max’s Law has returned and, again, is in good
position to pass the Missouri legislature this year.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville has
succeeded in getting an omnibus crime bill through the Senate and onto the
House. It contains Max’s Law, the provision that increases the penalty for
killing a police animal, named after K-9 Max, the St. Joseph police dog killed by
a suspect he was chasing in 2021.

“I think this is important,” Luetkemeyer tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “These dogs put their lives on the line to protect not
only the public, but their human partners from harm. They’re very expensive and
they’re difficult to train and I think that the law needs to adequately protect
them. And if we get Max’s Law passed this year then it will.”

This is the third consecutive year Luetkemeyer
has sponsored the bill after coming ever so close to getting it passed and into
law the last two legislative sessions. He first sponsored it in 2022, the year
after K-9 Max was shot and killed.

“We actually had the bill through the House and
on the Senate floor during the last day of session and because of some
filibusters that were occurring over Congressional redistricting, we ended up
not being able to bring the bill back up on the last day of session to pass it,”
Luetkemeyer explains.

Luetkemeyer succeeded in adding it to an omnibus
crime package, one that contained numerous provisions, last legislative
session. He then succeeded in getting it through the legislature and onto Gov.
Mike Parson’s desk. Parson, though, vetoed the bill, objecting to a provision
in the bill that would require the state to compensate those unjustly incarcerated.

“The governor actually said in his veto message
that he wanted to sign Max’s Law, he wanted to sign some of the other
provisions that were contained in that bill, but vetoed it for unrelated
reasons,” Luetkemeyer says. “So, this is the third year we’re back.”

Luetkemeyer, chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, removed the offending provision and sent the measure on to the
House, which he hopes will send it to the governor.

Luetkemeyer says he has explained to House leadership
that it would be a mistake to return the bill to the Senate, because it could fall
victim to the filibusters which have stalled action in the upper chamber.

Luetkemeyer doesn’t see any need for the House to
change provisions in the bill.

“I think there’s a good justification for that,”
Luetkemeyer says. “Number one, it’s substantively identical to the bill that we
passed last year, which passed out of both the House and the Senate on a large,
bipartisan vote. So, the things that are in the legislation are all things that
we know the House agrees with, that the House supported last year.” 

Secondly, Luetkemeyer warns the House would be
playing with fire to return it to a Senate that has had trouble moving
legislation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710432552404.jpeg" alt="Officer Lucas Winder, K-9 Max's handler, testifying in favor of Max's Law in 2022/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Officer Lucas Winder, K-9 Max's handler, testifying in favor of Max's Law in 2022/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMax’s Law has returned and, again, is in good
position to pass the Missouri legislature this year.State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville has
succeeded in getting an omnibus crime bill through the Senate and onto the
House. It contains Max’s Law, the provision that increases the penalty for
killing a police animal, named after K-9 Max, the St. Joseph police dog killed by
a suspect he was chasing in 2021.“I think this is important,” Luetkemeyer tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “These dogs put their lives on the line to protect not
only the public, but their human partners from harm. They’re very expensive and
they’re difficult to train and I think that the law needs to adequately protect
them. And if we get Max’s Law passed this year then it will.”This is the third consecutive year Luetkemeyer
has sponsored the bill after coming ever so close to getting it passed and into
law the last two legislative sessions. He first sponsored it in 2022, the year
after K-9 Max was shot and killed.“We actually had the bill through the House and
on the Senate floor during the last day of session and because of some
filibusters that were occurring over Congressional redistricting, we ended up
not being able to bring the bill back up on the last day of session to pass it,”
Luetkemeyer explains.Luetkemeyer succeeded in adding it to an omnibus
crime package, one that contained numerous provisions, last legislative
session. He then succeeded in getting it through the legislature and onto Gov.
Mike Parson’s desk. Parson, though, vetoed the bill, objecting to a provision
in the bill that would require the state to compensate those unjustly incarcerated.“The governor actually said in his veto message
that he wanted to sign Max’s Law, he wanted to sign some of the other
provisions that were contained in that bill, but vetoed it for unrelated
reasons,” Luetkemeyer says. “So, this is the third year we’re back.”Luetkemeyer, chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, removed the offending provision and sent the measure on to the
House, which he hopes will send it to the governor.Luetkemeyer says he has explained to House leadership
that it would be a mistake to return the bill to the Senate, because it could fall
victim to the filibusters which have stalled action in the upper chamber.Luetkemeyer doesn’t see any need for the House to
change provisions in the bill.“I think there’s a good justification for that,”
Luetkemeyer says. “Number one, it’s substantively identical to the bill that we
passed last year, which passed out of both the House and the Senate on a large,
bipartisan vote. So, the things that are in the legislation are all things that
we know the House agrees with, that the House supported last year.” Secondly, Luetkemeyer warns the House would be
playing with fire to return it to a Senate that has had trouble moving
legislation.The omnibus crime bill sponsored by Luetkemeyer
also contains Blair’s Law, named after an 11-year-old Independence girl killed by
celebratory gunfire on Independence Day 2011. It would create a felony for
shooting off celebratory gunfire that results in the death of someone.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1710432659604.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/The-Return-of-Maxs-Law-e2h37bd" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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