American flags adorn businesses in St. Joseph as the community
remembers 9-11.

Members of the St. Joseph Sertoma Club have put up the flags
to remember the terrorist attacks on this day in 2001 which struck New York,
Washington, and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001
when 19 terrorists with the Islamic extremist group, al Qaeda, flew two commercial
airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City as
well as airplanes into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and into a rural
field in Pennsylvania, likely diverted from its path toward the nation’s
capital.

Sertoma Club member, Truman Hardy, says the flags mean much
more than just decorations to many.

“When I was on the flag route this morning on Frederick Avenue
downtown, a gentleman came up to me and he had on a shirt with a Marine
insignia and said he was on one of the first Marine detachments deployed after
that day,” Hardy tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And he’s just
really glad to see the flags up.”

Former St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray, who is the president of
the local Sertoma Club, says he remembers how the country came together in wake
of the attacks.

“I think we could use a dose of that today as we remember
those who lost their lives. And we remember the unity that spread throughout
the country after that,” McMurray tells Birr. “You know, we could use a dose of
that today, particularly in this political season. What unites us is more
important than anything that could divide us.”

The Sertoma Club flag program recognizes several holidays as
well as Patriot Day.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726076122799.jpeg" alt="American flags on business along Frederick Ave. in St. Joseph put up by the St. Joseph Sertoma Club/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>American flags on business along Frederick Ave. in St. Joseph put up by the St. Joseph Sertoma Club/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAmerican flags adorn businesses in St. Joseph as the community
remembers 9-11.Members of the St. Joseph Sertoma Club have put up the flags
to remember the terrorist attacks on this day in 2001 which struck New York,
Washington, and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died on September 11, 2001
when 19 terrorists with the Islamic extremist group, al Qaeda, flew two commercial
airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City as
well as airplanes into the Pentagon near Washington, D.C. and into a rural
field in Pennsylvania, likely diverted from its path toward the nation’s
capital.Sertoma Club member, Truman Hardy, says the flags mean much
more than just decorations to many.“When I was on the flag route this morning on Frederick Avenue
downtown, a gentleman came up to me and he had on a shirt with a Marine
insignia and said he was on one of the first Marine detachments deployed after
that day,” Hardy tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And he’s just
really glad to see the flags up.”Former St. Joseph Mayor Bill McMurray, who is the president of
the local Sertoma Club, says he remembers how the country came together in wake
of the attacks.“I think we could use a dose of that today as we remember
those who lost their lives. And we remember the unity that spread throughout
the country after that,” McMurray tells Birr. “You know, we could use a dose of
that today, particularly in this political season. What unites us is more
important than anything that could divide us.”The Sertoma Club flag program recognizes several holidays as
well as Patriot Day.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Flags adorn St. Joseph as the community remembers 9-11

A group in St. Joseph is working to encourage reading and literacy among children.  

St. Joseph Reads chairperson Carol Burns says the program, which launched in March, aims to help improve the lives of the community through reading.  

"Reading is the foundation of all knowledge and learning, so it's the basic building block of all education, so without reading then you really struggle to learn science, to learn math, to learn any other type of subject," Burns tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, it really is critical that children and adults have a good foundation in reading, and of course literacy includes the ability to write as well." 

Burns says one of the biggest things the program promotes is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to help push more children towards reading.  

St. Joseph Reads also worked with the St. Joseph Mustangs this past summer where players came to talk and read with kids and handed out free books.  

Burns says some of the goals of the program are to get kids excited about reading.  

"I think they'll find that it is fun, so much of the time kids equate reading with school, and it's something they have to do," Burns explains.  "So, to really sit down and open a book that they want to read and to get involved in something like that on their own, we need another Harry Potter series I think to get their noses back in books all the time." 

Burns says in the United States the literacy rate is low compared to other countries, which is why an initiative like this is important to help spread the importance of reading.  

One recent initiative, Burns says, was the first annual community read, where copies of 'A Deceptive Homecoming' by Anna Loan Wilsey were distributed 

"Chose that as our first book and mostly because it's a relatively quick read but it also takes place in St. Joseph in 1893," Burns says.  

The book follows the main character Hattie Davish as she comes back home to St. Joseph solving a mystery and visiting several familiar sites such as Mt. Mora Cemtery and Lake Contrary among others 

"It really is kind of a fun trip down memory lane for a lot of us that grew up in St. Joseph, a lot of references to the landmarks, some that are still here and some that are not," Burns says. "So, we are encouraging people to read those books and to pass it on." 

To celebrate the book St Joseph Reads will be holding Hattie Davish week, going September 17th through the 21st next week, with several fun events planned around the book  

You can learn more about the event by clicking<a href="https://www.stjosephreads.org/weread"> HERE</a>.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A group in St. Joseph is working to encourage reading and literacy among children. St. Joseph Reads chairperson Carol Burns says the program, which launched in March, aims to help improve the lives of the community through reading. "Reading is the foundation of all knowledge and learning, so it's the basic building block of all education, so without reading then you really struggle to learn science, to learn math, to learn any other type of subject," Burns tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, it really is critical that children and adults have a good foundation in reading, and of course literacy includes the ability to write as well." Burns says one of the biggest things the program promotes is the Dolly Parton Imagination Library to help push more children towards reading. St. Joseph Reads also worked with the St. Joseph Mustangs this past summer where players came to talk and read with kids and handed out free books. Burns says some of the goals of the program are to get kids excited about reading. "I think they'll find that it is fun, so much of the time kids equate reading with school, and it's something they have to do," Burns explains. "So, to really sit down and open a book that they want to read and to get involved in something like that on their own, we need another Harry Potter series I think to get their noses back in books all the time." Burns says in the United States the literacy rate is low compared to other countries, which is why an initiative like this is important to help spread the importance of reading. One recent initiative, Burns says, was the first annual community read, where copies of 'A Deceptive Homecoming' by Anna Loan Wilsey were distributed "Chose that as our first book and mostly because it's a relatively quick read but it also takes place in St. Joseph in 1893," Burns says. The book follows the main character Hattie Davish as she comes back home to St. Joseph solving a mystery and visiting several familiar sites such as Mt. Mora Cemtery and Lake Contrary among others "It really is kind of a fun trip down memory lane for a lot of us that grew up in St. Joseph, a lot of references to the landmarks, some that are still here and some that are not," Burns says. "So, we are encouraging people to read those books and to pass it on." To celebrate the book St Joseph Reads will be holding Hattie Davish week, going September 17th through the 21st next week, with several fun events planned around the book You can learn more about the event by clicking<a href="https://www.stjosephreads.org/weread"> HERE</a>.

St. Joseph Reads hopes to spread the joy of reading

A Savannah police officer has been fired in wake of being
charged in the death of Savannah K-9 Officer Horus.

Savannah Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler has been charged with
a misdemeanor in the death of Horus, left in a hot patrol car June 20th.
An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of
heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could
have prevented the death had been disabled.

The Savannah Board of Alderman voted to terminate Zeigler’s
employment Tuesday.

The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720202220440.png" alt="K-9 Officer Horus/file photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Officer Horus/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA Savannah police officer has been fired in wake of being
charged in the death of Savannah K-9 Officer Horus.Savannah Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler has been charged with
a misdemeanor in the death of Horus, left in a hot patrol car June 20th.
An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol determined Horus died of
heat exhaustion. The report also found a safety measure in the car that could
have prevented the death had been disabled.The Savannah Board of Alderman voted to terminate Zeigler’s
employment Tuesday.The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Savannah police officer fired after being charged in death of K9 officer

BROWN&nbsp; COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a new&nbsp;scam circulating in Kansas.&nbsp; 

According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are being threatened&nbsp; through an e-mail on their smartphone&nbsp; by someone who is telling the resident that they have installed spyware called Pegasus on their device&nbsp; and are watching them remotely. 

The phone owner is being accused of illegal activity in their private life and are advised to send $2000 through Bitcoin and&nbsp; the scammer will erase any and all information.

 If the phone owner does not pay, the scammer states they will send all of the images and videos they have taken of the&nbsp; them to their&nbsp; contact list which would cause great humiliation.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 The scammer also adds that he has access to all other&nbsp; info on the phone.&nbsp; "This is an attempt to extort money from you, according to Sheriff Merchant.&nbsp; "If you receive such a message, do not reply. "

"Scammers are getting more and more devious on the ways to obtain financial support from unsuspecting victims.&nbsp; This scam is particularly concerning as it appears very cleverly written in order to extort money from you."

Remember, never give out person information over your phone or computer.&nbsp; If you feel you have been made a victim of this or any other&nbsp; scam, contact your local law enforcement at once

Sheriff Merchant is forwarding this information to the Kansas Attorney's General's office for their review.

BROWN&nbsp; COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a new&nbsp;scam circulating in Kansas.&nbsp; According to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant, residents are being threatened&nbsp; through an e-mail on their smartphone&nbsp; by someone who is telling the resident that they have installed spyware called Pegasus on their device&nbsp; and are watching them remotely. The phone owner is being accused of illegal activity in their private life and are advised to send $2000 through Bitcoin and&nbsp; the scammer will erase any and all information. If the phone owner does not pay, the scammer states they will send all of the images and videos they have taken of the&nbsp; them to their&nbsp; contact list which would cause great humiliation.&nbsp;&nbsp; The scammer also adds that he has access to all other&nbsp; info on the phone.&nbsp; "This is an attempt to extort money from you, according to Sheriff Merchant.&nbsp; "If you receive such a message, do not reply. ""Scammers are getting more and more devious on the ways to obtain financial support from unsuspecting victims.&nbsp; This scam is particularly concerning as it appears very cleverly written in order to extort money from you."Remember, never give out person information over your phone or computer.&nbsp; If you feel you have been made a victim of this or any other&nbsp; scam, contact your local law enforcement at onceSheriff Merchant is forwarding this information to the Kansas Attorney's General's office for their review.

Sheriff: New extortion phone scam reported in NE Kansas

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford F350 driven by Jerry L. Webb, 78, Kearney, was eastbound on Route H two miles west of Kingston.

The truck traveled off the south side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle returned to the road, traveled off the north side of the road, rotated sideways, struck a stump, overturned the the driver was ejected.

Life Flight Eagle transported Webb to Truman West Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Tuesday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Ford F350 driven by Jerry L. Webb, 78, Kearney, was eastbound on Route H two miles west of Kingston.The truck traveled off the south side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle returned to the road, traveled off the north side of the road, rotated sideways, struck a stump, overturned the the driver was ejected.Life Flight Eagle transported Webb to Truman West Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man air-lifted to hospital after violent pickup crash

Though
drought conditions have eased in the Midwest, drought persists in the upper
Missouri River basin, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to keep water releases
from the Gavins Point Dam at a minimum.

Chief
of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, John
Remus, says there is a big difference between conditions in the lower Missouri
River basin and the upper basin. 

“Primarily Nebraska, parts of Kansas, and of
course here in Missouri, they’ve kind of come out of drought,” Remus tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The upper basin, however, is kind of, we thought we were
going to have some improvements, but it went back into drought.”

The Corps of Engineers reports 73% of the
Missouri River Basin is experiencing dry or drought conditions with little reason
for optimism that that will turn around anytime soon.

“Based on the soil conditions and the long-term
outlook from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I think we’re
probably going to have another dry spring unless we get a lot of snow in the
mountains and a lot of snow in the plains,” Remus says. “But they’re not
calling for that. I believe we’re going to be in a very similar situation to begin
2025 as we were this year in 2024.”

Remus understands minimum water releases puts
pressure on cities, businesses, and utilities that rely on the Missouri River.

“Right now, we’re looking at a winter release of 12,000
cubic feet per second out of Gavins Point, which is very similar to what we had
in the winter of 2022, ’23,” says Remus. “So there are going to be some
municipal intakes in the lower river here that are going to be right at the
margin of having some issues with getting water in.”

Remus says though conditions in the upper
Missouri River basin improved earlier this year, dry conditions up north sent much
of the upper basin back into abnormally dry or drought conditions. Remus says
the Corps of Engineers will keep those relying on the Missouri River abreast of
what releases to expect from Gavins Point.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725991603264.jpeg" alt="Gavins Point Dam/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Gavins Point Dam/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThough
drought conditions have eased in the Midwest, drought persists in the upper
Missouri River basin, prompting the Army Corps of Engineers to keep water releases
from the Gavins Point Dam at a minimum.Chief
of the Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, John
Remus, says there is a big difference between conditions in the lower Missouri
River basin and the upper basin. “Primarily Nebraska, parts of Kansas, and of
course here in Missouri, they’ve kind of come out of drought,” Remus tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “The upper basin, however, is kind of, we thought we were
going to have some improvements, but it went back into drought.”The Corps of Engineers reports 73% of the
Missouri River Basin is experiencing dry or drought conditions with little reason
for optimism that that will turn around anytime soon.“Based on the soil conditions and the long-term
outlook from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I think we’re
probably going to have another dry spring unless we get a lot of snow in the
mountains and a lot of snow in the plains,” Remus says. “But they’re not
calling for that. I believe we’re going to be in a very similar situation to begin
2025 as we were this year in 2024.”Remus understands minimum water releases puts
pressure on cities, businesses, and utilities that rely on the Missouri River.“Right now, we’re looking at a winter release of 12,000
cubic feet per second out of Gavins Point, which is very similar to what we had
in the winter of 2022, ’23,” says Remus. “So there are going to be some
municipal intakes in the lower river here that are going to be right at the
margin of having some issues with getting water in.”Remus says though conditions in the upper
Missouri River basin improved earlier this year, dry conditions up north sent much
of the upper basin back into abnormally dry or drought conditions. Remus says
the Corps of Engineers will keep those relying on the Missouri River abreast of
what releases to expect from Gavins Point.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Upper Missouri River basin drought keeps downstream flows as minimum

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to search for a suspect in connection with an investigation in Brown County.

Sheriff John Merchant is asking the public for assistance in locating Dustin Barrett, 36 of&nbsp; Oneida.&nbsp; 

He is a person of interest&nbsp; on&nbsp; a recent case in Brown County.&nbsp; Please contact the Brown County Sheriff's Office if you have information on the whereabouts of Barrett.&nbsp; 785-742-7125

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are searching for a suspect after a chase with a disabled pickup.

On September 5, sheriff's deputies observed a red Ford pickup driving without a tire on the rear of the vehicle near Morrill, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

 When an officer tried to initiate a traffic stop on the&nbsp; vehicle, the driver&nbsp; refused to stop and a chase ensued with speeds at times&nbsp; of over 75 miles per hour.

The chase ended when the pickup traveled down&nbsp; a dead end road in the vicinity of 340th and Acorn, continued approximately 150-200 feet in to a corn field and caught fire.&nbsp; 

The driver&nbsp; fled on foot.&nbsp; Brown County deputies as well as Nemaha County, Richardson County, Sabetha and Sac and Fox Police, Brown County Emergency Manager assisted in trying to locate the male driver. The Morrill Fire Department also responded to the scene.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725983979329.png" alt="Barrett photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Barrett photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement continue to search for a suspect in connection with an investigation in Brown County.Sheriff John Merchant is asking the public for assistance in locating Dustin Barrett, 36 of&nbsp; Oneida.&nbsp; He is a person of interest&nbsp; on&nbsp; a recent case in Brown County.&nbsp; Please contact the Brown County Sheriff's Office if you have information on the whereabouts of Barrett.&nbsp; 785-742-7125------------------BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement are searching for a suspect after a chase with a disabled pickup.On September 5, sheriff's deputies observed a red Ford pickup driving without a tire on the rear of the vehicle near Morrill, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant. When an officer tried to initiate a traffic stop on the&nbsp; vehicle, the driver&nbsp; refused to stop and a chase ensued with speeds at times&nbsp; of over 75 miles per hour.The chase ended when the pickup traveled down&nbsp; a dead end road in the vicinity of 340th and Acorn, continued approximately 150-200 feet in to a corn field and caught fire.&nbsp; The driver&nbsp; fled on foot.&nbsp; Brown County deputies as well as Nemaha County, Richardson County, Sabetha and Sac and Fox Police, Brown County Emergency Manager assisted in trying to locate the male driver. The Morrill Fire Department also responded to the scene.

Sheriff: Search continues for suspect wanted in NE Kansas

Several museums around St. Joseph and throughout the St. Joseph area will welcome visitors for free next weekend.  

Free Museum Day will open the doors to people for free in several St. Joseph museums, and even museums in Andrew County.  

Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel says the event first began last year with several museums coming together to plan it 

"If you do have kids, you're on a tight budget, you want to do something fun and you're not sure what to do, you can make a full day of it just kind of museum hopping and getting different history, different experiences from place to place," Mengel tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Last year some of these places, I think they saw about 1,000 people in a single museum." 

Mengel says many of the popular museums in the area will be participating 

"It is the ones that you think of, with Pony Express, and the Albrecht Kemper, and Robidoux Row, those are all part of it," Mengel says.  

"Yeah, the Glore Psychiatric Museum, Remington Nature Center, so you can really make a full day of it really easily," Mengel explains.  

A full list of participating museums can be found online, or by clicking <a href="https://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=6960">HERE</a>.

The end of this month will also bring the second St. Joseph City marathon, following a successful race last year.  

Mengel says this year's race is already on track to be bigger than its inaugural year.  

"So far we're trending about 100 runners more than last year at this time, so every indication is that it's going to be a bigger marathon than it was last year," Mengel says. "So we're obviously looking super forward to that." 

Registration for the race will close prior to the event, with both a full and half marathon, as well as a 10K, 5K, and relay.  

The St. Joseph Marathon will happen on September 28th. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Several museums around St. Joseph and throughout the St. Joseph area will welcome visitors for free next weekend. Free Museum Day will open the doors to people for free in several St. Joseph museums, and even museums in Andrew County. Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel says the event first began last year with several museums coming together to plan it "If you do have kids, you're on a tight budget, you want to do something fun and you're not sure what to do, you can make a full day of it just kind of museum hopping and getting different history, different experiences from place to place," Mengel tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Last year some of these places, I think they saw about 1,000 people in a single museum." Mengel says many of the popular museums in the area will be participating "It is the ones that you think of, with Pony Express, and the Albrecht Kemper, and Robidoux Row, those are all part of it," Mengel says. "Glore?" Birr interjects. "Yeah, the Glore Psychiatric Museum, Remington Nature Center, so you can really make a full day of it really easily," Mengel explains. A full list of participating museums can be found online, or by clicking <a href="https://www.ci.st-joseph.mo.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=6960">HERE</a>. The end of this month will also bring the second St. Joseph City marathon, following a successful race last year. Mengel says this year's race is already on track to be bigger than its inaugural year. "So far we're trending about 100 runners more than last year at this time, so every indication is that it's going to be a bigger marathon than it was last year," Mengel says. "So we're obviously looking super forward to that." Registration for the race will close prior to the event, with both a full and half marathon, as well as a 10K, 5K, and relay. The St. Joseph Marathon will happen on September 28th.

Several fun events wrap up September in St. Joseph

A Savannah Police Lieutenant has been charged in the death of Savannah
K-9 officer Horus.

The Missouri Attorney General’s office filed the class A
charge of misdemeanor animal abuse against Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler after an
investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A probable cause statement filed by the patrol states Zeigler
and his K-9 partner Horus had completed their overnight shift on June 20th
when Horus was left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle and died of heat exposure.
The patrol reports a safety feature designed to roll down windows and sound the
horn when temperatures reach 90 degrees had been turned off.

This article has been updated since first published.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720202220440.png" alt="K-9 Horus/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>K-9 Horus/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA Savannah Police Lieutenant has been charged in the death of Savannah
K-9 officer Horus.The Missouri Attorney General’s office filed the class A
charge of misdemeanor animal abuse against Police Lt. Daniel Zeigler after an
investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.A probable cause statement filed by the patrol states Zeigler
and his K-9 partner Horus had completed their overnight shift on June 20th
when Horus was left in the Savannah Police K-9 vehicle and died of heat exposure.
The patrol reports a safety feature designed to roll down windows and sound the
horn when temperatures reach 90 degrees had been turned off.The misdemeanor charge carries a punishment of up to one year
in jail and a fine of $2,000.This article has been updated since first published.

Savannah officer charged in death of K9 Horus

Newly reported campaign finance data shows that having the most money wasn’t an automatic ticket to success at the polls

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

The top three finishers combined to spend $27.5 million in the Republican primary for governor, with the winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/mike-kehoe-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total, newly filed campaign disclosure reports show.

Overall, Republicans in statewide contests spent almost $65 million, compared to just $4.8 million in the Democratic Party, where the only significant primary spending was in the race for governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/crystal-quade-captures-democratic-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">won by state Rep. Crystal Quade</a>&nbsp;of Springfield.

The new reports, which cover the period from July 27 to Aug. 31, were due Thursday at the Missouri Ethics Commission. Federal candidates do not file post-primary reports.

Campaign finance tracking by The Independent shows that having the most money didn’t equal success in either party. It did for Kehoe and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/vivek-malek-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-treasurer/">State Treasurer Vivek Malek</a>, who spent $5.8 million from his campaign fund and joint fundraising PAC.

But David Wasinger of St. Louis, who won the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/07/dave-wasinger-wins-republican-primary-for-missouri-lieutenant-governor/">primary for lieutenant governor</a>, state Sen. Denny Hoskins, the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/denny-hoskins-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">nominee for secretary of state</a>, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/andrew-bailey-defeats-will-scharf-to-capture-gop-nomination-for-attorney-general/">fended off a challenge from Will Scharf</a>, all won while being outspent.

In the Democratic Party, Quade defeated Springfield businessman Mike Hamra despite being outspent almost 3-1. Hamra gave his own campaign more than $2.1 million and spent $3.3 million overall, while Quade raised and spent $1.2 million through her campaign and joint fundraising PAC.

No other contested Democratic primary featured a candidate who spent more than $50,000 to win the nomination. And while some Democrats ended August with bank accounts comparable to their Republican counterparts, polls showing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/29/poll-shows-missouri-voters-back-trump-hawley-abortion-rights-and-minimum-wage-hike/">double-digit leads for the GOP</a>&nbsp;in statewide races and the fundraising prowess shown by Republicans show the difficulties any Democrat must surmount to win in November.

The best-funded Democrats who file reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission are state Senate candidates. In five of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/29/primaries-will-test-incumbents-in-year-of-historic-turnover-for-missouri-senate/">six districts being watched closely</a>, Democratic candidates had more in the bank on Aug. 31 than their Republican opponents and more than any statewide candidate from either party except Kehoe.

Almost every candidate running a full-scale campaign for statewide office or the Missouri Senate has both an official campaign committee and a joint fundraising PAC. Official campaign committees are subject to contribution limits – statewide candidates can accept donations up to $2,825 – while the joint fundraising PACs can accept donations of any size.

Campaigns must observe other restrictions on donations as well. Corporations and labor unions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=VIII++++23&amp;bid=36200&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">prohibited from contributing directly to candidate and political party committees</a>, but may set up PACs for voluntary contributions from employees or members to do so.

Corporations and labor unions may also contribute to joint fundraising PACs and independent PACs that are allowed to contribute to candidate committees.

The $17.1 million spent by Kehoe and his joint fundraising committee, American Dream PAC, was equal to $64 for each of the 275,139 votes he received in the primary for governor. His two main rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and secretary of state Jay Ashcroft, spent $5.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, which equals $25.46 per vote for Eigel and $28.15 per vote for Ashcroft.

Legislative Democrats have set a goal of breaking the GOP supermajorities that have two-thirds of the seats in the Missouri House and state Senate in Republican hands. That would require at least 55 seats in the House– three more than they have now – and 12 in the Senate – two more than their current strength.

In state Senate races for the competitive seats, Democrats avoided primaries while the GOP winners in three seats drained their campaign treasuries to win the nomination.

In five districts — the 1st and 15th in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the 11th and 17th in the Kansas City region and the 19th in Boone County — Democrats have campaign funds ranging from $550,000 to almost $1 million. No Republican in those districts ended August with more than $70,000 on hand.

In the sixth district considered competitive, the 23rd District in St. Charles County, the candidates entered September with similar amounts on hand. State Rep. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, who won a four-way primary, had $42,762 in his campaign account and $30,962 in the account of his joint fundraising committee, Protect Our Kids PAC.

Democratic candidate Matt Williams had $40,266 on hand. Williams does not have a joint fundraising PAC.

<h2>Newly reported campaign finance data shows that having the most money wasn’t an automatic ticket to success at the polls</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The top three finishers combined to spend $27.5 million in the Republican primary for governor, with the winner,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/mike-kehoe-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>, accounting for almost two-thirds of the total, newly filed campaign disclosure reports show.Overall, Republicans in statewide contests spent almost $65 million, compared to just $4.8 million in the Democratic Party, where the only significant primary spending was in the race for governor,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/crystal-quade-captures-democratic-nomination-for-missouri-governor/">won by state Rep. Crystal Quade</a>&nbsp;of Springfield.The new reports, which cover the period from July 27 to Aug. 31, were due Thursday at the Missouri Ethics Commission. Federal candidates do not file post-primary reports.The next reports are due Oct. 15.Campaign finance tracking by The Independent shows that having the most money didn’t equal success in either party. It did for Kehoe and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/vivek-malek-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-treasurer/">State Treasurer Vivek Malek</a>, who spent $5.8 million from his campaign fund and joint fundraising PAC.But David Wasinger of St. Louis, who won the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/07/dave-wasinger-wins-republican-primary-for-missouri-lieutenant-governor/">primary for lieutenant governor</a>, state Sen. Denny Hoskins, the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/denny-hoskins-wins-republican-nomination-for-missouri-secretary-of-state/">nominee for secretary of state</a>, and Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/andrew-bailey-defeats-will-scharf-to-capture-gop-nomination-for-attorney-general/">fended off a challenge from Will Scharf</a>, all won while being outspent.In the Democratic Party, Quade defeated Springfield businessman Mike Hamra despite being outspent almost 3-1. Hamra gave his own campaign more than $2.1 million and spent $3.3 million overall, while Quade raised and spent $1.2 million through her campaign and joint fundraising PAC.No other contested Democratic primary featured a candidate who spent more than $50,000 to win the nomination. And while some Democrats ended August with bank accounts comparable to their Republican counterparts, polls showing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/29/poll-shows-missouri-voters-back-trump-hawley-abortion-rights-and-minimum-wage-hike/">double-digit leads for the GOP</a>&nbsp;in statewide races and the fundraising prowess shown by Republicans show the difficulties any Democrat must surmount to win in November.The best-funded Democrats who file reports with the Missouri Ethics Commission are state Senate candidates. In five of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/07/29/primaries-will-test-incumbents-in-year-of-historic-turnover-for-missouri-senate/">six districts being watched closely</a>, Democratic candidates had more in the bank on Aug. 31 than their Republican opponents and more than any statewide candidate from either party except Kehoe.Almost every candidate running a full-scale campaign for statewide office or the Missouri Senate has both an official campaign committee and a joint fundraising PAC. Official campaign committees are subject to contribution limits – statewide candidates can accept donations up to $2,825 – while the joint fundraising PACs can accept donations of any size.Campaigns must observe other restrictions on donations as well. Corporations and labor unions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=VIII++++23&amp;bid=36200&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">prohibited from contributing directly to candidate and political party committees</a>, but may set up PACs for voluntary contributions from employees or members to do so.Corporations and labor unions may also contribute to joint fundraising PACs and independent PACs that are allowed to contribute to candidate committees.The $17.1 million spent by Kehoe and his joint fundraising committee, American Dream PAC, was equal to $64 for each of the 275,139 votes he received in the primary for governor. His two main rivals, state Sen. Bill Eigel and secretary of state Jay Ashcroft, spent $5.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, which equals $25.46 per vote for Eigel and $28.15 per vote for Ashcroft.In other races:<ul>
 <li>Wasinger spent $2.7 million — $2.6 million of it personal funds – to defeat five other candidates. Hough spent $3.6 million. Wasinger spent just under $13 for each vote he received, while Hough’s spending equalled $18.14 per vote.</li><li>Hoskins spent $241,768 from his campaign fund and benefited from $247,262 spent by Old Drum Conservative PAC. The best-funded candidate in the eight-way race was Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher, who spent $640,000 in campaign funds and $934,000 from his joint fundraising committee, Missouri United PAC. Hoskins spent $3.11 per vote for his primary win, while Plocher spent $18.16 per vote and came in fourth.</li><li>Malek’s $5.8 million in spending included $1.35 million in personal funds and equaled $21.17 per vote. His best-funded opponent in the six-way primary was House Budget Committee Chairman Cody Smith, who spent $737,266 from his campaign committee and $563,121 via the Ozark Gateway Leadership Fund. Smith spent the equivalent of $10.27&nbsp; per vote and finished fourth.</li><li>The attorney general’s race was second to the gubernatorial primary in total spending. Bailey spent $1.3 million through his campaign and his PAC, Liberty and Justice, spent $5.3 million. Scharf’s campaign spent $1.7 million, and his joint fundraising PAC, Defend Missouri, spent $7.6 million. Another PAC Scharf used for joint fundraising, Club for Growth Action, spent $1.6 million on his behalf. Bailey’s total equals $16 per vote, while Scharf’s costs equal&nbsp; $45 per vote.</li>
 </ul>Legislative Democrats have set a goal of breaking the GOP supermajorities that have two-thirds of the seats in the Missouri House and state Senate in Republican hands. That would require at least 55 seats in the House– three more than they have now – and 12 in the Senate – two more than their current strength.In state Senate races for the competitive seats, Democrats avoided primaries while the GOP winners in three seats drained their campaign treasuries to win the nomination.In five districts — the 1st and 15th in the St. Louis metropolitan area, the 11th and 17th in the Kansas City region and the 19th in Boone County — Democrats have campaign funds ranging from $550,000 to almost $1 million. No Republican in those districts ended August with more than $70,000 on hand.In the sixth district considered competitive, the 23rd District in St. Charles County, the candidates entered September with similar amounts on hand. State Rep. Adam Schnelting of St. Charles, who won a four-way primary, had $42,762 in his campaign account and $30,962 in the account of his joint fundraising committee, Protect Our Kids PAC.Democratic candidate Matt Williams had $40,266 on hand. Williams does not have a joint fundraising PAC.

Republicans combine to spend $65 million in Missouri primaries for statewide offices

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Monday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Acura TSX driven by a 17-year-old Cameron boy was northbound U.S. 69 south of County Road 326 three miles south of Cameron.

The car traveled off the east side of the road and down an embankment. It struck a utility police and a fence.

Cameron Ambulance transported&nbsp; the teen to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30a.m. Monday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Acura TSX driven by a 17-year-old Cameron boy was northbound U.S. 69 south of County Road 326 three miles south of Cameron.The car traveled off the east side of the road and down an embankment. It struck a utility police and a fence.Cameron Ambulance transported&nbsp; the teen to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. teen hospitalized after violent crash down embankment

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a burglary and theft in Atchison County have made an arrest.

On Sunday morning, police responded to report of a burglary at the King’s Convenience Store, 912 Unity Street in Atchison that had occurred during the night on Saturday night, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

That investigation determined that unlawful entry had been made into the store around 2:00a.m.&nbsp; The suspect took cigarettes, lottery tickets, vapes, lighters, beer and a large quantity of coins. 

At 10a.m. Sunday, the investigation led officers to a 17-year-old boy who was located at a residence several blocks from the store and taken into custody. He was later released to a parent.

Most of the items taken in the burglary were recovered, according to Wilson.

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement investigating a burglary and theft in Atchison County have made an arrest.On Sunday morning, police responded to report of a burglary at the King’s Convenience Store, 912 Unity Street in Atchison that had occurred during the night on Saturday night, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.That investigation determined that unlawful entry had been made into the store around 2:00a.m.&nbsp; The suspect took cigarettes, lottery tickets, vapes, lighters, beer and a large quantity of coins. At 10a.m. Sunday, the investigation led officers to a 17-year-old boy who was located at a residence several blocks from the store and taken into custody. He was later released to a parent.Most of the items taken in the burglary were recovered, according to Wilson.

Police accuse 17-year-old in convenience store burglary

As former St. Joseph City Manager Bryan Carter leaves his position, the search for a new City Manager begins. 

City Councilmember At Large Marty Novak says the city has approved working with a search firm out of Texas to find candidates for the job. 

"They have a huge database of candidates and are connected with a lot of people, which is really what we need for something like this," Novak tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "If we can have somebody come in that has the skills, the quality, and just really the whole package that Bryan had, I would love that."

 Carter is leaving St. Joseph after working 13 years at City Hall, first in the city legal department, then as city manager. Carter will be moving to Kansas City.

Novak admits Carter's shoes might be hard to fill, describing the former city manager as having a unique mix of competence and humility

"He was a very humble man, but he's a very, very knowledgeable person, but he doesn't want to impress you, he doesn't need to impress you, he knows his stuff and he knows what’s going on," Novak says.  "And it was such a blessing to our city to have him for the period of time we did have him."

Novak says currently there is no timeline to find the person for the job, but says it typically takes around six months to get candidates.

"We have not met with the search firm that's going to be doing this yet, but I know that they're drafting all the criteria for the search and what the process is going to be," Novak explains.

Novak says the city will make sure stakeholders and the public do have input on what's going on. 

In the interim city officials have appointed Clint Thompson as City Manager.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAs former St. Joseph City Manager Bryan Carter leaves his position, the search for a new City Manager begins. City Councilmember At Large Marty Novak says the city has approved working with a search firm out of Texas to find candidates for the job. "They have a huge database of candidates and are connected with a lot of people, which is really what we need for something like this," Novak tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "If we can have somebody come in that has the skills, the quality, and just really the whole package that Bryan had, I would love that." Carter is leaving St. Joseph after working 13 years at City Hall, first in the city legal department, then as city manager. Carter will be moving to Kansas City.Novak admits Carter's shoes might be hard to fill, describing the former city manager as having a unique mix of competence and humility"He was a very humble man, but he's a very, very knowledgeable person, but he doesn't want to impress you, he doesn't need to impress you, he knows his stuff and he knows what’s going on," Novak says. "And it was such a blessing to our city to have him for the period of time we did have him."Novak says currently there is no timeline to find the person for the job, but says it typically takes around six months to get candidates."We have not met with the search firm that's going to be doing this yet, but I know that they're drafting all the criteria for the search and what the process is going to be," Novak explains.Novak says the city will make sure stakeholders and the public do have input on what's going on. In the interim city officials have appointed Clint Thompson as City Manager.

Search for new St. Joseph City Manager underway as Bryan Carter leaves position

According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/kavahn-mansouri">Kavahn Mansouri</a>St. Louis Public Radio&nbsp;

For days, Amy Gholson tracked a shipment of baby turkeys she ordered from an Ohio hatchery. She kept tabs online as the birds began the more than 500-mile trip to her home near St. Charles, Missouri, via the U.S. Postal Service.

The 10 birds needed to arrive in two days to ensure they’d survive the trip. It was late March and temperatures were still low, making the speed of the delivery more crucial than usual. But the baby turkeys, or poults, hadn’t even left Ohio when progress halted.

“I was going to be able to watch these babies digitally, basically, and they went to the Cleveland distribution warehouse, and they stayed there and stayed there,” Gholson said.

Postal Service delays have become more persistent in the years following the pandemic and a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-mail-slowdown-postmaster-louis-dejoy/" target="_blank">10-year plan was put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;aimed at ending losses in the billions of dollars a year. Slowing delivery is integral to the plan.

For days, the poults Gholson ordered remained at the Cleveland warehouse. By the time the shipment arrived, three days overdue, she knew what to expect inside the package marked “live birds.”

“I had already assumed they were dead. Our beloved mail lady just set a box of dead birds outside of our garage,” Gholson said. “I got home. I mean, you know what the situation was. A silent box is a dead box.”

Gholson said that inside the package, the fledgling turkeys were as “stiff as rocks.”

This wasn’t the first time that Gholson and her family received a Postal Service shipment of dead or dying birds. Once, after a delivery arrived during a cold spell, they warmed towels in the microwave, bundling the chicks inside the heated towels in hopes of saving them. Only four of the 10 in that shipment survived, and the chicks now roam the Gholsons’ backyard farm.

The Gholsons are a 4-H family, having participating in agricultural programs for years. They have a tradition of showing animals at the St. Charles County Fair, where Evie, now 18, planned to show the turkeys in that doomed March delivery. In the 4-H community, families talk about receiving shipments with dead birds all the time, said&nbsp;Amy Gholson.

In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/thousands-of-baby-chicks-die-in-mail-in-latest-postal-imbroglio" target="_blank">more than 4,800 chicks died in a single Postal Service shipment to a Maine customer.</a>&nbsp;And the problem has persisted far past the height of the pandemic as concerns mounted about the future of the Postal Service and its performance since DeJoy’s plan kicked off in 2021.

The Midwest Newsroom interviewed four hatchery owners and four backyard farmers in different parts of the U.S. who all say they’ve seen a marked increase in deaths while baby birds are in transit with the Postal Service over the past year.

One hatchery owner described 2024 as “hell” for shipping birds and said customer complaints over shipments arriving with more dead birds than usual are on the rise.

It is hard to know just how many Postal Service shipments of birds arrive at their destinations too late for survival.

In response to a records request from the Midwest Newsroom, the Postal Service said that after a “diligent search,” it could not locate any documents referring to the total number of animals that die while in transit with the Postal Service. The response stated the agency does not compile or track that sort of information.

Delivering birds through the mail is a longstanding practice in the U.S., and hatchers who spoke to the Midwest Newsroom said it’s an effective way for hatcheries to make money, with customers ranging from large-scale operations to backyard farmers.

A hatchery can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 per shipment, depending on the breed and number of birds.

In an email to the Midwest Newsroom, communications specialist Mark Inglett said the Postal Service has worked for more than 100 years with hatcheries to “safely transport mail-order chicks seamlessly.”

“The U.S. Postal Service is one of just a few carriers that ship live animals, and we have established procedures for the safe handling of live animals,” the email read. “When properly packaged and labeled, these live parcels are given special handling outside of our normal automated process.”

The hatcheries and buyers interviewed by the Midwest Newsroom said that special handling hasn’t saved their animals.

The Postal Service declined a request for an interview.

Kelly Warren owns and operates Cocktown Funky Orpingtons in Lillington, North Carolina. She breeds Orpington chickens, which are popular as show birds. The small business relies heavily on shipping birds.

Warren estimates she’s lost at least a third of the birds she’s shipped this year to delays and other problems. A recent shipment saw her lose 80 chicks worth about $800. When birds die in transit, Warren has to refund her customers’ money.

“One box last week arrived three days late,” Warren said. “The whole box was dead. All I could do was get my shipping costs back. I lost the rest of it out of pocket.”

Warren said the Postal Service shipping delays greatly impact her business, which relies mainly on customers far from her rural North Carolina location.

“Some breeders are lucky enough to have enough (local customers) to get by. I don't,” Warren said. “All of mine are everywhere: California, Maine, New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington. You name it, I ship there. So it kind of kills me.”

Not all bird deaths happen during transit, Warren said. One shipment arrived in time at a customer's local post office. But, she said, the customer reported the box of chicks had been left out on a loading dock during a thunderstorm. By the time the customer arrived to pick up the shipment, the chicks were dead.

“The babies were drenched,” she said, while sharing photos with a Midwest Newsroom reporter. “They were dead. The box was soaked. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

A statement from the Postal Service said its guidelines require delivery of poultry within 72 hours of hatching. All birds must be shipped using Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail services, which are designed to meet specific timing standards.

Tracy Brown Kelly owns a small hatchery near Warren's called Satin and Silk Ranch. She said she’s completely stopped shipping her chicks because of Postal Service problems. Now she relies only on local buyers to sustain her hatchery.

“We've been shipping for a very long time, and we rarely have any death or loss when we ship chicks,” she said. “But this year has been a nightmare, and it's not just me and Kelly; it's everybody.”

Hatcheries that rely on shipping chicks, poults and other live baby birds to customers have no choice but to use the Postal Service. Neither FedEx or UPS offers the service. However, FedEx planes are used to transport live birds across the country when needed as part of an agreement between the Postal Service and FedEx.

Blaze Baxter, who operates Bad Baxter Farms in Pottawatomie County, Okla., stopped ordering animals through the mail in 2017 after boxes full of ducks showed up at her farm looking like they were “used as pinatas.”

Of the 200 birds in the box, only 20 survived the journey. She remembers her mail carrier crying as she delivered the package

Baxter decided she and her family would hatch and raise their own chickens to avoid more birds dying while in Postal Service transit. But in early August, roughly eight years after the failed shipment, she took a chance, placing an order for 10 ducks from a hatchery in August. She said she’s still beating herself up about it.

“I made the mistake and decided to try and trust the Postal Service one more time and completely regretted it,” Baxter said.

On the second day of tracking her shipment, she saw the package had made its way to California and stalled. From there, she knew what she would find when her shipment arrived. Only two of the eight ducks survived the trip.

“I told my post office lady last week that that would be the last time she’ll see me picking up birds from her,” she said.

Baxter isn’t the only person raising ethical concerns about the shipment of baby birds. Animal safety advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/" target="_blank">United Poultry Concerns</a>&nbsp;and other organizations have called for the end of the long-standing tradition, calling it a cruelty to the animals.

In a 2020 post on its website, United Poultry Concerns said newborn chicks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/pp/winter2020/urge_usps_to_stop_shipping_baby_chicks_and_other_animals.html" target="_blank">“quietly” die while in transit with the Postal Service.&nbsp;</a>

“Recent postal service changes have caused many thousands more baby chicks to suffer and die in transit,” a post by the group read. “Shipment of live birds and other animals through the Postal Service is one of the many hidden cruelties inflicted on chickens and other animals.

In July, the Postal Service inspector general’s office conducted an audit in the Kansas City region. The audit concluded that mail delays have been caused by a lack of management oversight and staffing shortages.

The audit also found that employees were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article290342734.html" target="_blank">skipping important steps in the processing and transportation</a>&nbsp;of mail and that management allowed such practices to persist.

Further mail delays may be ahead for rural communities as a new Postal Service plan announced in late August aims to shave even more costs from its operations.

<a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/usps-operational-improvements-08-21-2024.pdf" target="_blank">Part of that plan includes overhauling logistics,</a>&nbsp;a move DeJoy said could increase slowdowns in mail deliveries, especially in rural areas where delivery could take an additional 12 to 24 hours.

It’s a decision that’s drawn the ire of customers and lawmakers.

U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri said complaints about the mail are a top concern for his constituents in the northern third of the state, which is largely rural. He told the Midwest Newsroom that mail delays and delivery problems are among the most common complaints his office receives, especially from rural communities and farmers.

“Other members of Congress all over the country are getting the same sort of complaint,” Graves said. ”It is something that the government should do, and should do well. And right now, it's not being done well at all.”

Graves blamed management at all levels of the Postal Service, noting that local mail carriers are caught in a system that’s working against them.

“It's just a huge management problem,” Graves said. “(Postal Service management) is not doing the job when it comes to doing what it is that they do, and that is getting the mail out to the post offices so it could be delivered on time.”

Graves, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, also of Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-alford-introduce-pony-act-hold-usps-accountable" target="_blank">introduced the Pony Up Act to Congress to offer consumers protection from mail delays</a>. If passed, the act would require the Postal Service to pay late fees incurred due to delayed delivery service.

The Gholsons’ story didn’t end with a package of dead turkeys. The Ohio-based breeder they ordered from sent a new package that arrived on time and with all 10 birds alive and well.

Evie Gholson can’t forget the dead turkeys that arrived in March.

“It’s not fun,” she said. “You have to sort through the box and see which ones are stiff and which ones are floppy, essentially. There’s only so much you can do.”

Evie Gholson showed one of the replacement turkeys at the St. Charles County Fair in July.

“It makes me very happy,” she said of her nameless bird. “She’s not too big. She’s just the right age. She can walk around well and I can pick her up. It’s perfect.”

Isa Luzarraga contributed to this report.

This story comes from the Midwest Newsroom, an investigative journalism collaboration that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iowapublicradio.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Public Radio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/" target="_blank">KCUR</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/" target="_blank">Nebraska Public Media</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/" target="_blank">NPR</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638081548.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, speaks about her Broad Breasted White turkey while showing the bird to judge Mark Cunningham on July 24 at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. The turkey was a replacement bird after the one ordered died in transit while in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, speaks about her Broad Breasted White turkey while showing the bird to judge Mark Cunningham on July 24 at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. The turkey was a replacement bird after the one ordered died in transit while in the hands of the U.S. Postal Service. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/kavahn-mansouri">Kavahn Mansouri</a>St. Louis Public Radio&nbsp;For days, Amy Gholson tracked a shipment of baby turkeys she ordered from an Ohio hatchery. She kept tabs online as the birds began the more than 500-mile trip to her home near St. Charles, Missouri, via the U.S. Postal Service.The 10 birds needed to arrive in two days to ensure they’d survive the trip. It was late March and temperatures were still low, making the speed of the delivery more crucial than usual. But the baby turkeys, or poults, hadn’t even left Ohio when progress halted.“I was going to be able to watch these babies digitally, basically, and they went to the Cleveland distribution warehouse, and they stayed there and stayed there,” Gholson said.Postal Service delays have become more persistent in the years following the pandemic and a new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/usps-mail-slowdown-postmaster-louis-dejoy/" target="_blank">10-year plan was put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy</a>&nbsp;aimed at ending losses in the billions of dollars a year. Slowing delivery is integral to the plan.For days, the poults Gholson ordered remained at the Cleveland warehouse. By the time the shipment arrived, three days overdue, she knew what to expect inside the package marked “live birds.”“I had already assumed they were dead. Our beloved mail lady just set a box of dead birds outside of our garage,” Gholson said. “I got home. I mean, you know what the situation was. A silent box is a dead box.”Gholson said that inside the package, the fledgling turkeys were as “stiff as rocks.”This wasn’t the first time that Gholson and her family received a Postal Service shipment of dead or dying birds. Once, after a delivery arrived during a cold spell, they warmed towels in the microwave, bundling the chicks inside the heated towels in hopes of saving them. Only four of the 10 in that shipment survived, and the chicks now roam the Gholsons’ backyard farm.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638174393.png" alt="A market chicken is displayed ahead of being judged in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>A market chicken is displayed ahead of being judged in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>'Hell' for bird shipments</h2>The Gholsons are a 4-H family, having participating in agricultural programs for years. They have a tradition of showing animals at the St. Charles County Fair, where Evie, now 18, planned to show the turkeys in that doomed March delivery. In the 4-H community, families talk about receiving shipments with dead birds all the time, said&nbsp;Amy Gholson.In 2020,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-20/thousands-of-baby-chicks-die-in-mail-in-latest-postal-imbroglio" target="_blank">more than 4,800 chicks died in a single Postal Service shipment to a Maine customer.</a>&nbsp;And the problem has persisted far past the height of the pandemic as concerns mounted about the future of the Postal Service and its performance since DeJoy’s plan kicked off in 2021.The Midwest Newsroom interviewed four hatchery owners and four backyard farmers in different parts of the U.S. who all say they’ve seen a marked increase in deaths while baby birds are in transit with the Postal Service over the past year.One hatchery owner described 2024 as “hell” for shipping birds and said customer complaints over shipments arriving with more dead birds than usual are on the rise.It is hard to know just how many Postal Service shipments of birds arrive at their destinations too late for survival.In response to a records request from the Midwest Newsroom, the Postal Service said that after a “diligent search,” it could not locate any documents referring to the total number of animals that die while in transit with the Postal Service. The response stated the agency does not compile or track that sort of information.Delivering birds through the mail is a longstanding practice in the U.S., and hatchers who spoke to the Midwest Newsroom said it’s an effective way for hatcheries to make money, with customers ranging from large-scale operations to backyard farmers.A hatchery can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars to more than $1,000 per shipment, depending on the breed and number of birds.In an email to the Midwest Newsroom, communications specialist Mark Inglett said the Postal Service has worked for more than 100 years with hatcheries to “safely transport mail-order chicks seamlessly.”“The U.S. Postal Service is one of just a few carriers that ship live animals, and we have established procedures for the safe handling of live animals,” the email read. “When properly packaged and labeled, these live parcels are given special handling outside of our normal automated process.”The hatcheries and buyers interviewed by the Midwest Newsroom said that special handling hasn’t saved their animals.The Postal Service declined a request for an interview.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638240710.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, listens to instructions ahead of showing a series of birds in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, listens to instructions ahead of showing a series of birds in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Left on a loading dock</h2>Kelly Warren owns and operates Cocktown Funky Orpingtons in Lillington, North Carolina. She breeds Orpington chickens, which are popular as show birds. The small business relies heavily on shipping birds.Warren estimates she’s lost at least a third of the birds she’s shipped this year to delays and other problems. A recent shipment saw her lose 80 chicks worth about $800. When birds die in transit, Warren has to refund her customers’ money.“One box last week arrived three days late,” Warren said. “The whole box was dead. All I could do was get my shipping costs back. I lost the rest of it out of pocket.”Warren said the Postal Service shipping delays greatly impact her business, which relies mainly on customers far from her rural North Carolina location.“Some breeders are lucky enough to have enough (local customers) to get by. I don't,” Warren said. “All of mine are everywhere: California, Maine, New York, Nevada, Wisconsin, Washington. You name it, I ship there. So it kind of kills me.”Not all bird deaths happen during transit, Warren said. One shipment arrived in time at a customer's local post office. But, she said, the customer reported the box of chicks had been left out on a loading dock during a thunderstorm. By the time the customer arrived to pick up the shipment, the chicks were dead.“The babies were drenched,” she said, while sharing photos with a Midwest Newsroom reporter. “They were dead. The box was soaked. There’s nothing you can do about it.”A statement from the Postal Service said its guidelines require delivery of poultry within 72 hours of hatching. All birds must be shipped using Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail services, which are designed to meet specific timing standards.Tracy Brown Kelly owns a small hatchery near Warren's called Satin and Silk Ranch. She said she’s completely stopped shipping her chicks because of Postal Service problems. Now she relies only on local buyers to sustain her hatchery.“We've been shipping for a very long time, and we rarely have any death or loss when we ship chicks,” she said. “But this year has been a nightmare, and it's not just me and Kelly; it's everybody.”Hatcheries that rely on shipping chicks, poults and other live baby birds to customers have no choice but to use the Postal Service. Neither FedEx or UPS offers the service. However, FedEx planes are used to transport live birds across the country when needed as part of an agreement between the Postal Service and FedEx.Blaze Baxter, who operates Bad Baxter Farms in Pottawatomie County, Okla., stopped ordering animals through the mail in 2017 after boxes full of ducks showed up at her farm looking like they were “used as pinatas.”Of the 200 birds in the box, only 20 survived the journey. She remembers her mail carrier crying as she delivered the packageBaxter decided she and her family would hatch and raise their own chickens to avoid more birds dying while in Postal Service transit. But in early August, roughly eight years after the failed shipment, she took a chance, placing an order for 10 ducks from a hatchery in August. She said she’s still beating herself up about it.“I made the mistake and decided to try and trust the Postal Service one more time and completely regretted it,” Baxter said.On the second day of tracking her shipment, she saw the package had made its way to California and stalled. From there, she knew what she would find when her shipment arrived. Only two of the eight ducks survived the trip.“I told my post office lady last week that that would be the last time she’ll see me picking up birds from her,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638364261.png" alt="A young Broad Breasted White turkey sits in its cage in July at the St. Charles County Fair. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>A young Broad Breasted White turkey sits in its cage in July at the St. Charles County Fair. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure>Baxter isn’t the only person raising ethical concerns about the shipment of baby birds. Animal safety advocacy group&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/" target="_blank">United Poultry Concerns</a>&nbsp;and other organizations have called for the end of the long-standing tradition, calling it a cruelty to the animals.In a 2020 post on its website, United Poultry Concerns said newborn chicks&nbsp;<a href="https://www.upc-online.org/pp/winter2020/urge_usps_to_stop_shipping_baby_chicks_and_other_animals.html" target="_blank">“quietly” die while in transit with the Postal Service.&nbsp;</a>“Recent postal service changes have caused many thousands more baby chicks to suffer and die in transit,” a post by the group read. “Shipment of live birds and other animals through the Postal Service is one of the many hidden cruelties inflicted on chickens and other animals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725638422462.png" alt="Evie Gholson, 18, adjusts her first-place ribbon after showing her Broad Breasted White turkey in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio" />
 <figcaption>Evie Gholson, 18, adjusts her first-place ribbon after showing her Broad Breasted White turkey in July at the St. Charles County Fair in Wentzville. Brian Munoz/St. Louis Public Radio</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘A huge problem’</h2>In July, the Postal Service inspector general’s office conducted an audit in the Kansas City region. The audit concluded that mail delays have been caused by a lack of management oversight and staffing shortages.The audit also found that employees were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article290342734.html" target="_blank">skipping important steps in the processing and transportation</a>&nbsp;of mail and that management allowed such practices to persist.According to Postal Regulatory Commission data, roughly 83% of first-class mail arrived on time in Kansas and Missouri in the first three months of 2024. That rate was the sixth worst of the 50 postal districts in the country.Further mail delays may be ahead for rural communities as a new Postal Service plan announced in late August aims to shave even more costs from its operations.<a href="https://about.usps.com/newsroom/usps-operational-improvements-08-21-2024.pdf" target="_blank">Part of that plan includes overhauling logistics,</a>&nbsp;a move DeJoy said could increase slowdowns in mail deliveries, especially in rural areas where delivery could take an additional 12 to 24 hours.It’s a decision that’s drawn the ire of customers and lawmakers.U.S. Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri said complaints about the mail are a top concern for his constituents in the northern third of the state, which is largely rural. He told the Midwest Newsroom that mail delays and delivery problems are among the most common complaints his office receives, especially from rural communities and farmers.“Other members of Congress all over the country are getting the same sort of complaint,” Graves said. ”It is something that the government should do, and should do well. And right now, it's not being done well at all.”Graves blamed management at all levels of the Postal Service, noting that local mail carriers are caught in a system that’s working against them.“It's just a huge management problem,” Graves said. “(Postal Service management) is not doing the job when it comes to doing what it is that they do, and that is getting the mail out to the post offices so it could be delivered on time.”Graves, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, also of Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://cleaver.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/reps-cleaver-graves-alford-introduce-pony-act-hold-usps-accountable" target="_blank">introduced the Pony Up Act to Congress to offer consumers protection from mail delays</a>. If passed, the act would require the Postal Service to pay late fees incurred due to delayed delivery service.<h2>Blue-ribbon bird</h2>The Gholsons’ story didn’t end with a package of dead turkeys. The Ohio-based breeder they ordered from sent a new package that arrived on time and with all 10 birds alive and well.Evie Gholson can’t forget the dead turkeys that arrived in March.“It’s not fun,” she said. “You have to sort through the box and see which ones are stiff and which ones are floppy, essentially. There’s only so much you can do.”Evie Gholson showed one of the replacement turkeys at the St. Charles County Fair in July.“It makes me very happy,” she said of her nameless bird. “She’s not too big. She’s just the right age. She can walk around well and I can pick her up. It’s perfect.”The turkey earned a blue ribbon.Isa Luzarraga contributed to this report.This story comes from the Midwest Newsroom, an investigative journalism collaboration that includes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iowapublicradio.org/" target="_blank">Iowa Public Radio</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/" target="_blank">KCUR</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/" target="_blank">Nebraska Public Media</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://news.stlpublicradio.org/" target="_blank">St. Louis Public Radio</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/" target="_blank">NPR</a>.

U.S. Postal Service slowdowns are so bad, baby birds are dying in transit

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

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Peterbilt semi driven by Eric S. Nehman, 37, Royal, Iowa, was northbound on U.S. 71 at 402nd Street, fifteen miles south of Maryville.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a guardrail, a utility pole and a tree.

Nodaway County EMS transported Nehman to Mosaic in Maryville. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Peterbilt semi driven by Eric S. Nehman, 37, Royal, Iowa, was northbound on U.S. 71 at 402nd Street, fifteen miles south of Maryville.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a guardrail, a utility pole and a tree.Nodaway County EMS transported Nehman to Mosaic in Maryville. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

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