GENTRY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Saturday in Gentry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford F250 driven by Tabatha L. Hatfield, 43, St. Joseph, was westbound on 450th Street three miles north of King City.

The pickup traveled off the north side of the road. The driver overcorrected. The pickup struck a ditch and overturned.

Grand River EMS transported Hatfield and a passenger Anthony L. Williams, 49, St.&nbsp; Joseph to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

GENTRY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Saturday in Gentry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford F250 driven by Tabatha L. Hatfield, 43, St. Joseph, was westbound on 450th Street three miles north of King City.The pickup traveled off the north side of the road. The driver overcorrected. The pickup struck a ditch and overturned.Grand River EMS transported Hatfield and a passenger Anthony L. Williams, 49, St.&nbsp; Joseph to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Two from St. Joe injured in pickup rollover accident

A veteran Trenton police officer has been honored by the
United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

The office awarded Sergeant Jeb Walker the 2024 Enoch B.
Morelock Award.

“Sgt. Walker is an invaluable asset not only to his
department, but to his community,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said in a written
statement. “His long tenure in law enforcement, the breadth of his extensive
community involvement, and his exemplary military service truly exemplify the
ideals honored by the Enoch B. Morelock Award.”

The Enoch B. Morelock Award is an annual recognition of
outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement, and service to the
community.

The award is named in honor of Sullivan County Sheriff Enoch
B. Morelock, who was the first recorded line of duty death in the Western
District of Missouri on Dec. 19, 1847.

Walker has served the Trenton Police Department for 26 years, overseeing
all traffic-related incidents. He is also the designated firearms instructor,
OC Instructor, and field training officer. Walker is president of the
underwater rescue team that serves the area and is a trained volunteer
firefighter.

Walker is also actively involved in a number of volunteer
activities in his community.

In addition to his law enforcement and volunteer community
service, Walker served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves for 21 years
as a Gunnery Sergeant and in 2016 transitioned to the Missouri Army National
Guard, where he serves as a Staff Sergeant. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725042197492.jpeg" alt="Trenton Police Sgt. Jeb Walker receiving Enoch B. Morelock award/Photo courtesy of US Attorney's Office" />
 <figcaption>Trenton Police Sgt. Jeb Walker receiving Enoch B. Morelock award/Photo courtesy of US Attorney's Office</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA veteran Trenton police officer has been honored by the
United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.The office awarded Sergeant Jeb Walker the 2024 Enoch B.
Morelock Award.“Sgt. Walker is an invaluable asset not only to his
department, but to his community,” U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore said in a written
statement. “His long tenure in law enforcement, the breadth of his extensive
community involvement, and his exemplary military service truly exemplify the
ideals honored by the Enoch B. Morelock Award.”The Enoch B. Morelock Award is an annual recognition of
outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement, and service to the
community.The award is named in honor of Sullivan County Sheriff Enoch
B. Morelock, who was the first recorded line of duty death in the Western
District of Missouri on Dec. 19, 1847.Walker has served the Trenton Police Department for 26 years, overseeing
all traffic-related incidents. He is also the designated firearms instructor,
OC Instructor, and field training officer. Walker is president of the
underwater rescue team that serves the area and is a trained volunteer
firefighter.Walker is also actively involved in a number of volunteer
activities in his community.In addition to his law enforcement and volunteer community
service, Walker served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves for 21 years
as a Gunnery Sergeant and in 2016 transitioned to the Missouri Army National
Guard, where he serves as a Staff Sergeant. You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Veteran Trenton police officer given prestigious award

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Nissan Altima driven by Emily A. Prewitt, 39, Chillicothe, was westbound on MO 190 nine miles west of Chillicothe. The car traveled off the north side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled.

Chillicothe EMS transported Prewitt to Hedrick Medical Center. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Nissan Altima driven by Emily A. Prewitt, 39, Chillicothe, was westbound on MO 190 nine miles west of Chillicothe. The car traveled off the north side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the car traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled.Chillicothe EMS transported Prewitt to Hedrick Medical Center. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

NW Missouri woman hospitalized after rollover crash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;

A summer COVID wave fueled by a highly contagious variant, increased travel and hot days that crowded people indoors may be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-statetrend.html" target="_blank">starting to ebb</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City area.

Health officials said they hope that surge prompts far more people to sign up for the new COVID vaccine, which could reach area pharmacies next week. The new shot was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-and-authorizes-updated-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-better-protect-against-currently" target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;last week and is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html" target="_blank">recommended</a>&nbsp;annually for people 6 months and older.

“Please take advantage of it,” said&nbsp; Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Roll up both sleeves. Get your flu shot and your COVID shot.”

<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2023/12/11/new-covid-vaccine-no-interest/" target="_blank">Last year</a>, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fewer than a quarter of adults actually got the new COVID vaccine.

Getting the updated vaccine, doctors agree, is the best way to prevent serious illness and reduce the risk of developing long COVID, a lingering and often debilitating condition that can leave a person with symptoms for months or years.

But since the federal government lifted its public health emergency in May 2023 and stopped providing the vaccine for free, public health officials have worried about how some people would afford it. Cash price for a shot can top $100.

People covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance can still get the shot for free or for a small fee. And a $1 billion federal program made free shots available to people without insurance last year. But funding for that program was expected to run out at the end of August.

Some area health departments, including the Wyandotte County Public Health Department, had said they&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/14/health-officials-warn-of-worsening-covid-surge-without-free-vaccines/" target="_blank">wouldn’t have</a>&nbsp;any free shots for uninsured adults this year. And Vibrant Health, a Wyandotte County health clinic, said it’s still unsure how many free shots will be available to its uninsured patients this fall.

But as federal funding was scheduled to dry up, the government announced it had found money to help cover at least some of the gap.

Kansas expects to get around $780,000 of the newly found federal aid, enough to cover about 9,380 COVID doses. The state, which hasn’t expanded Medicaid, has nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/census-survey-nearly-250000-kansans-without-health-coverage/#:~:text=TOPEKA%20%E2%80%93%20The%20U.S.%20Census%20Bureau,Kansas%20and%20the%20United%20States." target="_blank">250,000</a>&nbsp;residents who lack health coverage.

Jill Bronaugh, spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the shots would be “equitably distributed” across the state to local health departments, community health centers, rural health clinics and other vaccination locations.

Missouri got word last week that it would get just over $1.1 million of the federal funds. That means the state can buy around 12,000 COVID shots. The state, which has expanded Medicaid, still has more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-population/?dataView=1&amp;currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">500,000</a>&nbsp;uninsured residents, according to 2022 data.

Lynelle Paro, chief of Missouri’s Bureau of Immunization in the Department of Health and Senior Services, said the shots will be made available to public health departments and to some federally qualified health clinics, including&nbsp;<a href="https://samrodgers.org/" target="_blank">Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kccare.org/" target="_blank">KC CARE Health Center</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://swopehealth.org/" target="_blank">Swope Health</a>.

Dr. Mark Steele, University Health’s chief clinical officer, said people at lower risk of getting really sick from COVID could consider waiting to get the updated shot until late September or early October. That could extend protection into the holiday season.

But doctors warn about putting it off any longer. The virus is sure to surge again once the weather turns cold, a new variant likely takes hold and people go back inside.

“If you’re an individual at high risk and it’s been two months or more since your last COVID update, err on the side of (getting the new shot) sooner rather than later,” Steele said.

Here’s what else you should know about the latest shot and what steps to take if you get infected.

Where can I get the new COVID vaccine and how much will it cost?

Many pharmacies offer the vaccine on a walk-in basis. Retail chains like Walgreens and CVS let you sign up through their websites. People covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans still can get the COVID shot for free, but you may have to pay an administration fee. Some area health departments charge $20 to give you the shot, even if you don’t have insurance. Many federally qualified health centers, such as KC CARE, provide the shot for free to uninsured and underinsured patients. Uninsured and underinsured minors get the shot for free through a federal program known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html" target="_blank">Vaccines for Children</a>.

What variant is the latest vaccine targeting?

The newly approved mRNA vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, target the KP.2 strain of the virus. KP.2 is one of the FLiRT variants, the highly contagious versions of COVID that fueled this summer’s surge.

If I had COVID recently, how long should I wait to get the new COVID vaccine?

Doctors said you can wait up to three months after an infection to get the new vaccine. That’s because you will develop immunity from having the virus.

Steele said you can expect the shot to keep you from getting sick for about three months. The vaccine will protect you from getting seriously ill for at least six months. Older adults and patients with underlying health conditions may be advised to get a second shot midway through the year.

Test when you have symptoms, said Dr. Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease doctor at St. Luke’s Health System. And don’t assume you’re COVID-free if one home antigen test shows a negative result. When a cough, sore throat or other symptoms persist, you should test a second time 48 hours later to rule out COVID.

If you know you’ve been exposed and you don’t have symptoms, you should test five days after exposure. Unless symptoms develop, you don’t need to repeat the test, Boyd said.

Beginning in late September, you will be able to&nbsp;<a href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;four free tests from the federal government. Tests are available to buy at most drug stores or online, but that can cost $6 a test or more.&nbsp;<a href="https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">No-cost testing</a>&nbsp;is still available at some pharmacies for people without insurance who have been exposed to COVID or have symptoms.

If the test is positive, do I need to stay home?

The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>&nbsp;that if you test positive, you should avoid contact with others. Once your symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for 24 hours, you can go back to school or work — as long as you’re not returning to a health care setting. But when you go back into the world, you should take precautions like wearing a mask for five additional days.

Should I consider taking Paxlovid if I test positive?

It’s a good idea to check in with your doctor if you test positive, Boyd said. They may recommend that you take Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that can prevent serious illness. Testing and determining that you have COVID is especially important for people at higher risk because Paxlovid must be started within five days of getting sick.

How can I reduce my risks of getting long COVID?

The best strategy to avoid long COVID is to avoid being infected in the first place, experts said. Wear a mask in crowded places, practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth when in public. Most importantly, stay up to date on the vaccine. Like the flu shot, updated COVID vaccines are tweaked to more closely match and repel the virus variants that are circulating.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/28/the-best-way-to-avoid-covid-get-the-new-covid-vaccine/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725066019956.png" alt=" A sign marks the entrance to the a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Shannon County Health Center on July 8, 2021 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> A sign marks the entrance to the a drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic at the Shannon County Health Center on July 8, 2021 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/suzanneking/">SUZANNE KING</a>&nbsp;A summer COVID wave fueled by a highly contagious variant, increased travel and hot days that crowded people indoors may be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-statetrend.html" target="_blank">starting to ebb</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City area.Health officials said they hope that surge prompts far more people to sign up for the new COVID vaccine, which could reach area pharmacies next week. The new shot was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-and-authorizes-updated-mrna-covid-19-vaccines-better-protect-against-currently" target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;last week and is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html" target="_blank">recommended</a>&nbsp;annually for people 6 months and older.“Please take advantage of it,” said&nbsp; Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Roll up both sleeves. Get your flu shot and your COVID shot.”<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2023/12/11/new-covid-vaccine-no-interest/" target="_blank">Last year</a>, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fewer than a quarter of adults actually got the new COVID vaccine.Getting the updated vaccine, doctors agree, is the best way to prevent serious illness and reduce the risk of developing long COVID, a lingering and often debilitating condition that can leave a person with symptoms for months or years.But since the federal government lifted its public health emergency in May 2023 and stopped providing the vaccine for free, public health officials have worried about how some people would afford it. Cash price for a shot can top $100.People covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance can still get the shot for free or for a small fee. And a $1 billion federal program made free shots available to people without insurance last year. But funding for that program was expected to run out at the end of August.Some area health departments, including the Wyandotte County Public Health Department, had said they&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/14/health-officials-warn-of-worsening-covid-surge-without-free-vaccines/" target="_blank">wouldn’t have</a>&nbsp;any free shots for uninsured adults this year. And Vibrant Health, a Wyandotte County health clinic, said it’s still unsure how many free shots will be available to its uninsured patients this fall.But as federal funding was scheduled to dry up, the government announced it had found money to help cover at least some of the gap.Kansas expects to get around $780,000 of the newly found federal aid, enough to cover about 9,380 COVID doses. The state, which hasn’t expanded Medicaid, has nearly&nbsp;<a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/census-survey-nearly-250000-kansans-without-health-coverage/#:~:text=TOPEKA%20%E2%80%93%20The%20U.S.%20Census%20Bureau,Kansas%20and%20the%20United%20States." target="_blank">250,000</a>&nbsp;residents who lack health coverage.Jill Bronaugh, spokesperson for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the shots would be “equitably distributed” across the state to local health departments, community health centers, rural health clinics and other vaccination locations.Missouri got word last week that it would get just over $1.1 million of the federal funds. That means the state can buy around 12,000 COVID shots. The state, which has expanded Medicaid, still has more than&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-population/?dataView=1&amp;currentTimeframe=0&amp;sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D" target="_blank">500,000</a>&nbsp;uninsured residents, according to 2022 data.Lynelle Paro, chief of Missouri’s Bureau of Immunization in the Department of Health and Senior Services, said the shots will be made available to public health departments and to some federally qualified health clinics, including&nbsp;<a href="https://samrodgers.org/" target="_blank">Samuel U. Rodgers Health Center</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://kccare.org/" target="_blank">KC CARE Health Center</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://swopehealth.org/" target="_blank">Swope Health</a>.Dr. Mark Steele, University Health’s chief clinical officer, said people at lower risk of getting really sick from COVID could consider waiting to get the updated shot until late September or early October. That could extend protection into the holiday season.But doctors warn about putting it off any longer. The virus is sure to surge again once the weather turns cold, a new variant likely takes hold and people go back inside.“If you’re an individual at high risk and it’s been two months or more since your last COVID update, err on the side of (getting the new shot) sooner rather than later,” Steele said.Here’s what else you should know about the latest shot and what steps to take if you get infected.<h2>Where can I get the new COVID vaccine and how much will it cost?</h2>Many pharmacies offer the vaccine on a walk-in basis. Retail chains like Walgreens and CVS let you sign up through their websites. People covered by Medicare, Medicaid and many private insurance plans still can get the COVID shot for free, but you may have to pay an administration fee. Some area health departments charge $20 to give you the shot, even if you don’t have insurance. Many federally qualified health centers, such as KC CARE, provide the shot for free to uninsured and underinsured patients. Uninsured and underinsured minors get the shot for free through a federal program known as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html" target="_blank">Vaccines for Children</a>.<h2>What variant is the latest vaccine targeting?</h2>The newly approved mRNA vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, target the KP.2 strain of the virus. KP.2 is one of the FLiRT variants, the highly contagious versions of COVID that fueled this summer’s surge.<h2>If I had COVID recently, how long should I wait to get the new COVID vaccine?</h2>Doctors said you can wait up to three months after an infection to get the new vaccine. That’s because you will develop immunity from having the virus.<h2>How long will the vaccine protect me?</h2>Steele said you can expect the shot to keep you from getting sick for about three months. The vaccine will protect you from getting seriously ill for at least six months. Older adults and patients with underlying health conditions may be advised to get a second shot midway through the year.<h2>If I get sick, when should I test?</h2>Test when you have symptoms, said Dr. Sarah Boyd, an infectious disease doctor at St. Luke’s Health System. And don’t assume you’re COVID-free if one home antigen test shows a negative result. When a cough, sore throat or other symptoms persist, you should test a second time 48 hours later to rule out COVID.<h2>If I am exposed, when should I test?</h2>If you know you’ve been exposed and you don’t have symptoms, you should test five days after exposure. Unless symptoms develop, you don’t need to repeat the test, Boyd said.<h2>Where can I get COVID tests?</h2>Beginning in late September, you will be able to&nbsp;<a href="https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">order</a>&nbsp;four free tests from the federal government. Tests are available to buy at most drug stores or online, but that can cost $6 a test or more.&nbsp;<a href="https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/" target="_blank">No-cost testing</a>&nbsp;is still available at some pharmacies for people without insurance who have been exposed to COVID or have symptoms.<h2>If the test is positive, do I need to stay home?</h2>The CDC&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>&nbsp;that if you test positive, you should avoid contact with others. Once your symptoms are improving and you have been fever-free for 24 hours, you can go back to school or work — as long as you’re not returning to a health care setting. But when you go back into the world, you should take precautions like wearing a mask for five additional days.<h2>Should I consider taking Paxlovid if I test positive?</h2>It’s a good idea to check in with your doctor if you test positive, Boyd said. They may recommend that you take Paxlovid, an antiviral medication that can prevent serious illness. Testing and determining that you have COVID is especially important for people at higher risk because Paxlovid must be started within five days of getting sick.<h2>How can I reduce my risks of getting long COVID?</h2>The best strategy to avoid long COVID is to avoid being infected in the first place, experts said. Wear a mask in crowded places, practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth when in public. Most importantly, stay up to date on the vaccine. Like the flu shot, updated COVID vaccines are tweaked to more closely match and repel the virus variants that are circulating.This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/28/the-best-way-to-avoid-covid-get-the-new-covid-vaccine/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Kansas City</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/iconbeacon-150x150.png?crop=1" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://thebeaconnews.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=24081" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Summer COVID surge starting to recede in Missouri. The next wave is likely only weeks away

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Judge Tommy Webb.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/toeed9oN0ik?si=Pq2NXG8GGlbXhy_3" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Judge Tommy Webb.

🎤Forward Ever: Judge Tommy Webb

An ongoing, in-depth study of the Missouri River being
conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks to learn from past floods
to prevent the massive, highly destructive floods such as seen in 1993, 2011,
and 2019.

Senior Program Manager Colleen Roberts of the Lower Missouri
River Study says the study is an outgrowth of the governors of Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa demanding changes in wake of the 2019 flood. 

Missouri officials have pressured the Corps of Engineers to
more closely examine the recurring flooding in Holt County.

“I mean, Holt County is an area of repeated damage, like they
have been hard hit multiple times,” Roberts tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post during an Army Corps of Engineers tour of the Missouri River. “The
levees up there (offer) varying levels of protection. So, it’s not consistent
there. There are pinch points or choke points where the water really constricts
that we need to be able to give the river again more room to breathe; just
being able to get the levels of performance a little more consistent there.”

A spin off study is focusing on Holt County as well as both
sides of the Missouri River a bit farther north in Atchison County, Missouri
and Nemaha County, Nebraska. That area has been hit hard by flooding in the
past as well.

“Very similar to Holt County,” according to Roberts. “It’s
just a hard-hit area. They did a levee setback there in L-536 (Levee Unit 536) after
2019. That was a really successful project. I think a lot of our study areas
want to be able to emulate what they did there where they had the community
behind it.”

Special attention will also be given to the Missouri River at
Jefferson City and Brunswick.

Missouri state officials have pointed to the so-called “pinch
points” or “choke points,” areas of the Missouri River that seem to not just be
more vulnerable to flooding, but practically invite flooding when the river is
high.

Roberts says the study is even reviewing how some flood
prevention efforts have proven counter-productive.

“As people have continued to build up levees, it’s constricted
the river more,” Roberts says. “And there are bridges and other things, it’s
not just the levees, but continuing to build the levees higher on the bank of
the river is just adding to some of those pinch points.”

The system-wide study began in wake of the 2019 flood. The
federal government authorized it in 2020. The four states of Missouri, Kansas,
Nebraska, and Iowa formed a working group to push for a complete review of the
Missouri River from Sioux City, Iowa to its mouth in St. Louis as well as how
the Army Corps of Engineers manages the river.

Roberts says the focus and cooperation among the four states
and the federal government is unprecedented. It is the first comprehensive
study of the Missouri River since the Pick-Sloan Act authorized building the
levees in the 1950s.

Roberts hopes to recommend both policy changes and structural
changes in the report. A draft report is expected next week with completion of
the study expected by 2026.

Click <a href="https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Civil-Works-Program-And-Projects/Lower-Missouri-River-Basin/">HERE</a> for more on the Missouri River study.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725027592631.jpeg" alt="Colleen Roberts, Snr. Program Manager, Lower Missouri River Study/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Colleen Roberts, Snr. Program Manager, Lower Missouri River Study/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn ongoing, in-depth study of the Missouri River being
conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers seeks to learn from past floods
to prevent the massive, highly destructive floods such as seen in 1993, 2011,
and 2019.Senior Program Manager Colleen Roberts of the Lower Missouri
River Study says the study is an outgrowth of the governors of Missouri,
Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa demanding changes in wake of the 2019 flood. Missouri officials have pressured the Corps of Engineers to
more closely examine the recurring flooding in Holt County.“I mean, Holt County is an area of repeated damage, like they
have been hard hit multiple times,” Roberts tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post during an Army Corps of Engineers tour of the Missouri River. “The
levees up there (offer) varying levels of protection. So, it’s not consistent
there. There are pinch points or choke points where the water really constricts
that we need to be able to give the river again more room to breathe; just
being able to get the levels of performance a little more consistent there.”A spin off study is focusing on Holt County as well as both
sides of the Missouri River a bit farther north in Atchison County, Missouri
and Nemaha County, Nebraska. That area has been hit hard by flooding in the
past as well.“Very similar to Holt County,” according to Roberts. “It’s
just a hard-hit area. They did a levee setback there in L-536 (Levee Unit 536) after
2019. That was a really successful project. I think a lot of our study areas
want to be able to emulate what they did there where they had the community
behind it.”Special attention will also be given to the Missouri River at
Jefferson City and Brunswick.Missouri state officials have pointed to the so-called “pinch
points” or “choke points,” areas of the Missouri River that seem to not just be
more vulnerable to flooding, but practically invite flooding when the river is
high.Roberts says the study is even reviewing how some flood
prevention efforts have proven counter-productive.“As people have continued to build up levees, it’s constricted
the river more,” Roberts says. “And there are bridges and other things, it’s
not just the levees, but continuing to build the levees higher on the bank of
the river is just adding to some of those pinch points.”The system-wide study began in wake of the 2019 flood. The
federal government authorized it in 2020. The four states of Missouri, Kansas,
Nebraska, and Iowa formed a working group to push for a complete review of the
Missouri River from Sioux City, Iowa to its mouth in St. Louis as well as how
the Army Corps of Engineers manages the river.Roberts says the focus and cooperation among the four states
and the federal government is unprecedented. It is the first comprehensive
study of the Missouri River since the Pick-Sloan Act authorized building the
levees in the 1950s.Roberts hopes to recommend both policy changes and structural
changes in the report. A draft report is expected next week with completion of
the study expected by 2026.Click <a href="https://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Civil-Works-Program-And-Projects/Lower-Missouri-River-Basin/">HERE</a> for more on the Missouri River study.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Missouri-River-Study-e2nqbd8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725027660993.jpeg" alt="The Missouri River/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>The Missouri River/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Massive study of Missouri River hopes to prevent massive future flooding

Every Friday night during the high schooll football season tune into KFEQ for Friday Night Lights.&nbsp;

The show, hosted by Matt Pike, will bring you area scores, interviews with coaches, and more from 10pm to midnight on KFEQ 680 AM/ 95.3 FM

Throughout the night, you can also see live scores on St. Joseph Post, by clicking the Scoreboard tab, or by clicking <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/pages/high-school-football-scoreboard">HERE</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1725034412235.png" alt="Friday Night Lights" />
 <figcaption>Friday Night Lights</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostEvery Friday night during the high schooll football season tune into KFEQ for Friday Night Lights.&nbsp;The show, hosted by Matt Pike, will bring you area scores, interviews with coaches, and more from 10pm to midnight on KFEQ 680 AM/ 95.3 FMThroughout the night, you can also see live scores on St. Joseph Post, by clicking the Scoreboard tab, or by clicking <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/pages/high-school-football-scoreboard">HERE</a>

Friday Night Lights takes the air tonight on KFEQ

Week 1 of high school football in Missouri is here. Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!

Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night of the regular season from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!

Benton vs Northeast Kansas City- Fri @ 7pm

Bishop LeBlond vs North Shelby- Fri @ 7pm

East Buchanan @ Central (Kansas City)- Sat @ noon

Hamilton (Penney) vs Lafayette County- Fri @ 7pm

Dekalb vs St. Joseph Christian- Fri @ 7pm

Stewartsville-Osborn vs Albany- Fri @ 7pm

St. Joseph Central vs Winnetonka- Fri @7pm

Kansas high school football starts Sept. 6th

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostWeek 1 of high school football in Missouri is here. Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night of the regular season from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!MECCameron vs Oak Grove- Fri @ 7pmMaryville @ Blair Oaks- Fri @ 5:30pmLafayette vs Center- Fri @ 7pmBenton vs Northeast Kansas City- Fri @ 7pmSavannah vs Pleasant Hill- Fri @ 7pmChillicothe vs Marshall- Fri @ 7pmBishop LeBlond vs North Shelby- Fri @ 7pmKCIEast Buchanan @ Central (Kansas City)- Sat @ noonLathrop vs Lexington- Fri @ 7pmLawson vs Warsaw- Fri @ 7pmMid-Buchanan @ Midway- Fri @ 7pmNorth Platte vs Butler- Fri @ 7pmHamilton (Penney) vs Lafayette County- Fri @ 7pmPlattsburg- Bye weekWest Platte vs Polo- Fri @ 7pmGRC 11-man (East Division)Trenton vs Brookfield- Fri @ 7pmSouth Harrison vs Milan- Fri @7pmMaysville vs Gallatin -Fri @ 7pmGallatin @ Maysville- Fri @7pmGRC 8-man (West Division)King City @ East Atchison- Fri @ 7pmNorth Andrew @ West Nodaway- Fri @ 7pmWorth County @ Platte Valley- Fri @ 7pmStanberry @ Mound City- Fri @ 7pmSt. Joseph Christian @ Dekalb- Fri @ 7pm275Dekalb vs St. Joseph Christian- Fri @ 7pmPlatte Valley vs Worth County- Fri @ 7pmMound City vs Stanberry- Fri @ 7pmStewartsville-Osborn vs Albany- Fri @ 7pmGreater KC SuburbanSt. Joseph Central vs Winnetonka- Fri @7pmNortheast KansasKansas high school football starts Sept. 6th

Area High School Football schedule for August 29th-30th

DEKALB COUNTY —A man from St. Joe avoided serious injury in an accident that occurred just after 4p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Buick LaCrosse driven by Garrett M. Griffin, 31, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 at the MO 31 north Junction.

The driver swerved to avoid another vehicle. The car traveled off the north side of the road and struck a highway sign. Griffin refused treatment at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The car was towed from the scene.

DEKALB COUNTY —A man from St. Joe avoided serious injury in an accident that occurred just after 4p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Buick LaCrosse driven by Garrett M. Griffin, 31, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 at the MO 31 north Junction.The driver swerved to avoid another vehicle. The car traveled off the north side of the road and struck a highway sign. Griffin refused treatment at the scene. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The car was towed from the scene.

Man from St. Joe avoids serious injury after car strikes sign

Leadership Northwest Missouri is hosting the annual Music Jam in Trenton on Saturday, August 31, with a top finalist from 'The Voice' headlining the event.

Jenna Stevens, with Leadership Northwest Missouri, says rising country star Jordan Rainer, will perform. "She was on Team Reba from NBC's The Voice last season. She made it to the semi-finals and we're excited to have her light up the stage in Trenton."

Rainer has opened for several popular country music stars. Some of which include Luke Combs, Lee Ann Womack, and Brantley Gilbert.

Stevens adds that Trenton High School sophomore, Makayla Mejia, will serve as the opening act, "She's got a great setlist ready for everyone on Saturday and we're excited to hear what she's got."

This is the fourth year of the Music Jam, which takes place at Black Silo Winery. The proceeds will benefit Leadership Northwest Missouri's new scholarship initiative. Stevens notes that two scholarships have already been awarded this year.

Stevens explains the Leadership Northwest Missouri program is, "for community leaders or people who want to become leaders in their community within the nineteen county region of Northwest Missouri."

Tickets are $25 through Eventbrite and $30 at the gate. 

Stevens notes that food vendors will be on site, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. The gates open at 6:30 and the Music Jam begins at 7:00 p.m. 

More information can be found at the Leadership Northwest Missouri and Black Silo Winery Facebook pages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700163908959.jpg" alt="guitar, cowboy boots, cadillac" />
 <figcaption>guitar, cowboy boots, cadillac</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostLeadership Northwest Missouri is hosting the annual Music Jam in Trenton on Saturday, August 31, with a top finalist from 'The Voice' headlining the event.Jenna Stevens, with Leadership Northwest Missouri, says rising country star Jordan Rainer, will perform. "She was on Team Reba from NBC's The Voice last season. She made it to the semi-finals and we're excited to have her light up the stage in Trenton."Rainer has opened for several popular country music stars. Some of which include Luke Combs, Lee Ann Womack, and Brantley Gilbert.Stevens adds that Trenton High School sophomore, Makayla Mejia, will serve as the opening act, "She's got a great setlist ready for everyone on Saturday and we're excited to hear what she's got."This is the fourth year of the Music Jam, which takes place at Black Silo Winery. The proceeds will benefit Leadership Northwest Missouri's new scholarship initiative. Stevens notes that two scholarships have already been awarded this year.Stevens explains the Leadership Northwest Missouri program is, "for community leaders or people who want to become leaders in their community within the nineteen county region of Northwest Missouri."Tickets are $25 through Eventbrite and $30 at the gate. Stevens notes that food vendors will be on site, and attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs. The gates open at 6:30 and the Music Jam begins at 7:00 p.m. More information can be found at the Leadership Northwest Missouri and Black Silo Winery Facebook pages.

Leadership Northwest Missouri Music Jam to feature top finalist from 'The Voice'

Unanimous approval by the St. Joseph School Board on a long-range plan will have the school district exploring building two new high schools in the city.  

Superintendent Gabe Edgar says the plan has been discussed since he took over the position in 2022 and was built heavily around the Vision Forward campaign. 

"It was an 18-month process where there were community members involved, there were students involved, there were teachers involved, there were parents involved, there were administrators involved, a lot of different folks were involved in that plan,” Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “So, if they chose not to be a part of that, that’s their deal, so that’s kind of where we’re at with it, but just understand that not all the details are there.” 

Edgar says there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered, and discussion will continue and will be a topic of discussion during a Sept. 9th work session.  

The objective of the plan is to build two new high schools, one on the north side and one on the south side, and hopes to align boundaries, right size elementary schools, and reconfigure the middle school model. 

Edgar says overall though the plan isn't just about buildings, it's about academics. 

"So, this is not about facilities to me, it’s about offering a better education to kids, it’s about equity, it’s about opportunities, it’s about the proper offerings, that’s what it’s about to me,” Edgar says. 

Edgar says the district can't stray away from this long-range plan 

"We have to stick to the plan, we have to take this plan to the community, if it fails you go back and fix the plan,” Edgar explains. “I think the last time around, to be honest with you in my opinion, I don’t think American Family was a bad idea, but it was off the plan and guess what, the plan blew up.” 

Edgar says it fell apart because it was not part of the original plan, but his message to the community about this new plan.  

"Is that there is a lot of detail that has to be added to this plan, but Pre-K through 12, the plan is set,” Edgar says. 

Edgar says as long as he is around this is the plan that will be put forward to the community. 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostUnanimous approval by the St. Joseph School Board on a long-range plan will have the school district exploring building two new high schools in the city. Superintendent Gabe Edgar says the plan has been discussed since he took over the position in 2022 and was built heavily around the Vision Forward campaign. "It was an 18-month process where there were community members involved, there were students involved, there were teachers involved, there were parents involved, there were administrators involved, a lot of different folks were involved in that plan,” Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. “So, if they chose not to be a part of that, that’s their deal, so that’s kind of where we’re at with it, but just understand that not all the details are there.” Edgar says there are still a lot of questions that need to be answered, and discussion will continue and will be a topic of discussion during a Sept. 9th work session. The objective of the plan is to build two new high schools, one on the north side and one on the south side, and hopes to align boundaries, right size elementary schools, and reconfigure the middle school model. Edgar says overall though the plan isn't just about buildings, it's about academics. "So, this is not about facilities to me, it’s about offering a better education to kids, it’s about equity, it’s about opportunities, it’s about the proper offerings, that’s what it’s about to me,” Edgar says. Edgar says the district can't stray away from this long-range plan "We have to stick to the plan, we have to take this plan to the community, if it fails you go back and fix the plan,” Edgar explains. “I think the last time around, to be honest with you in my opinion, I don’t think American Family was a bad idea, but it was off the plan and guess what, the plan blew up.” Edgar says it fell apart because it was not part of the original plan, but his message to the community about this new plan. "Is that there is a lot of detail that has to be added to this plan, but Pre-K through 12, the plan is set,” Edgar says. Edgar says as long as he is around this is the plan that will be put forward to the community.

Supt. Edgar says St. Joseph School District must stick to its plan

St. Joseph police are attempting to crack down on
racing in the streets as well as large gatherings in parking lots in which
drivers peel rubber and do burn outs.

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says the
department has fielded a number of calls on the issue of late.

“Really, from a public safety standpoint, the
racing on the streets, even the burnouts in the parking lot, they all just pose
a really significant risk to public safety,” Luster tells host Barry Birr on
the KFEQ Hotline. “High speeds, reckless driving, that can all lead to serious
accidents resulting in injuries, even fatalities for participants or even
innocent bystanders alike.”

A recent saturation effort conducted by the St.
Joseph Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and the
Missouri State Highway Patrol resulted in four arrests and 22 tickets issued.

Luster says his officers are determined to crack
down on the practice.

“Just the community concern is really what
prompted us and we don’t want to see these things happening in St. Joseph or
growing,” Luster says. “These activities, they just disrupt our community I
believe. You have the noise pollution, the property damage, the unsafe
conditions they cause for everyone; our residents, families, children and that
increased danger.” 

They might be portrayed as innocent fun, but Luster
says such activities can lead to dangerous situations.

“It can get out of hand. It can grow really
quickly. There can be disturbances. And what worries me, we’ve talked about it
before, what 30 years ago was settled with some pushing and shoving and maybe a
fist being thrown, is now solved with knives and guns.”

Luster says St. Joseph police want to intervene
prior to things getting out of control.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are attempting to crack down on
racing in the streets as well as large gatherings in parking lots in which
drivers peel rubber and do burn outs.St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says the
department has fielded a number of calls on the issue of late.“Really, from a public safety standpoint, the
racing on the streets, even the burnouts in the parking lot, they all just pose
a really significant risk to public safety,” Luster tells host Barry Birr on
the KFEQ Hotline. “High speeds, reckless driving, that can all lead to serious
accidents resulting in injuries, even fatalities for participants or even
innocent bystanders alike.”A recent saturation effort conducted by the St.
Joseph Police Department, the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, and the
Missouri State Highway Patrol resulted in four arrests and 22 tickets issued.Luster says his officers are determined to crack
down on the practice.“Just the community concern is really what
prompted us and we don’t want to see these things happening in St. Joseph or
growing,” Luster says. “These activities, they just disrupt our community I
believe. You have the noise pollution, the property damage, the unsafe
conditions they cause for everyone; our residents, families, children and that
increased danger.” They might be portrayed as innocent fun, but Luster
says such activities can lead to dangerous situations.“It can get out of hand. It can grow really
quickly. There can be disturbances. And what worries me, we’ve talked about it
before, what 30 years ago was settled with some pushing and shoving and maybe a
fist being thrown, is now solved with knives and guns.”Luster says St. Joseph police want to intervene
prior to things getting out of control.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph police move to crack down on racing in the street

St. Joseph police are investigating a reported arm robbery.

The St. Joseph Police Department says a resident in the 4500 block of Wilshire Drive reported two individuals approached him as he arrived
at his home, threatening him with a gun. The resident reported the two took
money and personal items from him.

The resident was unharmed. Police believe it was an isolated
incident.

The armed robbery occurred over the weekend.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the St.
Joseph Detective Division at <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=781">Tip Form (p3tips.com)</a> or
(816)-271-5336.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are investigating a reported arm robbery.The St. Joseph Police Department says a resident in the 4500 block of Wilshire Drive reported two individuals approached him as he arrived
at his home, threatening him with a gun. The resident reported the two took
money and personal items from him.The resident was unharmed. Police believe it was an isolated
incident.The armed robbery occurred over the weekend.Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the St.
Joseph Detective Division at <a href="https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=781">Tip Form (p3tips.com)</a> or
(816)-271-5336.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Armed robbery reported in St. Joseph

The auditor will no longer need consent from governing boards or a petition drive to launch an audit when an investigation shows improper activity by officials

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

On July 23, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit detailing how a former mayor of Excelsior Estates improperly&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2024050" target="_blank">paid himself more than $37,000</a>&nbsp;and funneled more than $200,000 to a business he owned.

During the course of their work, auditors found that the records for the village of 209 people on the border of Ray and Clay counties were in “total disarray with missing financial records (and) other vital city records stored in a makeshift camper trailer made from the bed of a pickup truck…”

The audit was conducted at the invitation of the village Board of Aldermen after an investigation of a whistleblower complaint showed possible wrongdoing. Without the board’s consent, the auditor wouldn’t have had the authority to conduct the probe.

But not every local governing body is so cooperative. And as of Wednesday, when a new law took effect, Fitzpatrick’s office will have the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2111&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R" target="_blank">power to initiate audits</a>&nbsp;of local agencies when an initial investigation shows “improper government activity” — including fraud, waste of resources or violations of law — or when a county prosecutor or law enforcement agency requests it.

Missouri lawmakers gave the auditor’s office power to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=29.221&amp;bid=636&amp;hl=" target="_blank">investigate reports of improper actions</a>&nbsp;by local government officials in 2013 but withheld the authority to force those officials to open their accounts for a full-scale audit. The only way for the auditor to follow up on the investigation was to convince the governing body of the political subdivision to request an audit, like in Excelsior Estates, or for a resident to gather&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/petition-audits" target="_blank">enough signatures on a petition</a>&nbsp;to force an audit.

The new law eliminates those restrictions.&nbsp;

“This is not designed to give us unfettered access to auditing any political subdivision for any reason,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was to make things easier for taxpayers. If they’ve made a credible whistleblower complaint to us that there’s a problem somewhere that we investigate, that we could then initiate the audit instead of forcing somebody to have to go gather a bunch of signatures.”

The bill, passed unanimously in the second year it was introduced, originated with&nbsp;<a href="https://fox2now.com/news/you-paid-for-it/state-to-audit-francis-howell-school-district-on-its-spending/" target="_blank">concerns about cost overruns</a>&nbsp;at the new Francis Howell School District high school in St. Charles County, said the sponsor, Republican state Rep. Phil Christofanelli of St. Peters.

A school district was the only local government entity that the state auditor had discretion to audit, he said. The auditor’s office is legally obligated to audit every county without a county auditor.

If the cost overruns had been at a municipal construction project, Christofanelli said, only the willingness of the governing board or the determination of citizens to complete a petition drive could bring the auditor in.

For a small community like Excelsior Estates, the petition would have to include signatures from 25% of the city’s registered voters. For a city the size of St. Peters, the requirement would be 10% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election, with a minimum of 750 signatures.

“The idea of doing something like this in a city like St Peters, for instance, is completely impractical, and you’d have to have a remarkable campaign put together to do it properly,” Christofanelli said.

During work on the bill, he said, he was told that up to 90% of petition audit attempts are unsuccessful.

The state auditor’s office will be taking on the new powers at a time when Fitzpatrick is trying to rebuild his staff, which had shrunk to 89 full-time employees – out of 167 authorized in the budget – when he took office.&nbsp;

Fitzpatrick was elected auditor in 2022 after four years as state treasurer and six years in the Missouri House, where he was chairman of the House Budget Committee.&nbsp;

In recent years, the audit output of the office, especially detailed audits of state agencies and programs, has declined significantly.&nbsp;

During the first eight months of 2004, the office issued 27 audits and reviews of state agencies and programs ranging from elected official offices to tax credit programs and agency operations in determining Medicaid eligibility and the acquisition of highway right-of-way. In the same period of 2014, the number of state agency audits and reviews was 10.

This year, through Wednesday, the total was three – the operations of the attorney general and secretary of state’s offices and how the Missouri State Highway Patrol uses highway fund money.

The two factors limiting the number of individual agency and program audits are time devoted to the annual audits of the&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/CitzSummary?id=997" target="_blank">state financial report</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2023030" target="_blank">federal funding awards</a>. Work that once took 18,000 to 20,000 staff hours in a year is now approaching 50,000, Fitzpatrick said.

That workload, combined with the staffing shortages, has reduced the number of individual agency and program audits. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/AuditsInProgress" target="_blank">10 agency or program audits</a>&nbsp;in process, including the Department of Conservation, pandemic food programs and the cannabis programs within the Department of Health and Senior Services.

“It’s a huge report,” Fitzpatrick said of the cannabis program audit. “It’s going to be, in terms of the number of staff hours, what will probably be the largest performance audit that’s been done in the auditor’s office in recent history.”

The cannabis program audit should be released early next year, he said.

The routine work of the auditor’s office includes&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2024012" target="_blank">checking tens of thousands of local property tax rates</a>&nbsp;against the legal maximums, receiving and publishing reports of spending&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/CitzSummary?id=1005" target="_blank">by local taxing agencies</a>&nbsp;and auditing counties that do not have an elected auditor.&nbsp;

To help rebuild staff, lawmakers have added $4.2 million to the auditor’s budget over the past two years, increasing it to $13.5 million. That increase, he said, recognizes that the pay raises given by his predecessor, Democrat Nicole Gallaway, to retain staff is the salary level needed to attract new talent as well.

“They were adjusting the salaries to try to be more competitive, which needed to happen,” he said.

The new authority should not interfere with the statutory responsibilities of the office, Christofanelli said.

“Just because we give the auditor the power to initiate new investigations does not necessarily mean that if there are other matters that are not discretionary, that he would have to pursue those audits,” he said. “It just provides him the authority to do it, should the need arise.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716233650939.png" alt="-&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick will have new powers to initiateaudits of local governments under a law taking effect Wednesday (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>-&nbsp;&nbsp;Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick will have new powers to initiateaudits of local governments under a law taking effect Wednesday (Jason Hancock/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The auditor will no longer need consent from governing boards or a petition drive to launch an audit when an investigation shows improper activity by officials</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>On July 23, State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick released an audit detailing how a former mayor of Excelsior Estates improperly&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2024050" target="_blank">paid himself more than $37,000</a>&nbsp;and funneled more than $200,000 to a business he owned.During the course of their work, auditors found that the records for the village of 209 people on the border of Ray and Clay counties were in “total disarray with missing financial records (and) other vital city records stored in a makeshift camper trailer made from the bed of a pickup truck…”The audit was conducted at the invitation of the village Board of Aldermen after an investigation of a whistleblower complaint showed possible wrongdoing. Without the board’s consent, the auditor wouldn’t have had the authority to conduct the probe.But not every local governing body is so cooperative. And as of Wednesday, when a new law took effect, Fitzpatrick’s office will have the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2111&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R" target="_blank">power to initiate audits</a>&nbsp;of local agencies when an initial investigation shows “improper government activity” — including fraud, waste of resources or violations of law — or when a county prosecutor or law enforcement agency requests it.Missouri lawmakers gave the auditor’s office power to&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=29.221&amp;bid=636&amp;hl=" target="_blank">investigate reports of improper actions</a>&nbsp;by local government officials in 2013 but withheld the authority to force those officials to open their accounts for a full-scale audit. The only way for the auditor to follow up on the investigation was to convince the governing body of the political subdivision to request an audit, like in Excelsior Estates, or for a resident to gather&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/petition-audits" target="_blank">enough signatures on a petition</a>&nbsp;to force an audit.The new law eliminates those restrictions.&nbsp;“This is not designed to give us unfettered access to auditing any political subdivision for any reason,” Fitzpatrick said. “It was to make things easier for taxpayers. If they’ve made a credible whistleblower complaint to us that there’s a problem somewhere that we investigate, that we could then initiate the audit instead of forcing somebody to have to go gather a bunch of signatures.”The bill, passed unanimously in the second year it was introduced, originated with&nbsp;<a href="https://fox2now.com/news/you-paid-for-it/state-to-audit-francis-howell-school-district-on-its-spending/" target="_blank">concerns about cost overruns</a>&nbsp;at the new Francis Howell School District high school in St. Charles County, said the sponsor, Republican state Rep. Phil Christofanelli of St. Peters.A school district was the only local government entity that the state auditor had discretion to audit, he said. The auditor’s office is legally obligated to audit every county without a county auditor.If the cost overruns had been at a municipal construction project, Christofanelli said, only the willingness of the governing board or the determination of citizens to complete a petition drive could bring the auditor in.For a small community like Excelsior Estates, the petition would have to include signatures from 25% of the city’s registered voters. For a city the size of St. Peters, the requirement would be 10% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election, with a minimum of 750 signatures.“The idea of doing something like this in a city like St Peters, for instance, is completely impractical, and you’d have to have a remarkable campaign put together to do it properly,” Christofanelli said.During work on the bill, he said, he was told that up to 90% of petition audit attempts are unsuccessful.The state auditor’s office will be taking on the new powers at a time when Fitzpatrick is trying to rebuild his staff, which had shrunk to 89 full-time employees – out of 167 authorized in the budget – when he took office.&nbsp;Fitzpatrick was elected auditor in 2022 after four years as state treasurer and six years in the Missouri House, where he was chairman of the House Budget Committee.&nbsp;In recent years, the audit output of the office, especially detailed audits of state agencies and programs, has declined significantly.&nbsp;During the first eight months of 2004, the office issued 27 audits and reviews of state agencies and programs ranging from elected official offices to tax credit programs and agency operations in determining Medicaid eligibility and the acquisition of highway right-of-way. In the same period of 2014, the number of state agency audits and reviews was 10.This year, through Wednesday, the total was three – the operations of the attorney general and secretary of state’s offices and how the Missouri State Highway Patrol uses highway fund money.The two factors limiting the number of individual agency and program audits are time devoted to the annual audits of the&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/CitzSummary?id=997" target="_blank">state financial report</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2023030" target="_blank">federal funding awards</a>. Work that once took 18,000 to 20,000 staff hours in a year is now approaching 50,000, Fitzpatrick said.That workload, combined with the staffing shortages, has reduced the number of individual agency and program audits. There are&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/AuditsInProgress" target="_blank">10 agency or program audits</a>&nbsp;in process, including the Department of Conservation, pandemic food programs and the cannabis programs within the Department of Health and Senior Services.“It’s a huge report,” Fitzpatrick said of the cannabis program audit. “It’s going to be, in terms of the number of staff hours, what will probably be the largest performance audit that’s been done in the auditor’s office in recent history.”The cannabis program audit should be released early next year, he said.The routine work of the auditor’s office includes&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/ViewReport?report=2024012" target="_blank">checking tens of thousands of local property tax rates</a>&nbsp;against the legal maximums, receiving and publishing reports of spending&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/CitzSummary?id=1005" target="_blank">by local taxing agencies</a>&nbsp;and auditing counties that do not have an elected auditor.&nbsp;To help rebuild staff, lawmakers have added $4.2 million to the auditor’s budget over the past two years, increasing it to $13.5 million. That increase, he said, recognizes that the pay raises given by his predecessor, Democrat Nicole Gallaway, to retain staff is the salary level needed to attract new talent as well.“They were adjusting the salaries to try to be more competitive, which needed to happen,” he said.The new authority should not interfere with the statutory responsibilities of the office, Christofanelli said.“Just because we give the auditor the power to initiate new investigations does not necessarily mean that if there are other matters that are not discretionary, that he would have to pursue those audits,” he said. “It just provides him the authority to do it, should the need arise.”

New Missouri law expands state auditor’s powers to dig into local governments

ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas woman injured in a fatal crash during a police chase on Sunday has been moved from the hospital to jail and faces multiple requested charges.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Maria&nbsp; Papalas, 28, Atchison, was southbound on Sherman Road at&nbsp; 244th Road five miles south of Atchison at a high rate of speed.

The driver was attempting to elude law enforcement. Due to the speed, Papalas lost control on a curve. The car entered the west ditch and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top.

EMS transported a passenger identified as 1-year-old Mixalis&nbsp;Papalas-Schulpz of Atchison to Children's Mercy for treatment of critical injuries. He died on Tuesday, according to the KHP.

&nbsp;EMS transported Papalas to Stormont Vail for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP and is in custody on requested charges that include&nbsp;&nbsp;Murder in the 1st degree; In the comm of a felony; Fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer; - Aggravated endangering a child;&nbsp; Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felony warrant service or execution; Battery on LEO; phys contact federal LEO; - Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor;&nbsp; Possession of marijuana and&nbsp; Reckless driving. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724863412706.png" alt="Papalas photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Papalas photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—A Kansas woman injured in a fatal crash during a police chase on Sunday has been moved from the hospital to jail and faces multiple requested charges.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Corolla driven by&nbsp; &nbsp;Maria&nbsp; Papalas, 28, Atchison, was southbound on Sherman Road at&nbsp; 244th Road five miles south of Atchison at a high rate of speed.The driver was attempting to elude law enforcement. Due to the speed, Papalas lost control on a curve. The car entered the west ditch and rolled multiple times before coming to rest on its top.EMS transported a passenger identified as 1-year-old Mixalis&nbsp;Papalas-Schulpz of Atchison to Children's Mercy for treatment of critical injuries. He died on Tuesday, according to the KHP.&nbsp;EMS transported Papalas to Stormont Vail for treatment of minor injuries.&nbsp; She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP and is in custody on requested charges that include&nbsp;&nbsp;Murder in the 1st degree; In the comm of a felony; Fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer; - Aggravated endangering a child;&nbsp; Interference with LEO; obstruct/resist/oppose felony warrant service or execution; Battery on LEO; phys contact federal LEO; - Driving under influence of alcohol or drugs; Misdemeanor;&nbsp; Possession of marijuana and&nbsp; Reckless driving. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Driver in crash fleeing police that killed 1-year-old faces murder charge

Labor Day is almost upon us and the Missouri State Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to stay safe when traveling this weekend.

Sergeant Shane Hux, with Troop H in St. Joseph, says Labor Day is one of the four major holidays throughout the year where there is an increase in traffic. "We want people to make safety their number one priority," Hux says.

Hux adds, "Allow extra time to get to and from your destination, obey all traffic laws, and avoid distractions."

A 'Hands Free' law is in place in Missouri, and Hux simply says, "Keep the phone down when driving."

In addition to increased travel, a lot of people will also be enjoying Labor Day weekend on Missouri's lakes and rivers. Hux says boating safety should be taken seriously, emphasizing the importance of life jackets.

"Life jackets are not only important for children, but adults as well. Especially if you on the Missouri River. It's so unpredictable with the current and debris in the water. Always wear a life jacket anytime you are on or near the water."

The Labor Day counting period begins at 6:00 pm Friday, August 30 and lasts until midnight Monday, September 2.

AAA estimates a 9% increase in travel over the same time last year.

Hux advises calling *55 or 1-800-525-5555 in the event of a roadway emergency. It will put you in contact with the nearest Troop headquarters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594388258541.png" alt="MSHP" />
 <figcaption>MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostLabor Day is almost upon us and the Missouri State Highway Patrol is reminding everyone to stay safe when traveling this weekend.Sergeant Shane Hux, with Troop H in St. Joseph, says Labor Day is one of the four major holidays throughout the year where there is an increase in traffic. "We want people to make safety their number one priority," Hux says.Hux adds, "Allow extra time to get to and from your destination, obey all traffic laws, and avoid distractions."A 'Hands Free' law is in place in Missouri, and Hux simply says, "Keep the phone down when driving."In addition to increased travel, a lot of people will also be enjoying Labor Day weekend on Missouri's lakes and rivers. Hux says boating safety should be taken seriously, emphasizing the importance of life jackets."Life jackets are not only important for children, but adults as well. Especially if you on the Missouri River. It's so unpredictable with the current and debris in the water. Always wear a life jacket anytime you are on or near the water."The Labor Day counting period begins at 6:00 pm Friday, August 30 and lasts until midnight Monday, September 2.AAA estimates a 9% increase in travel over the same time last year.Hux advises calling *55 or 1-800-525-5555 in the event of a roadway emergency. It will put you in contact with the nearest Troop headquarters.

Travel safety tips to keep in mind for Labor Day weekend

Missouri Attorney General's office

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On Wednesday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that the United States Supreme Court upheld the court order he obtained at the Eighth Circuit blocking the Biden-Harris Administration’s latest illegal student loan cancellation scheme. Not one of the justices dissented.

“This is the second time the Supreme Court has sided with my office against one of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ unlawful student loan cancellation schemes,”&nbsp;said Attorney General Bailey.&nbsp;“This court order is a stark reminder&nbsp;to the Biden-Harris Administration that Congress did not grant them the authority to saddle working Americans with $500 billion in someone else’s Ivy League debt. This is a huge win for every American who still believes in paying their own way.”

The Eighth Circuit upheld the Eastern District of Missouri’s original preliminary injunction and took it even further, holding that “The Government is, for any borrower whose loans are governed in whole or in part by the terms of the Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, 88 Fed. Reg. 43820, enjoined from any further forgiveness of principal or interest, from not charging borrowers accrued interest, and from further implementing SAVE’s payment-threshold provisions. This injunction will remain in effect until further order of this court or the Supreme Court of the United States.”&nbsp;Today, the Supreme Court left it in place.&nbsp;

In 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Attorney General Bailey’s first&nbsp;challenge to the Biden Administration’s unilateral and unlawful wealth transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt. In a 6-3 decision, the Court struck down Biden’s repayment plan as unconstitutional, citing the massive $430 billion-plus impact on the federal budget without express authority from Congress. The Court held that Missouri’s student loan servicing company, MOHELA, was an arm of Missouri’s state government, and therefore, granted the states standing to challenge the student loan plan.

Joining General Bailey in filing suit the second time around were the attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

In the suit, the States asserted, “Just last year, the Supreme Court struck down an attempt by the President to force teachers, truckers, and farmers to pay for the student loan debt of other Americans—to the enormous tune of $430 billion. In striking down that attempt, the Court declared that the President cannot ‘unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.’ Undeterred, the President is at it again, even bragging that ‘the Supreme Court blocked it. They blocked it. But that didn’t stop me.’”

The States noted,&nbsp;“Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress. This latest attempt to sidestep the Constitution is only the most recent instance in a long but troubling pattern of the President relying on innocuous language from decades-old statutes to impose drastic, costly policy changes on the American people without their consent.”

The Supreme Court’s order can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=da4df09cee&amp;e=5061322ab3__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Clp93Jrb7_OyQCbrZdlMgPoSTxoxC7mjMcz_EwiNtgQit7VefJ7GeqsPH2wMO9sABPggjF1Nd5NhKZ1zfledXfo$">here.</a>

Missouri Attorney General's officeJEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – On Wednesday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced that the United States Supreme Court upheld the court order he obtained at the Eighth Circuit blocking the Biden-Harris Administration’s latest illegal student loan cancellation scheme. Not one of the justices dissented.“This is the second time the Supreme Court has sided with my office against one of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ unlawful student loan cancellation schemes,”&nbsp;said Attorney General Bailey.&nbsp;“This court order is a stark reminder&nbsp;to the Biden-Harris Administration that Congress did not grant them the authority to saddle working Americans with $500 billion in someone else’s Ivy League debt. This is a huge win for every American who still believes in paying their own way.”The Eighth Circuit upheld the Eastern District of Missouri’s original preliminary injunction and took it even further, holding that “The Government is, for any borrower whose loans are governed in whole or in part by the terms of the Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, 88 Fed. Reg. 43820, enjoined from any further forgiveness of principal or interest, from not charging borrowers accrued interest, and from further implementing SAVE’s payment-threshold provisions. This injunction will remain in effect until further order of this court or the Supreme Court of the United States.”&nbsp;Today, the Supreme Court left it in place.&nbsp;In 2023, the United States Supreme Court ruled in favor of Attorney General Bailey’s first&nbsp;challenge to the Biden Administration’s unilateral and unlawful wealth transfer of hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt. In a 6-3 decision, the Court struck down Biden’s repayment plan as unconstitutional, citing the massive $430 billion-plus impact on the federal budget without express authority from Congress. The Court held that Missouri’s student loan servicing company, MOHELA, was an arm of Missouri’s state government, and therefore, granted the states standing to challenge the student loan plan.Joining General Bailey in filing suit the second time around were the attorneys general of Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, North Dakota, Ohio, and Oklahoma.In the suit, the States asserted, “Just last year, the Supreme Court struck down an attempt by the President to force teachers, truckers, and farmers to pay for the student loan debt of other Americans—to the enormous tune of $430 billion. In striking down that attempt, the Court declared that the President cannot ‘unilaterally alter large sections of the American economy.’ Undeterred, the President is at it again, even bragging that ‘the Supreme Court blocked it. They blocked it. But that didn’t stop me.’”The States noted,&nbsp;“Yet again, the President is unilaterally trying to impose an extraordinarily expensive and controversial policy that he could not get through Congress. This latest attempt to sidestep the Constitution is only the most recent instance in a long but troubling pattern of the President relying on innocuous language from decades-old statutes to impose drastic, costly policy changes on the American people without their consent.”The Supreme Court’s order can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=da4df09cee&amp;e=5061322ab3__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Clp93Jrb7_OyQCbrZdlMgPoSTxoxC7mjMcz_EwiNtgQit7VefJ7GeqsPH2wMO9sABPggjF1Nd5NhKZ1zfledXfo$">here.</a>The Eighth Circuit’s original order can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=7605c9fc9d&amp;e=5061322ab3__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Clp93Jrb7_OyQCbrZdlMgPoSTxoxC7mjMcz_EwiNtgQit7VefJ7GeqsPH2wMO9sABPggjF1Nd5NhKZ1zfl5VIzc$">here.</a>The Eastern District of Missouri’s order can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=e267cd52be&amp;e=5061322ab3__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Clp93Jrb7_OyQCbrZdlMgPoSTxoxC7mjMcz_EwiNtgQit7VefJ7GeqsPH2wMO9sABPggjF1Nd5NhKZ1zwgADoQU$">here.</a>The original lawsuit can be read&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=6218e34393&amp;e=5061322ab3__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!Clp93Jrb7_OyQCbrZdlMgPoSTxoxC7mjMcz_EwiNtgQit7VefJ7GeqsPH2wMO9sABPggjF1Nd5NhKZ1zvs0ScmE$">here.</a>

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