Members of the West Platte FFA Chapter will be planting seeds of knowledge for students at West Platte Elementary through a statewide program.  

Agriculture on the Move is an educational program run through Missouri Farmers Care. 

Program Director Heather Fletcher says the program helps students understand better where their food comes from.  

"And how their everyday lives are connected to Missouri agriculture," Fletcher tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We're a state so rich in agriculture and it surrounds us no matter what part of the state we live in that we feel like helping that next generation of consumers and those young minds connect to what's going on all around them in the state is a really worthwhile endeavor." 

Fletcher says while they do have their own teachers, they've seen success in teaching local FFA students to lead the course. 

"We're reaching the third graders but then these high school students are getting amazing experience too in communication, leadership, and also maybe identifying a path that would lead them to the classroom in the future," Fletcher explains. 

Fletcher says through the 10-course program they cover a wide range of topics 

"We have a few lessons on crop production, we talk about soybeans and corn production specifically, and then also kind of touch on how diverse Missouri is as far as crops grown throughout the state," Fletcher says. "When you look at the bootheel all the way up to northwest Missouri there's a lot of diversity there, so we cover all of those." 

Fletcher says they also cover livestock production, soil and water conservation, nutrition, and even introduce students to how the supply chain works.  

Along with each course also comes a STEM project, giving students the opportunity to also get hands on experience with what they are learning. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709744957451.jpeg" alt="Ag Moves in Missouri classrooms Spring 2024/ Photo courtesy of Agriculture on the Move" />
 <figcaption>Ag Moves in Missouri classrooms Spring 2024/ Photo courtesy of Agriculture on the Move</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Members of the West Platte FFA Chapter will be planting seeds of knowledge for students at West Platte Elementary through a statewide program. Agriculture on the Move is an educational program run through Missouri Farmers Care. Program Director Heather Fletcher says the program helps students understand better where their food comes from. "And how their everyday lives are connected to Missouri agriculture," Fletcher tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We're a state so rich in agriculture and it surrounds us no matter what part of the state we live in that we feel like helping that next generation of consumers and those young minds connect to what's going on all around them in the state is a really worthwhile endeavor." Fletcher says while they do have their own teachers, they've seen success in teaching local FFA students to lead the course. "We're reaching the third graders but then these high school students are getting amazing experience too in communication, leadership, and also maybe identifying a path that would lead them to the classroom in the future," Fletcher explains. Fletcher says through the 10-course program they cover a wide range of topics "We have a few lessons on crop production, we talk about soybeans and corn production specifically, and then also kind of touch on how diverse Missouri is as far as crops grown throughout the state," Fletcher says. "When you look at the bootheel all the way up to northwest Missouri there's a lot of diversity there, so we cover all of those." Fletcher says they also cover livestock production, soil and water conservation, nutrition, and even introduce students to how the supply chain works. Along with each course also comes a STEM project, giving students the opportunity to also get hands on experience with what they are learning.

West Platte FFA members spreading seeds of knowledge to younger generation

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Buick Enclave driven by Howard J. Thomas, 28, Parnell, was eastbound on CR 268 at Jet Road one half mile south of Maryville.

The driver failed to navigate a T intersection. The SUV traveled off the east side of Jet Road, became airborne, struck a MODOT sign, an embankment and started to overturn.

A private vehicle transported Howard to Mosaic Maryville. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 12:30a.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Buick Enclave driven by Howard J. Thomas, 28, Parnell, was eastbound on CR 268 at Jet Road one half mile south of Maryville.The driver failed to navigate a T intersection. The SUV traveled off the east side of Jet Road, became airborne, struck a MODOT sign, an embankment and started to overturn.A private vehicle transported Howard to Mosaic Maryville. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after violent SUV crash

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

A Missouri Senate committee Tuesday morning debated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=177">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would ban school districts from discussing any topic or curriculum “similar to critical race theory or the 1619 Project.”

Last year, bills that sought to ban critical race theory&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/01/black-senators-condemn-anti-critical-race-theory-bill/">spurred a Democratic filibuster in the Senate</a>&nbsp;as opponents predicted “unintended consequences” that would remove parts of history from the classroom.

The bill discucssed Tuesday, sponsored by Warrensburg Republican Sen. Denny Hoskins, would allow Missouri’s attorney general to investigate compliance and would revoke half of a district’s state funding if a violation were found.

Hoskins, who is running in the Republican primary for secretary of state, told committee members his bill is not “trying to erase history.”

“We’re not saying that you can’t talk about history,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is say that, ‘Hey, just because you’re white, or you’re Black, that doesn’t make you automatically a racist. That doesn’t automatically mean that you think one way or another way.’”

Critical race theory, Hoskins argued, would label each of the white committee members and those that testified “a racist” and “an oppressor” because of their skin color.

Critical race theory,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.columbia.edu/news/what-critical-race-theory-and-why-everyone-talking-about-it-0">according to a Columbia News article</a>, is the study of how racism has affected United States society and law.

Hoskins’s bill bars instruction of “divisive concepts,” which it defines as concepts that teach that “the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist.” or that “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.”

No one testified in support of the legislation at Tuesday’s hearing.

Sharon Geuea Jones, a lobbyist for the Missouri NAACP and the LGBTQ advocacy group PROMO, tied similar efforts in recent years to increased violence toward Black students.

“We have to have these hard discussions. We have to have them in our educational sessions, and they have to be done in a way that is sensitive to everyone involved,” she said. “I don’t want any children, white, Black or otherwise, to feel like they are targeted by their peers.”

State Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, said he doesn’t like “the entire bill,” but noted that he had a particular qualm.

“My biggest issue right now is the last page of it giving the attorney general any type of power because the last two attorneys general have abused their office,” he said.

Beck said he was worried it would fuel attacks against public schools on social media.

Otto Fajen, a lobbyist for the Missouri branch of the National Education Association, said the bill could have consequences for already strained teacher recruitment and retention efforts.

“It is not so much the specifics of the bill itself, but the collateral damage it causes to, first, the desire to be in that space, to be a classroom teacher to devote your life to that while knowing that you’re going to have state laws basically communicating that the legislature has concerns about your professional judgment,” he said.

Fajen said education is important to democracy, and he worries teachers may pull back on more curriculum than the bill requires.

“This causes teachers to look at the topics that are most central to our public schools being a place where these informed discussions can be had,” he said, “and says, for fear of your livelihood, for fear of retaliation, for fear of all sorts of things that might happen: don’t delve deep into these discussions.”

The committee did not take action on the bill Tuesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709724744698.png" alt="State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, speaks in the Missouri Senate during the 2021 legislative session (Senate Communications)." />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, speaks in the Missouri Senate during the 2021 legislative session (Senate Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">ANNELISE HANSHAW</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A Missouri Senate committee Tuesday morning debated&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/bts_web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=177">a bill</a>&nbsp;that would ban school districts from discussing any topic or curriculum “similar to critical race theory or the 1619 Project.”Last year, bills that sought to ban critical race theory&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/01/black-senators-condemn-anti-critical-race-theory-bill/">spurred a Democratic filibuster in the Senate</a>&nbsp;as opponents predicted “unintended consequences” that would remove parts of history from the classroom.The bill discucssed Tuesday, sponsored by Warrensburg Republican Sen. Denny Hoskins, would allow Missouri’s attorney general to investigate compliance and would revoke half of a district’s state funding if a violation were found.Hoskins, who is running in the Republican primary for secretary of state, told committee members his bill is not “trying to erase history.”“We’re not saying that you can’t talk about history,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is say that, ‘Hey, just because you’re white, or you’re Black, that doesn’t make you automatically a racist. That doesn’t automatically mean that you think one way or another way.’”Critical race theory, Hoskins argued, would label each of the white committee members and those that testified “a racist” and “an oppressor” because of their skin color.Critical race theory,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://news.columbia.edu/news/what-critical-race-theory-and-why-everyone-talking-about-it-0">according to a Columbia News article</a>, is the study of how racism has affected United States society and law.Hoskins’s bill bars instruction of “divisive concepts,” which it defines as concepts that teach that “the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist.” or that “any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.”No one testified in support of the legislation at Tuesday’s hearing.Sharon Geuea Jones, a lobbyist for the Missouri NAACP and the LGBTQ advocacy group PROMO, tied similar efforts in recent years to increased violence toward Black students.“We have to have these hard discussions. We have to have them in our educational sessions, and they have to be done in a way that is sensitive to everyone involved,” she said. “I don’t want any children, white, Black or otherwise, to feel like they are targeted by their peers.”State Sen. Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, said he doesn’t like “the entire bill,” but noted that he had a particular qualm.“My biggest issue right now is the last page of it giving the attorney general any type of power because the last two attorneys general have abused their office,” he said.Beck said he was worried it would fuel attacks against public schools on social media.Otto Fajen, a lobbyist for the Missouri branch of the National Education Association, said the bill could have consequences for already strained teacher recruitment and retention efforts.“It is not so much the specifics of the bill itself, but the collateral damage it causes to, first, the desire to be in that space, to be a classroom teacher to devote your life to that while knowing that you’re going to have state laws basically communicating that the legislature has concerns about your professional judgment,” he said.Fajen said education is important to democracy, and he worries teachers may pull back on more curriculum than the bill requires.“This causes teachers to look at the topics that are most central to our public schools being a place where these informed discussions can be had,” he said, “and says, for fear of your livelihood, for fear of retaliation, for fear of all sorts of things that might happen: don’t delve deep into these discussions.”The committee did not take action on the bill Tuesday.

Critical race theory once again debated by Missouri Senators

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects after a drug bust at a Kansas home.

On March 2, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence at 107 Utah Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

 The Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug TaskForce assisted by Iowa Tribal police initiated the warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rita Grier&nbsp; 36;&nbsp;Jennifer Rhyne , 47 and Zachary Sandeffer, 30, all of Hiawatha were arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and  Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to Merchant.

Michael Ruckstuhl 59, f&nbsp; Hiawatha was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709589399341.png" alt="Grier-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Grier-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating four suspects after a drug bust at a Kansas home.On March 2, a search warrant was applied for and granted for a residence at 107 Utah Street in Hiawatha, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709589455404.png" alt="Rhyne photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Rhyne photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure> The Brown County Sheriff's Office Drug TaskForce assisted by Iowa Tribal police initiated the warrant.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709589554412.png" alt="Sandeffer-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Sandeffer-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Rita Grier&nbsp; 36;&nbsp;Jennifer Rhyne , 47 and Zachary Sandeffer, 30, all of Hiawatha were arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, according to Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709589652680.png" alt="Ruckstuhl-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Ruckstuhl-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Michael Ruckstuhl 59, f&nbsp; Hiawatha was arrested on charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Sheriff: 4 jailed after drug bust at Kansas home

St. Joseph police are asking for
the public’s help to recover a statue stolen from Corby Pond.

The St. Joseph Police Department
reports one of the statues depicting three children rollerblading called “Catch
Me If You Can” has been taken from Corby Pond located at 2202 Northeast Parkway.

In 2018, a thief broke off one of
the statues at the leg and took it.

The St. Joseph Parks Department
reports the statue was taken sometime over the weekend. The thief cut the
statue off at the ankles.

Anyone who has information that
might be useful in locating the statue is urged to call the St. Joseph Police
Department, call the Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-238-TIPS, or use P3
Tips.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709668105588.jpeg" alt=""Catch Me If You Can" statues at Corby Pond/Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>"Catch Me If You Can" statues at Corby Pond/Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are asking for
the public’s help to recover a statue stolen from Corby Pond.The St. Joseph Police Department
reports one of the statues depicting three children rollerblading called “Catch
Me If You Can” has been taken from Corby Pond located at 2202 Northeast Parkway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709668175214.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>It’s not the first time. In 2018, a thief broke off one of
the statues at the leg and took it.The St. Joseph Parks Department
reports the statue was taken sometime over the weekend. The thief cut the
statue off at the ankles.Anyone who has information that
might be useful in locating the statue is urged to call the St. Joseph Police
Department, call the Crimestoppers TIPS Hotline at 816-238-TIPS, or use P3
Tips.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709668208112.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph police ask for public help in locating missing Corby Pond statue

A 53-year-old St. Joseph man has been sentenced to two life
sentences for sexual crimes against a minor.

The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office charged Jeffery Gray
in 2023 for sexually abusing a child younger than 12 between December of 2022
and March of 2023. Buchanan County jurors in January found Gray guilty of two
counts. 

The two life sentences will be served consecutively.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709666943933.jpeg" alt="Jeffery Gray/Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept. photo" />
 <figcaption>Jeffery Gray/Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept. photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 53-year-old St. Joseph man has been sentenced to two life
sentences for sexual crimes against a minor.The Buchanan County Prosecutor’s office charged Jeffery Gray
in 2023 for sexually abusing a child younger than 12 between December of 2022
and March of 2023. Buchanan County jurors in January found Gray guilty of two
counts. The two life sentences will be served consecutively.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph man sentenced to back-to-back life sentences for abuse of a minor

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Missouri Girl Scout leaders threatened legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-airdrop-humanitarian-assistance-f8bc071193f89906abf21478bc70a084">starving children in Gaza</a>, provoking outrage and ridicule from the girls’ supporters and advocates for people trapped in the Palestinian territory by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the latest humanitarian crisis.</a>

Girl Scouts of the USA said its eastern Missouri chapter had only been following fundraising rules, but that it was “disappointed and disheartened by the tone” of the communication with the troop in St. Louis.

“We felt like we were targeted, unfairly belittled and unheard,” said Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first generation Palestinian Muslim American and the leader of Troop 149 in St. Louis, which has since disbanded from the Girl Scouts.

Tasneem Manjra, a troop leader in California, said it looks like the Girl Scouts are backtracking because they were called out.

“I think that’s a load of Thin Mints,” said Manjra. “They were way too heavy-handed in their response to Nawal and her troop.”

Abuhamdeh said the fundraising effort began because the girls in her troop were uncomfortable selling Girl Scout Cookies while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-humanitarian-famine-gaza-malnutrition-cf622f843fe531fb6dbd5657a39d6b49">people are starving</a>&nbsp;in Gaza. During one meeting, the girls — who are of Pakistani, Indian, Somali, Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian heritage — cried and said they felt hopeless.

“What do you think a group of 10-year-old girls would want to do if they felt helpless?" Abuhamdeh asked during a Zoom meeting promoted by Ceasefire for Kids, which advocates for children in Gaza. "They would want to help. How do they want to help? They want to make bracelets. They’re 10 years old. That’s what they felt like they could do.”

By mid-January, they were selling bracelets of black, red, white and green beads — the colors of the Palestinian flag — with “Palestine” spelled out in letter blocks.

They were raising money for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that historically has helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-wounded-child-second-chance-65b993f4b77b6d474c52062f6ca0fb10">children in need travel to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;for medical treatment. Since the latest war in Gaza began, its focus has shifted to providing food, medication, clothing and humanitarian aid.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri sent an email to the troop last month threatening legal action if they continued to sell the bracelets, according to the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. That's when the troop disbanded from the national organization.

Abuhamdeh said she is concerned about Girl Scouts’ commitment to “girls like ours.”

“We aspire to be part of an organization that does not only advertise its desired values, but acts on them,” she said.

In response to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cairmo/posts/pfbid02LHBqqjp61itXMwKnpjUq41rt1PzL7Z9WPLZMky2kAt2Y3zGiJ4hfuDqE2YuATq9Tl">demands</a>&nbsp;from CAIR, Girl Scouts of the USA said the local chapter followed its rules but mishandled the situation. GSUSA policy stipulates that money raised by Girl Scouts be used for scouting except in “extraordinary circumstances.” In the past, restrictions have been suspended to raise funds to help those suffering because of the Hawaii wildfires and the war in Ukraine.

Restrictions were lifted for three months through Jan. 10 to allow Girl Scouts to raise money for groups supporting people in Gaza, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which was approved by a charity assessment organization.

“While the fundraiser in question fell outside of these dates, GSUSA did not consider taking and did not take legal action against this troop or the leader,” the national group said.

It said cookie sale proceeds can always be donated and are never subject to the same restrictions. GSUSA said in 2017 that the organization sells about $800 million in cookies annually.

A petition signed by more than 100 troop leaders demands that Girl Scouts of the USA apologize to Troop 149, issue a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and promise that no other troop will get in trouble for fundraising, Manjra said. If the organization refuses, they will stop selling cookies, she said.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri said in a statement this weekend that it had been concerned about maintaining the organization's tax-exempt status. It said it had provided Abuhamdeh with options to continue fundraising, including to modify the language on the bracelet order form to remove the Girl Scout name, or to do the fundraiser on her own.

“We are sorry that Ms. Abuhamdeh chose to disband,” the statement said. “We would welcome them back to the Girl Scout family.”

Abuhamdeh and other scouts questioned the national organization's response, saying they knew nothing about restrictions on fundraising or the moratorium on those limits.

Neither the American Jewish Committee, a prominent advocacy organization, nor the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee have responded to emails from the Associated Press seeking comment.

CAIR said the national organization’s statement was a “positive first step” but that questions persist.

“All these Girl Scouts were trying to do was help the children impacted by the war, just like other troops did for Ukraine,” CAIR’s Missouri board chairman, Yasir Ali, said.

Meanwhile, the controversy has so boosted bracelet orders that the girls suspended sales last week because they couldn’t keep up. Abuhamdeh invited members of the public to help them make bracelets at a mosque on Saturday, and about 100 volunteers showed up.

Thanks to that “solidarity and humanity,” they have raised more than $10,000, Abuhamdeh said.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —Missouri Girl Scout leaders threatened legal action against a troop that made bracelets to raise funds for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-gaza-airdrop-humanitarian-assistance-f8bc071193f89906abf21478bc70a084">starving children in Gaza</a>, provoking outrage and ridicule from the girls’ supporters and advocates for people trapped in the Palestinian territory by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">the latest humanitarian crisis.</a>Girl Scouts of the USA said its eastern Missouri chapter had only been following fundraising rules, but that it was “disappointed and disheartened by the tone” of the communication with the troop in St. Louis.“We felt like we were targeted, unfairly belittled and unheard,” said Nawal Abuhamdeh, a first generation Palestinian Muslim American and the leader of Troop 149 in St. Louis, which has since disbanded from the Girl Scouts.Tasneem Manjra, a troop leader in California, said it looks like the Girl Scouts are backtracking because they were called out.“I think that’s a load of Thin Mints,” said Manjra. “They were way too heavy-handed in their response to Nawal and her troop.”Abuhamdeh said the fundraising effort began because the girls in her troop were uncomfortable selling Girl Scout Cookies while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-un-humanitarian-famine-gaza-malnutrition-cf622f843fe531fb6dbd5657a39d6b49">people are starving</a>&nbsp;in Gaza. During one meeting, the girls — who are of Pakistani, Indian, Somali, Syrian, Palestinian and Jordanian heritage — cried and said they felt hopeless.“What do you think a group of 10-year-old girls would want to do if they felt helpless?" Abuhamdeh asked during a Zoom meeting promoted by Ceasefire for Kids, which advocates for children in Gaza. "They would want to help. How do they want to help? They want to make bracelets. They’re 10 years old. That’s what they felt like they could do.”By mid-January, they were selling bracelets of black, red, white and green beads — the colors of the Palestinian flag — with “Palestine” spelled out in letter blocks.They were raising money for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, a U.S.-based charity that historically has helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-wounded-child-second-chance-65b993f4b77b6d474c52062f6ca0fb10">children in need travel to the U.S.</a>&nbsp;for medical treatment. Since the latest war in Gaza began, its focus has shifted to providing food, medication, clothing and humanitarian aid.Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri sent an email to the troop last month threatening legal action if they continued to sell the bracelets, according to the Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. That's when the troop disbanded from the national organization.Abuhamdeh said she is concerned about Girl Scouts’ commitment to “girls like ours.”“We aspire to be part of an organization that does not only advertise its desired values, but acts on them,” she said.In response to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/cairmo/posts/pfbid02LHBqqjp61itXMwKnpjUq41rt1PzL7Z9WPLZMky2kAt2Y3zGiJ4hfuDqE2YuATq9Tl">demands</a>&nbsp;from CAIR, Girl Scouts of the USA said the local chapter followed its rules but mishandled the situation. GSUSA policy stipulates that money raised by Girl Scouts be used for scouting except in “extraordinary circumstances.” In the past, restrictions have been suspended to raise funds to help those suffering because of the Hawaii wildfires and the war in Ukraine.Restrictions were lifted for three months through Jan. 10 to allow Girl Scouts to raise money for groups supporting people in Gaza, including the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, which was approved by a charity assessment organization.“While the fundraiser in question fell outside of these dates, GSUSA did not consider taking and did not take legal action against this troop or the leader,” the national group said.It said cookie sale proceeds can always be donated and are never subject to the same restrictions. GSUSA said in 2017 that the organization sells about $800 million in cookies annually.A petition signed by more than 100 troop leaders demands that Girl Scouts of the USA apologize to Troop 149, issue a statement on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and promise that no other troop will get in trouble for fundraising, Manjra said. If the organization refuses, they will stop selling cookies, she said.Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri said in a statement this weekend that it had been concerned about maintaining the organization's tax-exempt status. It said it had provided Abuhamdeh with options to continue fundraising, including to modify the language on the bracelet order form to remove the Girl Scout name, or to do the fundraiser on her own.“We are sorry that Ms. Abuhamdeh chose to disband,” the statement said. “We would welcome them back to the Girl Scout family.”Abuhamdeh and other scouts questioned the national organization's response, saying they knew nothing about restrictions on fundraising or the moratorium on those limits.Neither the American Jewish Committee, a prominent advocacy organization, nor the National Jewish Girl Scout Committee have responded to emails from the Associated Press seeking comment.CAIR said the national organization’s statement was a “positive first step” but that questions persist.“All these Girl Scouts were trying to do was help the children impacted by the war, just like other troops did for Ukraine,” CAIR’s Missouri board chairman, Yasir Ali, said.Meanwhile, the controversy has so boosted bracelet orders that the girls suspended sales last week because they couldn’t keep up. Abuhamdeh invited members of the public to help them make bracelets at a mosque on Saturday, and about 100 volunteers showed up.Thanks to that “solidarity and humanity,” they have raised more than $10,000, Abuhamdeh said.

Scouts were told to stop bracelet-making fundraiser for kids in Gaza. Now they can't keep up

Interserv in St. Joseph has many volunteers that step up to help run its programs.  

Executive Director Bridget Supple says Interserv relies heavily on its volunteers. 

"For instance, the mobile meals volunteers deliver 225 meals several times a week to our seniors in the community, and we would not be able to do that without our volunteers, it would be an impossibility for us to deliver that many meals every week," Supple tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Volunteers also help with reading and doing activities with school children along with many tasks around InterServ.  

Supple says one program is the gym at Interserv, where senior citizens can walk and play pickle ball.  

But Supple says with the help of more volunteers they hope to expand some of those services.  

"To offer maybe tai chi classes or something like that free of charge to our seniors who come for meals every day," Supple says. "So, we use volunteers for a lot, even if you just want to rock a baby, we have babies that you can rock, we have a couple ladies that have done that over the years too, so if you're interested in volunteering, we can find something for you to do." 

To learn about volunteering opportunities, you can contact InterServ. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Interserv in St. Joseph has many volunteers that step up to help run its programs. Executive Director Bridget Supple says Interserv relies heavily on its volunteers. "For instance, the mobile meals volunteers deliver 225 meals several times a week to our seniors in the community, and we would not be able to do that without our volunteers, it would be an impossibility for us to deliver that many meals every week," Supple tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Volunteers also help with reading and doing activities with school children along with many tasks around InterServ. Supple says one program is the gym at Interserv, where senior citizens can walk and play pickle ball. But Supple says with the help of more volunteers they hope to expand some of those services. "To offer maybe tai chi classes or something like that free of charge to our seniors who come for meals every day," Supple says. "So, we use volunteers for a lot, even if you just want to rock a baby, we have babies that you can rock, we have a couple ladies that have done that over the years too, so if you're interested in volunteering, we can find something for you to do." To learn about volunteering opportunities, you can contact InterServ.

InterServ relies on the help of many area volunteers

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn has been
named one of 10 Missouri Women of Achievement.

The award is presented annually by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe to
honor women of achievement in the state during Women’s History Month.

Hawn says the award caught her by surprise.

“I didn’t know I had been nominated,” Hawn tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “So, it was a surprise. I feel very humbled. There are a lot of
amazing women in the state of Missouri who deserve to be recognized. So, it was
quite the honor.”

Kehoe established the award in 2022 to recognize the diverse
accomplishments of Missouri women during Women’s History Month.

Hawn not only runs the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, she is
involved in a number of community organizations. Hawn also is treasurer of the
Hawthorn Foundation, a private statewide organization promoting the state’s
economic interests. Hawn serves on the Air Mobility Command Leadership Academy
representing the 139th Airlift Wing, based at Rosecrans Memorial
Airport in St. Joseph.

Hawn says she feels a responsibility to be a role model for
young girls and women, one reason she worked with others to create the Madam
President’s Camp which will be held in July for junior high girls. 

“Really that’s a very vulnerable time of dealing with
self-confidence and aspiring for what you would like to do in the future,” Hawn
says. “That 12, 13, 14-year-old timeframe is so critical, so critical for those
students and for those young women to really have great mentors and aspire. And
so, I try to get involved in programs like that so I can pay it forward,
because somebody paid it forward for me.”

Hawn counts as her role models her mother as well as Rep.
Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, who nominated her for the award.

Hawn will be honored as one of the 2024 Women of Achievement
Award winners during a ceremony at the Missouri state Capitol on March 14th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709655583294.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn/file photo" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn has been
named one of 10 Missouri Women of Achievement.The award is presented annually by Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe to
honor women of achievement in the state during Women’s History Month.Hawn says the award caught her by surprise.“I didn’t know I had been nominated,” Hawn tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “So, it was a surprise. I feel very humbled. There are a lot of
amazing women in the state of Missouri who deserve to be recognized. So, it was
quite the honor.”Kehoe established the award in 2022 to recognize the diverse
accomplishments of Missouri women during Women’s History Month.Hawn not only runs the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, she is
involved in a number of community organizations. Hawn also is treasurer of the
Hawthorn Foundation, a private statewide organization promoting the state’s
economic interests. Hawn serves on the Air Mobility Command Leadership Academy
representing the 139th Airlift Wing, based at Rosecrans Memorial
Airport in St. Joseph.Hawn says she feels a responsibility to be a role model for
young girls and women, one reason she worked with others to create the Madam
President’s Camp which will be held in July for junior high girls. “Really that’s a very vulnerable time of dealing with
self-confidence and aspiring for what you would like to do in the future,” Hawn
says. “That 12, 13, 14-year-old timeframe is so critical, so critical for those
students and for those young women to really have great mentors and aspire. And
so, I try to get involved in programs like that so I can pay it forward,
because somebody paid it forward for me.”Hawn counts as her role models her mother as well as Rep.
Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, who nominated her for the award.Hawn will be honored as one of the 2024 Women of Achievement
Award winners during a ceremony at the Missouri state Capitol on March 14th.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Chamber President Hawn named a Missouri Woman of Achievement

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/milimansaray/">MILI MANSARAY</a>

Brenna Dwyer was in a race to buy her first home. When she and her sister decided to purchase a house together in 2020, they didn’t realize how steep the competition would be — or who they were up against.

“If we would find a house we liked and needed to think about it, by the time we had just a few days to talk it was already gone,” she said. “We had to make a decision quick or the house would go away.”

It took the sisters six months to find their home in Shawnee, Kansas. Then it took them one day to put down an offer.

The Dwyers ran into an increasingly rushed homebuying market where Kansas Citians find themselves bidding against large investors swooping in to find rental properties.

That, in turn, continually shrinks the number of houses available for people buying for themselves and further hurries financial decisions that could drive a family’s economic security for decades.

Investors are “intentionally targeting what has primarily been housing intended for ownership to turn it into rentals,” said Josh Akers, research manager for the Mid-America Regional Council.

A strong presence of large and out-of-state investors can have repercussions for tenants too, researchers found.

Real estate agents and large property investors say that the tight market comes from a housing supply shortage. Rising interest rates make it even harder for homebuyers to afford what they want — and the cost of borrowing money typically deters small investors from scooping up homes for rental income.

Still, a 2023 MARC study on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f34cd200c4894e20a2e88f08d77dc792/">investor impact&nbsp;</a>found that rentals make up almost a fourth of all the single-family homes in the nine counties covering and surrounding Kansas City. Of the region’s 157,000 single-family rentals, nearly 20% are owned by people or companies with 10 or more properties.

Thirty-three companies own nearly 14,000 homes in the Kansas City region, MARC found. Five of those companies own nearly 8,000 homes.

Nearly 45% of the single-family rentals in Jackson County are owned by investors with 100 or more properties, according to the study.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vinebrookhomes.com/">VineBrook Homes</a>&nbsp;is one of the top five investor-owners in the region.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/ixviewer/ix.html?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1755755/000175575523000022/vhti-20230930.htm">Its latest SEC report shows</a>&nbsp;that the Ohio-based real estate company owned 24,657 homes in 18 states as of December 2022.

VineBrook owns 1,118 properties in the Kansas City area, spokesperson Megan Grabos wrote in an email to The Beacon.

Investment companies started buying up more homes in the wake of a wave of foreclosures set off by the 2008 housing crisis, Akers said.

Years of banks making subprime loans to homebuyers caused the housing bubble to burst. Millions of properties tumbled in value and real estate investors were left with an opportunity to buy a large amount of property quickly and at cut-rate prices.

Akers said the pandemic compounded the trend. Many mom-and-pop landlords with 10 or fewer properties found themselves stretched thin on their payments due to eviction moratoriums that allowed tenants to stay in their homes and apartments even if they couldn’t make the rent. Large-scale investors were able to swoop in and pick up any property the smaller landlords lost.

But what was once a reaction to an abundance of abandoned or repossessed properties sitting on the market has now become a standard business practice for large investors looking to maximize their profits, Akers said.

“They’re competing directly in the community, directly in the real estate market where most individuals or families are trying to buy properties, as opposed to looking at foreclosures,” he said.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kenhooversells.com/agent-profile/cj-pennington-11410778">C.J. Pennington,</a>&nbsp;a real estate agent with the Ken Hoover Real Estate Group, said that every listing is likely to get an offer from a large institutional investor, but they aren’t as prevalent in the market as they were just a few years back.

He believes higher interest rates on homes have steered many investors away.

“It wouldn’t be as lucrative to have a lot of their money tied up as it was when they were buying everything,” Pennington said.

But Akers said that higher interest rates only impact small investors who may rely on loans to purchase property.

“Mega investors are operating in cash with large pools of liquid capital,” he said. “So interest rates don’t have an impact on their operations.”

Steeper mortgage rates make many current homeowners reluctant to sell their homes and take on higher mortgages on the new houses they’d move into. That’s propelled a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/investing-insights/interest-rates-impact-on-housing-market.html">&nbsp;shortage of housing</a>.

What is the impact of corporate investing in real estate on residents?

Dwyer bought her house during the pandemic with a $50,000 down payment. The house was listed for $232,000.

“We walked in and immediately knew it was the nicest house we’ve seen,” she said. “We weren’t going to find anything like it for this price so our Realtor got on it that day.”

The median listing price for a house in Kansas City in December 2020 was $324,475, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEDLISPRI28140">Federal Reserve Economic Data</a>. By December 2023, it was nearly $400,000.

MARC has found that homeownership in the Kansas City region has declined by 2.9% since 2011.

Akers said a large presence of institutional buyers can&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2023/07/11/corporate-home-buyers-jackson-county-property-tax/">push up&nbsp;</a>home prices. He said that’s especially true for less expensive starter homes. They’re targeted by institutional buyers because of price, uniformity and ease of renovation.

Those well-heeled investors can also increase demand as they outcompete prospective buyers on these homes.

Jaz Hays and his wife bought their two-bedroom home in the Northland in 2020.

Like Dwyer, he said they looked for about four months and toured at least 10 houses, but everything they were interested in sold too quickly.

“My wife and I had to put it in an offer within seven hours of our house being listed,” he said.

For a seller, a choice between an individual who would pay through a mortgage or a corporation that can pay the price upfront is easy.

“A lot of the competitive advantage that those institutional buyers have is that they are cash buyers,” Hays said. “It made it really difficult for us to purchase our first home.”

Pennington said large institutional buyers aren’t overheating the market. Rather, he said it’s a shortage of homes.

“It’s simple supply and demand,” he said.

A combination of fewer houses for sale than people looking to buy, as well as a drop in home construction, has tightened the market and pushed up prices.

Large property owners also tend to consolidate ownership in certain neighborhoods. MARC’s study found that much of their holdings were concentrated in the region’s suburbs and on the northern and southern edges of Kansas City.

Owner clustering in one area can make it easier for companies to push up rent prices for tenants, while small-scale landlords are more subject to market rates, Akers said.

“They can raise rents in particular areas and achieve those rents, regardless of the market that’s around them.” Akers said. “People that are looking to rent in that place will need to pay whatever the going rate is for rent.”

VineBrook says its houses are typically three-bedrooms that go for $1,234 a month. That’s cheaper than the average rent of $1,540 for a two-bedroom apartment in Kansas City, per Rent.com.

Gabos said the company is one of the largest providers of affordable housing for rent.

“We were founded on a vision to acquire and restore distressed properties,” she said in the email.

The company, which has received&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2023-05-10/vinebrook-homes-kansas-city-houses-landlord-tenants">complaints of neglect and unfounded evictions,&nbsp;</a>tends to own property in predominantly Black areas, a Midwest Newsroom investigation found.

Nearly 13% of single-family rentals in the Kansas City area are owned by businesses based outside of Missouri or Kansas, according to MARC.

And when you add apartment buildings into the mix, those numbers go up.

A 2021 study on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/746386088e3941539580440279d71fda">Who Owns KC</a>&nbsp;by Jordan Ayala, a research professor at Bard College, found that owners of residential properties in Kansas City, both single and multifamily, come from more than 2,000 cities around the world.

“These are often called absentee landlords,” said Hays, who compiled and processed the data for this study. “They won’t necessarily be super responsive to their tenants, often because they’re faceless. So their tenants don’t even know who they are.”

This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2024/02/28/kansas-city-single-family-housing-market/">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/">The Beacon</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709637841997.png" alt=" Researchers say that large real estate companies are buying into Kansas City’s single-family housing stock, creating a heightened demand for homes and a more expensive real estate market for homebuyers (Dominick Wiliams/The Beacon)." />
 <figcaption> Researchers say that large real estate companies are buying into Kansas City’s single-family housing stock, creating a heightened demand for homes and a more expensive real estate market for homebuyers (Dominick Wiliams/The Beacon).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/milimansaray/">MILI MANSARAY</a>Brenna Dwyer was in a race to buy her first home. When she and her sister decided to purchase a house together in 2020, they didn’t realize how steep the competition would be — or who they were up against.“If we would find a house we liked and needed to think about it, by the time we had just a few days to talk it was already gone,” she said. “We had to make a decision quick or the house would go away.”It took the sisters six months to find their home in Shawnee, Kansas. Then it took them one day to put down an offer.The Dwyers ran into an increasingly rushed homebuying market where Kansas Citians find themselves bidding against large investors swooping in to find rental properties.That, in turn, continually shrinks the number of houses available for people buying for themselves and further hurries financial decisions that could drive a family’s economic security for decades.Investors are “intentionally targeting what has primarily been housing intended for ownership to turn it into rentals,” said Josh Akers, research manager for the Mid-America Regional Council.A strong presence of large and out-of-state investors can have repercussions for tenants too, researchers found.Real estate agents and large property investors say that the tight market comes from a housing supply shortage. Rising interest rates make it even harder for homebuyers to afford what they want — and the cost of borrowing money typically deters small investors from scooping up homes for rental income.Still, a 2023 MARC study on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f34cd200c4894e20a2e88f08d77dc792/">investor impact&nbsp;</a>found that rentals make up almost a fourth of all the single-family homes in the nine counties covering and surrounding Kansas City. Of the region’s 157,000 single-family rentals, nearly 20% are owned by people or companies with 10 or more properties.<h2>Where did large investors come from?</h2>Thirty-three companies own nearly 14,000 homes in the Kansas City region, MARC found. Five of those companies own nearly 8,000 homes.Nearly 45% of the single-family rentals in Jackson County are owned by investors with 100 or more properties, according to the study.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.vinebrookhomes.com/">VineBrook Homes</a>&nbsp;is one of the top five investor-owners in the region.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sec.gov/ixviewer/ix.html?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/1755755/000175575523000022/vhti-20230930.htm">Its latest SEC report shows</a>&nbsp;that the Ohio-based real estate company owned 24,657 homes in 18 states as of December 2022.VineBrook owns 1,118 properties in the Kansas City area, spokesperson Megan Grabos wrote in an email to The Beacon.Investment companies started buying up more homes in the wake of a wave of foreclosures set off by the 2008 housing crisis, Akers said.Years of banks making subprime loans to homebuyers caused the housing bubble to burst. Millions of properties tumbled in value and real estate investors were left with an opportunity to buy a large amount of property quickly and at cut-rate prices.Akers said the pandemic compounded the trend. Many mom-and-pop landlords with 10 or fewer properties found themselves stretched thin on their payments due to eviction moratoriums that allowed tenants to stay in their homes and apartments even if they couldn’t make the rent. Large-scale investors were able to swoop in and pick up any property the smaller landlords lost.But what was once a reaction to an abundance of abandoned or repossessed properties sitting on the market has now become a standard business practice for large investors looking to maximize their profits, Akers said.“They’re competing directly in the community, directly in the real estate market where most individuals or families are trying to buy properties, as opposed to looking at foreclosures,” he said.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kenhooversells.com/agent-profile/cj-pennington-11410778">C.J. Pennington,</a>&nbsp;a real estate agent with the Ken Hoover Real Estate Group, said that every listing is likely to get an offer from a large institutional investor, but they aren’t as prevalent in the market as they were just a few years back.He believes higher interest rates on homes have steered many investors away.“It wouldn’t be as lucrative to have a lot of their money tied up as it was when they were buying everything,” Pennington said.But Akers said that higher interest rates only impact small investors who may rely on loans to purchase property.“Mega investors are operating in cash with large pools of liquid capital,” he said. “So interest rates don’t have an impact on their operations.”Steeper mortgage rates make many current homeowners reluctant to sell their homes and take on higher mortgages on the new houses they’d move into. That’s propelled a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.usbank.com/investing/financial-perspectives/investing-insights/interest-rates-impact-on-housing-market.html">&nbsp;shortage of housing</a>.<h2>What is the impact of corporate investing in real estate on residents?</h2>Dwyer bought her house during the pandemic with a $50,000 down payment. The house was listed for $232,000.“We walked in and immediately knew it was the nicest house we’ve seen,” she said. “We weren’t going to find anything like it for this price so our Realtor got on it that day.”The median listing price for a house in Kansas City in December 2020 was $324,475, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MEDLISPRI28140">Federal Reserve Economic Data</a>. By December 2023, it was nearly $400,000.MARC has found that homeownership in the Kansas City region has declined by 2.9% since 2011.Akers said a large presence of institutional buyers can&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2023/07/11/corporate-home-buyers-jackson-county-property-tax/">push up&nbsp;</a>home prices. He said that’s especially true for less expensive starter homes. They’re targeted by institutional buyers because of price, uniformity and ease of renovation.Those well-heeled investors can also increase demand as they outcompete prospective buyers on these homes.Jaz Hays and his wife bought their two-bedroom home in the Northland in 2020.Like Dwyer, he said they looked for about four months and toured at least 10 houses, but everything they were interested in sold too quickly.“My wife and I had to put it in an offer within seven hours of our house being listed,” he said.For a seller, a choice between an individual who would pay through a mortgage or a corporation that can pay the price upfront is easy.“A lot of the competitive advantage that those institutional buyers have is that they are cash buyers,” Hays said. “It made it really difficult for us to purchase our first home.”Pennington said large institutional buyers aren’t overheating the market. Rather, he said it’s a shortage of homes.“It’s simple supply and demand,” he said.A combination of fewer houses for sale than people looking to buy, as well as a drop in home construction, has tightened the market and pushed up prices.<h2>Where are these investors?</h2>Large property owners also tend to consolidate ownership in certain neighborhoods. MARC’s study found that much of their holdings were concentrated in the region’s suburbs and on the northern and southern edges of Kansas City.Owner clustering in one area can make it easier for companies to push up rent prices for tenants, while small-scale landlords are more subject to market rates, Akers said.“They can raise rents in particular areas and achieve those rents, regardless of the market that’s around them.” Akers said. “People that are looking to rent in that place will need to pay whatever the going rate is for rent.”VineBrook says its houses are typically three-bedrooms that go for $1,234 a month. That’s cheaper than the average rent of $1,540 for a two-bedroom apartment in Kansas City, per Rent.com.Gabos said the company is one of the largest providers of affordable housing for rent.“We were founded on a vision to acquire and restore distressed properties,” she said in the email.The company, which has received&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/housing-development-section/2023-05-10/vinebrook-homes-kansas-city-houses-landlord-tenants">complaints of neglect and unfounded evictions,&nbsp;</a>tends to own property in predominantly Black areas, a Midwest Newsroom investigation found.Nearly 13% of single-family rentals in the Kansas City area are owned by businesses based outside of Missouri or Kansas, according to MARC.And when you add apartment buildings into the mix, those numbers go up.A 2021 study on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/746386088e3941539580440279d71fda">Who Owns KC</a>&nbsp;by Jordan Ayala, a research professor at Bard College, found that owners of residential properties in Kansas City, both single and multifamily, come from more than 2,000 cities around the world.“These are often called absentee landlords,” said Hays, who compiled and processed the data for this study. “They won’t necessarily be super responsive to their tenants, often because they’re faceless. So their tenants don’t even know who they are.”This&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/stories/2024/02/28/kansas-city-single-family-housing-market/">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kcbeacon.org/">The Beacon</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
 <img src="https://i0.wp.com/kcbeacon.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/cropped-The-Beacon-Symbol-Gold.png?fit=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://kcbeacon.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=18810" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

5 companies own 8,000 KC area homes, creating intense competition for residents

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on new allegations after a weekend arrest.

On Sunday, police arrested 32-year-old Sacandra L. Casiano of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

She is being held on a Leavenworth County warrant for felony burglary from a vehicle.

In November of 2022, Casiano was accused of theft of fuel, criminal use of a financial card, computer crimes and theft by deception, according to online jail records. She spent time in custody last year for alleged failure to appear and to serve time for a misdemeanor. She has bee in custody in Atchison County numerous times since 2014.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709570680539.png" alt="Casiano-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Casiano-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas woman on new allegations after a weekend arrest.On Sunday, police arrested 32-year-old Sacandra L. Casiano of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.She is being held on a Leavenworth County warrant for felony burglary from a vehicle.In November of 2022, Casiano was accused of theft of fuel, criminal use of a financial card, computer crimes and theft by deception, according to online jail records. She spent time in custody last year for alleged failure to appear and to serve time for a misdemeanor. She has bee in custody in Atchison County numerous times since 2014.

Kan. woman with history of crime jailed for alleged burglary

A St. Joseph educator has been honored with a statewide award for being an outstanding assistant principal.  

Hosea Elementary Assistant Principal Jacob Kretzer was honored with the award by the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals.  

Kretzer says while it's humbling to win an individual award, it's also a direct reflection of what they are doing as a team at Hosea Elementary. 

"It means a lot to me to receive an individual honor, being kind of northwest Missouri's Assistant Principal of the Year, but I think it just more so shows what we're trying to achieve down here at Hosea," Kretzer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Kretzer says he's honored to receive the award and it's a great reminder of everything that has been achieved at the school.  

Kretzer has served many roles in the St. Joseph School District. 

Kretzer started his education career as a 4th grade teacher at Humboldt Elementary, before being moved into more leadership roles across the district, including as the school districts behavioral interventionist.  

Kretzer says through all his roles his goal was to just be the best he could be in that position. 

"I think just trying to be the best that I can at every level and learn from every level has actually helped build and instill in me the leadership skills I have because of a lot of my past experience," Kretzer explains. 

Kretzer says there are many challenges that come with the position of Assistant Principal, but for him. . .  

"Often a challenge is that you're standing at the bottom of a mountain and seeing a majestic mountain and you know you get the opportunity to enjoy that challenge," Kretzer says. "And often times through the challenge, that journey, is where a lot of the memories and all the stuff will come from that piece." 

Kretzer says the biggest challenge they face is helping serve students academically and providing the best access to education that is possible. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709582514532.jpeg" alt="Hosea Assistant Principal Jacob Kretzer (left) with a student in a&nbsp; photo Kretzer submitted to the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals." />
 <figcaption>Hosea Assistant Principal Jacob Kretzer (left) with a student in a&nbsp; photo Kretzer submitted to the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A St. Joseph educator has been honored with a statewide award for being an outstanding assistant principal. Hosea Elementary Assistant Principal Jacob Kretzer was honored with the award by the Missouri Association of Elementary Principals. Kretzer says while it's humbling to win an individual award, it's also a direct reflection of what they are doing as a team at Hosea Elementary. "It means a lot to me to receive an individual honor, being kind of northwest Missouri's Assistant Principal of the Year, but I think it just more so shows what we're trying to achieve down here at Hosea," Kretzer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Kretzer says he's honored to receive the award and it's a great reminder of everything that has been achieved at the school. Kretzer has served many roles in the St. Joseph School District. Kretzer started his education career as a 4th grade teacher at Humboldt Elementary, before being moved into more leadership roles across the district, including as the school districts behavioral interventionist. Kretzer says through all his roles his goal was to just be the best he could be in that position. "I think just trying to be the best that I can at every level and learn from every level has actually helped build and instill in me the leadership skills I have because of a lot of my past experience," Kretzer explains. Kretzer says there are many challenges that come with the position of Assistant Principal, but for him. . . "Often a challenge is that you're standing at the bottom of a mountain and seeing a majestic mountain and you know you get the opportunity to enjoy that challenge," Kretzer says. "And often times through the challenge, that journey, is where a lot of the memories and all the stuff will come from that piece." Kretzer says the biggest challenge they face is helping serve students academically and providing the best access to education that is possible.

Hosea Elementary Assistant Principal wins state award

What is next for the St. Joseph School Board now
that it has rejected a proposed four-day school week?

School Board President LaTonya Williams voted for
the proposal and says there has already been fallout from its defeat.

“It has been two days, a day-and-a-half, after the
board meeting and the resignations are already coming in, a day after the board
meeting,” Williams tells host Barry Birr on a recent KFEQ Hotline. “I think
that means something.”

Voting against was Vice President Kenneth Reeder,
who says instead of a shortened school week, the district should work toward
raising teacher pay.

“A levy, a true levy, just for teacher’s salary
raises, I’m all in for that,” Reeder tells Birr.

Both Reeder and Williams are up for re-election
next month.

Three St. Joseph School Board members voted in
favor of the four-day school week with four voting against.

Though Reeder voted against the proposal, he sees
value in the debate.

“The best thing that has happened, I think, on
this is that it’s raised the conversation of the importance of our school
district to this town and also to the importance of getting us from 48 out of
50 states up somewhere higher in our teacher compensation,” according to
Reeder.

A report issued by the Missouri NEA last year ranked
Missouri 47th among the states in average teacher pay at $52,481, up
slightly from the year before. Missouri ranks 50th for beginning
teacher pay at slightly more than $34,000 annually.

Williams says there has been fallout since the
board took its vote.

“Now our teachers feel undervalued and under
supported,” according to Williams. “People are like, well, just pay the teachers
more money, pay the teachers more money. I would love to, but where’s that
money going to come from?”

St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar
brought the proposal before the board, saying it would provide a tool to better
recruit and retain teachers. Approximately 170 of the 500-plus school districts
in Missouri have gone to a four-day school district, mostly rural districts. An
exception is the Independence School District which discussed its experience
with a four-day school week during a work session with the St. Joseph School
Board prior to its vote last Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709574575717.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph School Board President LaTonya Williams and Vice President Kenneth Reeder/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph School Board President LaTonya Williams and Vice President Kenneth Reeder/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostWhat is next for the St. Joseph School Board now
that it has rejected a proposed four-day school week?School Board President LaTonya Williams voted for
the proposal and says there has already been fallout from its defeat.“It has been two days, a day-and-a-half, after the
board meeting and the resignations are already coming in, a day after the board
meeting,” Williams tells host Barry Birr on a recent KFEQ Hotline. “I think
that means something.”Voting against was Vice President Kenneth Reeder,
who says instead of a shortened school week, the district should work toward
raising teacher pay.“A levy, a true levy, just for teacher’s salary
raises, I’m all in for that,” Reeder tells Birr.Both Reeder and Williams are up for re-election
next month.Three St. Joseph School Board members voted in
favor of the four-day school week with four voting against.Though Reeder voted against the proposal, he sees
value in the debate.“The best thing that has happened, I think, on
this is that it’s raised the conversation of the importance of our school
district to this town and also to the importance of getting us from 48 out of
50 states up somewhere higher in our teacher compensation,” according to
Reeder.A report issued by the Missouri NEA last year ranked
Missouri 47th among the states in average teacher pay at $52,481, up
slightly from the year before. Missouri ranks 50th for beginning
teacher pay at slightly more than $34,000 annually.Williams says there has been fallout since the
board took its vote.“Now our teachers feel undervalued and under
supported,” according to Williams. “People are like, well, just pay the teachers
more money, pay the teachers more money. I would love to, but where’s that
money going to come from?”St. Joseph School Superintendent Gabe Edgar
brought the proposal before the board, saying it would provide a tool to better
recruit and retain teachers. Approximately 170 of the 500-plus school districts
in Missouri have gone to a four-day school district, mostly rural districts. An
exception is the Independence School District which discussed its experience
with a four-day school week during a work session with the St. Joseph School
Board prior to its vote last Monday.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Fallout-over-four-day-school-week-in-SJSD-e2gkm1i" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

After rejection of 4-day school week, St. Joseph School Board ponders next step

ATCHISON COUNTY —Two drivers avoided injury after an accident just before 7a.m. Monday in Atchison County, Kansas.

A 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Jerry Jenkins, 59, Atchison, was southbound on the U.S.73/U.S.59 connecting link and was turning east onto U.S. 59, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The car and a westbound 1986 Kenworth semi driven by Ricky Willis, 70, St. Joseph, Missouri. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709566229405.png" alt="Photo Police Chief Mike Wilson" />
 <figcaption>Photo Police Chief Mike Wilson</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Two drivers avoided injury after an accident just before 7a.m. Monday in Atchison County, Kansas.A 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Jerry Jenkins, 59, Atchison, was southbound on the U.S.73/U.S.59 connecting link and was turning east onto U.S. 59, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The car and a westbound 1986 Kenworth semi driven by Ricky Willis, 70, St. Joseph, Missouri. Atchison Fire was on the scene and had to remove a door on the Grand Marquis for the driver to be able to get out of the vehicle. EMS examined both drivers but no one was transported. Jerry Jenkins was cited for failure to yield. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

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