LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30p.m.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Kia Optima driven by Tammy K. Claerhout, 52, Warsaw, was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile south of Farmersville.

The car struck a deer that had earlier been hit by another vehicle. The car came to a controlled stop.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS transported Claerhout to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11:30p.m.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Kia Optima driven by Tammy K. Claerhout, 52, Warsaw, was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile south of Farmersville.The car struck a deer that had earlier been hit by another vehicle. The car came to a controlled stop.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS transported Claerhout to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver hospitalized after 2nd vehicle strikes deer

HARRISON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford F250 driven by Bryson D. Nalle, 18, Pattonsburg, was southbound on U.S. 69 south of Mitchelville Church five miles south of Bethany.

The pickup struck a guard rail. A northbound 2021 Ram 2500 driven by Ciaria J. Eivins, 26, Bethany, then struck the side of Ford. After impact the Ford overturned onto its top.

NTA ambulance transported a passenger in the Ford Alexander J. Arnold, 18, McFall, to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; Nalle and Eivins were not injured

Nalle and Arnold were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

HARRISON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30p.m. Sunday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Ford F250 driven by Bryson D. Nalle, 18, Pattonsburg, was southbound on U.S. 69 south of Mitchelville Church five miles south of Bethany.The pickup struck a guard rail. A northbound 2021 Ram 2500 driven by Ciaria J. Eivins, 26, Bethany, then struck the side of Ford. After impact the Ford overturned onto its top.NTA ambulance transported a passenger in the Ford Alexander J. Arnold, 18, McFall, to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; Nalle and Eivins were not injuredNalle and Arnold were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after pickups collide

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Focus driven by Jenna R. Lamb, 22, Odessa, was northbound on Business 71 three miles north of St. Joseph.&nbsp;

The driver failed to yield and made a left turn onto the northbound Interstate 29 on ramp.&nbsp;

A southbound 2017 Chevy Colorado driven by Corey M. Blevins, 52, St. Joseph struck the front passenger door of the Ford.&nbsp; After impact the car traveled off the west side of the road and came to rest down an embankment.

Andrew County EMS transported Lamb and a 17-year-old boy from Lee's Summit to Mosaic Life Care. Blevins was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Sunday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Focus driven by Jenna R. Lamb, 22, Odessa, was northbound on Business 71 three miles north of St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield and made a left turn onto the northbound Interstate 29 on ramp.&nbsp;A southbound 2017 Chevy Colorado driven by Corey M. Blevins, 52, St. Joseph struck the front passenger door of the Ford.&nbsp; After impact the car traveled off the west side of the road and came to rest down an embankment.Andrew County EMS transported Lamb and a 17-year-old boy from Lee's Summit to Mosaic Life Care. Blevins was not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 hospitalized after Andrew County car, pickup crash

Perhaps this time, it will actually become law.

Max’s Law is once again on the governor’s desk.

State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville has hope that this
year will be the year.

“This is the third year now that I’ve sponsored Max’s Law,”
Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Luetkemeyer first carried the legislation in the session
following the death of K-9 Max. The St. Jospeh police dog was shot and killed
by a suspect he was chasing June 21st of 2021. It was discovered
after the death that under Missouri law the killing of a police animal was no
more significant than a property crime.

“What Max’s Law does is it raises the offense of killing a law
enforcement canine to a felony offense so that somebody who does that they can actually
spend time in prison,” Luetkemeyer says.

In the 2022 Missouri legislative session, the anti-crime
measure that included Max’s Law ran out of time on the last day of the session.

In the 2023 Missouri legislative session, the anti-crime
package cleared the legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson on an
unrelated manner.

In the just concluded, 2024 session the anti-crime bill once
again passed the legislature and once again sits on Gov. Parson’s desk.

Luetkemeyer says he made sure this year to remove the
provisions that prompted the veto last year.

“The provisions that are left in the legislation from this
year, those are all things that in the governor’s veto letter last year he said
he wished the General Assembly would send back to him and put back on his desk
and Max’s Law was one of those things,” Luetkemeyer says.

Luetkemeyer says getting the bill through the legislative
session honors both the memory of Max and the St. Joseph police officer
assigned to Max.

“I got to have a call with Max’s handler, Lucas Winder, who is
still a police officer with the St. Joseph Police Department. He’s come down
the last several years to testify in support of the legislation. So just a
great day of celebration with Lucas who has been through a lot, obviously,”
Luetkemeyer says. “Happy that we were able to, A, get this bill in place to
protect our police canines, but also to memorialize Max.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716573823008.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostPerhaps this time, it will actually become law.Max’s Law is once again on the governor’s desk.State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville has hope that this
year will be the year.“This is the third year now that I’ve sponsored Max’s Law,”
Luetkemeyer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Luetkemeyer first carried the legislation in the session
following the death of K-9 Max. The St. Jospeh police dog was shot and killed
by a suspect he was chasing June 21st of 2021. It was discovered
after the death that under Missouri law the killing of a police animal was no
more significant than a property crime.Luetkemeyer sought to change that.“What Max’s Law does is it raises the offense of killing a law
enforcement canine to a felony offense so that somebody who does that they can actually
spend time in prison,” Luetkemeyer says.In the 2022 Missouri legislative session, the anti-crime
measure that included Max’s Law ran out of time on the last day of the session.In the 2023 Missouri legislative session, the anti-crime
package cleared the legislature only to be vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson on an
unrelated manner.In the just concluded, 2024 session the anti-crime bill once
again passed the legislature and once again sits on Gov. Parson’s desk.Luetkemeyer says he made sure this year to remove the
provisions that prompted the veto last year.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716573887559.jpeg" alt="A memorial was held for K-9 Max at St. Joseph City Hall/file photo" />
 <figcaption>A memorial was held for K-9 Max at St. Joseph City Hall/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“The provisions that are left in the legislation from this
year, those are all things that in the governor’s veto letter last year he said
he wished the General Assembly would send back to him and put back on his desk
and Max’s Law was one of those things,” Luetkemeyer says.Luetkemeyer says getting the bill through the legislative
session honors both the memory of Max and the St. Joseph police officer
assigned to Max.“I got to have a call with Max’s handler, Lucas Winder, who is
still a police officer with the St. Joseph Police Department. He’s come down
the last several years to testify in support of the legislation. So just a
great day of celebration with Lucas who has been through a lot, obviously,”
Luetkemeyer says. “Happy that we were able to, A, get this bill in place to
protect our police canines, but also to memorialize Max.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Could this be the year Max's Law actually becomes law?

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has given no indication his name will ever appear on a ballot again after he leaves office at the end of this year.&nbsp;

But the political action committee set up by his supporters to bankroll his political career continues raising and spending money.&nbsp;

During the first three months of 2024, the PAC — called Uniting Missouri — reported raising $307,000. The biggest chunk of that money came in a $250,000 check from a St. Louis-based law firm.

The law firm’s founding partner, Eric Holland,&nbsp;also gave the PAC $50,000 in December.&nbsp;

Uniting Missouri also received $25,000 this year from a committee connected to his longtime friend and adviser, lobbyist Steve Tilley.&nbsp;

The PAC spent $73,000 during the first quarter. Of that, around $64,000 went to credit card payments. The charges appear to be for an early February “fundraising event,” which includes a $56,000 payment to the Kansas City Chiefs; $8,400 to Ticketmaster; and $650 to the NFL Experience.&nbsp;

The governor attended this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers.&nbsp;

Uniting Missouri reported having roughly $320,000 cash on hand.&nbsp;

During that same period, Parson’s campaign committee — Parson for Missouri — reported only raising $304. But it has $241,000 cash on hand.&nbsp;

The spending by Uniting Missouri around a Chiefs Super Bowl is similar to last year’s game, which Parson also attended. The PAC paid $56,000 in February 2023 to the Chiefs for a “fundraising event.” It also paid more than $110,000 during the first three months of 2023 to an aviation company connected to Tilley.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700840547628.jpeg" alt="File photo Mo. Governor Mike Parson" />
 <figcaption>File photo Mo. Governor Mike Parson</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has given no indication his name will ever appear on a ballot again after he leaves office at the end of this year.&nbsp;But the political action committee set up by his supporters to bankroll his political career continues raising and spending money.&nbsp;During the first three months of 2024, the PAC — called Uniting Missouri — reported raising $307,000. The biggest chunk of that money came in a $250,000 check from a St. Louis-based law firm.The law firm’s founding partner, Eric Holland,&nbsp;also gave the PAC $50,000 in December.&nbsp;Uniting Missouri also received $25,000 this year from a committee connected to his longtime friend and adviser, lobbyist Steve Tilley.&nbsp;The PAC spent $73,000 during the first quarter. Of that, around $64,000 went to credit card payments. The charges appear to be for an early February “fundraising event,” which includes a $56,000 payment to the Kansas City Chiefs; $8,400 to Ticketmaster; and $650 to the NFL Experience.&nbsp;The governor attended this year’s Super Bowl in Las Vegas, where the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers.&nbsp;Uniting Missouri reported having roughly $320,000 cash on hand.&nbsp;During that same period, Parson’s campaign committee — Parson for Missouri — reported only raising $304. But it has $241,000 cash on hand.&nbsp;The spending by Uniting Missouri around a Chiefs Super Bowl is similar to last year’s game, which Parson also attended. The PAC paid $56,000 in February 2023 to the Chiefs for a “fundraising event.” It also paid more than $110,000 during the first three months of 2023 to an aviation company connected to Tilley.

PAC backing term-limited Mo. governor keeps raising, spending campaign cash

Health care professionals and parents of transgender youth are raising concerns about use of private medical records in the statewide probe

BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

A state investigation of the Washington University Transgender Center in St. Louis expanded to include therapists and social workers across the state who work with minors seeking gender-affirming care.

Documents made public as part of various lawsuits show that Attorney General Andrew Bailey has obtained a collection of unredacted and loosely redacted records of transgender children, including a list of patients that received care at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.&nbsp;

He is also seeking untethered access to the university’s digital medical records system.

The attorney general’s use of private medical records, and the targeting of therapists and counselors, has interrupted the health care of LGBTQ Missourians and has families worrying about their children’s privacy.

Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director for Missouri LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, told The Independent she fears that the pressure will drive health care providers out of the state, especially impacting rural Missourians.

“The attorney general has created a hostile environment for medical providers where they are afraid to stay and practice medicine,” she said.&nbsp;

The saga began last year when Bailey launched an investigation based on an affidavit from Washington University whistleblower Jamie Reed. Bailey is using the affidavit to question other gender-affirming-care providers like Planned Parenthood, which he has said he hopes to “<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-files-suit-against-planned-parenthood-for-trafficking-children-out-of-state-to-obtain-abortions-without-parental-consent/">eradicate</a>.”

The probe involves the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, which oversees medical licensing in the state. According to records obtained by The Independent, the agency interviewed 57 health professionals as part of the inquiry and had 16 cases open as of early May.

While Bailey announced the division would assist in the investigation when he first announced it, therapists did not expect to be included — or have their license to practice put at risk.&nbsp;

The division’s chief legal counsel, Sarah Ledgerwood, told The Independent that the division and its boards can’t join other officials’ investigations. When asked about Bailey’s investigation, she said the boards “can only complete investigations based on receipt of a complaint.”

Division Director Sheila Solon said last year that she anticipated complaints as part of the attorney general’s investigation.

Kelly Storck, a licensed clinical social worker with a focus on LGBTQ-positive therapy, was interviewed last year and expressed grave concerns about unredacted medical records of minors being in the hands of a state official who has repeatedly opposed gender-affirming care.

When the division contacted Storck for an interview, she hired a lawyer before meeting with the investigator.

During the meeting, she says the investigator had a small stack of unredacted letters Storck had sent the Transgender Center to recommend clients for gender-affirming care.

Storck recalled senior investigator Nick McBroom telling her he wasn’t fully sure what he was doing, saying she was taking the interview more seriously than it was. He questioned why she had a lawyer.

McBroom asked about the process of writing letters of support, Storck said, opening a file with just a portion of the letters she had sent to the Transgender Center. She said she noticed the documents had green underlines added and asked McBroom if they were his edits. He didn’t seem to know the source of the underlines.

After a 30-45 minute interview, McBroom asked her to write up her process. Through her attorney, she declined, and her case was closed soon after.

McBroom declined to speak to The Independent about the case.

“I still have a lot of distrust about who initiated it,” Storck said, “and who was in my documents.”&nbsp;

Parents of transgender children told The Independent they have heard whispers of other therapists facing investigation.

Multiple providers declined to be interviewed about the investigation out of fear of retaliation. Storck, though, had already faced the attorney general as one of the plaintiffs attempting to block an emergency rule targeting transgender care filed by Bailey last year.

A legal battle between Washington University and the attorney general’s office shows the records used in the interviews may have directly come from the university itself.

In the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Answer%20and%20Counterclaim%20to%20Washington%20Universitys%20Petition%20to%20Modify%20Civil%20Investigative%20Demands%20Nos.%2023-19,%2023-52%20and%2023-53.PDF?courtCode=22&amp;di=13207690">attorney general’s office’s response&nbsp;to the litigation,</a>&nbsp;a timeline is laid out of the university turning over three sets of documents. In its second document production, Washington University gave the attorney general a list of patients in a spreadsheet.

“The supplemental production included a spreadsheet titled ‘Transgender Patient data,’” the attorney general’s office wrote. “Which included various workbooks chronicling patient names, encounters and medications, among other information.”

The attorney general’s office has declined to comment about the scope of the investigation and the source of investigative documents. Washington University also declined comment.&nbsp;

People who have received care at the Transgender Center have asked to be notified if their health records are accessed, but many assume some of their information is already in the attorney general’s hands.

The Independent asked Reed if she provided any of the documents to the attorney general.&nbsp;

“I cannot definitively say what the therapists are being handed (or) where it came from,” she said. “We just don’t really know where those things directly came from. The one thing I will add is that any documents that were provided to the attorney general’s office from me were redacted.”

Reed said she did not give any documents that would be stored in the electronic health records software Epic. When asked where else the records could come from, she said, “email or shared drive.”

The records investigators had of Storck’s patients included names, something Reed said she redacted before providing to the attorney general.

Becky Hormuth and her 17-year-old son Levi, who was a patient at the Transgender Center, have been hearing about the scope of Bailey’s investigation for months.

They learned that the attorney general’s office had been looking into Levi’s psychologist’s records and heard about other providers that had interviews related to their support for gender-affirming care.

Levi said the attorney general’s work seemed like “complete government overreach.”

Bailey’s actions, like a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-launches-tip-line-for-reports-of-questionable-gender-transition-interventions/">tip line</a>&nbsp;about gender-affirming care and an emergency rule that sought to limit access to certain procedures and prescriptions, prompted Hormuth to prepare to move out of state.

“It is very invasive, what he’s doing,” she told The Independent. “The state has already basically disrupted our lives. They’ve disrupted our families, our children’s lives with the legislation that has passed. Then for him to continue going on is even more invasive and damaging.”

When lawmakers passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors that included a provision that allowed broad medical malpractice claims, the Transgender Center stopped providing Levi’s medication.

Hormuth learned from other parents to make her son’s medication stretch, just in case it would be a long time before a refill.

She had requested an appointment with a provider in Illinois prior to the law’s passage, and Levi was on a waiting list. The center told her at the time that they weren’t taking new out-of-state patients because there was already a large influx from multiple states.

But eventually, Hormuth got a call that they were ready to take out-of-state patients. So, she and Levi make periodic trips to Chicago to go to the doctor.

Levi is old enough to receive hormone-replacement therapy at the Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region’s clinics, which accept transgender patients 16 and up for gender-affirming care.

But Hormuth wanted to take her son someplace outside of Bailey’s reach.

“I was absolutely dead set against going to Planned Parenthood locally because I knew that as soon as we would establish ourselves at Planned Parenthood… that (Bailey) was going to come there and start digging through those papers and those personal records,” she said. “I absolutely was not going to give him the chance at any other aspect of our family’s life.”

Both branches of Planned Parenthood in Missouri are also subjects of Bailey’s investigation, according to court filings, despite the attorney general’s office&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey-confirms-launch-of-multi-agency-investigation-into-st/">only publicly announcing an investigation into the Transgender Center</a>.

The attorney general is not allowed to investigate medical malpractice claims, but it can look into false advertising under the state’s consumer protection law, known as the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.&nbsp;

Bailey used that law to file an emergency rule, which he later rescinded before a court case could decide its bounds, and he is utilizing it again to dig into gender-affirming-care providers.

In a case in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Bailey’s office admits the investigation into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital has multiple subjects.

Planned Parenthood Great Plains filed a lawsuit to avoid the attorney general’s civil investigative demands which it argued sought sweeping information about its practice and patients.

In court documents, Solicitor General Josh Divine wrote that the civil investigative demand was looking into the organization and others in addition to the Transgender Center.

“The attorney general is investigating (the Transgender Center) and ‘others in the state’ who ‘may have used deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices, and/or the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts within the scope of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act,’” Divine wrote. “The attorney general has already made unequivocally clear that (Planned Parenthood) is under investigation.”

Similar arguments are on display in a case between the Planned Parenthood affiliate in St. Louis and the attorney general’s office.

“(Bailey’s) request encompasses hundreds, if not thousands, of patient records concerning treatment decisions, discussions with physicians, mental health assessments and prescription information, among other areas,” Planned Parenthood’s attorney wrote in its lawsuit.

Judges ruled in favor of the attorney general’s office in both cases, which have been recently appealed.

A case filed by Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City against Bailey’s investigative demands also went in favor of the attorney general.

Washington University’s case against the attorney general’s office is yet to be decided.

This fall, the attorney general’s office will defend the state in a case that seeks to reverse a ban on gender-affirming care for minors passed last legislative session.

Storck said the inquiry has compounded anxieties about access to gender-affirming care that patients have following the passage of the ban.

“I really was so afraid that some of my clients were going to be in absolute emergent situations and really struggle to get access to health care,” she said. “My patients have connected with what they need, but it is now an all-day or multiple-day event to get medical care. Previously, they could have gotten it (within two hours).”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716664584561.png" alt=" A group of over 200 protesting MU Health's cancelation of transgender minors' prescriptions approaches Columbia City Hall Sept. 15. MU Health backed out of gender-affirming care for minors after the passage of a new state law including broad medical malpractice provisions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> A group of over 200 protesting MU Health's cancelation of transgender minors' prescriptions approaches Columbia City Hall Sept. 15. MU Health backed out of gender-affirming care for minors after the passage of a new state law including broad medical malpractice provisions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Health care professionals and parents of transgender youth are raising concerns about use of private medical records in the statewide probe</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A state investigation of the Washington University Transgender Center in St. Louis expanded to include therapists and social workers across the state who work with minors seeking gender-affirming care.Documents made public as part of various lawsuits show that Attorney General Andrew Bailey has obtained a collection of unredacted and loosely redacted records of transgender children, including a list of patients that received care at the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.&nbsp;He is also seeking untethered access to the university’s digital medical records system.The attorney general’s use of private medical records, and the targeting of therapists and counselors, has interrupted the health care of LGBTQ Missourians and has families worrying about their children’s privacy.Katy Erker-Lynch, executive director for Missouri LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO, told The Independent she fears that the pressure will drive health care providers out of the state, especially impacting rural Missourians.“The attorney general has created a hostile environment for medical providers where they are afraid to stay and practice medicine,” she said.&nbsp;The saga began last year when Bailey launched an investigation based on an affidavit from Washington University whistleblower Jamie Reed. Bailey is using the affidavit to question other gender-affirming-care providers like Planned Parenthood, which he has said he hopes to “<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-files-suit-against-planned-parenthood-for-trafficking-children-out-of-state-to-obtain-abortions-without-parental-consent/">eradicate</a>.”The probe involves the Missouri Division of Professional Registration, which oversees medical licensing in the state. According to records obtained by The Independent, the agency interviewed 57 health professionals as part of the inquiry and had 16 cases open as of early May.While Bailey announced the division would assist in the investigation when he first announced it, therapists did not expect to be included — or have their license to practice put at risk.&nbsp;The division’s chief legal counsel, Sarah Ledgerwood, told The Independent that the division and its boards can’t join other officials’ investigations. When asked about Bailey’s investigation, she said the boards “can only complete investigations based on receipt of a complaint.”Division Director Sheila Solon said last year that she anticipated complaints as part of the attorney general’s investigation.Kelly Storck, a licensed clinical social worker with a focus on LGBTQ-positive therapy, was interviewed last year and expressed grave concerns about unredacted medical records of minors being in the hands of a state official who has repeatedly opposed gender-affirming care.When the division contacted Storck for an interview, she hired a lawyer before meeting with the investigator.During the meeting, she says the investigator had a small stack of unredacted letters Storck had sent the Transgender Center to recommend clients for gender-affirming care.Storck recalled senior investigator Nick McBroom telling her he wasn’t fully sure what he was doing, saying she was taking the interview more seriously than it was. He questioned why she had a lawyer.McBroom asked about the process of writing letters of support, Storck said, opening a file with just a portion of the letters she had sent to the Transgender Center. She said she noticed the documents had green underlines added and asked McBroom if they were his edits. He didn’t seem to know the source of the underlines.After a 30-45 minute interview, McBroom asked her to write up her process. Through her attorney, she declined, and her case was closed soon after.McBroom declined to speak to The Independent about the case.“I still have a lot of distrust about who initiated it,” Storck said, “and who was in my documents.”&nbsp;Parents of transgender children told The Independent they have heard whispers of other therapists facing investigation.Multiple providers declined to be interviewed about the investigation out of fear of retaliation. Storck, though, had already faced the attorney general as one of the plaintiffs attempting to block an emergency rule targeting transgender care filed by Bailey last year.<h2>A fight for patient privacy</h2>A legal battle between Washington University and the attorney general’s office shows the records used in the interviews may have directly come from the university itself.In the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Answer%20and%20Counterclaim%20to%20Washington%20Universitys%20Petition%20to%20Modify%20Civil%20Investigative%20Demands%20Nos.%2023-19,%2023-52%20and%2023-53.PDF?courtCode=22&amp;di=13207690">attorney general’s office’s response&nbsp;to the litigation,</a>&nbsp;a timeline is laid out of the university turning over three sets of documents. In its second document production, Washington University gave the attorney general a list of patients in a spreadsheet.“The supplemental production included a spreadsheet titled ‘Transgender Patient data,’” the attorney general’s office wrote. “Which included various workbooks chronicling patient names, encounters and medications, among other information.”The attorney general’s office has declined to comment about the scope of the investigation and the source of investigative documents. Washington University also declined comment.&nbsp;People who have received care at the Transgender Center have asked to be notified if their health records are accessed, but many assume some of their information is already in the attorney general’s hands.The Independent asked Reed if she provided any of the documents to the attorney general.&nbsp;“I cannot definitively say what the therapists are being handed (or) where it came from,” she said. “We just don’t really know where those things directly came from. The one thing I will add is that any documents that were provided to the attorney general’s office from me were redacted.”Reed said she did not give any documents that would be stored in the electronic health records software Epic. When asked where else the records could come from, she said, “email or shared drive.”The records investigators had of Storck’s patients included names, something Reed said she redacted before providing to the attorney general.Becky Hormuth and her 17-year-old son Levi, who was a patient at the Transgender Center, have been hearing about the scope of Bailey’s investigation for months.They learned that the attorney general’s office had been looking into Levi’s psychologist’s records and heard about other providers that had interviews related to their support for gender-affirming care.Levi said the attorney general’s work seemed like “complete government overreach.”Bailey’s actions, like a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/attorney-general-bailey-launches-tip-line-for-reports-of-questionable-gender-transition-interventions/">tip line</a>&nbsp;about gender-affirming care and an emergency rule that sought to limit access to certain procedures and prescriptions, prompted Hormuth to prepare to move out of state.“It is very invasive, what he’s doing,” she told The Independent. “The state has already basically disrupted our lives. They’ve disrupted our families, our children’s lives with the legislation that has passed. Then for him to continue going on is even more invasive and damaging.”When lawmakers passed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors that included a provision that allowed broad medical malpractice claims, the Transgender Center stopped providing Levi’s medication.Hormuth learned from other parents to make her son’s medication stretch, just in case it would be a long time before a refill.She had requested an appointment with a provider in Illinois prior to the law’s passage, and Levi was on a waiting list. The center told her at the time that they weren’t taking new out-of-state patients because there was already a large influx from multiple states.But eventually, Hormuth got a call that they were ready to take out-of-state patients. So, she and Levi make periodic trips to Chicago to go to the doctor.Levi is old enough to receive hormone-replacement therapy at the Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region’s clinics, which accept transgender patients 16 and up for gender-affirming care.But Hormuth wanted to take her son someplace outside of Bailey’s reach.“I was absolutely dead set against going to Planned Parenthood locally because I knew that as soon as we would establish ourselves at Planned Parenthood… that (Bailey) was going to come there and start digging through those papers and those personal records,” she said. “I absolutely was not going to give him the chance at any other aspect of our family’s life.”Both branches of Planned Parenthood in Missouri are also subjects of Bailey’s investigation, according to court filings, despite the attorney general’s office&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.mo.gov/missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey-confirms-launch-of-multi-agency-investigation-into-st/">only publicly announcing an investigation into the Transgender Center</a>.The attorney general is not allowed to investigate medical malpractice claims, but it can look into false advertising under the state’s consumer protection law, known as the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act.&nbsp;Bailey used that law to file an emergency rule, which he later rescinded before a court case could decide its bounds, and he is utilizing it again to dig into gender-affirming-care providers.In a case in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Bailey’s office admits the investigation into the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital has multiple subjects.Planned Parenthood Great Plains filed a lawsuit to avoid the attorney general’s civil investigative demands which it argued sought sweeping information about its practice and patients.In court documents, Solicitor General Josh Divine wrote that the civil investigative demand was looking into the organization and others in addition to the Transgender Center.“The attorney general is investigating (the Transgender Center) and ‘others in the state’ who ‘may have used deception, fraud, false promises, misrepresentation, unfair practices, and/or the concealment, suppression, or omission of material facts within the scope of the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act,’” Divine wrote. “The attorney general has already made unequivocally clear that (Planned Parenthood) is under investigation.”Similar arguments are on display in a case between the Planned Parenthood affiliate in St. Louis and the attorney general’s office.“(Bailey’s) request encompasses hundreds, if not thousands, of patient records concerning treatment decisions, discussions with physicians, mental health assessments and prescription information, among other areas,” Planned Parenthood’s attorney wrote in its lawsuit.Judges ruled in favor of the attorney general’s office in both cases, which have been recently appealed.A case filed by Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City against Bailey’s investigative demands also went in favor of the attorney general.Washington University’s case against the attorney general’s office is yet to be decided.This fall, the attorney general’s office will defend the state in a case that seeks to reverse a ban on gender-affirming care for minors passed last legislative session.Storck said the inquiry has compounded anxieties about access to gender-affirming care that patients have following the passage of the ban.“I really was so afraid that some of my clients were going to be in absolute emergent situations and really struggle to get access to health care,” she said. “My patients have connected with what they need, but it is now an all-day or multiple-day event to get medical care. Previously, they could have gotten it (within two hours).”

Therapists, social workers face scrutiny in Mo. AG investigation of transgender care

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1a.m. Saturday in Gentry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an Easy-go Golf Cart driven by Korbin L. Fletchall, 2o, Stanberry, was southbound on private property two and one half miles north of Stanberry.

An occupant identified as 23-year-old Greyson J. Juergensmyer of Westphalia, was clinging onto the drivers side exterior of the golf cart and fell off.

Grand River EMS transported&nbsp;Juergensmyer to Mosaic in Albany. Life Flight Eagle then transported him to Research Medical Center in Kansas City.

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1a.m. Saturday in Gentry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported an Easy-go Golf Cart driven by Korbin L. Fletchall, 2o, Stanberry, was southbound on private property two and one half miles north of Stanberry.An occupant identified as 23-year-old Greyson J. Juergensmyer of Westphalia, was clinging onto the drivers side exterior of the golf cart and fell off.Grand River EMS transported&nbsp;Juergensmyer to Mosaic in Albany. Life Flight Eagle then transported him to Research Medical Center in Kansas City.

Mo. man air-lifted to KC hospital after fall from golf cart

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge Ram driven by Ann M. Crighton, 31, Jamesport, was westbound on MO 190 three miles west of Chillicothe. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road, struck a guardrail, continued down an embankment and across a private drive. The pickup then traveled through a field and struck a tree.

Chillicothe EMS transported Crighton to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6p.m. Friday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Dodge Ram driven by Ann M. Crighton, 31, Jamesport, was westbound on MO 190 three miles west of Chillicothe. The pickup traveled off the north side of the road, struck a guardrail, continued down an embankment and across a private drive. The pickup then traveled through a field and struck a tree.Chillicothe EMS transported Crighton to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured in violent pickup crash

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5:30a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Jeep Cherokee driven by Alex D. Parkhurst, 27, Chillicothe, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles east of Hamilton.

The driver swerved to avoid a large dog. The Jeep struck the dog in the road and then skidded off the right side of the road down an embankment, struck a box culvert and overturned.

A private vehicle transported Parkhurst to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5:30a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Jeep Cherokee driven by Alex D. Parkhurst, 27, Chillicothe, was eastbound on U.S. 36 three miles east of Hamilton.The driver swerved to avoid a large dog. The Jeep struck the dog in the road and then skidded off the right side of the road down an embankment, struck a box culvert and overturned.A private vehicle transported Parkhurst to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man injured after Jeep strikes dog, overturns down embankment

ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man with a history of time in the Atchison County jail is back in custody.

On Thursday, police arrested 33-year-old&nbsp;Scott A. Gann, Jr., of&nbsp; Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Gann is being held on&nbsp; on a Community Corrections detain order. In March he was jailed for a month on requested charges of failure to appear and obstruction; interference with law enforcement, according to online jail records.&nbsp;Since 2001, Gann has been jailed over a dozen times on requested charges of failure to appear, domestic battery and escape from custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716555598281.png" alt="Gann photo Jackson Co." />
 <figcaption>Gann photo Jackson Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man with a history of time in the Atchison County jail is back in custody.On Thursday, police arrested 33-year-old&nbsp;Scott A. Gann, Jr., of&nbsp; Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Gann is being held on&nbsp; on a Community Corrections detain order. In March he was jailed for a month on requested charges of failure to appear and obstruction; interference with law enforcement, according to online jail records.&nbsp;Since 2001, Gann has been jailed over a dozen times on requested charges of failure to appear, domestic battery and escape from custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas man with a history of crime is back in jail

Area state legislators don’t give the recently concluded Missouri
legislative session in Jefferson City very high marks, saying personal agendas
and politics got in the way of governance.

State Rep. Bill Falkner, a Republican from St. Joseph, says a
lot of legislation failed to pass, because the ultra conservatives who make up
the Senate Freedom Caucus blocked a lot of legislation.

“I think we let the citizens of Missouri down,” Falkner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I mean, we did pass a lot of good things, don’t get me
wrong, and sometimes not passing a bill is good anyway. But there were a lot of
good things we left on the table that could’ve gotten done had we just wanted
to work together.”

Republicans control the state legislature. They hold big
majorities in both chambers. Republican leaders stated a top priority this
legislative session was to change the voting threshold needed to change the Missouri
constitution. Yet, disagreements between Senate and House Republicans kill
chances for changing the initiative petition.

Falkner, who has said changing the initiative petition process
is needed, says the issue failed when the Senate refused to accept provisions
favored by the House.

“We wanted to add to make the elected officials face the same
scrutiny as the public filing an initiative petition,” according to Falkner. “If
we were taking something to the ballot, we wanted to pass it by the same margins
as well. So, we were holding ourselves to a different standard. And that was
one of the things we thought was important and that was left out on the Senate
side.”

It's a pattern state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, a Republican from
Savannah, has seen play out at the Capitol before.

“Since I’ve been there, and even before, we’ve been pushing
for initiative petition reform,” Van Schoiack tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And every
year it has died on the Senate floor.”

A major bill sponsored by St. Joseph Rep. Brenda Shields, a
Republican, would have offered tax breaks to increase child care options in
Missouri. Shields says it got to the Senate in early February and it never went
anywhere.

“They were ready to roll,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
“They were out of committee fairly quickly and then they just sat on the
(Senate) calendar. It was number one on the calendar and they just never got to
them.”

Shields, a member of the House Budget Committee, says St.
Joseph did benefit from the state budget, which provided money for upgrades at
Rosecrans Memorial Airport as well as $500,000 for the downtown Children’s
Discovery Center and $200,000 for the Social Worker program at Missouri Western
State University.

The budget has been delivered to Gov. Mike Parson for his consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716569979523.jpeg" alt="Rep. Bill Falkner speaks during House debate/Photo courtesy of Missouri House of Representative Communications&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Bill Falkner speaks during House debate/Photo courtesy of Missouri House of Representative Communications&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostArea state legislators don’t give the recently concluded Missouri
legislative session in Jefferson City very high marks, saying personal agendas
and politics got in the way of governance.State Rep. Bill Falkner, a Republican from St. Joseph, says a
lot of legislation failed to pass, because the ultra conservatives who make up
the Senate Freedom Caucus blocked a lot of legislation.“I think we let the citizens of Missouri down,” Falkner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I mean, we did pass a lot of good things, don’t get me
wrong, and sometimes not passing a bill is good anyway. But there were a lot of
good things we left on the table that could’ve gotten done had we just wanted
to work together.”Republicans control the state legislature. They hold big
majorities in both chambers. Republican leaders stated a top priority this
legislative session was to change the voting threshold needed to change the Missouri
constitution. Yet, disagreements between Senate and House Republicans kill
chances for changing the initiative petition.Falkner, who has said changing the initiative petition process
is needed, says the issue failed when the Senate refused to accept provisions
favored by the House.“We wanted to add to make the elected officials face the same
scrutiny as the public filing an initiative petition,” according to Falkner. “If
we were taking something to the ballot, we wanted to pass it by the same margins
as well. So, we were holding ourselves to a different standard. And that was
one of the things we thought was important and that was left out on the Senate
side.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716570175113.jpeg" alt="Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>It's a pattern state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, a Republican from
Savannah, has seen play out at the Capitol before.“Since I’ve been there, and even before, we’ve been pushing
for initiative petition reform,” Van Schoiack tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And every
year it has died on the Senate floor.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716570091523.jpeg" alt="Rep. Brenda Shields speaks during House floor debate/Photo courtesy of Missouri House of Representatives Communications" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Brenda Shields speaks during House floor debate/Photo courtesy of Missouri House of Representatives Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>A major bill sponsored by St. Joseph Rep. Brenda Shields, a
Republican, would have offered tax breaks to increase child care options in
Missouri. Shields says it got to the Senate in early February and it never went
anywhere.“They were ready to roll,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
“They were out of committee fairly quickly and then they just sat on the
(Senate) calendar. It was number one on the calendar and they just never got to
them.”Shields, a member of the House Budget Committee, says St.
Joseph did benefit from the state budget, which provided money for upgrades at
Rosecrans Memorial Airport as well as $500,000 for the downtown Children’s
Discovery Center and $200,000 for the Social Worker program at Missouri Western
State University.The budget has been delivered to Gov. Mike Parson for his consideration.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Review-of-the-legislative-session-e2k2oob" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Area lawmakers don't give Missouri legislative session high marks

Buchanan County Sheriff’s officers are investigating what
appears to be an accidental death in southeast Buchanan County.

The sheriff’s department reports it received a call reporting
a grain bin accident in rural Buchanan County. Authorities say responding
officers found a 69-year-old man dead near the intersection of US Highway 169
and Missouri Highway E, about four miles northwest of Gower.

The person has not been identified. The investigation
continues.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County Sheriff’s officers are investigating what
appears to be an accidental death in southeast Buchanan County.The sheriff’s department reports it received a call reporting
a grain bin accident in rural Buchanan County. Authorities say responding
officers found a 69-year-old man dead near the intersection of US Highway 169
and Missouri Highway E, about four miles northwest of Gower.The person has not been identified. The investigation
continues.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Buchanan County Sheriff's authorities investigating death

While many spend their spring breaks on a long vacation, St. Joseph Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler spent part of her’s working.  

Heeler got the opportunity to choreograph a national commercial for Holiday Inn Club Vacations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  

Heeler says after spending some time in Myrtle Beach scouting the location and getting a vision, she began putting together the choreography 

"Started playing around with just different movement that I thought would work, they do a little scene with a luggage cart so I literally went to our local Holiday Inn and borrowed their luggage cart for about an hour one day to figure out some different things we might do on a luggage cart," Heeler tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

Heeler says once she got back to Myrtle Beach, she had just two days to rehearse with the dancers before the filming began.  

Heeler was presented with the opportunity by Dallas Henry, a former theater director and professor at Missouri Western, who she previously choreographed works for. 

Heeler says she had never choreographed anything on this scale before 

"I'm really thankful that I did get that opportunity, it was very cool," Heeler says. 

Heeler says Henry calling her to give her this chance, shows the power of connections 

"And people remembering you later on down the road, which is you know how things can definitely work in the arts," Heeler says.  

Heeler says she's excited for her students at the Dance Arts Center to see the commercial, especially those who might want to do that sort of work in the future. 

"I think the kids learning that having that ability to make a simple movement look really sharp and amazing, is just as effective, because that's what everybody wants to see and that's what draws people in to watch that commercial, is their really cute personalities and performances," Heeler explains. 

Heeler says for herself she learned more of the importance of making connections and says she would do something like this again in a heartbeat. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716566373737.jpeg" alt="Dancers perform a dance choreographed by Dance Arts Center Marla Heeler for a commerical for Holiday Inn Club Vacations Photo courtesy of Marla Heeler.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Dancers perform a dance choreographed by Dance Arts Center Marla Heeler for a commerical for Holiday Inn Club Vacations Photo courtesy of Marla Heeler.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post While many spend their spring breaks on a long vacation, St. Joseph Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler spent part of her’s working. Heeler got the opportunity to choreograph a national commercial for Holiday Inn Club Vacations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Heeler says after spending some time in Myrtle Beach scouting the location and getting a vision, she began putting together the choreography "Started playing around with just different movement that I thought would work, they do a little scene with a luggage cart so I literally went to our local Holiday Inn and borrowed their luggage cart for about an hour one day to figure out some different things we might do on a luggage cart," Heeler tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Heeler says once she got back to Myrtle Beach, she had just two days to rehearse with the dancers before the filming began. Heeler was presented with the opportunity by Dallas Henry, a former theater director and professor at Missouri Western, who she previously choreographed works for. Heeler says she had never choreographed anything on this scale before "I'm really thankful that I did get that opportunity, it was very cool," Heeler says. Heeler says Henry calling her to give her this chance, shows the power of connections "And people remembering you later on down the road, which is you know how things can definitely work in the arts," Heeler says. Heeler says she's excited for her students at the Dance Arts Center to see the commercial, especially those who might want to do that sort of work in the future. "I think the kids learning that having that ability to make a simple movement look really sharp and amazing, is just as effective, because that's what everybody wants to see and that's what draws people in to watch that commercial, is their really cute personalities and performances," Heeler explains. Heeler says for herself she learned more of the importance of making connections and says she would do something like this again in a heartbeat. You can see the commercial below: <div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1wPaAPWGv0w?si=7thyXS6cH7g48XhX" 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>Listen to our Journal with Marla:<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Dance-Arts-Center-Director-gets-spring-break-opportunity-e2k2m6i" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Dance Arts Center Director gets great spring break opportunity

GRUNDY COUNTY —A child was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Chevy Impala driven by Emma E. Hostetler, 21, Trenton, was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile south of Spickard.

The car struck a deer in the road and came to a controlled stop on the west side of the highway.

A private vehicle transported a 2-year-old male passenger to Wright Memorial Hospital for treatment. The child was not properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY —A child was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Chevy Impala driven by Emma E. Hostetler, 21, Trenton, was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile south of Spickard.The car struck a deer in the road and came to a controlled stop on the west side of the highway.A private vehicle transported a 2-year-old male passenger to Wright Memorial Hospital for treatment. The child was not properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2-year-old Missouri boy injured after car strikes deer 

The Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season and as drivers head out the Missouri Highway Patrol wants them to be prepared.  

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says with more drivers out on the roads to celebrate the holiday, it's vitally important to plan ahead 

"Make sure that you're Memorial Day weekend is successful, so when you're out there on the roadway obey the traffic laws, devote 100% of your attention to driving, and if your Memorial Day weekend plans do include alcohol, plan ahead and make sure you have a sober driver," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

As the weather becomes warmer, boats will also be hitting the water this Memorial Day weekend.  

Hux says with more people heading to the lake. 

"There's going to be pickups out there pulling boats, so they may not be able to travel the speed limit, they may be traveling less than that, they're going to be slow moving," Hux explains. "And it's important for the boat operators to obey all the boating laws when they're out there on the water, and we always encourage that everybody wear a life jacket when they're on or even near the water." 

Hux reminds boaters that any passenger less than seven years old is required to wear a life jacket if out on the water this Memorial Day. 

During the summer months, there are also several road construction projects happening across the state.  

Hux says to plan ahead for construction that could slow down traffic on the roads 

"Especially when there's a lot more traffic out there like there's going to be during the Memorial Day weekend," Hux points out. "That traffic can back up rather quickly, and a lot of the times what we see is secondary crashes. even if there is a traffic crash that has the travel lanes reduced down to one lane, we see a lot of secondary crashes just because people are not paying attention and driving too fast." 

The Missouri Highway Patrol will be out in force starting Friday and running through Monday night. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Memorial Day weekend kicks off the summer travel season and as drivers head out the Missouri Highway Patrol wants them to be prepared. Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says with more drivers out on the roads to celebrate the holiday, it's vitally important to plan ahead "Make sure that you're Memorial Day weekend is successful, so when you're out there on the roadway obey the traffic laws, devote 100% of your attention to driving, and if your Memorial Day weekend plans do include alcohol, plan ahead and make sure you have a sober driver," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. As the weather becomes warmer, boats will also be hitting the water this Memorial Day weekend. Hux says with more people heading to the lake. "There's going to be pickups out there pulling boats, so they may not be able to travel the speed limit, they may be traveling less than that, they're going to be slow moving," Hux explains. "And it's important for the boat operators to obey all the boating laws when they're out there on the water, and we always encourage that everybody wear a life jacket when they're on or even near the water." Hux reminds boaters that any passenger less than seven years old is required to wear a life jacket if out on the water this Memorial Day. During the summer months, there are also several road construction projects happening across the state. Hux says to plan ahead for construction that could slow down traffic on the roads "Especially when there's a lot more traffic out there like there's going to be during the Memorial Day weekend," Hux points out. "That traffic can back up rather quickly, and a lot of the times what we see is secondary crashes. even if there is a traffic crash that has the travel lanes reduced down to one lane, we see a lot of secondary crashes just because people are not paying attention and driving too fast." The Missouri Highway Patrol will be out in force starting Friday and running through Monday night. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Patrol message on Memorial Day: be prepared before you take off

The bill had broad bipartisan support but died amidst the gridlock that engulfed the Missouri Senate in the session’s final days

BY:&nbsp;CLARA BATES&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Legislation that would have banned Missouri from seizing Social Security benefits from foster children was on the precipice of passing during the final days of the legislative session, but died when GOP infighting caused the state Senate adjourn early.&nbsp;

That means the state will continue to take millions of dollars in the next year in benefits and use the money to help pay for foster care.&nbsp;

“It’s more than disappointing,” said state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, a Scott City Republican and one of the bill’s sponsors. “It is a disservice to every taxpayer and voter in this state for our Senate to run the way that it is.”

The result of the practice is that kids who are orphaned or have disabilities are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/29/legislation-aims-to-stop-missouri-from-taking-federal-benefits-owed-to-foster-kids/">responsible for paying toward the cost of their care in state custody</a>, while foster kids who are ineligible for those benefits pay nothing.&nbsp;

The legislation&nbsp;would have forbidden that, instead requiring the state to use the benefits for the child’s unmet needs — not routine costs.

Rehder said she was expecting the bill to come up for a vote last Thursday, when the Senate suddenly descended into GOP infighting and adjourned for the day. When the Senate reconvened Friday, it was in session for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/a-bizarre-session-missouri-lawmakers-head-home-after-year-defined-by-gridlock-infighting/">only 10 minutes</a>&nbsp;before going home for the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“When we have bills that matter to people’s lives — to children’s lives — right there ready to be taken up and passed, and instead of doing that, the actual work that we’ve been sent there to do, we play games and fight and say, if this bill isn’t gonna get done, nothing’s gonna get done. It’s insane,” Rehder said.&nbsp;

State Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain View Republican and co-sponsor of the bill,&nbsp;said she heard from a foster child earlier this session who told her the bill would affect her personally as a recipient of survivor’s benefits.

“She lost parents, which means the state was taking her money and will continue to take her money,” Kelly said, “because we couldn’t get over ourselves and get past politics and pass a bill.”

Lori Ross, founder and CEO of the nonprofit FosterAdopt Connect, which advocated for the legislation, said the bill’s demise means another year of the state taking money that could otherwise be a valuable safety net for kids.

“By failing to make this change,” Ross told The Independent, “we are preventing our state’s most vulnerable children from accessing a critical means of support when they age out of the system and must navigate the world alone.”

It’s long been a common practice nationally to take foster kids’ benefits, but it’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/22/foster-care-agencies-take-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-kids-most-children-have-no-idea">come under increased scrutiny</a>&nbsp;over the last few years. Several states, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://azbigmedia.com/business/politics/hobbs-signs-hb-2559-to-protect-foster-childrens-social-security-benefits/">Arizona</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.abqjournal.com/news/unprecedented-new-mexico-foster-children-will-now-be-allowed-to-keep-federal-benefits-owed-to/article_a8eba052-2fef-11ee-8edb-736b67563b4a.html">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/a-growing-number-of-states-vow-to-stop-seizing-benefits-owed-to-foster-youth/239438#:~:text=In%20Oregon%2C%20the%20state's%20child,top%20of%20the%20official%20documents.">Oregon</a>&nbsp;have halted the practice.&nbsp;

There were 1,426 foster kids receiving benefits in Missouri&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2024-1/2844S.05P.ORG.pdf">as of July 2023.&nbsp;</a>The state spent over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2024-1/2844S.05P.ORG.pdf">$9.3 million</a>&nbsp;in seized benefits last fiscal year.

Versions of the bill won approval from both the House and Senate, passing through to the other chamber, so there were two possible vehicles to get the bill to the governor’s desk.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716462318047.png" alt=" State Rep. Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain View, speaks during House debate in early March (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain View, speaks during House debate in early March (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The bill had broad bipartisan support but died amidst the gridlock that engulfed the Missouri Senate in the session’s final days</h2>BY:&nbsp;CLARA BATES&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Legislation that would have banned Missouri from seizing Social Security benefits from foster children was on the precipice of passing during the final days of the legislative session, but died when GOP infighting caused the state Senate adjourn early.&nbsp;That means the state will continue to take millions of dollars in the next year in benefits and use the money to help pay for foster care.&nbsp;“It’s more than disappointing,” said state Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, a Scott City Republican and one of the bill’s sponsors. “It is a disservice to every taxpayer and voter in this state for our Senate to run the way that it is.”The result of the practice is that kids who are orphaned or have disabilities are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/29/legislation-aims-to-stop-missouri-from-taking-federal-benefits-owed-to-foster-kids/">responsible for paying toward the cost of their care in state custody</a>, while foster kids who are ineligible for those benefits pay nothing.&nbsp;The legislation&nbsp;would have forbidden that, instead requiring the state to use the benefits for the child’s unmet needs — not routine costs.Rehder said she was expecting the bill to come up for a vote last Thursday, when the Senate suddenly descended into GOP infighting and adjourned for the day. When the Senate reconvened Friday, it was in session for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/17/a-bizarre-session-missouri-lawmakers-head-home-after-year-defined-by-gridlock-infighting/">only 10 minutes</a>&nbsp;before going home for the year.&nbsp;&nbsp;“When we have bills that matter to people’s lives — to children’s lives — right there ready to be taken up and passed, and instead of doing that, the actual work that we’ve been sent there to do, we play games and fight and say, if this bill isn’t gonna get done, nothing’s gonna get done. It’s insane,” Rehder said.&nbsp;State Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Mountain View Republican and co-sponsor of the bill,&nbsp;said she heard from a foster child earlier this session who told her the bill would affect her personally as a recipient of survivor’s benefits.“She lost parents, which means the state was taking her money and will continue to take her money,” Kelly said, “because we couldn’t get over ourselves and get past politics and pass a bill.”Lori Ross, founder and CEO of the nonprofit FosterAdopt Connect, which advocated for the legislation, said the bill’s demise means another year of the state taking money that could otherwise be a valuable safety net for kids.“By failing to make this change,” Ross told The Independent, “we are preventing our state’s most vulnerable children from accessing a critical means of support when they age out of the system and must navigate the world alone.”It’s long been a common practice nationally to take foster kids’ benefits, but it’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/22/foster-care-agencies-take-thousands-of-dollars-owed-to-kids-most-children-have-no-idea">come under increased scrutiny</a>&nbsp;over the last few years. Several states, including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://azbigmedia.com/business/politics/hobbs-signs-hb-2559-to-protect-foster-childrens-social-security-benefits/">Arizona</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.abqjournal.com/news/unprecedented-new-mexico-foster-children-will-now-be-allowed-to-keep-federal-benefits-owed-to/article_a8eba052-2fef-11ee-8edb-736b67563b4a.html">New Mexico</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://imprintnews.org/top-stories/a-growing-number-of-states-vow-to-stop-seizing-benefits-owed-to-foster-youth/239438#:~:text=In%20Oregon%2C%20the%20state's%20child,top%20of%20the%20official%20documents.">Oregon</a>&nbsp;have halted the practice.&nbsp;There were 1,426 foster kids receiving benefits in Missouri&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2024-1/2844S.05P.ORG.pdf">as of July 2023.&nbsp;</a>The state spent over&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2024-1/2844S.05P.ORG.pdf">$9.3 million</a>&nbsp;in seized benefits last fiscal year.Versions of the bill won approval from both the House and Senate, passing through to the other chamber, so there were two possible vehicles to get the bill to the governor’s desk.There was no clear opposition to the foster care benefits portion of the bills, though there was some opposition to an amendment tacked onto the version that cleared the Senate regarding child custody, designed to fix a bill passed last year.&nbsp;The Senate version of the bill cleared a House committee, but was never brought up for debate in the House. Kelly said “all I know is it got stopped” before coming up for a vote.&nbsp;She’s hopeful it will pass next year.“If you’re an average kid out here, you’re gonna get that money,” Kelly said, referring to the benefits. “But these kids don’t get that money and nobody seems to care that should care. And I hope that changes next year.”On the Senate side, Rehder said “perhaps it will be a better year for protecting children” next year. But with the chamber’s dysfunction, she said it’s hard to know.“It’s an excellent policy and you know other states are moving towards this that haven’t already” Rehder said “…We have to fix some things in the Senate. And until we do, I don’t know, I don’t know what any bill’s chances are.”Jason White, a foster parent from Kansas City, traveled to testify in support of the legislation earlier this year.The state seized his foster son’s survivor’s benefits, which amounted to around $30,000, White said in an interview with The Independent. Now 20, his son has “zero dollars” and little support to transition to adulthood.White said this is an issue that affects “thousands of kids with little to nothing” and the reason to take it on is simply “to do the right thing.”“I’m very disappointed,” White said, “that cheap politics killed this legislation.”

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