By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0aXHcITJQhH7WbohBiUMe6?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7Bf4RbvzdSvTOiMqRo6YPY?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

St. Joseph's Noah Cameron struggled slightly with his command in his fourth major league start, throwing 59 strikes on 92 pitches, but earned his first win at Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals avoided being swept by the Cincinnati Reds with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.&nbsp;

Cameron though, held the Reds scoreless and to just three hits through five innings, while the Royals gave him a lead scoring a run in the fourth inning, Maikel Garcia singling and then scoring all the way from first base on a single by Drew Waters, and then extending the lead in the fifth as John Rave doubled for his first major league hit, and then scored on a double by Bobby Witt Jr after advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Dairon Blanco.&nbsp;

Back to back ground outs by Santiago Espinal and Elly De La Cruz opened the sixth inning for Cameron, but then the left handed pitcher ran into trouble and walked Austin Hays, before surrendering back to back singles to Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer, scoring Hays and cutting the Royals lead to 2-1.&nbsp;

After Kansas City was unable add any runs in the bottom of the sixth, Cameron started out the seventh getting Matt McLain to fly out to center field but walked Garrett Hampson before being replaced by Angel Zerpa.&nbsp; Zerpa gave up a single to&nbsp;TJ Friedl, but then forced Espinal to ground into a double play ending the inning.&nbsp; The Royals went on to extend their lead in the seventh inning, Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India walking, both advancing on a wild pitch, Isbel scoring on a sacrifice fly by Witt Jr.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In the eighth inning, De La Cruz doubled off Zerpa to lead off the inning, and Royals manager Matt Quatraro went to the bullpen again calling on John Schreiber.&nbsp; Schreiber allowed the run to score, though it was charged to Zerpa, as Steer singled later in the inning driving in De La Cruz, before Carlos Estévez came on for the last out of the eighth, before staying on for the ninth to earn his 15th save.&nbsp;

Cameron improved to 2-1 with the win, pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up one run on six hits, walking two and striking out two.&nbsp; Cameron is just the second pitcher since 1893 with 6 1/3+ innings pitched and one run or less in his first four MLB starts.&nbsp; India and Garcia led the way at the plate, India going 2-for-3 and Garcia going 2-for-4 with one run scored, in the win.&nbsp;

Kansas City is off on Thursday.&nbsp; Kansas City hosts Detroit on Friday at Kauffman Stadium.&nbsp; Seth Lugo (3-4, 3.02 ERA) is slated to start for the Royals, returning from the injured list, against Casey Mize (6-1, 2.45 ERA) for the Tigers.&nbsp; First pitch Friday is at 7:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748487231031.jpeg" alt="Noah Cameron struggled slightly with command, throwing 59 strikes on 92 pitches over 6 1/3 innings, but earned his first win at Kauffman Stadium in a 3-2 win for the Royals over the Cincinnati Reds/ Photo courtesy of MLB on X" />
 <figcaption>Noah Cameron struggled slightly with command, throwing 59 strikes on 92 pitches over 6 1/3 innings, but earned his first win at Kauffman Stadium in a 3-2 win for the Royals over the Cincinnati Reds/ Photo courtesy of MLB on X</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph's Noah Cameron struggled slightly with his command in his fourth major league start, throwing 59 strikes on 92 pitches, but earned his first win at Kauffman Stadium as the Kansas City Royals avoided being swept by the Cincinnati Reds with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday night.&nbsp;Cameron though, held the Reds scoreless and to just three hits through five innings, while the Royals gave him a lead scoring a run in the fourth inning, Maikel Garcia singling and then scoring all the way from first base on a single by Drew Waters, and then extending the lead in the fifth as John Rave doubled for his first major league hit, and then scored on a double by Bobby Witt Jr after advancing to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Dairon Blanco.&nbsp;Back to back ground outs by Santiago Espinal and Elly De La Cruz opened the sixth inning for Cameron, but then the left handed pitcher ran into trouble and walked Austin Hays, before surrendering back to back singles to Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer, scoring Hays and cutting the Royals lead to 2-1.&nbsp;After Kansas City was unable add any runs in the bottom of the sixth, Cameron started out the seventh getting Matt McLain to fly out to center field but walked Garrett Hampson before being replaced by Angel Zerpa.&nbsp; Zerpa gave up a single to&nbsp;TJ Friedl, but then forced Espinal to ground into a double play ending the inning.&nbsp; The Royals went on to extend their lead in the seventh inning, Kyle Isbel and Jonathan India walking, both advancing on a wild pitch, Isbel scoring on a sacrifice fly by Witt Jr.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the eighth inning, De La Cruz doubled off Zerpa to lead off the inning, and Royals manager Matt Quatraro went to the bullpen again calling on John Schreiber.&nbsp; Schreiber allowed the run to score, though it was charged to Zerpa, as Steer singled later in the inning driving in De La Cruz, before Carlos Estévez came on for the last out of the eighth, before staying on for the ninth to earn his 15th save.&nbsp;Cameron improved to 2-1 with the win, pitching 6 1/3 innings and giving up one run on six hits, walking two and striking out two.&nbsp; Cameron is just the second pitcher since 1893 with 6 1/3+ innings pitched and one run or less in his first four MLB starts.&nbsp; India and Garcia led the way at the plate, India going 2-for-3 and Garcia going 2-for-4 with one run scored, in the win.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Noah Cameron is the 2nd pitcher since 1893 with 6.1+ IP and 1 run or less in his first 4 MLB starts 🤯 (H/T <a href="https://twitter.com/EliasSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EliasSports</a>) <a href="https://t.co/5x4tDTRlrd">pic.twitter.com/5x4tDTRlrd</a>&mdash; MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1927904355358851439?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas City is off on Thursday.&nbsp; Kansas City hosts Detroit on Friday at Kauffman Stadium.&nbsp; Seth Lugo (3-4, 3.02 ERA) is slated to start for the Royals, returning from the injured list, against Casey Mize (6-1, 2.45 ERA) for the Tigers.&nbsp; First pitch Friday is at 7:10pm, pregame coverage will begin at 6:30 on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM).You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Royals avoid sweep as Noah Cameron gets first Kauffman Stadium win

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Five people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 51-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on U.S. 65 three miles south of Chillicothe in a construction zone.

The van rear-ended 2017 Toyota Sienna driven by a 38-year-old Danville, Kentucky.&nbsp; After impact, the Toyota spun counter clockwise and rear-ended a 2022 Ford Edge driven by a 41-year-old Albany woman.

Chillicothe EMS transported a 26-year-old female passenger from Chillicothe in the van to Hedrick Medical Center.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS&nbsp; transported two adults passengers in the Toyota from Stanford, Kentucky to Hedrick Medical Center. One was later air-lifted to Truman Medical Center. EMS also transported an infant girl and 1-year-old girl from the van to Children's Medical Center. There were no other injuries. Two adults in the van were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Five people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 51-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on U.S. 65 three miles south of Chillicothe in a construction zone.The van rear-ended 2017 Toyota Sienna driven by a 38-year-old Danville, Kentucky.&nbsp; After impact, the Toyota spun counter clockwise and rear-ended a 2022 Ford Edge driven by a 41-year-old Albany woman.Chillicothe EMS transported a 26-year-old female passenger from Chillicothe in the van to Hedrick Medical Center.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS&nbsp; transported two adults passengers in the Toyota from Stanford, Kentucky to Hedrick Medical Center. One was later air-lifted to Truman Medical Center. EMS also transported an infant girl and 1-year-old girl from the van to Children's Medical Center. There were no other injuries. Two adults in the van were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 adults, 2 children hospitalized after construction zone crash

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood driven by a 45-year-old Trenton man was westbound on MO 6 just east of MO 190. The car rear-ended a 2013 Jeep Cherokee driven by a 62-year-old Gallatin woman, who was stopped in traffic to make a left turn.

Davis County EMS transported both drivers to area hospitals. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 12:30p.m. Wednesday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Cadillac Fleetwood driven by a 45-year-old Trenton man was westbound on MO 6 just east of MO 190. The car rear-ended a 2013 Jeep Cherokee driven by a 62-year-old Gallatin woman, who was stopped in traffic to make a left turn.Davis County EMS transported both drivers to area hospitals. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 injured after Daviess  County rear-end crash

Missouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe is calling the legislature back into special session to reconsider a
couple of pieces of legislation left undone during the regular session.

One is a portion of a $513 million
capital improvement bill that contained money for St. Joseph projects. Another
is an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.

St. Joseph Chamber
of Commerce President, Natalie Hawn, is keeping a close eye on the local
projects and says while the incentives package for the Chiefs and Royals
doesn’t have a direct impact on St. Joseph, it does mean something for area
residents.

“There’s definitely
a pride piece to that,” Hawn tells KFEQmmunity. “We are in St. Joseph, Missouri
and if we were to lose both the Royals and the Chiefs to the Kansas side, I mean
I think there’s a little bit of a pride piece to that. Those are our hometown
teams.”

The proposal for
the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals involves the state issuing
bonds to pay up to 70% of the cost of building new stadiums or renovating the
current stadiums. The plan also would authorize up to $50 million in tax
credits.

Kansas has an
offer on the table that would pay up to 70% of building new stadiums for both
teams.

House leadership
refused to bring the capital improvement package up for a vote, infuriating
Senate leaders and setting a sour tone for the last week of the legislative
session. It contained financing for local projects, including $7 million for
UMKC to establish a dental school in St. Joseph.

“That would be a
partnership with Missouri Western, on campus, and again just another great
training and opportunity to showcase our community; really get some folks for
rural Missouri and other rural parts of the country that really need medicine,
whether its dentists or doctors,” Hawn says.

Hawn says the
dental school would be a logical next step for UMKC which has found success
with its medical school in St. Joseph operated in partnership with Mosaic Life
Care.

“I’d love to see
that get across the finish line,” Hawn says. “I know there’s been a lot of work
go into that program and it can be a real benefit, not only to St. Joseph, but
people that are in rural parts of northwest Missouri. And then, obviously, I’d
love to see us get the funding we need to secure Chiefs Training Camp for
another year.”

That capital
improvement package, House Bill 19, included $2.8 million for improvements to
the Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western. The bill also contained $1
million for Mosaic Life Care to expand behavioral health services at its
Emergency Room, and $800,000 for a new roof over the Pony Express Museum. None of those projects are guaranteed to be in the newly refashioned capital improvement package. St. Joseph area lawmakers say they will attempt to revive some of the spending.

Kehoe also will
ask the legislature to provide tax breaks for homeowners in St. Louis and other
parts of Missouri that suffered property loss in the recent storms.

This article has been updated to clarify that the St. Joseph capital improvement projects remain up in the air.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Gov. Mike
Kehoe is calling the legislature back into special session to reconsider a
couple of pieces of legislation left undone during the regular session.One is a portion of a $513 million
capital improvement bill that contained money for St. Joseph projects. Another
is an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri.St. Joseph Chamber
of Commerce President, Natalie Hawn, is keeping a close eye on the local
projects and says while the incentives package for the Chiefs and Royals
doesn’t have a direct impact on St. Joseph, it does mean something for area
residents.“There’s definitely
a pride piece to that,” Hawn tells KFEQmmunity. “We are in St. Joseph, Missouri
and if we were to lose both the Royals and the Chiefs to the Kansas side, I mean
I think there’s a little bit of a pride piece to that. Those are our hometown
teams.”The proposal for
the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas City Royals involves the state issuing
bonds to pay up to 70% of the cost of building new stadiums or renovating the
current stadiums. The plan also would authorize up to $50 million in tax
credits.Kansas has an
offer on the table that would pay up to 70% of building new stadiums for both
teams.House leadership
refused to bring the capital improvement package up for a vote, infuriating
Senate leaders and setting a sour tone for the last week of the legislative
session. It contained financing for local projects, including $7 million for
UMKC to establish a dental school in St. Joseph.“That would be a
partnership with Missouri Western, on campus, and again just another great
training and opportunity to showcase our community; really get some folks for
rural Missouri and other rural parts of the country that really need medicine,
whether its dentists or doctors,” Hawn says.Hawn says the
dental school would be a logical next step for UMKC which has found success
with its medical school in St. Joseph operated in partnership with Mosaic Life
Care.“I’d love to see
that get across the finish line,” Hawn says. “I know there’s been a lot of work
go into that program and it can be a real benefit, not only to St. Joseph, but
people that are in rural parts of northwest Missouri. And then, obviously, I’d
love to see us get the funding we need to secure Chiefs Training Camp for
another year.”That capital
improvement package, House Bill 19, included $2.8 million for improvements to
the Chiefs Training Camp at Missouri Western. The bill also contained $1
million for Mosaic Life Care to expand behavioral health services at its
Emergency Room, and $800,000 for a new roof over the Pony Express Museum. None of those projects are guaranteed to be in the newly refashioned capital improvement package. St. Joseph area lawmakers say they will attempt to revive some of the spending.Kehoe also will
ask the legislature to provide tax breaks for homeowners in St. Louis and other
parts of Missouri that suffered property loss in the recent storms.This article has been updated to clarify that the St. Joseph capital improvement projects remain up in the air.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Gov. Kehoe calls for special session that could include St. Joseph projects

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

Missouri has agreed to abide by a request from the federal government to turn over personal data about anyone receiving food assistance, the state social services agency confirmed to The Independent Tuesday.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/data-sharing-guidance" target="_blank">earlier this month</a>&nbsp;requested sensitive data from states about participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, including their Social Security numbers and addresses, in what it says is an effort to ensure program integrity.

That request has prompted concerns among privacy and hunger groups, who have argued it violates federal privacy law and data protections.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">Currently</a>, information about the names of people receiving SNAP and their personal information is held only by states, not the federal government. Some states with Democratic governors, including&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://sourcenm.com/briefs/new-mexico-refuses-federal-governments-request-for-snap-cardholder-data/" target="_blank">New Mexico</a>, have refused to comply with the request, citing concerns surrounding its legality.

<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/15/alaska-gives-food-stamp-recipients-personal-information-to-federal-officials/" target="_blank">Alaska</a>&nbsp;has said it will comply, as have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">Ohio and Iowa</a>.

“It is normal course of business for Missouri to securely share information regarding federal programs with federal partner agencies,” said Baylee Watts, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services.

The social services department, Watts added, “does not anticipate any concerns and will coordinate with the USDA to ensure appropriate follow up is taken from the state level.”&nbsp;

SNAP is a joint state-federal program: The federal government pays for benefits that states administer.&nbsp;

There were<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/history.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;652,427 people receiving SNAP benefits in Missouri as of April</a>&nbsp;— or roughly one in 10 Missourians.

The request for personal data came in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/data-sharing-guidance" target="_blank">letter dated May 6 from the USDA,&nbsp;</a>which oversees the program. It was signed by Gina Brand, the agency’s senior policy advisor for integrity.

The letter requests personally-identifiable information from SNAP recipients including names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers, along with total SNAP benefits received.&nbsp;

The data is required to cover Jan. 1, 2020 to present. Each state is currently a “SNAP information silo,” the letter said.

The federal agency will use the data requested to “ensure program integrity,” which will include verifying eligibility, the letter states.

The action will “ensure Americans in need receive assistance, while at the same time safeguarding taxpayer dollars from abuse,” Brand wrote.&nbsp;

If states don’t comply, federal funding could be withheld, the letter warned.

The letter cited&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/25/2025-05214/stopping-waste-fraud-and-abuse-by-eliminating-information-silos" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;by President Donald Trump requiring that federal agencies “take all necessary steps” to ensure the federal government has “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all state programs that receive federal funding,” including data held by third-party entities.

The goal of such efforts, according to the executive order, is to “detect overpayments and fraud.”&nbsp;

The Department of Government Efficiency — part of the executive branch under Trump — reportedly has&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/15/alaska-gives-food-stamp-recipients-personal-information-to-federal-officials/" target="_blank">used that order</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/doge-government-data-immigration-social-security/" target="_blank">combine personal data collected from several agencies</a>&nbsp;to help the federal government track and arrest immigrants for deportation.

USDA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">previously told NPR</a>: “All personally identifiable information will comply with all privacy laws and regulations and will follow responsible data handling requirements.”

A spokesperson for Fidelity National Information Services, a&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/0993H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">vendor</a>&nbsp;Missouri contracts with to distribute SNAP benefits, said by email that the company is “committed to safeguarding privacy and ensuring rigorous standards for data protection and compliance” and that it is “supporting the USDA and our state partners in their efforts to determine next steps.”&nbsp;

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defendstudents.org/news/body/2025.05.22_Dkt._1_Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;filed last week by SNAP participants, a privacy organization and national hunger organization argued the request violates federal privacy laws and skirts safeguards designed to protect participants’ data. The lawsuit asked a federal court to halt the data collection.

The lawsuit, plaintiffs wrote, seeks to ensure that the federal government “is not exploiting our most vulnerable citizens by disregarding longstanding privacy protections, depriving the public of critical information regarding data collection and protections, and eviscerating the public’s right to comment on the mass collection and consolidation by the federal government of sensitive, personal data of tens of millions of individuals who rely on federal food assistance benefits.”

The efforts come as Congress considers deep cuts to the SNAP program&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">that could cost Missouri $400 million and result in thousands of families losing aid.</a>

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri has agreed to abide by a request from the federal government to turn over personal data about anyone receiving food assistance, the state social services agency confirmed to The Independent Tuesday.The U.S. Department of Agriculture&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/data-sharing-guidance" target="_blank">earlier this month</a>&nbsp;requested sensitive data from states about participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, including their Social Security numbers and addresses, in what it says is an effort to ensure program integrity.That request has prompted concerns among privacy and hunger groups, who have argued it violates federal privacy law and data protections.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">Currently</a>, information about the names of people receiving SNAP and their personal information is held only by states, not the federal government. Some states with Democratic governors, including&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2025/05/22/kansas-denies-usda-request-for-personal-data-of-residents-receiving-food-assistance/" target="_blank">Kansas</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://sourcenm.com/briefs/new-mexico-refuses-federal-governments-request-for-snap-cardholder-data/" target="_blank">New Mexico</a>, have refused to comply with the request, citing concerns surrounding its legality.<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/15/alaska-gives-food-stamp-recipients-personal-information-to-federal-officials/" target="_blank">Alaska</a>&nbsp;has said it will comply, as have&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">Ohio and Iowa</a>.“It is normal course of business for Missouri to securely share information regarding federal programs with federal partner agencies,” said Baylee Watts, spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Social Services.The social services department, Watts added, “does not anticipate any concerns and will coordinate with the USDA to ensure appropriate follow up is taken from the state level.”&nbsp;SNAP is a joint state-federal program: The federal government pays for benefits that states administer.&nbsp;There were<a href="https://dss.mo.gov/mis/clcounter/history.htm" target="_blank">&nbsp;652,427 people receiving SNAP benefits in Missouri as of April</a>&nbsp;— or roughly one in 10 Missourians.The request for personal data came in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/data-sharing-guidance" target="_blank">letter dated May 6 from the USDA,&nbsp;</a>which oversees the program. It was signed by Gina Brand, the agency’s senior policy advisor for integrity.The letter requests personally-identifiable information from SNAP recipients including names, dates of birth, addresses and Social Security numbers, along with total SNAP benefits received.&nbsp;The data is required to cover Jan. 1, 2020 to present. Each state is currently a “SNAP information silo,” the letter said.The federal agency will use the data requested to “ensure program integrity,” which will include verifying eligibility, the letter states.The action will “ensure Americans in need receive assistance, while at the same time safeguarding taxpayer dollars from abuse,” Brand wrote.&nbsp;If states don’t comply, federal funding could be withheld, the letter warned.The letter cited&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/25/2025-05214/stopping-waste-fraud-and-abuse-by-eliminating-information-silos" target="_blank">an executive order</a>&nbsp;by President Donald Trump requiring that federal agencies “take all necessary steps” to ensure the federal government has “unfettered access to comprehensive data from all state programs that receive federal funding,” including data held by third-party entities.The goal of such efforts, according to the executive order, is to “detect overpayments and fraud.”&nbsp;The Department of Government Efficiency — part of the executive branch under Trump — reportedly has&nbsp;<a href="https://alaskabeacon.com/2025/05/15/alaska-gives-food-stamp-recipients-personal-information-to-federal-officials/" target="_blank">used that order</a>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/05/07/doge-government-data-immigration-social-security/" target="_blank">combine personal data collected from several agencies</a>&nbsp;to help the federal government track and arrest immigrants for deportation.USDA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/05/22/nx-s1-5407994/usda-doge-snap-nutrition-privacy" target="_blank">previously told NPR</a>: “All personally identifiable information will comply with all privacy laws and regulations and will follow responsible data handling requirements.”A spokesperson for Fidelity National Information Services, a&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/0993H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">vendor</a>&nbsp;Missouri contracts with to distribute SNAP benefits, said by email that the company is “committed to safeguarding privacy and ensuring rigorous standards for data protection and compliance” and that it is “supporting the USDA and our state partners in their efforts to determine next steps.”&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defendstudents.org/news/body/2025.05.22_Dkt._1_Complaint.pdf" target="_blank">lawsuit</a>&nbsp;filed last week by SNAP participants, a privacy organization and national hunger organization argued the request violates federal privacy laws and skirts safeguards designed to protect participants’ data. The lawsuit asked a federal court to halt the data collection.The lawsuit, plaintiffs wrote, seeks to ensure that the federal government “is not exploiting our most vulnerable citizens by disregarding longstanding privacy protections, depriving the public of critical information regarding data collection and protections, and eviscerating the public’s right to comment on the mass collection and consolidation by the federal government of sensitive, personal data of tens of millions of individuals who rely on federal food assistance benefits.”The efforts come as Congress considers deep cuts to the SNAP program&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">that could cost Missouri $400 million and result in thousands of families losing aid.</a>

Missouri will hand over personal data of food aid recipients to feds

WASHINGTON — The final Missouri student has been eliminated from the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Ananya Aggarwal, 12, Columbia Independent Upper School was the only student from Missouri who advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals.&nbsp; She did not advance to the semifinals set for Wednesday evening, according to the Bee website.

<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details&nbsp;</a>on how to watch the competition

WASHINGTON —Ananya Aggarwal, 12, Columbia Independent Upper School is the only student from Missouri who advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Seven students from Missouri earned a trip to compete at the national competition.

St. Joseph student, 14-year-old Natalie Linthicum North Davies R-III did not advance to the quarterfinals.

Sixty spellers were eliminated in preliminary spelling and vocabulary rounds. That left 183 who took the written spelling and vocabulary test. That test eliminated 84 more. The quarterfinals are Wednesday with 99 spellers left

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748445200072.png" alt="Annya Aggarwal photo Scripps National Spelling Bee" />
 <figcaption>Annya Aggarwal photo Scripps National Spelling Bee</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — The final Missouri student has been eliminated from the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Ananya Aggarwal, 12, Columbia Independent Upper School was the only student from Missouri who advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals.&nbsp; She did not advance to the semifinals set for Wednesday evening, according to the Bee website.<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details&nbsp;</a>on how to watch the competition--------WASHINGTON —Ananya Aggarwal, 12, Columbia Independent Upper School is the only student from Missouri who advanced to the Wednesday quarterfinals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Seven students from Missouri earned a trip to compete at the national competition.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748379509213.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>St. Joseph student, 14-year-old Natalie Linthicum North Davies R-III did not advance to the quarterfinals.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748378706038.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Sixty spellers were eliminated in preliminary spelling and vocabulary rounds. That left 183 who took the written spelling and vocabulary test. That test eliminated 84 more. The quarterfinals are Wednesday with 99 spellers left

Final Missouri student eliminated from National Spelling Bee 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5x1pV1bNofQfhYlT847Waj?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/56Xhn8GztHGg2AuPWCaJkA?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

A consultant
recommends St. Joseph sewer rates rise by three percent annually over the next
two years.

The St. Joseph
City Council has been presented with the results of a sewer rate study
conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell at a work session. The study recommends sewer
bills rise by three percent at midyear next year and in 2026. The study
estimates the average sewer bill will rise by a dollar-85 a month in 2025 and a
dollar-94 in 2026.

The city states
the rise would help the city keep up with the rising cost of state and federal
regulations.

Sewer rates rose
by four percent last year. The city says that was the first increase since
2017.

“I understand that
any increase in utility costs can be a hardship, and I want our citizens to
know that we are doing everything we can to keep those increases as minimal as
possible,” Public Works Director, Abe Forney, said in a written statement
released by the city. “These improvements are not optional. They are mandated
by the DNR and the EPA to protect the public and the environment. Our goal as
public works staff is to meet these requirements in a way that minimizes the
financial burden to our community.”

The Burns &amp;
McDonnell study reports the average St. Joseph sewer bill is $65.70 a month
while the average bill in Omaha is $60.12 and the average bill in Kansas City
is $79.01. 

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA consultant
recommends St. Joseph sewer rates rise by three percent annually over the next
two years.The St. Joseph
City Council has been presented with the results of a sewer rate study
conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell at a work session. The study recommends sewer
bills rise by three percent at midyear next year and in 2026. The study
estimates the average sewer bill will rise by a dollar-85 a month in 2025 and a
dollar-94 in 2026.The city states
the rise would help the city keep up with the rising cost of state and federal
regulations.Sewer rates rose
by four percent last year. The city says that was the first increase since
2017.“I understand that
any increase in utility costs can be a hardship, and I want our citizens to
know that we are doing everything we can to keep those increases as minimal as
possible,” Public Works Director, Abe Forney, said in a written statement
released by the city. “These improvements are not optional. They are mandated
by the DNR and the EPA to protect the public and the environment. Our goal as
public works staff is to meet these requirements in a way that minimizes the
financial burden to our community.”The Burns &amp;
McDonnell study reports the average St. Joseph sewer bill is $65.70 a month
while the average bill in Omaha is $60.12 and the average bill in Kansas City
is $79.01. You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph sewer rates could go up 3% next two years

St. Joseph police are
investigating a shooting late Saturday evening in north St. Joseph that left a
woman with a foot wound.

The St. Joseph
Police Department reports a person in a passenger vehicle shot at occupants in
a SUV at the intersection of Randolph Street and St. Joseph Avenue around 11:15
Saturday night, striking a woman.

The woman was
taken to the hospital for treatment.

This incident
remains under investigation by the St. Joseph Police Department. Anyone with
information is encouraged to contact the Tips Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police are
investigating a shooting late Saturday evening in north St. Joseph that left a
woman with a foot wound.The St. Joseph
Police Department reports a person in a passenger vehicle shot at occupants in
a SUV at the intersection of Randolph Street and St. Joseph Avenue around 11:15
Saturday night, striking a woman.The woman was
taken to the hospital for treatment.This incident
remains under investigation by the St. Joseph Police Department. Anyone with
information is encouraged to contact the Tips Hotline at (816) 238-TIPS.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph police investigating north-end shooting

The 16th season of Mustangs baseball begins tonight.&nbsp; &nbsp;

A roster with several returning faces, and several new faces as well take the field tonight at Phil Welch Stadium for Opening Day. &nbsp;

Owner and General Manager Ky Turner says after working all year to get to this day, it's a fun and fulfilling feeling to start a new season&nbsp;

"I use the word a little bit nervous, just because we don't want to screw some stuff up, we've set a standard for ourselves that I think is pretty good," Turner tells reporters.&nbsp; "So, we want to reach that standard and then continue to climb that ladder just to build that guest experience."&nbsp;

The Mustangs are coming off a season in which they won their ninth championship.&nbsp; Turner says it's hard to say how that can be topped. &nbsp;

Tuner says they can't ask the team to beat teams by more runs and can't take more than first place, but winning a championship is incredible&nbsp;

"Every one of them means something, they're incredible, you know last year told a story, every summer tells a different story," Turner explains.&nbsp; "Last year was a little written for us with Dan's (Gerson) passing to see what it was going to look like, and I don't know that's what the fun part is just to see what's going to happen this year to write a new chapter in that Mustangs history book is something we look forward to."&nbsp;

New at the stadium this year, is a new video board atop the scoreboard. Turner says the new addition is exciting to help enhance the fan experience at Phil Welch Stadium&nbsp;

"We don't want to rely solely on the board, you know say here it is, look we still want to have that fan engagement that's personable, I think that's important we don't want to lose touch with that, but this absolutely allows us to enhance some of the things we're doing," Turner says.&nbsp; "We're so thankful for the opportunity from the city and the parks tax that was passed, then also the people who help supported, the 1939 Club."&nbsp;

Turner says now they get to look to what their next project could be to continue enhancing Phil Welch into the new century&nbsp;

The Mustangs take on a new opponent tonight, the northeast Missouri Craze.&nbsp; First pitch is at 6:30, a new first pitch time during weekdays with gates opening at 5:15.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748397405053.jpeg" alt="Mustangs players wait for team introductions during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Mustangs players wait for team introductions during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;The 16th season of Mustangs baseball begins tonight.&nbsp; &nbsp;A roster with several returning faces, and several new faces as well take the field tonight at Phil Welch Stadium for Opening Day. &nbsp;Owner and General Manager Ky Turner says after working all year to get to this day, it's a fun and fulfilling feeling to start a new season&nbsp;"I use the word a little bit nervous, just because we don't want to screw some stuff up, we've set a standard for ourselves that I think is pretty good," Turner tells reporters.&nbsp; "So, we want to reach that standard and then continue to climb that ladder just to build that guest experience."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748397594548.jpeg" alt="Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner addresses fans during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner addresses fans during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>The Mustangs are coming off a season in which they won their ninth championship.&nbsp; Turner says it's hard to say how that can be topped. &nbsp;Tuner says they can't ask the team to beat teams by more runs and can't take more than first place, but winning a championship is incredible&nbsp;"Every one of them means something, they're incredible, you know last year told a story, every summer tells a different story," Turner explains.&nbsp; "Last year was a little written for us with Dan's (Gerson) passing to see what it was going to look like, and I don't know that's what the fun part is just to see what's going to happen this year to write a new chapter in that Mustangs history book is something we look forward to."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748397727171.jpeg" alt="A new video board sits atop the outfield scoreboard at Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>A new video board sits atop the outfield scoreboard at Phil Welch Stadium/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>New at the stadium this year, is a new video board atop the scoreboard. Turner says the new addition is exciting to help enhance the fan experience at Phil Welch Stadium&nbsp;"We don't want to rely solely on the board, you know say here it is, look we still want to have that fan engagement that's personable, I think that's important we don't want to lose touch with that, but this absolutely allows us to enhance some of the things we're doing," Turner says.&nbsp; "We're so thankful for the opportunity from the city and the parks tax that was passed, then also the people who help supported, the 1939 Club."&nbsp;Turner says now they get to look to what their next project could be to continue enhancing Phil Welch into the new century&nbsp;The Mustangs take on a new opponent tonight, the northeast Missouri Craze.&nbsp; First pitch is at 6:30, a new first pitch time during weekdays with gates opening at 5:15.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748397794724.jpeg" alt="East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt (11) and Bishop LeBlond alum and current Northwest Missouri State pitcher Jaren Guck (17) sign autographs for fans during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt PIke" />
 <figcaption>East Buchanan alum Bronco Whitt (11) and Bishop LeBlond alum and current Northwest Missouri State pitcher Jaren Guck (17) sign autographs for fans during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt PIke</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748397815700.jpeg" alt="Lafayette alumni Brayden Luikart, whose back with the team after not playing last season, talks with KQ2 News Director Chris Roush during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Lafayette alumni Brayden Luikart, whose back with the team after not playing last season, talks with KQ2 News Director Chris Roush during Mustangs FanFest/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Opening Day is here as St. Joseph Mustangs begin 16th season tonight

ANDREW COUNTY —A St. Joseph man died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Escape driven by a 37-year-old St. Joseph woman was southbound in the northbound lanes of Business 29 at John Glenn Road in Country Club Village. The Ford struck a 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by a 35-year-old St. Joseph man head-on.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Ford and an 6-year-old female passenger in the Ford to Mosaic Life Care. The driver of the Chevy was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —A St. Joseph man died in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Tuesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford Escape driven by a 37-year-old St. Joseph woman was southbound in the northbound lanes of Business 29 at John Glenn Road in Country Club Village. The Ford struck a 2013 Chevy Equinox driven by a 35-year-old St. Joseph man head-on.&nbsp;&nbsp;The driver of the Chevy was pronounced dead at the scene.&nbsp; Andrew County EMS transported the driver of the Ford and an 6-year-old female passenger in the Ford to Mosaic Life Care. The driver of the Chevy was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph man dies in wrong-way, head-on crash

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford Fusion driven by a 41-year-old Gallatin woman was northbound on exit ramp 54 of Interstate 35. The driver swerved to miss a raccoon in the road, overcorrected and the car traveled off the right side of the road. The vehicle skidded and struck a tree.

Cameron ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Ford Fusion driven by a 41-year-old Gallatin woman was northbound on exit ramp 54 of Interstate 35. The driver swerved to miss a raccoon in the road, overcorrected and the car traveled off the right side of the road. The vehicle skidded and struck a tree.Cameron ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. driver injured after she swerved to miss a racccoon, car struck a tree

The Missouri ACLU expects another injunction will soon be granted that will re-open access to abortion in the state

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

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a judge in Kansas City to lift an injunction that had blocked restrictions on abortion, a ruling that upends access to the procedure six months after voters enshrined reproductive rights into the state Constitution.

The two-page order imposes a “de facto abortion ban” in the state, according to the leaders of the state’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates.

Over the course of two rulings — one in December and one in February — Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing a temporary injunction blocking abortion restrictions enacted over numerous years by state lawmakers.

Most notably, Zhang struck down licensing requirement for abortion clinics, arguing the regulations were “unnecessary” and&nbsp; “discriminatory” because they do not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care.

The injunction allowed abortions in the state to resume while the case made its way to a January 2026 trial.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748383294803.png" alt=" The Missouri Supreme Court building in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri Supreme Court building in Jefferson City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri ACLU expects another injunction will soon be granted that will re-open access to abortion in the state</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered a judge in Kansas City to lift an injunction that had blocked restrictions on abortion, a ruling that upends access to the procedure six months after voters enshrined reproductive rights into the state Constitution.The two-page order imposes a “de facto abortion ban” in the state, according to the leaders of the state’s two Planned Parenthood affiliates.Over the course of two rulings — one in December and one in February — Jackson County Judge Jerri Zhang pointed to the voter-approved constitutional amendment in issuing a temporary injunction blocking abortion restrictions enacted over numerous years by state lawmakers.Most notably, Zhang struck down licensing requirement for abortion clinics, arguing the regulations were “unnecessary” and&nbsp; “discriminatory” because they do not treat services provided in abortion facilities the same as other types of similarly situated health care, including miscarriage care.The injunction allowed abortions in the state to resume while the case made its way to a January 2026 trial.

Missouri Supreme Court reinstates abortion restrictions, imposing ‘de-facto’ ban

A 14-year-old student from St. Joseph is competing at this week's Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. The bee celebrates its&nbsp;100th anniversary this year.

<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details </a>on how to watch the competition

Six other students from Missouri are also among the spellers.

A 14-year-old student from St. Joseph is competing at this week's Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. The bee celebrates its&nbsp;100th anniversary this year.<a href="https://spellingbee.com/watch">Click here for details </a>on how to watch the competitionSix other students from Missouri are also among the spellers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748379509213.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380301214.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380252948.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380161566.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380197098.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380782814.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748380838259.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

Student from St. Joe at the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee

Northern Missouri
Congressman, Sam Graves, says the massive budget bill that squeaked to passage
in the U.S. House will provide needed investments into the national transportation
system.

Graves, the
Republican chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
tells his committee the budget bill addresses recent airline crashes by placing
a $12 ½ billion down payment to modernize the nation’s air traffic control
system.

“This down payment
allows the administration to immediately begin replacing critical communications
infrastructure, radar systems, and also invest in runway safety and airport surface
surveillance projects,” Graves says during a committee hearing in Washington,
D.C.

Graves says the
bill addresses the chronic Highway Trust Fund shortfall for the first time in
30 years.

“Put simply, the
system for funding our federal surface transportation programs is broken,”
according to Graves. “And our recommendation is to implement a $250 annual fee
on electric vehicles and $100 annual fee on hybrid vehicles and deposit all
those collections in the Highway Trust Fund.”

The bill has moved
to the United States Senate for its consideration.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri
Congressman, Sam Graves, says the massive budget bill that squeaked to passage
in the U.S. House will provide needed investments into the national transportation
system.Graves, the
Republican chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,
tells his committee the budget bill addresses recent airline crashes by placing
a $12 ½ billion down payment to modernize the nation’s air traffic control
system.“This down payment
allows the administration to immediately begin replacing critical communications
infrastructure, radar systems, and also invest in runway safety and airport surface
surveillance projects,” Graves says during a committee hearing in Washington,
D.C.Graves says the
bill addresses the chronic Highway Trust Fund shortfall for the first time in
30 years.“Put simply, the
system for funding our federal surface transportation programs is broken,”
according to Graves. “And our recommendation is to implement a $250 annual fee
on electric vehicles and $100 annual fee on hybrid vehicles and deposit all
those collections in the Highway Trust Fund.”The bill has moved
to the United States Senate for its consideration.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves says Big, Beautiful Bill addresses transportation funding

St. Joseph City
Manager, Mike Schumacher, says the budget talks ongoing at city hall have
revealed a sober truth about the city.

Schumacher says as
city officials put together a budget for the next fiscal year, they are looking
farther down the line.

“Our revenue
growth is not where it needs to be. It’s not even close,” Schumacher tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “Really, that’s the biggest take away, I think, from this
conversation on budget, this financial planning piece which was kind of
introduced this go around.”

Schumacher says
the city must address its declining population.

“St. Joe in the
last 10 years has experienced a 6.4% population decline and that’s a problem,”
according to Schumacher. “Our revenue growth, if you want my opinion, is weak
at best.”

That drop in
population has led to a drop in revenue, especially as sales tax revenue falls.
Schumacher says the city relies on sales tax revenue to fund its services. City
revenue has been propped up by federal funds during and in wake of the COVD-19
pandemic. Congress pumped billions into the economy to keep it afloat. Approximately
$34 million came into city coffers from the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA.

Schumacher says
the post-COVID dollars so generously distributed by the federal government in
wake of the pandemic have been spent.

“ARPA dollars are
done. So that party’s over,” Schumacher says. “So, some departments look like
they decreased, but they really didn’t. The extra money that was added for
various and sundry items, tied to ARPA, is gone.”

Schumacher says St.
Joseph must address its population decline.

“Residential growth
and population growth needs to be on the forefront of the organization’s mind, and
really laser focused,” according to Schumacher.

Schumacher says
the city must rebuild its population if it is to keep providing the services
residents expect.

“Council’s energetic
and engaged. They recognize it. Our partners at the Chamber (of Commerce)
certainly recognize it,” Schumacher says. “You’re going to see us move
aggressively into that housing mix. How do we move that needle?” 

The St. Joseph
City Council is currently working on an approximately $200 million for the next
fiscal year that begins July 1st.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph City
Manager, Mike Schumacher, says the budget talks ongoing at city hall have
revealed a sober truth about the city.Schumacher says as
city officials put together a budget for the next fiscal year, they are looking
farther down the line.“Our revenue
growth is not where it needs to be. It’s not even close,” Schumacher tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “Really, that’s the biggest take away, I think, from this
conversation on budget, this financial planning piece which was kind of
introduced this go around.”Schumacher says
the city must address its declining population.“St. Joe in the
last 10 years has experienced a 6.4% population decline and that’s a problem,”
according to Schumacher. “Our revenue growth, if you want my opinion, is weak
at best.”That drop in
population has led to a drop in revenue, especially as sales tax revenue falls.
Schumacher says the city relies on sales tax revenue to fund its services. City
revenue has been propped up by federal funds during and in wake of the COVD-19
pandemic. Congress pumped billions into the economy to keep it afloat. Approximately
$34 million came into city coffers from the American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA.Schumacher says
the post-COVID dollars so generously distributed by the federal government in
wake of the pandemic have been spent.“ARPA dollars are
done. So that party’s over,” Schumacher says. “So, some departments look like
they decreased, but they really didn’t. The extra money that was added for
various and sundry items, tied to ARPA, is gone.”Schumacher says St.
Joseph must address its population decline.“Residential growth
and population growth needs to be on the forefront of the organization’s mind, and
really laser focused,” according to Schumacher.Schumacher says
the city must rebuild its population if it is to keep providing the services
residents expect.“Council’s energetic
and engaged. They recognize it. Our partners at the Chamber (of Commerce)
certainly recognize it,” Schumacher says. “You’re going to see us move
aggressively into that housing mix. How do we move that needle?” The St. Joseph
City Council is currently working on an approximately $200 million for the next
fiscal year that begins July 1st.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

City Manager says St. Joe must address population decline

Planning is done, designs have been worked up, and the actual work is finally beginning on renovations at Krug Park  

St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins says it's exciting after all the years of planning to finally have boots on the ground 

"I know it's going to be a long drawn-out process, and there's going to be days where there doesn't appear to be anything happening, but I can assure you there's always something happening to do with that project," Atkins tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Fencing and signage are already being placed around Krug Park as contractor E.L Crawford plans to begin work on the $11.75 million project, weather permitting, on June 2nd.  

Atkins says once work begins, the park will still remain open to the public, however. . 

"There will be times when certain areas are closed off to the public, but we're going to do our very best to keep as much of the park available throughout the whole process," Atkins explains. "There will be sometimes where there's some hindrances, like right now there's no electricity, so the upper restrooms are closed, things like that." 

Work will first begin on the Krug Bowl amphitheater. Renovations to the castle, children's circus, picnic shelters and restrooms will follow with the project set to be completed in the fall of 2027.  

Atkins invites everyone to come and see what's happening during the renovations, with the park remaining open.  

"I think most everyone in town loves Krug Park and it's near and dear to their heart so they're going to be interested, so we want them to come up and see what's going on," Atkins says.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Planning is done, designs have been worked up, and the actual work is finally beginning on renovations at Krug Park St. Joseph Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Atkins says it's exciting after all the years of planning to finally have boots on the ground "I know it's going to be a long drawn-out process, and there's going to be days where there doesn't appear to be anything happening, but I can assure you there's always something happening to do with that project," Atkins tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Fencing and signage are already being placed around Krug Park as contractor E.L Crawford plans to begin work on the $11.75 million project, weather permitting, on June 2nd. Atkins says once work begins, the park will still remain open to the public, however. . "There will be times when certain areas are closed off to the public, but we're going to do our very best to keep as much of the park available throughout the whole process," Atkins explains. "There will be sometimes where there's some hindrances, like right now there's no electricity, so the upper restrooms are closed, things like that." Work will first begin on the Krug Bowl amphitheater. Renovations to the castle, children's circus, picnic shelters and restrooms will follow with the project set to be completed in the fall of 2027. Atkins invites everyone to come and see what's happening during the renovations, with the park remaining open. "I think most everyone in town loves Krug Park and it's near and dear to their heart so they're going to be interested, so we want them to come up and see what's going on," Atkins says.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Renovations at Krug Park set to begin soon

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6u0uCRmGsXyHY9gNiFkn7B?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2ej7o171ZTEnTlU4dAeojp?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

The Missouri Assessment Program’s current thresholds cause confusion on whether students are reading at grade level

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

Missouri parents may soon have a better understanding of whether their child is performing at or above grade level on the state’s standardized test under a&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/truly-agreed-to-and-finally-passed-sb68.pdf?c=47771" target="_blank">sweeping education bill</a>&nbsp;awaiting the governor’s signature.&nbsp;

The legislation contains a provision that would require the state’s education department to add a fifth category to Missouri Assessment Program results, reporting “grade level” in addition to the current levels of “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient” and “advanced.” The new provision would include students in grades 3 to 8.&nbsp;

State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican and former school superintendent, introduced the bill to make student performance more transparent to parents and lawmakers.

As an educator, he learned that students at grade level score at the upper end of “basic,” but many people incorrectly assume “proficient” means performing at grade level, he told The Independent.

“In order to have accurate conversations about where our students are at, we need to know what grade level is,” he said.

The Missouri Assessment Program, often referred to as the MAP test, began in the 1990s with five scoring thresholds. But in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/04info/billtext/tat/sb1080.htm" target="_blank">state lawmakers required</a>&nbsp;the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to align MAP with federal performance standards.

In December 2005,&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/mofinal2005standardsettingtechreport" target="_blank">educators met to determine the new standards</a>&nbsp;in line with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. They set thresholds based on the percentage of students scoring proficient on the NAEP so that the proportion of students deemed proficient on the state test would be close to the amount reported by the national test.

The National Center for Educational Statistics and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nagb.gov/content/dam/nagb/en/documents/naep/achievement-levels-descriptions.pdf" target="_blank">NAEP’s governing board have repeatedly clarified</a>&nbsp;that proficiency reflects “solid academic performance” and “does not signify being on grade level.”

But policymakers, parents and other stakeholders speak about proficiency and grade level interchangeably. And candidates for public office, misinterpreting what proficient means, have used MAP data to push anti-public-education policies.

During former state Sen. Bill Eigel’s run for governor last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/politics/your-voice-your-vote/2024/07/31/missouri-governor-candidate-interview-bill-eigel/" target="_blank">he told ABC17</a>&nbsp;that “less than a third of our children are able to do reading, writing, arithmetic at grade level.” At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile/overview/MO?sfj=NP&amp;chort=1&amp;sub=MAT&amp;sj=MO&amp;st=MN&amp;year=2024R3&amp;cti=PgTab_OT&amp;fs=Grade" target="_blank">33% of Missouri fourth graders</a>&nbsp;scored proficient or advanced in reading on the NAEP, and math had higher performance levels.

Despite the test’s administrators explaining that this is not a measure of grade level performance, politicians and media reports still repeat the misrepresentation.

“Part of my frustration has been that people criticize public education pretty hard and say we’re failing our kids because 35% of our students in third grade or fifth grade are proficient or advanced in reading,” Pollitt said. “We may have 35% that are above grade level, but maybe 60% of our kids are at grade level. And I think that changes the conversation.”

In a House committee hearing in January, lobbyists for public-education groups spoke in favor of the bill.

Brandt Shields, director of governmental relations for the Missouri School Boards’ Association, said a fifth category would be more “informative” for stakeholders.

“Having only four categories is almost a crude way of trying to differentiate how those scores are interpreted,” he said.

No one spoke in opposition, but the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s lobbyist warned that the change would require work groups to set the new standards, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/-fiscal-note/0140-h.01-i.-o-r-g-hb371.pdf?c=83132" target="_blank">estimated to cost just over $1 million</a>.

The language passed by the legislature exempts the department from having to employ work groups, but Pollitt said it is up to administrators to decide.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748348123067.png" alt=" State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, presents a bill to the House Education Committee to require the reporting of grade-level equivalence data on statewide assessments (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican, presents a bill to the House Education Committee to require the reporting of grade-level equivalence data on statewide assessments (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Assessment Program’s current thresholds cause confusion on whether students are reading at grade level</h2>&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri parents may soon have a better understanding of whether their child is performing at or above grade level on the state’s standardized test under a&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/truly-agreed-to-and-finally-passed-sb68.pdf?c=47771" target="_blank">sweeping education bill</a>&nbsp;awaiting the governor’s signature.&nbsp;The legislation contains a provision that would require the state’s education department to add a fifth category to Missouri Assessment Program results, reporting “grade level” in addition to the current levels of “below basic,” “basic,” “proficient” and “advanced.” The new provision would include students in grades 3 to 8.&nbsp;State Rep. Brad Pollitt, a Sedalia Republican and former school superintendent, introduced the bill to make student performance more transparent to parents and lawmakers.As an educator, he learned that students at grade level score at the upper end of “basic,” but many people incorrectly assume “proficient” means performing at grade level, he told The Independent.“In order to have accurate conversations about where our students are at, we need to know what grade level is,” he said.The Missouri Assessment Program, often referred to as the MAP test, began in the 1990s with five scoring thresholds. But in response to the federal No Child Left Behind Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/04info/billtext/tat/sb1080.htm" target="_blank">state lawmakers required</a>&nbsp;the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to align MAP with federal performance standards.In December 2005,&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/mofinal2005standardsettingtechreport" target="_blank">educators met to determine the new standards</a>&nbsp;in line with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. They set thresholds based on the percentage of students scoring proficient on the NAEP so that the proportion of students deemed proficient on the state test would be close to the amount reported by the national test.The National Center for Educational Statistics and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nagb.gov/content/dam/nagb/en/documents/naep/achievement-levels-descriptions.pdf" target="_blank">NAEP’s governing board have repeatedly clarified</a>&nbsp;that proficiency reflects “solid academic performance” and “does not signify being on grade level.”But policymakers, parents and other stakeholders speak about proficiency and grade level interchangeably. And candidates for public office, misinterpreting what proficient means, have used MAP data to push anti-public-education policies.During former state Sen. Bill Eigel’s run for governor last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://abc17news.com/politics/your-voice-your-vote/2024/07/31/missouri-governor-candidate-interview-bill-eigel/" target="_blank">he told ABC17</a>&nbsp;that “less than a third of our children are able to do reading, writing, arithmetic at grade level.” At the time,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/profiles/stateprofile/overview/MO?sfj=NP&amp;chort=1&amp;sub=MAT&amp;sj=MO&amp;st=MN&amp;year=2024R3&amp;cti=PgTab_OT&amp;fs=Grade" target="_blank">33% of Missouri fourth graders</a>&nbsp;scored proficient or advanced in reading on the NAEP, and math had higher performance levels.Despite the test’s administrators explaining that this is not a measure of grade level performance, politicians and media reports still repeat the misrepresentation.“Part of my frustration has been that people criticize public education pretty hard and say we’re failing our kids because 35% of our students in third grade or fifth grade are proficient or advanced in reading,” Pollitt said. “We may have 35% that are above grade level, but maybe 60% of our kids are at grade level. And I think that changes the conversation.”In a House committee hearing in January, lobbyists for public-education groups spoke in favor of the bill.Brandt Shields, director of governmental relations for the Missouri School Boards’ Association, said a fifth category would be more “informative” for stakeholders.“Having only four categories is almost a crude way of trying to differentiate how those scores are interpreted,” he said.No one spoke in opposition, but the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s lobbyist warned that the change would require work groups to set the new standards, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/-fiscal-note/0140-h.01-i.-o-r-g-hb371.pdf?c=83132" target="_blank">estimated to cost just over $1 million</a>.The language passed by the legislature exempts the department from having to employ work groups, but Pollitt said it is up to administrators to decide.

Missouri lawmakers add grade-level performance to standardized test results

The Missouri General Assembly seems likely to return next Monday to decide whether pay up to half the possible $3 billion projected cost for stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals

The last time Missouri was in danger of losing an NFL franchise, deep disagreements between the governor and lawmakers over whether the state should pay for a new stadium led to litigation and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article49229835.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">threat of a constitutional showdown.</a>

It was 10 years ago when then-Gov. Jay Nixon and the legislature quarreled over&nbsp;a $1 billion plan to build a new St. Louis stadium for the Rams.&nbsp;

Expecting GOP resistance, Nixon, a Democrat, came up with a strategy that didn’t involve the legislature. That sparked a group of legislators to file a lawsuit to block Nixon’s plan and threaten to refuse to allocate money the governor committed to the stadium when the General&nbsp;Assembly reconvened in January 2016.&nbsp;

But that looming clash fizzled when&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2016-01-04/its-official-the-st-louis-rams-want-to-move-to-los-angeles" target="_blank">Rams announced an intention to move to Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;two days before the 2016 session began. NFL owners&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/12/462848857/nfl-votes-to-move-rams-to-los-angeles-with-option-for-chargers-to-join-them" target="_blank">overwhelmingly agreed to let them do it</a>&nbsp;soon after.&nbsp;

A decade later, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing a plan for the state to pay up to half the costs of a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs.&nbsp;

Both teams have expressed interest in leaving Missouri when the lease on their current stadiums expire in 2030, and Kansas lawmakers have put a deal on the table that would use state incentives to pay for up to 70% of the costs of new stadiums.

Kehoe has one advantage Nixon didn’t — a legislature dominated by his own party. But while the governor successfully convinced the Missouri House to sign off on a stadium funding plan earlier this month in the final days of the session, the Senate was in no mood to play ball.&nbsp;

House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, alerted his colleagues on Friday that the governor is expected to call the legislature back into session as early as next week to debate stadium funding. The governor may also include a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/20/missouri-special-session-may-provide-new-life-for-500-million-budget-bill/">$500 million construction package on the special session agenda</a>, a move seen as vital to winning over support in the Senate for any stadium plan.&nbsp;

But with partisan tensions running high after a tumultuous end to the regular legislative session, and serious heartburn among Republicans over the idea of spending hundreds of millions to subsidize sports franchises, the outcome is anything but certain.&nbsp;

“I love the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m obnoxious during football season,” state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Republican from Rogersville, said in a recent interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksgf.com/episode/nick-reed-05-20-25-session-recap-with-rep-darin-chappell/" target="_blank">KSGF</a>. “… But I’ve got constituents trying to pay their rent and feed themselves, and they’re struggling. And I’m going to take their money and give it to billionaires so multimillionaires can play in a prettier place? That’s obscene.”

Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Shelbina Republican, said state funding for stadiums is “an easy demagogue topic.” But losing the teams to Kansas, she contends, would cost much more than the proposal put forth by the governor.&nbsp;

“My personal belief is both the direct and indirect dollars accruing to Missouri businesses from the Chiefs and Royals being located here far exceeds what they are asking,” she wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10236461280174694&amp;id=1312548800&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=g7soDX6nEvZ4rUCO" target="_blank">social media</a>. “I also believe if they left the state it would tear out the heart of Missouri, leaving two big concrete structures as a forever reminder of what might have been.”

The Chiefs and the Royals face a deadline at the end of June on whether they will accept the offer from Kansas.

The proposal floated by Kehoe and set to be debated next week would pay up to half the cost — estimated to be up to $3 billion — as well as up to $50 million in tax credits for any direct investments made by the teams.&nbsp;

The stadium plan&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/15/stadium-funding-gun-rights-law-among-casualties-of-missouri-senate-breakdown/">died in the regular session</a>&nbsp;when the Senate twice used a rare procedural rule to end debate on controversial bills on abortion and paid sick leave.&nbsp;The move infuriated Democrats, who vowed the Senate will not function normally until they feel they can trust the GOP to work towards compromise.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri General Assembly seems likely to return next Monday to decide whether pay up to half the possible $3 billion projected cost for stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>The last time Missouri was in danger of losing an NFL franchise, deep disagreements between the governor and lawmakers over whether the state should pay for a new stadium led to litigation and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article49229835.html#storylink=cpy" target="_blank">threat of a constitutional showdown.</a>It was 10 years ago when then-Gov. Jay Nixon and the legislature quarreled over&nbsp;a $1 billion plan to build a new St. Louis stadium for the Rams.&nbsp;Expecting GOP resistance, Nixon, a Democrat, came up with a strategy that didn’t involve the legislature. That sparked a group of legislators to file a lawsuit to block Nixon’s plan and threaten to refuse to allocate money the governor committed to the stadium when the General&nbsp;Assembly reconvened in January 2016.&nbsp;But that looming clash fizzled when&nbsp;the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2016-01-04/its-official-the-st-louis-rams-want-to-move-to-los-angeles" target="_blank">Rams announced an intention to move to Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;two days before the 2016 session began. NFL owners&nbsp;<a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/12/462848857/nfl-votes-to-move-rams-to-los-angeles-with-option-for-chargers-to-join-them" target="_blank">overwhelmingly agreed to let them do it</a>&nbsp;soon after.&nbsp;A decade later, Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe is pushing a plan for the state to pay up to half the costs of a new stadium for the Kansas City Royals and renovations to Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs.&nbsp;Both teams have expressed interest in leaving Missouri when the lease on their current stadiums expire in 2030, and Kansas lawmakers have put a deal on the table that would use state incentives to pay for up to 70% of the costs of new stadiums.Kehoe has one advantage Nixon didn’t — a legislature dominated by his own party. But while the governor successfully convinced the Missouri House to sign off on a stadium funding plan earlier this month in the final days of the session, the Senate was in no mood to play ball.&nbsp;House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, alerted his colleagues on Friday that the governor is expected to call the legislature back into session as early as next week to debate stadium funding. The governor may also include a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/20/missouri-special-session-may-provide-new-life-for-500-million-budget-bill/">$500 million construction package on the special session agenda</a>, a move seen as vital to winning over support in the Senate for any stadium plan.&nbsp;But with partisan tensions running high after a tumultuous end to the regular legislative session, and serious heartburn among Republicans over the idea of spending hundreds of millions to subsidize sports franchises, the outcome is anything but certain.&nbsp;“I love the Kansas City Chiefs. I’m obnoxious during football season,” state Rep. Darin Chappell, a Republican from Rogersville, said in a recent interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksgf.com/episode/nick-reed-05-20-25-session-recap-with-rep-darin-chappell/" target="_blank">KSGF</a>. “… But I’ve got constituents trying to pay their rent and feed themselves, and they’re struggling. And I’m going to take their money and give it to billionaires so multimillionaires can play in a prettier place? That’s obscene.”Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Shelbina Republican, said state funding for stadiums is “an easy demagogue topic.” But losing the teams to Kansas, she contends, would cost much more than the proposal put forth by the governor.&nbsp;“My personal belief is both the direct and indirect dollars accruing to Missouri businesses from the Chiefs and Royals being located here far exceeds what they are asking,” she wrote on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10236461280174694&amp;id=1312548800&amp;mibextid=wwXIfr&amp;rdid=g7soDX6nEvZ4rUCO" target="_blank">social media</a>. “I also believe if they left the state it would tear out the heart of Missouri, leaving two big concrete structures as a forever reminder of what might have been.”The Chiefs and the Royals face a deadline at the end of June on whether they will accept the offer from Kansas.The proposal floated by Kehoe and set to be debated next week would pay up to half the cost — estimated to be up to $3 billion — as well as up to $50 million in tax credits for any direct investments made by the teams.&nbsp;The stadium plan&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/15/stadium-funding-gun-rights-law-among-casualties-of-missouri-senate-breakdown/">died in the regular session</a>&nbsp;when the Senate twice used a rare procedural rule to end debate on controversial bills on abortion and paid sick leave.&nbsp;The move infuriated Democrats, who vowed the Senate will not function normally until they feel they can trust the GOP to work towards compromise.There is also lingering bipartisan anger over the projects that were lost when the House sunk a capital improvements bill. The $513 million would have paid for projects at eight hospitals around the state, supported a new nuclear reactor at the University of Missouri to make cancer treatments and a new mental health hospital in Kansas City.The rollout of Kehoe’s plan didn’t help soothe the tensions.Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle complained that the governor kept the legislature in the dark on stadium funding plans, then demanded it sign off on the proposal with little debate and no details on the cost.The lack of legislative involvement echoes 2015, when lawmakers took umbrage at Nixon’s efforts to work around them by trying to use existing incentive programs to help fund a new St. Louis stadium. &nbsp;Republicans and Democrats demanded Nixon either submit a proposal to the legislature or put it on the ballot for a vote.&nbsp;&nbsp;“We will not stand idly by as the people of this state are committed to millions of dollars in debt without proper legislative approval or a public vote,” a group of House members said in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/politics/2015/10/14/missouri-house-speaker-letter-blasts-state-money-for-stadium/73914594/" target="_blank">a letter to Nixon at the time</a>.Lawmakers will get their wish this time around to have a say on whether Missouri taxpayers should help subsidize Kansas City stadiums.&nbsp;Kehoe is optimistic, arguing that keeping the teams in Missouri&nbsp;“is a critical piece of economic development. And I’d like to see us make sure we can solidify our offer with legislative approval.”

Local