WASHINGTON — The&nbsp;federal government shutdown&nbsp;is moving into its third week with&nbsp;no end in sight. Most members of the House of Representatives are finally back Washington after being out for over a month. Second District Kansas Congressman what he's doing after arriving back in the nation's capitol.

House Speaker Mike Johnson hinted he might call the House back into session if Senate passes bill to pay furloughed workers.&nbsp; That could happen this week.

WASHINGTON — The&nbsp;federal government shutdown&nbsp;is moving into its third week with&nbsp;no end in sight. Most members of the House of Representatives are finally back Washington after being out for over a month. Second District Kansas Congressman what he's doing after arriving back in the nation's capitol.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Day 20 of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SchumerShutdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SchumerShutdown</a>. <a href="https://t.co/iFUZTistPq">pic.twitter.com/iFUZTistPq</a>&mdash; Rep. Derek Schmidt Press (@RepDerekSchmidt) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDerekSchmidt/status/1980295827429179669?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>House Speaker Mike Johnson hinted he might call the House back into session if Senate passes bill to pay furloughed workers.&nbsp; That could happen this week.

🎥Congressman Schmidt: Government shutdown very frustrating

Though food banks statewide said they have mostly made up shortfalls from canceled deliveries, some worry that coming changes to SNAP will leave Missourians hungrier

By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri has lost nearly 1.6 million pounds of food aid since May due to sudden cuts to a federal program that buys food from U.S. farmers and sends it to food banks across the country.

That’s 146,400 pounds of cheese, 433,070 pounds of canned and frozen chicken, 1.2 million eggs, 38,250 gallons of milk, 120,000 pounds of pulled pork, 115,200 pounds of sliced turkey breast, 180,000 pounds of dried plums and 114,000 pounds of frozen pork chops.

The Trump administration in&nbsp;<a href="https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/following-the-usda-food-and-farm-funding/" target="_blank">late March</a>&nbsp;slashed $500 million that had already been allocated to food aid nationwide through The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. That canceled 124 scheduled deliveries to Missouri food banks, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture by&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.propublica.org/trump-food-cuts/" target="_blank">ProPublica</a>&nbsp;and shared with The Independent.

Food banks across the state said they have largely made up shortfalls from the March cuts by increasing their food purchases. But some food bank leaders worry that hunger in Missouri will increase with the implementation of changes signed into law this summer to federal assistance programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

“Food banks are the safety net to the safety net,” said Leigh Anne Haun, executive director of Feeding Missouri, a coalition of the state’s six regional food banks. “When you talk about programs like SNAP…any time those start to get strained, or there’s holes in those nets, the food banks are the safety net underneath.”

They are also bracing for increased demand as the federal government shutdown wears on.&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Monday that it won’t be able to issue November SNAP benefits until further notice after receiving official communication from USDA that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/17/repub/snap-benefits-on-pace-to-run-out-in-two-weeks-if-shutdown-persists/">funding will run out</a>.

Gov. Mike Kehoe said Monday that although his team is reviewing options to keep the program running, there is no existing state plan that would do so, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_06c840da-ccda-4aa5-9a95-9fb32f114be4.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.

Meredith Knopp, president and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank, said any disruption the food bank experienced due to canceled deliveries was “minimal,” and that the tornado that hit St. Louis in May and the ongoing shutdown have affected the food bank more.

“Right now it’s just about educating and informing people where they can go for help, how they can get assistance temporarily until the government reopens,” Knopp said of the shutdown.

Knopp said purchases made by the USDA later in the year made up for canceled TEFAP deliveries. On Aug. 1, the USDA announced the purchase of<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/secretary-rollins-announces-local-food-purchases-communities-need" target="_blank">&nbsp;$230 million</a>&nbsp;in fish, dried cranberries, beans and apples for food banks nationwide.

The canceled shipments make up a relatively small portion of what Missouri food banks distribute each year. Missouri’s food banks dispensed 132.2 million pounds of food in 2023, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://mohungeratlas.org/report.php?c=29000&amp;m=FoodInsHHSt%7CFoodInsHungHHSt%7CPdFoodDist%7CPdFoodDistCap%7CPdFoodDistCapC&amp;y=2025" target="_blank">Missouri Hunger Atlas</a>, which is published by the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security at the University of Missouri.

But Jordan Browning, director of communications for Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield, said food banks still have to fill in gaps.

The first canceled shipments – over 100 orders of 2% milk headed for 30 states – were scheduled to arrive on May 14, records show. That day, Ozarks Food Harvest and the St. Louis Area Food Bank in Bridgeton were each slated to receive orders of more than 2,000 gallons of milk, according to the records.

At first, Browning said, he&nbsp;thought the deliveries might just be delayed, which had happened in the past.

The next missed delivery date in Missouri was May 31, when all six of the state’s regional food banks were scheduled to receive shipments, according to the records.&nbsp;

“They kept getting delayed further and further,” Browning said. “Pretty much until it finally came to an actual cancellation notice, we weren’t aware that we would have to make up a shortfall.”

Much of the food was high quality protein, the items that are priciest and hardest for food banks to source, food bank administrators said.

The Southeast Missouri Food Bank received all the orders staff were told to expect, according to Heather Collier, donor relations and communications manager at the Sikeston-based food bank, though some were delayed.

But Collier said shipments can be canceled before the state notifies regional food banks that they should expect a delivery.&nbsp;

“Canceled loads, if they’re fully canceled, they’re usually happening before we’re even notified,” Collier said.

Collier said that although the food bank weathered the March cuts relatively easily, she expects coming changes to SNAP to increase the number of Missourians who don’t qualify for federal assistance but struggle to reliably access nutritious food.

The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July cuts SNAP by $187 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill also expands SNAP work requirements to include adults ages 55-64 and parents of children over 14.&nbsp;

In the Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s service area, according to Collier, 46.5% of people who are food insecure already do not qualify for SNAP.

“You’re meeting the definition of food insecurity, but not meeting the qualifications to receive assistance,” Collier said. “Food banks are going to have to make that up.”

Haun said community support will enable food banks to continue helping Missourians in need.

“It’s so important for people to connect with their local food bank now,” Haun said. “They need not just funds to allow them to address these gaps, but other types of donations and volunteering.”

Through the shutdown and any future challenges, Knopp was confident the food bank would continue to help.

“It might not always be smooth sailing,” Knopp said. “It might be clunky. But we’re here, and we will be here to support anyone who needs us.”

This story was updated at 3:50 p.m. to include an announcement from the Department of Social Services about SNAP benefits.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761041719869.png" alt="Delivery trucks wait in the parking lot of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia, which serves 32 counties, on Oct. 17. (Steph Quinn | Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>Delivery trucks wait in the parking lot of the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri in Columbia, which serves 32 counties, on Oct. 17. (Steph Quinn | Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Though food banks statewide said they have mostly made up shortfalls from canceled deliveries, some worry that coming changes to SNAP will leave Missourians hungrier</h2>By:<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/squinn/">Steph Quinn</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri has lost nearly 1.6 million pounds of food aid since May due to sudden cuts to a federal program that buys food from U.S. farmers and sends it to food banks across the country.That’s 146,400 pounds of cheese, 433,070 pounds of canned and frozen chicken, 1.2 million eggs, 38,250 gallons of milk, 120,000 pounds of pulled pork, 115,200 pounds of sliced turkey breast, 180,000 pounds of dried plums and 114,000 pounds of frozen pork chops.The Trump administration in&nbsp;<a href="https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/following-the-usda-food-and-farm-funding/" target="_blank">late March</a>&nbsp;slashed $500 million that had already been allocated to food aid nationwide through The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP. That canceled 124 scheduled deliveries to Missouri food banks, according to data obtained from the U.S. Department of Agriculture by&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.propublica.org/trump-food-cuts/" target="_blank">ProPublica</a>&nbsp;and shared with The Independent.Food banks across the state said they have largely made up shortfalls from the March cuts by increasing their food purchases. But some food bank leaders worry that hunger in Missouri will increase with the implementation of changes signed into law this summer to federal assistance programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.“Food banks are the safety net to the safety net,” said Leigh Anne Haun, executive director of Feeding Missouri, a coalition of the state’s six regional food banks. “When you talk about programs like SNAP…any time those start to get strained, or there’s holes in those nets, the food banks are the safety net underneath.”They are also bracing for increased demand as the federal government shutdown wears on.&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Social Services&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/federal-shutdown-impacts" target="_blank">announced</a>&nbsp;Monday that it won’t be able to issue November SNAP benefits until further notice after receiving official communication from USDA that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/17/repub/snap-benefits-on-pace-to-run-out-in-two-weeks-if-shutdown-persists/">funding will run out</a>.Gov. Mike Kehoe said Monday that although his team is reviewing options to keep the program running, there is no existing state plan that would do so, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_06c840da-ccda-4aa5-9a95-9fb32f114be4.html" target="_blank">reported</a>.Meredith Knopp, president and CEO of the St. Louis Area Foodbank, said any disruption the food bank experienced due to canceled deliveries was “minimal,” and that the tornado that hit St. Louis in May and the ongoing shutdown have affected the food bank more.“Right now it’s just about educating and informing people where they can go for help, how they can get assistance temporarily until the government reopens,” Knopp said of the shutdown.Knopp said purchases made by the USDA later in the year made up for canceled TEFAP deliveries. On Aug. 1, the USDA announced the purchase of<a href="https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/08/01/secretary-rollins-announces-local-food-purchases-communities-need" target="_blank">&nbsp;$230 million</a>&nbsp;in fish, dried cranberries, beans and apples for food banks nationwide.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1761041689487.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The canceled shipments make up a relatively small portion of what Missouri food banks distribute each year. Missouri’s food banks dispensed 132.2 million pounds of food in 2023, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://mohungeratlas.org/report.php?c=29000&amp;m=FoodInsHHSt%7CFoodInsHungHHSt%7CPdFoodDist%7CPdFoodDistCap%7CPdFoodDistCapC&amp;y=2025" target="_blank">Missouri Hunger Atlas</a>, which is published by the Interdisciplinary Center for Food Security at the University of Missouri.But Jordan Browning, director of communications for Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield, said food banks still have to fill in gaps.The first canceled shipments – over 100 orders of 2% milk headed for 30 states – were scheduled to arrive on May 14, records show. That day, Ozarks Food Harvest and the St. Louis Area Food Bank in Bridgeton were each slated to receive orders of more than 2,000 gallons of milk, according to the records.At first, Browning said, he&nbsp;thought the deliveries might just be delayed, which had happened in the past.The next missed delivery date in Missouri was May 31, when all six of the state’s regional food banks were scheduled to receive shipments, according to the records.&nbsp;“They kept getting delayed further and further,” Browning said. “Pretty much until it finally came to an actual cancellation notice, we weren’t aware that we would have to make up a shortfall.”Much of the food was high quality protein, the items that are priciest and hardest for food banks to source, food bank administrators said.The Southeast Missouri Food Bank received all the orders staff were told to expect, according to Heather Collier, donor relations and communications manager at the Sikeston-based food bank, though some were delayed.But Collier said shipments can be canceled before the state notifies regional food banks that they should expect a delivery.&nbsp;“Canceled loads, if they’re fully canceled, they’re usually happening before we’re even notified,” Collier said.Collier said that although the food bank weathered the March cuts relatively easily, she expects coming changes to SNAP to increase the number of Missourians who don’t qualify for federal assistance but struggle to reliably access nutritious food.The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress in July cuts SNAP by $187 billion through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The bill also expands SNAP work requirements to include adults ages 55-64 and parents of children over 14.&nbsp;In the Southeast Missouri Food Bank’s service area, according to Collier, 46.5% of people who are food insecure already do not qualify for SNAP.“You’re meeting the definition of food insecurity, but not meeting the qualifications to receive assistance,” Collier said. “Food banks are going to have to make that up.”Haun said community support will enable food banks to continue helping Missourians in need.“It’s so important for people to connect with their local food bank now,” Haun said. “They need not just funds to allow them to address these gaps, but other types of donations and volunteering.”Through the shutdown and any future challenges, Knopp was confident the food bank would continue to help.“It might not always be smooth sailing,” Knopp said. “It might be clunky. But we’re here, and we will be here to support anyone who needs us.”This story was updated at 3:50 p.m. to include an announcement from the Department of Social Services about SNAP benefits.

Missouri lost 1.6 million pounds of federal food aid to Trump cuts this year

Missouri Department of Transportation has announced another round of ramp closures for I-229 in Saint Joseph for resurfacing.

Current closures are scheduled as follows:

October 21-23, Southbound I-229...

October 22 &amp; 23, Northbound I-229...

All above closures will be during daylight hours, and are subject to possible weather delays.

By JIM FARISMissouri Department of Transportation has announced another round of ramp closures for I-229 in Saint Joseph for resurfacing.Current closures are scheduled as follows: October 21-23, Southbound I-229...<ol>
 <li>From 22nd Street</li><li>From Route 752, Mason Road</li><li>To Route A</li><li>To Southbound I-29</li><li>To Northbound I-29</li>
 </ol>October 22 &amp; 23, Northbound I-229...<ol>
 <li>To 22nd Street</li><li>To Route 752, Mason Road</li><li>From Route A</li><li>From Southbound I-29</li><li>From Northbound I-29</li>
 </ol>All above closures will be during daylight hours, and are subject to possible weather delays.

Ramp Closures for I-229 this week

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt is hopeful a U.S. brokered peace deal to end the
Israeli-Hamas war will hold.

Schmidt, a
Republican, says it’s important that the United States work to implement the
agreement and ensure it is enforced. Schmidt says the reaction of Israel to
Hamas’ atrocities is understandable and justified.

“What Hamas did to
Israel two years ago on October 7th is beyond unconscionable. It was
called Israel’s 9/11 at the time and, in fact, it was,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “They slaughtered innocents. They took innocent people hostage.”

Hamas-led
militants killed more than 1,200 people during the attacks on a music festival
and other civilian activities that caught Israel off guard. The militants took
around 250 people hostage. Hostages who lived through the ordeal have been
released to Israel under a peace agreement forged by President Trump and his
administration working with Israel and Hamas. Israel has released some Palestinian
prisoners it had been holding.

Schmidt asserts
the country could not sit idly by after the attacks.

“There were 46
American citizens who were killed by Hamas on October 7th two years
ago,” Schmidt says. “Forty-six Americans were slaughtered. And, in addition to
that, other Americans were captured, taken to Gaza city and held hostage in the
tunnels, some of whom have subsequently died.”

Israel responded
by launching an all-out attack against Hamas.

Schmidt says he
has been challenged by constituents who insist America has no business getting
involved, but Schmidt defends the action.

“This is not just an
issue for Israel and the Middle East and Hamas. This is an American issue,
because our people were killed and taken hostage,” Schmidt says. “And I’m very
proud of our president f0r the engagement he’s given to try to bring this to an
end.”

Trump outlined a
20-point peace plan that has ended hostilities, at least for now. It has been
put to the test. Israel launched a series of attacks Sunday, claiming Hamas
fired on its troops, killing two Israeli soldiers. Israeli airstrikes have
reportedly killed nearly 30 in Gaza. Israel also halted aid shipments to Gaza.
Aid reportedly has resumed being distributed in Gaza.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760992403537.jpeg" alt="Photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum" />
 <figcaption>Photo Hostage and Missing Families Forum</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt is hopeful a U.S. brokered peace deal to end the
Israeli-Hamas war will hold.Schmidt, a
Republican, says it’s important that the United States work to implement the
agreement and ensure it is enforced. Schmidt says the reaction of Israel to
Hamas’ atrocities is understandable and justified.“What Hamas did to
Israel two years ago on October 7th is beyond unconscionable. It was
called Israel’s 9/11 at the time and, in fact, it was,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “They slaughtered innocents. They took innocent people hostage.”Hamas-led
militants killed more than 1,200 people during the attacks on a music festival
and other civilian activities that caught Israel off guard. The militants took
around 250 people hostage. Hostages who lived through the ordeal have been
released to Israel under a peace agreement forged by President Trump and his
administration working with Israel and Hamas. Israel has released some Palestinian
prisoners it had been holding.Schmidt asserts
the country could not sit idly by after the attacks.“There were 46
American citizens who were killed by Hamas on October 7th two years
ago,” Schmidt says. “Forty-six Americans were slaughtered. And, in addition to
that, other Americans were captured, taken to Gaza city and held hostage in the
tunnels, some of whom have subsequently died.”Israel responded
by launching an all-out attack against Hamas.Schmidt says he
has been challenged by constituents who insist America has no business getting
involved, but Schmidt defends the action.“This is not just an
issue for Israel and the Middle East and Hamas. This is an American issue,
because our people were killed and taken hostage,” Schmidt says. “And I’m very
proud of our president f0r the engagement he’s given to try to bring this to an
end.”Trump outlined a
20-point peace plan that has ended hostilities, at least for now. It has been
put to the test. Israel launched a series of attacks Sunday, claiming Hamas
fired on its troops, killing two Israeli soldiers. Israeli airstrikes have
reportedly killed nearly 30 in Gaza. Israel also halted aid shipments to Gaza.
Aid reportedly has resumed being distributed in Gaza.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Congressman Schmidt hopes Israeli-Hamas peace deal holds

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says the summary of a proposed initiative petition seeking to repeal stadium subsidies was a ‘first bite at the apple’ that can later be refined in the courts. Critics say that’s just a strategy to bog down and derail citizen-led campaigns

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

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is warning voters that a repeal of Missouri’s $1.5 billion stadium subsidy could mean the Chiefs pack their bags and move to Kansas.&nbsp;

And what about the Royals, the other team state lawmakers were hoping to convince to stay in Missouri when they created the subsidy program?&nbsp; Crickets.&nbsp;

A ballot summary prepared by Hoskins’ office for a pair of proposed initiative petitions seeking to repeal the stadium funding law declares that voter approval could “likely cause the Kansas City Chiefs to move their stadium from Missouri to Kansas.”

There is no mention of the Royals, an omission that sparked a flurry of questions — and criticism.&nbsp;

Does Hoskins have some reason to believe the Royals have already decided to leave the state or have no intention of using the stadium tax incentives?&nbsp;

Or, as critics allege, is Hoskins hoping to sink the measure by making predictions about the future plans of the Chiefs, who&nbsp;— unlike the Royals — have a statewide fanbase, three recent championships, and a star player in Patrick Mahomes who is the face of the sport?

The Secretary of State’s Office insists it has neither inside knowledge of the Royals’ intentions nor a desire to bias voters against the proposed repeal. In a statement, the office said it “does not have access to or knowledge of the private business decisions of any professional sports franchise,” and that the ballot summary must reflect the “clearest, most immediate potential consequence” of the law.

Besides, Hoskins’ office said, the current version of the summary is just the “first bite at the apple.” A recently approved state law gives the secretary of state up to three times to get the ballot language right — if proponents are upset enough about the first version to take the issue to court.&nbsp;

Brad Ketcher, a lawyer working with the group behind the ballot measure to repeal the subsidy, believes that’s the point. Writing an unfair ballot summary forces backers of initiative petitions to invest the time and money into legal challenges that could otherwise be dedicated to gathering signatures or engaging with voters.&nbsp;

“Hoskins is all but admitting,” Ketcher said, “that he drafted flawed language with an eye toward slowing the measure.”

Over the last month, Hoskins has found himself at the center of the political storm, facing criticism — and lawsuits — over his office’s role in the initiative petition and referendum process.&nbsp;

Hoskins has used his authority to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/16/lawsuit-threat-of-criminal-charges-part-of-gop-effort-to-block-vote-on-missouri-map/">pre-emptively reject 100,000 signatures for a proposed referendum</a>&nbsp;on Missouri’s new congressional map. He’s also come under fire for crafting what critics call “<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuits-challenge-deceptive-summaries-for-missouri-public-education-ballot-measures/">deceptive and prejudicial</a>” summary statements for two public‐education related constitutional amendments.&nbsp;

He was tasked with rewriting the ballot language for a proposal to reinstate Missouri’s abortion ban after a Cole County judge determined the initial wording by lawmakers failed to alert voters that the amendment would ban most abortions.&nbsp;

But his initial draft was rejected when the judge determined it was “insufficient and unfair.” Hoskins got the judge’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">sign off on the summary</a>&nbsp;on his next attempt.&nbsp;

Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist in Missouri, filed a lawsuit earlier this year asking a judge to strike down a new law that says any ballot language deemed insufficient or unfair by a court must be sent back to the secretary of state up to three times for revision. If, after three attempts, the courts still find the language unacceptable, a judge is then allowed to rewrite it themselves.

Nicholson said Hoskins’ behavior is exactly why the law is so dangerous and should be overturned.

“Denny Hoskins is required to write fair and impartial language,” Nicholson said. “But instead, he is reinforcing all the concerns people had when the legislature passed the law, that a bad-faith politician could use it to waste the people’s time and resources.”&nbsp;

As for the Chiefs and Royals, their future — in Missouri or Kansas — remains unresolved.&nbsp;

“We have heard nothing to indicate that the Royals have decided to leave the State of Missouri,” said Gabby Picard, a spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, whose office plays no role in the intuitive petition process, when asked about the team’s omission from the ballot summary.

“In fact,” Picard said, “Gov. Kehoe and his team remain in frequent communication with the Royals and the Chiefs to ensure that both teams stay in Missouri — where they belong.”

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

The Missouri plan would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties. The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.

A pair of Republican lawmakers<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-general-assembly-seek-to-dismiss-lawsuit-against-stadium-funding-bill/">&nbsp;filed a lawsuit hoping to get the entire package thrown out</a>, arguing it violates the constitution by including multiple provisions and aid to private interests.&nbsp;

The initiative petitions aiming to repeal the stadium subsidy seek to direct any money saved toward preventing cuts to Medicaid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_59f065f3-1e50-44a6-81ac-630fb5acd698.html" target="_blank">that could result from legislation passed this summer by Congress</a>.&nbsp;

Hoskins, Ketcher alleges, “has chosen to protect billions for billionaire sports team owners at the expense of everyday Missourians and their health care.”&nbsp;

For his part, Hoskins defended his work — and his team loyalties.&nbsp;

“Secretary Hoskins applauds the Royals on a hard-fought season and, like many Missourians, is cheering on the Chiefs this football season,” his office said in a statement. “Regardless of team colors, the goal remains the same: ensuring Missouri voters have the facts they need to make an informed decision at the ballot box.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1759061969764.png" alt="Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins&nbsp; -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins&nbsp; -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says the summary of a proposed initiative petition seeking to repeal stadium subsidies was a ‘first bite at the apple’ that can later be refined in the courts. Critics say that’s just a strategy to bog down and derail citizen-led campaigns</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is warning voters that a repeal of Missouri’s $1.5 billion stadium subsidy could mean the Chiefs pack their bags and move to Kansas.&nbsp;And what about the Royals, the other team state lawmakers were hoping to convince to stay in Missouri when they created the subsidy program?&nbsp; Crickets.&nbsp;A ballot summary prepared by Hoskins’ office for a pair of proposed initiative petitions seeking to repeal the stadium funding law declares that voter approval could “likely cause the Kansas City Chiefs to move their stadium from Missouri to Kansas.”There is no mention of the Royals, an omission that sparked a flurry of questions — and criticism.&nbsp;Does Hoskins have some reason to believe the Royals have already decided to leave the state or have no intention of using the stadium tax incentives?&nbsp;Or, as critics allege, is Hoskins hoping to sink the measure by making predictions about the future plans of the Chiefs, who&nbsp;— unlike the Royals — have a statewide fanbase, three recent championships, and a star player in Patrick Mahomes who is the face of the sport?The Secretary of State’s Office insists it has neither inside knowledge of the Royals’ intentions nor a desire to bias voters against the proposed repeal. In a statement, the office said it “does not have access to or knowledge of the private business decisions of any professional sports franchise,” and that the ballot summary must reflect the “clearest, most immediate potential consequence” of the law.Besides, Hoskins’ office said, the current version of the summary is just the “first bite at the apple.” A recently approved state law gives the secretary of state up to three times to get the ballot language right — if proponents are upset enough about the first version to take the issue to court.&nbsp;Brad Ketcher, a lawyer working with the group behind the ballot measure to repeal the subsidy, believes that’s the point. Writing an unfair ballot summary forces backers of initiative petitions to invest the time and money into legal challenges that could otherwise be dedicated to gathering signatures or engaging with voters.&nbsp;“Hoskins is all but admitting,” Ketcher said, “that he drafted flawed language with an eye toward slowing the measure.”Over the last month, Hoskins has found himself at the center of the political storm, facing criticism — and lawsuits — over his office’s role in the initiative petition and referendum process.&nbsp;Hoskins has used his authority to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/16/lawsuit-threat-of-criminal-charges-part-of-gop-effort-to-block-vote-on-missouri-map/">pre-emptively reject 100,000 signatures for a proposed referendum</a>&nbsp;on Missouri’s new congressional map. He’s also come under fire for crafting what critics call “<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/lawsuits-challenge-deceptive-summaries-for-missouri-public-education-ballot-measures/">deceptive and prejudicial</a>” summary statements for two public‐education related constitutional amendments.&nbsp;He was tasked with rewriting the ballot language for a proposal to reinstate Missouri’s abortion ban after a Cole County judge determined the initial wording by lawmakers failed to alert voters that the amendment would ban most abortions.&nbsp;But his initial draft was rejected when the judge determined it was “insufficient and unfair.” Hoskins got the judge’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/10/07/missouri-abortion-ban-amendment-ballot-language-2026/">sign off on the summary</a>&nbsp;on his next attempt.&nbsp;Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist in Missouri, filed a lawsuit earlier this year asking a judge to strike down a new law that says any ballot language deemed insufficient or unfair by a court must be sent back to the secretary of state up to three times for revision. If, after three attempts, the courts still find the language unacceptable, a judge is then allowed to rewrite it themselves.Nicholson said Hoskins’ behavior is exactly why the law is so dangerous and should be overturned.“Denny Hoskins is required to write fair and impartial language,” Nicholson said. “But instead, he is reinforcing all the concerns people had when the legislature passed the law, that a bad-faith politician could use it to waste the people’s time and resources.”&nbsp;As for the Chiefs and Royals, their future — in Missouri or Kansas — remains unresolved.&nbsp;“We have heard nothing to indicate that the Royals have decided to leave the State of Missouri,” said Gabby Picard, a spokeswoman for Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, whose office plays no role in the intuitive petition process, when asked about the team’s omission from the ballot summary.“In fact,” Picard said, “Gov. Kehoe and his team remain in frequent communication with the Royals and the Chiefs to ensure that both teams stay in Missouri — where they belong.”The teams have expressed interest in leaving Missouri when the lease on their current stadiums in Jackson County expire in 2030. Kansas lawmakers put a deal on the table that would use state incentives to pay for up to 70% of the costs of new stadiums.The Missouri plan would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties. The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.A pair of Republican lawmakers<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-ag-general-assembly-seek-to-dismiss-lawsuit-against-stadium-funding-bill/">&nbsp;filed a lawsuit hoping to get the entire package thrown out</a>, arguing it violates the constitution by including multiple provisions and aid to private interests.&nbsp;The initiative petitions aiming to repeal the stadium subsidy seek to direct any money saved toward preventing cuts to Medicaid&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/government-politics/article_59f065f3-1e50-44a6-81ac-630fb5acd698.html" target="_blank">that could result from legislation passed this summer by Congress</a>.&nbsp;Hoskins, Ketcher alleges, “has chosen to protect billions for billionaire sports team owners at the expense of everyday Missourians and their health care.”&nbsp;For his part, Hoskins defended his work — and his team loyalties.&nbsp;“Secretary Hoskins applauds the Royals on a hard-fought season and, like many Missourians, is cheering on the Chiefs this football season,” his office said in a statement. “Regardless of team colors, the goal remains the same: ensuring Missouri voters have the facts they need to make an informed decision at the ballot box.”

Chiefs in, Royals out: Missouri secretary of state once again catches flak over ballot summary

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just befoe 9a.m. Sunday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by a 68-year-old Gallatin man was westbound on Grand Street just east of Green Street in Gallatin.

The SUV's windshield was fogged over obstruction the driver's view.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled into a hole in the ground that was marked by orange fencing and cones.

Daviess County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained, at the time ofthe accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just befoe 9a.m. Sunday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe driven by a 68-year-old Gallatin man was westbound on Grand Street just east of Green Street in Gallatin.The SUV's windshield was fogged over obstruction the driver's view.&nbsp; The vehicle traveled into a hole in the ground that was marked by orange fencing and cones.Daviess County ambulance transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was properly restrained, at the time ofthe accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man hospitalized after SUV traveled into a hole marked by cones

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford F150 driven by a 58-year-old Smithville man was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of Center Road four miles east of Cameron. The pickup rear-ended&nbsp;a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by a 50-year-old Hamilton man.

&nbsp;After impact the F150 continued west in the driving lane and struck the drivers side rear wheel of&nbsp;a 2009 Case IH combine driven by a 53-year-old Hamilton man.&nbsp; The pickup then began to slide and roll. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. 

Caldwell County ambulance transported an 8-year-old male passenger in the pickup to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; There were no other injuries reported. The occupants of the Ford were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 1:30p.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Ford F150 driven by a 58-year-old Smithville man was westbound on U.S. 36 just west of Center Road four miles east of Cameron. The pickup rear-ended&nbsp;a 2005 Dodge Ram 3500 driven by a 50-year-old Hamilton man.&nbsp;After impact the F150 continued west in the driving lane and struck the drivers side rear wheel of&nbsp;a 2009 Case IH combine driven by a 53-year-old Hamilton man.&nbsp; The pickup then began to slide and roll. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Caldwell County ambulance transported an 8-year-old male passenger in the pickup to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; There were no other injuries reported. The occupants of the Ford were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man dead, 8-year-old injured after crash involving trucks, combine

DEKALB COUNTY —Three juveniles were injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner Straight Truck driven by a 42-year-old Wichita man was southbound on MO 33 one mile north of Osborn. The driver attempted to travel through the intersection at U.S. 36 and continue southbound on Route M. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2018 School bus driven by a 64-year-old Burlington Junction woman.

The bus struck the rear passenger side of the truck. Three girls on the bus were transported for treatment of minor injuries.

A private vehicle transported a 15-year-old Maryville girl to Mosaic in St. Joseph and a 16-year-old Maryville girl to Cameron Regional Medical Center. DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported a 17-year-old Maryville girl to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The drivers were both properly restrained and not injured according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY —Three juveniles were injured in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Saturday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Freightliner Straight Truck driven by a 42-year-old Wichita man was southbound on MO 33 one mile north of Osborn. The driver attempted to travel through the intersection at U.S. 36 and continue southbound on Route M. The driver failed to yield to an eastbound 2018 School bus driven by a 64-year-old Burlington Junction woman.The bus struck the rear passenger side of the truck. Three girls on the bus were transported for treatment of minor injuries.A private vehicle transported a 15-year-old Maryville girl to Mosaic in St. Joseph and a 16-year-old Maryville girl to Cameron Regional Medical Center. DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported a 17-year-old Maryville girl to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The drivers were both properly restrained and not injured according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 Mo. girls injured after truck, school bus accident

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Saturday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Hyundia Elantra driven by a 23-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on U.S. 59 at Business Loop 29 in Country Cub. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. The car crossed both north and southbound lanes of Business Loop 29, traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and several trees. The car came to rest on a fence

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Saturday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Hyundia Elantra driven by a 23-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on U.S. 59 at Business Loop 29 in Country Cub. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign. The car crossed both north and southbound lanes of Business Loop 29, traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and several trees. The car came to rest on a fenceAndrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joe man injured after car strikes trees and came to rest on a fence

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3GfubBjabCnckAMCdX0BD3?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 Week in Review

HOLT COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Holt County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Avalon driven by a 29-year-old Pittsburg, Kansas, woman was turning south onto U.S. 59 from Route B five miles south of Oregon. The driver failed to yield to a 2010 Chevy Avalanche driven by a 61-year-old Oregon man. The Chevy struck the front passenger side of the Toyota

Atchison Holt ambulance transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. They were both properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HOLT COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Holt County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Avalon driven by a 29-year-old Pittsburg, Kansas, woman was turning south onto U.S. 59 from Route B five miles south of Oregon. The driver failed to yield to a 2010 Chevy Avalanche driven by a 61-year-old Oregon man. The Chevy struck the front passenger side of the ToyotaAtchison Holt ambulance transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. They were both properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 hospitalized in St. Joe after pickup, car crash

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 51-year-old Braymer woman was northbound on Route A five miles north of Braymer.&nbsp;The driver attempted to maneuver around a deer in the road. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the road and struck a barbed wire fence.

Caldwell County EMS transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Friday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 51-year-old Braymer woman was northbound on Route A five miles north of Braymer.&nbsp;The driver attempted to maneuver around a deer in the road. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the road and struck a barbed wire fence.Caldwell County EMS transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman injured after Jeep strikes a barbed wire fence

Halloween brings the annual Witches Tea to the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art.  

Executive Director Eric Fuson says the event is one of the best costumed events that he has ever been to 

"Cause it's easy to, if you if you just want to come put a witches hat on, done, you're good to go, so you can pop in out of work at lunchtime, cause the first ones at noon for lunch and then we’ll have a dinner at 6:30,” Fuson says on the KFEQmunnity show.  “But we do have a lot of people that pop in for the lunch over there, lunch hour, throw on their hat and their good to go, but some of them go full out.” 

Fuson says the event has been one of the more popular events since the museum took it over 

"It generally sells out, especially the lunch goes pretty quick, so that’s why we’re kind of talking about it now, if you really have been saying I should go, I’ve been meaning to do that, get your reservations in soon because it does fill every time,” Fuson says.  “We get about 100, 120, something like that for each one, so it is really, really a good time.” 

Marketing and Communications Manager Madison McKinley says people shouldn't be turned off by the name of the event  

“It’s fun to just come and hang out with your friends or your family, get in costume, there are specialty drinks from our bar,” McKinley explains.  “We have a little boutique shopping that will be going on, we always have little pop-up vendors that are selling witchy trinkets and jewelry and plants, stuff like that, and then we have psychic readings.” 

The lunch will be at noon with the dinner at 6:30pm at the museum.  Tickets can be purchased while available on the Albrecht Kempers website. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760719051278.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostHalloween brings the annual Witches Tea to the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art. Executive Director Eric Fuson says the event is one of the best costumed events that he has ever been to "Cause it's easy to, if you if you just want to come put a witches hat on, done, you're good to go, so you can pop in out of work at lunchtime, cause the first ones at noon for lunch and then we’ll have a dinner at 6:30,” Fuson says on the KFEQmunnity show. “But we do have a lot of people that pop in for the lunch over there, lunch hour, throw on their hat and their good to go, but some of them go full out.” Fuson says the event has been one of the more popular events since the museum took it over "It generally sells out, especially the lunch goes pretty quick, so that’s why we’re kind of talking about it now, if you really have been saying I should go, I’ve been meaning to do that, get your reservations in soon because it does fill every time,” Fuson says. “We get about 100, 120, something like that for each one, so it is really, really a good time.” Marketing and Communications Manager Madison McKinley says people shouldn't be turned off by the name of the event “It’s fun to just come and hang out with your friends or your family, get in costume, there are specialty drinks from our bar,” McKinley explains. “We have a little boutique shopping that will be going on, we always have little pop-up vendors that are selling witchy trinkets and jewelry and plants, stuff like that, and then we have psychic readings.” The lunch will be at noon with the dinner at 6:30pm at the museum. Tickets can be purchased while available on the Albrecht Kempers website. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Anuual Witches Tea celebrates the Halloween season at Albrecht Kemper

Buchanan County Sheriff, Bill Puett, says
his jail has seen a big increase in the number of mentally ill inmates
incarcerated in St. Joseph.

Puett says it’s not a local problem,
either. It is a problem faced statewide.

Puett says his jail is not equipped to
handle mentally ill inmates. Puett points to one example of an inmate housed in
the Buchanan County jail far longer than he should be.

“He has been with us 11 months,” Puett
tells KFEQmmunity. “And so, this is not like two weeks. We see 10, 12, 16
months sometimes before we can get them to the Department of Mental Health and
that’s just not good.”

Puett recently testified before a
Missouri House committee on the problem, telling lawmakers it is a serious
issue for his jail, but even more of a burden from rural jails.

The Buchanan County jail houses around
200 inmates at any one time with between 10-and-20% of those inmates ruled by
the courts as incompetent to stand trial.

Puett says his jail is ill equipped to
handle such inmates.

“I don’t need staff assaulted. I don’t
need the jail torn up. I don’t need all these things, because we have
individuals that should be in the Department of Mental Health,” Puett says.

The problem, according to Puett, is the
Department of Mental Health doesn’t have enough bed space, leading to mentally
ill inmates staying in his jail too long.

Puett says his jail isn’t equipped to
handle mentally ill inmates.

“Lots of problems with individuals who
are not getting treatment, who are not getting their medication,” Puett says.
“Individuals might be a lot better off and a lot more easily dealt with if they
were able to have treatment and medication. So, being incarcerated without that
makes some of them very violent.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760717754741.jpeg" alt="Law Enforcement Center/Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Law Enforcement Center/Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County Sheriff, Bill Puett, says
his jail has seen a big increase in the number of mentally ill inmates
incarcerated in St. Joseph.Puett says it’s not a local problem,
either. It is a problem faced statewide.Puett says his jail is not equipped to
handle mentally ill inmates. Puett points to one example of an inmate housed in
the Buchanan County jail far longer than he should be.“He has been with us 11 months,” Puett
tells KFEQmmunity. “And so, this is not like two weeks. We see 10, 12, 16
months sometimes before we can get them to the Department of Mental Health and
that’s just not good.”Puett recently testified before a
Missouri House committee on the problem, telling lawmakers it is a serious
issue for his jail, but even more of a burden from rural jails.The Buchanan County jail houses around
200 inmates at any one time with between 10-and-20% of those inmates ruled by
the courts as incompetent to stand trial.Puett says his jail is ill equipped to
handle such inmates.“I don’t need staff assaulted. I don’t
need the jail torn up. I don’t need all these things, because we have
individuals that should be in the Department of Mental Health,” Puett says.The problem, according to Puett, is the
Department of Mental Health doesn’t have enough bed space, leading to mentally
ill inmates staying in his jail too long.Puett says his jail isn’t equipped to
handle mentally ill inmates.“Lots of problems with individuals who
are not getting treatment, who are not getting their medication,” Puett says.
“Individuals might be a lot better off and a lot more easily dealt with if they
were able to have treatment and medication. So, being incarcerated without that
makes some of them very violent.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Sheriff Puett sees number of mentally ill inmates grow

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5ZzeuN3ZvBZ6Mo5dX6qZeJ?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 data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6v4M0LRPzxPfmxGRsObqdV?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

Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map faces a referendum campaign seeking to repeal it. Republican officials are using procedural roadblocks and litigation to protect the new districts

As the campaign to repeal Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map approaches the 106,000 signatures needed to put the issue on the 2026 ballot, Republicans are pulling out all the stops to block it.&nbsp;

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced Wednesday that roughly 100,000 signatures gathered so far for the referendum won’t count — and that gathering them before his office approved “constitutes a misdemeanor election offense.”

Later in the day, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit arguing that holding a referendum on the congressional map is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to stop it.&nbsp;

“Missouri politicians continue to try to confuse, intimidate and, frankly, silence us,” Richard Von Glahn of People Not Politicians, the committee behind the referendum campaign, told reporters Thursday.&nbsp;

People Not Politicians is already in court challenging Hoskins’ decision to reject its initial referendum petitions because they were filed in September before the governor signed the redistricting bill. &nbsp;If those petitions aren’t valid, neither are the 100,000 signatures already gathered for the referendum.&nbsp;

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green set the case for a trial on Nov. 4.&nbsp;

“This office remains committed to transparency, accuracy and protecting Missouri voters’ trust in the democratic process,” Hoskins said Wednesday.&nbsp;

At the heart of the debate is Missouri’s congressional map, which has eight districts with six currently represented by Republicans.&nbsp;

Lawmakers returned to the Capitol last month to gerrymander one of the Democratic seats in a way that would adhere to President Donal Trump’s instructions to create a new GOP district before the 2026 midterms.

The target was the 5th District, based in Kansas City and represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver since 2005. It is carved up under the new map with portions attached to the 4th and 6th Districts. Heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County were added to the remaining Kansas City portions.

Hours after the map won legislative approval, People Not Politicians filed for a referendum to put it on the ballot. Under the Missouri Constitution, if the group gathers 106,000 signatures before Dec. 11, the map will not go into effect until after a statewide vote.&nbsp;

The referendum poses a real threat to the new map. Of the 27 times a referendum has been placed on the Missouri ballot, voters have rejected actions by the General Assembly all but twice. That includes 1922, when&nbsp;<a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri_Proposition_17,_Congressional_Redistricting_Referendum_%281922%29" target="_blank">voters rejected a new congressional map</a>&nbsp;drawn by the legislature.&nbsp;

A referendum was last deployed in Missouri seven years ago, when labor unions collected 300,000 signatures in 90 days to put a question on the statewide ballot repealing a GOP-backed right-to-work law.

A year later, the secretary of state’s office used procedural maneuvers to derail a referendum campaign that sought to overturn newly-passed restrictions on abortion.&nbsp;

That 2019 referendum never got off the ground because of the secretary of state’s actions. But it sparked a 2022 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that determined the laws the secretary of state used to obstruct the citizen-initiated referendum process were unconstitutional.

“We’ve been here before,” said Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing People Not Politicians. “The Secretary of State knows better.”

People Not Politicians has raised $2.6 million in six-figure donations since the campaign began last month. According to disclosure reports filed with the state ethics commission, more than $1.2 million of that has gone directly towards signature gathering.&nbsp;

Most of the group’s money has come from out-of-state nonprofits who are not obligated to disclose their donors. Last week, Kansas City-based Health Forward Foundation donated $750,000.&nbsp;

Hanaway pointed to People Not Politicians out-of-state donors in announcing her federal lawsuit seeking to block the referendum.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Missouri’s redistricting process cannot be dictated by out-of-state special interests,” Hanaway said. “We will not allow dark money groups to silence Missouri voices or hijack the work of the General Assembly.”

Hatfield called the actions of Hanaway and Hoskins “outrageous” and a “full on tantrum about the right of the people to overrule these congressional districts, which is a right the people are guaranteed in the constitution.”

In particular, he called the accusation that gathering signatures could ever be considered a crime “totally ridiculous.”

“This is nothing,” Hatfield said, “but an attempt to intimidate and deny people the right to petition their government.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760697422004.png" alt="Protesters gather in the Missouri Capitol rotunda Sept. 10 in opposition to a gerrymandered congressional district map (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Protesters gather in the Missouri Capitol rotunda Sept. 10 in opposition to a gerrymandered congressional district map (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map faces a referendum campaign seeking to repeal it. Republican officials are using procedural roadblocks and litigation to protect the new districts</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>As the campaign to repeal Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map approaches the 106,000 signatures needed to put the issue on the 2026 ballot, Republicans are pulling out all the stops to block it.&nbsp;Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced Wednesday that roughly 100,000 signatures gathered so far for the referendum won’t count — and that gathering them before his office approved “constitutes a misdemeanor election offense.”Later in the day, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a lawsuit arguing that holding a referendum on the congressional map is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to stop it.&nbsp;“Missouri politicians continue to try to confuse, intimidate and, frankly, silence us,” Richard Von Glahn of People Not Politicians, the committee behind the referendum campaign, told reporters Thursday.&nbsp;People Not Politicians is already in court challenging Hoskins’ decision to reject its initial referendum petitions because they were filed in September before the governor signed the redistricting bill. &nbsp;If those petitions aren’t valid, neither are the 100,000 signatures already gathered for the referendum.&nbsp;Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green set the case for a trial on Nov. 4.&nbsp;“This office remains committed to transparency, accuracy and protecting Missouri voters’ trust in the democratic process,” Hoskins said Wednesday.&nbsp;At the heart of the debate is Missouri’s congressional map, which has eight districts with six currently represented by Republicans.&nbsp;Lawmakers returned to the Capitol last month to gerrymander one of the Democratic seats in a way that would adhere to President Donal Trump’s instructions to create a new GOP district before the 2026 midterms.The target was the 5th District, based in Kansas City and represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver since 2005. It is carved up under the new map with portions attached to the 4th and 6th Districts. Heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County were added to the remaining Kansas City portions.Hours after the map won legislative approval, People Not Politicians filed for a referendum to put it on the ballot. Under the Missouri Constitution, if the group gathers 106,000 signatures before Dec. 11, the map will not go into effect until after a statewide vote.&nbsp;The referendum poses a real threat to the new map. Of the 27 times a referendum has been placed on the Missouri ballot, voters have rejected actions by the General Assembly all but twice. That includes 1922, when&nbsp;<a href="https://ballotpedia.org/Missouri_Proposition_17,_Congressional_Redistricting_Referendum_%281922%29" target="_blank">voters rejected a new congressional map</a>&nbsp;drawn by the legislature.&nbsp;A referendum was last deployed in Missouri seven years ago, when labor unions collected 300,000 signatures in 90 days to put a question on the statewide ballot repealing a GOP-backed right-to-work law.A year later, the secretary of state’s office used procedural maneuvers to derail a referendum campaign that sought to overturn newly-passed restrictions on abortion.&nbsp;That 2019 referendum never got off the ground because of the secretary of state’s actions. But it sparked a 2022 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that determined the laws the secretary of state used to obstruct the citizen-initiated referendum process were unconstitutional.“We’ve been here before,” said Chuck Hatfield, an attorney representing People Not Politicians. “The Secretary of State knows better.”People Not Politicians has raised $2.6 million in six-figure donations since the campaign began last month. According to disclosure reports filed with the state ethics commission, more than $1.2 million of that has gone directly towards signature gathering.&nbsp;Most of the group’s money has come from out-of-state nonprofits who are not obligated to disclose their donors. Last week, Kansas City-based Health Forward Foundation donated $750,000.&nbsp;Hanaway pointed to People Not Politicians out-of-state donors in announcing her federal lawsuit seeking to block the referendum.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Missouri’s redistricting process cannot be dictated by out-of-state special interests,” Hanaway said. “We will not allow dark money groups to silence Missouri voices or hijack the work of the General Assembly.”Hatfield called the actions of Hanaway and Hoskins “outrageous” and a “full on tantrum about the right of the people to overrule these congressional districts, which is a right the people are guaranteed in the constitution.”In particular, he called the accusation that gathering signatures could ever be considered a crime “totally ridiculous.”“This is nothing,” Hatfield said, “but an attempt to intimidate and deny people the right to petition their government.”

Lawsuit, threat of criminal charges part of GOP effort to block vote on Missouri map

A classic score of
a classic film kicks off the St. Joseph Symphony season Saturday.

The St. Joseph
Symphony will perform Frankenstein…It’s Live on Saturday evening at the
Missouri Theater.

Symphony
Conductor, Chris Kelts, says this performance fits perfectly with the setting.

“The Missouri
Theater has been, was, an old movie house at one time,” Kelts tells
KFEQmmunity. “So, we are bringing the original Frankenstein movie, from the
early 30s, to the Missouri Theater. And we will be playing the soundtrack, the
live soundtrack, with live orchestra, which is why we’ve called the concert
series Frankenstein, It’s Live.”

Mary Shelley wrote
the novel Frankenstein which has spun into a variety of popular cultural takes.
The original film didn’t have a musical score. It likely did have a live organ
that played during its showing. Kelts will be working off Michael Shapiro’s “Frankenstein:&nbsp; The Move Score,” which was composed for the 1931
classic film starring Boris Karloff.

Kelts says this
performance works well with his vision for the St. Joseph Symphony.

“So, when audiences
come to the Missouri Theater, I want them to experience live, classical music
played by a live orchestra,” Kelts says. “What we’re doing now is we’re giving
them a glimpse into actually what it takes to make a film its fullest that it
can be.”

Patrons are
encouraged to come in costume for a preconcert reception that begins at six o’clock
Saturday evening in the Missouri Theater lobby. The Windy Wine Company will provide
complimentary wine. The performance begins at 7pm.

Kelts says it’s an
appropriate way to begin the new season which features a lot of music,
concluding with a special performance next spring.

“And then we close
out our season in April with St. Joseph Symphony’s and St. Joseph community’s
very own, Tony Glise,” Kelts says. “And Tony is an award winning, international
classical guitarist. And he lives half the year in Paris, France and half the
year in the United States.”

Kelts says Glise
will perform a new composition with the symphony next year.

Click <a href="https://saintjosephsymphony.org/">HERE</a> for more on the St. Joseph Symphony.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA classic score of
a classic film kicks off the St. Joseph Symphony season Saturday.The St. Joseph
Symphony will perform Frankenstein…It’s Live on Saturday evening at the
Missouri Theater.Symphony
Conductor, Chris Kelts, says this performance fits perfectly with the setting.“The Missouri
Theater has been, was, an old movie house at one time,” Kelts tells
KFEQmmunity. “So, we are bringing the original Frankenstein movie, from the
early 30s, to the Missouri Theater. And we will be playing the soundtrack, the
live soundtrack, with live orchestra, which is why we’ve called the concert
series Frankenstein, It’s Live.”Mary Shelley wrote
the novel Frankenstein which has spun into a variety of popular cultural takes.
The original film didn’t have a musical score. It likely did have a live organ
that played during its showing. Kelts will be working off Michael Shapiro’s “Frankenstein:&nbsp; The Move Score,” which was composed for the 1931
classic film starring Boris Karloff.Kelts says this
performance works well with his vision for the St. Joseph Symphony.“So, when audiences
come to the Missouri Theater, I want them to experience live, classical music
played by a live orchestra,” Kelts says. “What we’re doing now is we’re giving
them a glimpse into actually what it takes to make a film its fullest that it
can be.”Patrons are
encouraged to come in costume for a preconcert reception that begins at six o’clock
Saturday evening in the Missouri Theater lobby. The Windy Wine Company will provide
complimentary wine. The performance begins at 7pm.Kelts says it’s an
appropriate way to begin the new season which features a lot of music,
concluding with a special performance next spring.“And then we close
out our season in April with St. Joseph Symphony’s and St. Joseph community’s
very own, Tony Glise,” Kelts says. “And Tony is an award winning, international
classical guitarist. And he lives half the year in Paris, France and half the
year in the United States.”Kelts says Glise
will perform a new composition with the symphony next year.Click <a href="https://saintjosephsymphony.org/">HERE</a> for more on the St. Joseph Symphony.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Frankenstein comes alive for the St. Joseph Symphony Saturday

Tomorrow you can get your morning coffee and raise money to help benefit breast cancer patients during Mosaic Life Cares Coffee for a Cure.    

During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Human Bean in St. Joseph will, for a 10th year, raise money to help in aiding patients.  

Dr. Rony Abou-Jawde at the Mosaic Cancer Center says he's biased, but believes that Coffee for a Cure is the best event that Mosaic Life Care does to raise awareness  

“I think the more you talk about it, the more you realize it’s not that big of a deal to do it how other patients’ experiences are,” Abou Jawde tells reporters.  “Or even if you talk with patients and say ok I had a very small Stage 1 breast cancer and here I am 20 plus years later, go in for the Coffee for a Cure to help, that should spread a good result that if you find it early you’re going to be cured, this is a great event and I would encourage everybody to go there.” 

And the best part, Dr. Rony Abou Jawde says. 

“It all goes to the event for breast cancer, so it’s a great event to attend and support and help your community, just one fun way of doing it,” Abou Jawde says.  “And you drink coffee, so it’s good.” 

Abou-Jawde says the event really shows the commitment of the community, to help the community 

"So, what we see there, we see the patients and their families and their neighbors and their friends coming to support one individual, and then the next year we see five, six, seven, eight more people doing the same thing,” Abou Jawde says.  “So, it’s the community helping the community.” 

Abou Jawde says treating cancer is not only a big cancer center with excellent technology that can be delivered 

“You want to be treated in your own community to have the help and support of your community, and what better way to do that than your own community coming, going to the Coffee for a Cure, helping with the fundraising that is going to help those patients being treated right here,” Abou Jawde explains. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/10/1760629883134.jpeg" alt="The Human Bean will be decked out in pink to support Coffee for a Cure on Friday from 5am to 7:30pm, raising money to support breast cancer patients at Mosaic Life Care/ Photo courtesy of Imagine St. Joseph 2040 on Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The Human Bean will be decked out in pink to support Coffee for a Cure on Friday from 5am to 7:30pm, raising money to support breast cancer patients at Mosaic Life Care/ Photo courtesy of Imagine St. Joseph 2040 on Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostTomorrow you can get your morning coffee and raise money to help benefit breast cancer patients during Mosaic Life Cares Coffee for a Cure. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Human Bean in St. Joseph will, for a 10th year, raise money to help in aiding patients. Dr. Rony Abou-Jawde at the Mosaic Cancer Center says he's biased, but believes that Coffee for a Cure is the best event that Mosaic Life Care does to raise awareness “I think the more you talk about it, the more you realize it’s not that big of a deal to do it how other patients’ experiences are,” Abou Jawde tells reporters. “Or even if you talk with patients and say ok I had a very small Stage 1 breast cancer and here I am 20 plus years later, go in for the Coffee for a Cure to help, that should spread a good result that if you find it early you’re going to be cured, this is a great event and I would encourage everybody to go there.” And the best part, Dr. Rony Abou Jawde says. “It all goes to the event for breast cancer, so it’s a great event to attend and support and help your community, just one fun way of doing it,” Abou Jawde says. “And you drink coffee, so it’s good.” Abou-Jawde says the event really shows the commitment of the community, to help the community "So, what we see there, we see the patients and their families and their neighbors and their friends coming to support one individual, and then the next year we see five, six, seven, eight more people doing the same thing,” Abou Jawde says. “So, it’s the community helping the community.” Abou Jawde says treating cancer is not only a big cancer center with excellent technology that can be delivered “You want to be treated in your own community to have the help and support of your community, and what better way to do that than your own community coming, going to the Coffee for a Cure, helping with the fundraising that is going to help those patients being treated right here,” Abou Jawde explains. During the event from 5am to 7:30pm tomorrow (Fri.) at 4414 Commons Drive, 100% of sales and tips will be donated to benefit the Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary Breast Cancer Patient Assistance Fund The Mosaic Life Care Auxiliary will provide a 100% match as well to funds raised tomorrow. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

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