PLATTE COUNTY—The search for a missing Kansas City man ended overnight Saturday in rural Platte County.

On December 28, Kansas City police announced a Silver Alert for 70-year-old William M. Jensen. He was last seen at 8:30a.m. December 23, in the area of NW Prairie View Drive and NW Transcon Drive, according to KCPD.

He was observed leaving in his 2005 Toyota 4 door Gold Rav 4 with Missouri Plate LC3-M9E.

Police detectives and Platte County investigators found Jensen in his vehicle in rural Platte County after it went off the roadway and crashed into a tree line, according to KCPD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1704041738993.png" alt="Jensen-photo KCPD" />
 <figcaption>Jensen-photo KCPD</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY—The search for a missing Kansas City man ended overnight Saturday in rural Platte County.On December 28, Kansas City police announced a Silver Alert for 70-year-old William M. Jensen. He was last seen at 8:30a.m. December 23, in the area of NW Prairie View Drive and NW Transcon Drive, according to KCPD.He was observed leaving in his 2005 Toyota 4 door Gold Rav 4 with Missouri Plate LC3-M9E.Police detectives and Platte County investigators found Jensen in his vehicle in rural Platte County after it went off the roadway and crashed into a tree line, according to KCPD.

Missing man found dead in his SUV in rural Platte County

The University of Kansas surveyed more than 200 workers in chain retail settings about their job satisfaction. “They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” one industry professional said.

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/bek-shackelford">Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>

Pharmacy work is a tough job, according to Amanda Applegate with the Kansas Pharmacists Association. There are, of course, many prescriptions to fill. Filling those also means keeping in mind whether the prescribed medication is best for the patient, whether it is covered by their insurance and more.

And it gets more difficult when it’s inside a bustling retail store, like Walgreens or Target. That’s a recipe for a hectic job.

“If you are in a hospital environment, you don't necessarily have somebody walking by you and asking where the steaks on sale are or where the Tylenol is,” Applegate said. “There is an additional layer of distraction.”

Applegate said retail pharmacists and pharmacy technicians also struggle with performance quotas set by their employers.

A study by professors at the University of Kansas illustrates the differences between pharmacy work in retail and independent or hospital settings.

The study, recently published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(23)00363-1/fulltext" target="_blank">Journal of American Pharmacists Association</a>, surveyed 129 pharmacists and 111 pharmacy technicians at both retail and independent pharmacies in Kansas and Missouri.

Angela Gist-Mackey was the lead author of the paper. Her team began collecting data in 2019 and finished in 2020, just before the pandemic. Survey participants were categorized into three pharmacy settings: retail, independent and health care systems.

Going into the study, Gist-Mackey hypothesized that a person’s role in a pharmacy would determine their overall satisfaction.

“But surprisingly, that was not the case. Role didn't predict any of that,” Gist-Mackey said. “In fact, it was more of the context that people were working in.”

The survey showed that pharmacy workers in retail situations, though paid the same as their independent or hospital pharmacist counterparts, were far less satisfied with pay and benefits.

“Maybe it's because what I have to put up with in my chain pharmacy workplace doesn't seem worth the pay,” Gist-Mackey said.

Applegate agrees. She now serves as director of practice development for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, but she previously worked in the retail pharmacy field for more than a decade. Applegate said the workload at retail pharmacies can often be hard to handle, especially because a lot of retail pharmacies only staff one pharmacist at a time and don’t schedule enough technicians to help.

Concerns about working conditions, pay and staffing came to a head this fall, when workers at CVS and Walgreens stores across the nation walked out. At least a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2023-09-29/kansas-city-cvs-pharmacists-just-walked-out-on-the-job-heres-why" target="_blank">dozen CVS locations</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line, shuttered temporarily while workers were on strike.

Applegate said work safety was one of the No. 1 priorities for striking workers. She said sometimes, retail pharmacists have up to 1,000 prescriptions to fill and not enough support to safely fill them. In addition, they often work long hours without breaks.

“It's oftentimes very hard to step away from that workflow to go to the bathroom, to get a bite to eat, to take a breath after something very difficult has happened,” she said. “That day-to-day environment is a pressure cooker in a lot of cases.”

Applegate said to her knowledge, Walgreens and CVS have made some changes to how stores are operated, but pharmacists are still spread thin.

Gist-Mackey said when she and her team presented their work to editors at the Journal of American Pharmacists editors, they received pushback on their findings.

“One of the reviewers … said, ‘You're taking a stab at retail pharmacies, specifically. I'm not sure that your data really supports this,’” Gist-Mackey said.

The editors dropped their complaints when the strikes began, Gist-Mackey said.

She imagines conditions have gotten worse for retail pharmacy workers post-pandemic, as they are essential health care workers.

During her time at a retail pharmacy, Applegate said her worst shift was on Christmas Eve.

“It's a time of a lot of anxiety; tensions are running high in a lot of cases anyways,” Applegate said. “So something very small may turn into a very big thing that leads to a patient harassing a pharmacist or a member of their staff.”

Applegate said overall, harassment of pharmacists and pharmacy workers is on the rise. During this holiday season, Applegate said she’s received more calls from pharmacy workers reporting harassment in the past two weeks than she has in the past year.

In Applegate’s opinion, a lot of the harassment is because the public does not see pharmacy workers as health care professionals.

“They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” she said.

Applegate said customers sometimes don’t understand that pharmacists cannot control things like medicine prices.

“I think the best thing is to be kind to everybody,” Applegate said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703784990382.png" alt="A CVS pharmacy at 9521 Mission Road in Overland Park, Kansas. This location, and about a dozen others in the Kansas City metro, closed temporarily this fall due to staff walkouts. Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga/Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>A CVS pharmacy at 9521 Mission Road in Overland Park, Kansas. This location, and about a dozen others in the Kansas City metro, closed temporarily this fall due to staff walkouts. Photo by Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga/Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The University of Kansas surveyed more than 200 workers in chain retail settings about their job satisfaction. “They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” one industry professional said.</h2>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/bek-shackelford">Bek Shackelford-Nwanganga</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/">Kansas News Service&nbsp;</a>Pharmacy work is a tough job, according to Amanda Applegate with the Kansas Pharmacists Association. There are, of course, many prescriptions to fill. Filling those also means keeping in mind whether the prescribed medication is best for the patient, whether it is covered by their insurance and more.And it gets more difficult when it’s inside a bustling retail store, like Walgreens or Target. That’s a recipe for a hectic job.“If you are in a hospital environment, you don't necessarily have somebody walking by you and asking where the steaks on sale are or where the Tylenol is,” Applegate said. “There is an additional layer of distraction.”Applegate said retail pharmacists and pharmacy technicians also struggle with performance quotas set by their employers.A study by professors at the University of Kansas illustrates the differences between pharmacy work in retail and independent or hospital settings.The study, recently published in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(23)00363-1/fulltext" target="_blank">Journal of American Pharmacists Association</a>, surveyed 129 pharmacists and 111 pharmacy technicians at both retail and independent pharmacies in Kansas and Missouri.Angela Gist-Mackey was the lead author of the paper. Her team began collecting data in 2019 and finished in 2020, just before the pandemic. Survey participants were categorized into three pharmacy settings: retail, independent and health care systems.Going into the study, Gist-Mackey hypothesized that a person’s role in a pharmacy would determine their overall satisfaction.“But surprisingly, that was not the case. Role didn't predict any of that,” Gist-Mackey said. “In fact, it was more of the context that people were working in.”The survey showed that pharmacy workers in retail situations, though paid the same as their independent or hospital pharmacist counterparts, were far less satisfied with pay and benefits.“Maybe it's because what I have to put up with in my chain pharmacy workplace doesn't seem worth the pay,” Gist-Mackey said.Applegate agrees. She now serves as director of practice development for the Kansas Pharmacists Association, but she previously worked in the retail pharmacy field for more than a decade. Applegate said the workload at retail pharmacies can often be hard to handle, especially because a lot of retail pharmacies only staff one pharmacist at a time and don’t schedule enough technicians to help.<h2>Retail workers on strike</h2>Concerns about working conditions, pay and staffing came to a head this fall, when workers at CVS and Walgreens stores across the nation walked out. At least a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2023-09-29/kansas-city-cvs-pharmacists-just-walked-out-on-the-job-heres-why" target="_blank">dozen CVS locations</a>&nbsp;in the Kansas City metro, on both sides of the state line, shuttered temporarily while workers were on strike.Applegate said work safety was one of the No. 1 priorities for striking workers. She said sometimes, retail pharmacists have up to 1,000 prescriptions to fill and not enough support to safely fill them. In addition, they often work long hours without breaks.“It's oftentimes very hard to step away from that workflow to go to the bathroom, to get a bite to eat, to take a breath after something very difficult has happened,” she said. “That day-to-day environment is a pressure cooker in a lot of cases.”Applegate said to her knowledge, Walgreens and CVS have made some changes to how stores are operated, but pharmacists are still spread thin.Gist-Mackey said when she and her team presented their work to editors at the Journal of American Pharmacists editors, they received pushback on their findings.“One of the reviewers … said, ‘You're taking a stab at retail pharmacies, specifically. I'm not sure that your data really supports this,’” Gist-Mackey said.The editors dropped their complaints when the strikes began, Gist-Mackey said.She imagines conditions have gotten worse for retail pharmacy workers post-pandemic, as they are essential health care workers.<h2>Holidays pile on stress</h2>During her time at a retail pharmacy, Applegate said her worst shift was on Christmas Eve.“It's a time of a lot of anxiety; tensions are running high in a lot of cases anyways,” Applegate said. “So something very small may turn into a very big thing that leads to a patient harassing a pharmacist or a member of their staff.”Applegate said overall, harassment of pharmacists and pharmacy workers is on the rise. During this holiday season, Applegate said she’s received more calls from pharmacy workers reporting harassment in the past two weeks than she has in the past year.In Applegate’s opinion, a lot of the harassment is because the public does not see pharmacy workers as health care professionals.“They've been treated, in a lot of cases, like a commodity instead of a health care worker,” she said.Applegate said customers sometimes don’t understand that pharmacists cannot control things like medicine prices.“I think the best thing is to be kind to everybody,” Applegate said.

Retail pharmacy workers in Kansas, Missouri are unhappy with their pay and working conditions

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an arrest.

On Thursday, police in Atchison arrested 55-year-old Jack J. Walker II, of Wise West Virginia, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

He is being held without bond on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703862788945.png" alt="Walker-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Walker-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect after an arrest.On Thursday, police in Atchison arrested 55-year-old Jack J. Walker II, of Wise West Virginia, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.He is being held without bond on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

West Virginia man jailed in Kansas for skipping court

ATCHISON COUNTY, MO. —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Friday in Atchison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Ford Escape driven by Robin J. Henning, 67, Tarkio, was southbound on U.S. 59 one mile north of Tarkio.

The driver was distracted by an animal in a field.&nbsp; The SUV crossed the center of the road, traveled off the east side of the highway and struck a ditch.

Atchison Holt EMS transported Henning to Fairfax Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY, MO. —One person was injured in an accident just after noon Friday in Atchison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Ford Escape driven by Robin J. Henning, 67, Tarkio, was southbound on U.S. 59 one mile north of Tarkio.The driver was distracted by an animal in a field.&nbsp; The SUV crossed the center of the road, traveled off the east side of the highway and struck a ditch.Atchison Holt EMS transported Henning to Fairfax Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after SUV crash

Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson says the county courthouse roof and dome project is nearing completion.

"The roof and dome project is 99% complete inside and out," Nelson said on KFEQ's The Hotline with Barry Birr. "I think there's still a few shingles on the roof that need to be done. They're waiting for temperatures to get over 40 (degrees Fahrenheit)."

Work on the roof and dome project began this past July. Ambrozi Contracting is handling the $1.2 million project. Scaffolding had been assembled inside the courthouse, while the roof and dome were being worked on.

Nelson says the dome now has a new lighting feature. The dome had been lit up in red and green recently in observation of the Christmas holiday.

"In the night sky, when it's dark, and before dawn," Nelson says, "if you look at the dome, we are capable of changing the color of the light in the dome."

Nelson notes that this color feature can be used for varying purposes throughout the year.

"It's going to be a real treat throughout the year," he said. "You know, like (Breast Cancer Awareness) month, make it pink. We can use the colors of primary, secondary and tertiary I think."

A lighting ceremony for the Dome will be held on Saturday, December 30 at 5:30 p.m. on the North Side of the Courthouse.

The lighting system was privately designed and donated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703877470282.jpeg" alt="Repairs being made at the Buchanan County Courthouse this past summer. Photo by Brent Martin." />
 <figcaption>Repairs being made at the Buchanan County Courthouse this past summer. Photo by Brent Martin.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson says the county courthouse roof and dome project is nearing completion."The roof and dome project is 99% complete inside and out," Nelson said on KFEQ's The Hotline with Barry Birr. "I think there's still a few shingles on the roof that need to be done. They're waiting for temperatures to get over 40 (degrees Fahrenheit)."Work on the roof and dome project began this past July. Ambrozi Contracting is handling the $1.2 million project. Scaffolding had been assembled inside the courthouse, while the roof and dome were being worked on.Nelson says the dome now has a new lighting feature. The dome had been lit up in red and green recently in observation of the Christmas holiday."In the night sky, when it's dark, and before dawn," Nelson says, "if you look at the dome, we are capable of changing the color of the light in the dome."Nelson notes that this color feature can be used for varying purposes throughout the year."It's going to be a real treat throughout the year," he said. "You know, like (Breast Cancer Awareness) month, make it pink. We can use the colors of primary, secondary and tertiary I think."A lighting ceremony for the Dome will be held on Saturday, December 30 at 5:30 p.m. on the North Side of the Courthouse.The lighting system was privately designed and donated.

Lighting ceremony for Buchanan County Courthouse dome set for Saturday

As the calendar is about to flip to a new year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to be safe during their New Year's celebrations. &nbsp;

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says one of the most common infractions drivers are pulled over for during New Years, is impaired driving. &nbsp;

Hux says if you are planning on doing anything that would impair your driving, make sure you plan accordingly. &nbsp;

"Designate a sober driver, in the St. Joseph area you have multiple options there for ride share programs, public transportation, Uber, Lyft, things like that," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "If you live out in the rural area where those services are not offered, you just have to plan accordingly, plan ahead, designate a sober driver and utilize that sober driver."&nbsp;

Hux says if you encounter someone that might be driving impaired during your travels, it's best to practice defensive driving. &nbsp;

"If the vehicle in front of you or coming up behind you obviously is creating lane violations, crossing the center line, traveling onto the shoulder, get to a safe place maybe to where you can pull off the roadway and let that vehicle in front of you and then call star 55 or 911," Hux explains. &nbsp;

"Star 55 should get you the nearest troop headquarters, and you can report that vehicle."&nbsp;

Currently, sunny weather is expected throughout the holiday, but highs are only expected to get just above 30 during the day, dropping to lows below 20 at night. &nbsp;

Hux says though, weather in northwest Missouri can change on a dime, so make sure you're prepared as you travel.&nbsp;

"If you go to a gathering, it may not be doing anything, and maybe while you're in there it does snow, you're going to have to come out and make sure you clean your vehicle off completely," Hux points out. "The roadway conditions can change in the blink of an eye, so definitely going to have to decrease your speed, increase your following distance, to make sure you get to your destination safely."&nbsp;

Troopers will be out in force starting today as holiday travel begins and will be out through Monday when drivers are expected to travel home.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;As the calendar is about to flip to a new year, the Missouri State Highway Patrol is encouraging drivers to be safe during their New Year's celebrations. &nbsp;Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says one of the most common infractions drivers are pulled over for during New Years, is impaired driving. &nbsp;Hux says if you are planning on doing anything that would impair your driving, make sure you plan accordingly. &nbsp;"Designate a sober driver, in the St. Joseph area you have multiple options there for ride share programs, public transportation, Uber, Lyft, things like that," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "If you live out in the rural area where those services are not offered, you just have to plan accordingly, plan ahead, designate a sober driver and utilize that sober driver."&nbsp;Hux says if you encounter someone that might be driving impaired during your travels, it's best to practice defensive driving. &nbsp;"If the vehicle in front of you or coming up behind you obviously is creating lane violations, crossing the center line, traveling onto the shoulder, get to a safe place maybe to where you can pull off the roadway and let that vehicle in front of you and then call star 55 or 911," Hux explains. &nbsp;"Star 55 should get you the nearest troop headquarters, and you can report that vehicle."&nbsp;Currently, sunny weather is expected throughout the holiday, but highs are only expected to get just above 30 during the day, dropping to lows below 20 at night. &nbsp;Hux says though, weather in northwest Missouri can change on a dime, so make sure you're prepared as you travel.&nbsp;"If you go to a gathering, it may not be doing anything, and maybe while you're in there it does snow, you're going to have to come out and make sure you clean your vehicle off completely," Hux points out. "The roadway conditions can change in the blink of an eye, so definitely going to have to decrease your speed, increase your following distance, to make sure you get to your destination safely."&nbsp;Troopers will be out in force starting today as holiday travel begins and will be out through Monday when drivers are expected to travel home.&nbsp;

Missouri Highway Patrol officials encourage safe celebrations this New Year

ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Atchison.

A Ford Taurus driven by Sharon Sowers, 64, Atchison, had been northbound on 10th Street at U.S. 59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; 

The Ford collided&nbsp;with a westbound Chevrolet pickup driven by John Garrison, 75, Atchison.

EMS transported both drivers and a 42-year-old passenger in the Ford to Amberwell Hospital for evaluation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703862377479.png" alt="Photo Police Chief Mike Wilson" />
 <figcaption>Photo Police Chief Mike Wilson</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Thursday in Atchison.A Ford Taurus driven by Sharon Sowers, 64, Atchison, had been northbound on 10th Street at U.S. 59 in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The Ford collided&nbsp;with a westbound Chevrolet pickup driven by John Garrison, 75, Atchison.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703862410849.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported both drivers and a 42-year-old passenger in the Ford to Amberwell Hospital for evaluation.Police released no additional details.

3 hospitalized after 2-vehicle Kansas crash

It may be the end of December, but currently it feels more like winter, and Friends of the Animal Shelter wants you to think about your pets and their safety. 

Melanie Barnes with Friends says as the temperatures get colder you should be sure to bring your pets inside or into the garage as much as you can. 

"They are just as susceptible to hypothermia, frostbite, other conditions and risks of being outside in the cold too long," Barnes tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr.  

Barnes says if your dogs must be outside, make sure you have some sort of elevated, covered surface for them to be inside. 

"If your pet is on the ground, they're going to lose a lot of body heat to the ground, so having it up off the ground some type of housing enclosure would be helpful," Barnes explains. "And then making sure it is lined with clean, dry bedding, straw is actually a lot better than blankets because blankets will hold the moisture and straw does not hold the moisture." 

Barnes also says if you have outdoor cats to keep an eye on them, especially around outdoor vehicles, as they can be clever about where they find heat in the cold.  

"People say make some noise in your vehicle if it's an outdoor vehicle and you're getting ready to start it because cats will find that warm engine heat," Barnes points out. 

Barnes says to also keep an eye out for cats laying on black asphalt as it will absorb heat from the sun throughout the day. 

Highs through the holiday weekend are expected to be between the low 30's and mid 40's, however lows are expected to drop to as low as 19. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post It may be the end of December, but currently it feels more like winter, and Friends of the Animal Shelter wants you to think about your pets and their safety. Melanie Barnes with Friends says as the temperatures get colder you should be sure to bring your pets inside or into the garage as much as you can. "They are just as susceptible to hypothermia, frostbite, other conditions and risks of being outside in the cold too long," Barnes tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. Barnes says if your dogs must be outside, make sure you have some sort of elevated, covered surface for them to be inside. "If your pet is on the ground, they're going to lose a lot of body heat to the ground, so having it up off the ground some type of housing enclosure would be helpful," Barnes explains. "And then making sure it is lined with clean, dry bedding, straw is actually a lot better than blankets because blankets will hold the moisture and straw does not hold the moisture." Barnes also says if you have outdoor cats to keep an eye on them, especially around outdoor vehicles, as they can be clever about where they find heat in the cold. "People say make some noise in your vehicle if it's an outdoor vehicle and you're getting ready to start it because cats will find that warm engine heat," Barnes points out. Barnes says to also keep an eye out for cats laying on black asphalt as it will absorb heat from the sun throughout the day. Highs through the holiday weekend are expected to be between the low 30's and mid 40's, however lows are expected to drop to as low as 19.

As weather gets colder, Friends of the Animal Shelter encourages you to keep pets warm

St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale says city officials are
keeping a close eye on the expansion of Interstate 70 between Kansas City and
St. Louis and eagerly anticipating some near-future transportation upgrades.

The state legislature approved expanding the interstate to six
lanes across the state.

Josendale says that could well impact northern Missouri
negatively.

“We’re afraid that there’s going to be a lot of traffic that’s
going to be channeled up to (US Highway) 36 instead of (Interstate) 70 to stay
off the traffic there,” Josendale says. “I-29 between north St. Joe and down
toward the airport (KCI) is one of the most heavily traveled sections of
highway in the state of Missouri now.”

Josendale says there are several transportation projects in
the planning stages now, including I-29 overpasses at Cook and Gene Field
Roads. Pickett Road is set to undergo reconstruction as the state plans to
replace the U.S. Highway 36 overpass at Riverside Road.

Headlining the local transportation projects is the proposed
renovation of I-229.

Josendale says the city continues to press the Missouri
Department of Transportation on the project.

“Again, we’ll be continuing to push on that. It’s still in the
works. They’re doing some additional studies that had to be done first,”
according to Josendale.

Josendale says the city hopes the Missouri Transportation
Commission includes the renovation of I-229 in its STIP, the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program.

Josendale says inflation has caused a wrinkle in the project.
Once projected to cost $50 million, the I-229 project now is projected to cost $80
million. It appears I-229 will lose its interstate designation as well as the
double-decker bridge along the Missouri River in downtown St. Joseph.

Josendale says MoDOT has already done a lot of work on the
project and will soon be seeking a contractor which can accomplish a
design-build project.

“And at that point, we can then go out and figure out how we’re
going to fund it,” Josendale says.

The mayor says St. Joseph residents will likely see a lot of
road construction in the next two to three years.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Mayor John Josendale says city officials are
keeping a close eye on the expansion of Interstate 70 between Kansas City and
St. Louis and eagerly anticipating some near-future transportation upgrades.The state legislature approved expanding the interstate to six
lanes across the state.Josendale says that could well impact northern Missouri
negatively.“We’re afraid that there’s going to be a lot of traffic that’s
going to be channeled up to (US Highway) 36 instead of (Interstate) 70 to stay
off the traffic there,” Josendale says. “I-29 between north St. Joe and down
toward the airport (KCI) is one of the most heavily traveled sections of
highway in the state of Missouri now.”Josendale says there are several transportation projects in
the planning stages now, including I-29 overpasses at Cook and Gene Field
Roads. Pickett Road is set to undergo reconstruction as the state plans to
replace the U.S. Highway 36 overpass at Riverside Road.Headlining the local transportation projects is the proposed
renovation of I-229.Josendale says the city continues to press the Missouri
Department of Transportation on the project.“Again, we’ll be continuing to push on that. It’s still in the
works. They’re doing some additional studies that had to be done first,”
according to Josendale.Josendale says the city hopes the Missouri Transportation
Commission includes the renovation of I-229 in its STIP, the Statewide
Transportation Improvement Program.Josendale says inflation has caused a wrinkle in the project.
Once projected to cost $50 million, the I-229 project now is projected to cost $80
million. It appears I-229 will lose its interstate designation as well as the
double-decker bridge along the Missouri River in downtown St. Joseph.Josendale says MoDOT has already done a lot of work on the
project and will soon be seeking a contractor which can accomplish a
design-build project.“And at that point, we can then go out and figure out how we’re
going to fund it,” Josendale says.The mayor says St. Joseph residents will likely see a lot of
road construction in the next two to three years.

Mayor Josendale says St. Joe residents will soon see a lot of road construction

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after midnight Friday morning in Worth County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Michelle R. Jones, 35, Worth, was westbound on MO 46 at Jaguar Avenue one half mile west of Grant City.

The pickup crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The pickup returned to the westbound lane, traveled off the north side of the road, struck a tree and rolled

Grand River ambulance transported Jones to Mosaic in Albany. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

WORTH COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after midnight Friday morning in Worth County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Michelle R. Jones, 35, Worth, was westbound on MO 46 at Jaguar Avenue one half mile west of Grant City.The pickup crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The pickup returned to the westbound lane, traveled off the north side of the road, struck a tree and rolledGrand River ambulance transported Jones to Mosaic in Albany. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after pickup strikes tree, rolls

Troopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are encouraged after seeing significantly lower crash numbers this year during the Christmas holiday. 

Last year, troopers worked 306 traffic crashes with three fatalities and 84 injuries.  This year that number dropped to 124 crashes, two fatalities, and 71 injuries. 

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says with all the traffic out during Christmas, it was nice to see a lower number of accidents.

"Considering the weather, we had great weather with a lot of traffic out there, good job by the motoring public out there," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Obeying all traffic laws and nobody lost their life during the holiday period, which is a great deal here in northwest Missouri."

Hux attributes the drop to drivers taking the responsibility of highway and traffic safety seriously. 

"It's the primary purpose of the highway patrol, however the highway patrol cannot do it by itself, it takes the responsibility of the motoring public, everybody that's operating a motor vehicle out there on the highway," Hux says.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostTroopers with the Missouri State Highway Patrol are encouraged after seeing significantly lower crash numbers this year during the Christmas holiday. Last year, troopers worked 306 traffic crashes with three fatalities and 84 injuries. This year that number dropped to 124 crashes, two fatalities, and 71 injuries. Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says with all the traffic out during Christmas, it was nice to see a lower number of accidents."Considering the weather, we had great weather with a lot of traffic out there, good job by the motoring public out there," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Obeying all traffic laws and nobody lost their life during the holiday period, which is a great deal here in northwest Missouri."Hux attributes the drop to drivers taking the responsibility of highway and traffic safety seriously. "It's the primary purpose of the highway patrol, however the highway patrol cannot do it by itself, it takes the responsibility of the motoring public, everybody that's operating a motor vehicle out there on the highway," Hux says.

Missouri State Highway Patrol officials encouraged by low accident numbers over Christmas

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeks to continue the fight
against the Grain Belt Express transmission line across northern Missouri,
despite state regulatory approval.

Bailey says his office stands ready to protect Missouri
farmland from abuses of eminent domain as Grain Belt is built.

“You’ve got legacy farmers who value their land, because it’s
been in their family for 100 years or more,” Bailey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
“Private property is one of the central organizing principles of our entire
democratic republic and we’re going to fight to protect that.”

The Missouri Public Service Commission has given the green
light to construction of the 5,000 megawatt line delivering wind-generated
energy from Kansas to the East Coast. The $2 billion project is being built across
northern Missouri by Invenergy of Chicago. The PSC gave approval after
Invenergy agreed to divert more electricity for Missouri use.

“It doesn’t benefit the people of the state of Missouri,” Bailey
states. “This is a coastal elite from the East Coast with deep pockets that
wants to endear himself to his more progressive friends and support a green new
deal and all sorts of renewable energy sources and he wants to run power lines
through Missouri to do it. How does that benefit the rest of us? And why are we
going to take away legacy farms in the process?”

Grain Belt has been controversial from the beginning. Several
efforts in the state legislature against the transmission line failed. Finally,
the legislature approved changes to the eminent domain process, requiring
utilities to give landowners 150% of the fair market value of their land for
use as a right-of-way.

Bailey says those reforms don’t go far enough. He wants
stronger protections for property owners, especially farmland owners. Bailey
goes so far as to say the state should seek a case to alter or overturn the
2005 US Supreme Court Kelo decision that ruled eminent domain could be used if a
project is proven to be of “public benefit,” rather than the more restrictive “public
use” as defined in Missouri law.

Bailey says the unsuccessful fight against Grain Belt
demonstrates the weakness of property rights in eminent domain cases.

“I think we need to put an end, in statute, to eminent domain used
to take land for public benefit,” Bailey says. “That is a very subjective
element in the consideration and it needs to be rolled back, limited. There needs
to be a specific process in place. And, if land’s going to be taken, how does
it benefit the people of the state of Missouri?”

Bailey says his office is advising property owners to do their
research before agreeing to sell land for any right-of-way.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703708296521.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey seeks to continue the fight
against the Grain Belt Express transmission line across northern Missouri,
despite state regulatory approval.Bailey says his office stands ready to protect Missouri
farmland from abuses of eminent domain as Grain Belt is built.“You’ve got legacy farmers who value their land, because it’s
been in their family for 100 years or more,” Bailey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
“Private property is one of the central organizing principles of our entire
democratic republic and we’re going to fight to protect that.”The Missouri Public Service Commission has given the green
light to construction of the 5,000 megawatt line delivering wind-generated
energy from Kansas to the East Coast. The $2 billion project is being built across
northern Missouri by Invenergy of Chicago. The PSC gave approval after
Invenergy agreed to divert more electricity for Missouri use.Bailey opposes Grain Belt.“It doesn’t benefit the people of the state of Missouri,” Bailey
states. “This is a coastal elite from the East Coast with deep pockets that
wants to endear himself to his more progressive friends and support a green new
deal and all sorts of renewable energy sources and he wants to run power lines
through Missouri to do it. How does that benefit the rest of us? And why are we
going to take away legacy farms in the process?”Grain Belt has been controversial from the beginning. Several
efforts in the state legislature against the transmission line failed. Finally,
the legislature approved changes to the eminent domain process, requiring
utilities to give landowners 150% of the fair market value of their land for
use as a right-of-way.Bailey says those reforms don’t go far enough. He wants
stronger protections for property owners, especially farmland owners. Bailey
goes so far as to say the state should seek a case to alter or overturn the
2005 US Supreme Court Kelo decision that ruled eminent domain could be used if a
project is proven to be of “public benefit,” rather than the more restrictive “public
use” as defined in Missouri law.Bailey says the unsuccessful fight against Grain Belt
demonstrates the weakness of property rights in eminent domain cases.“I think we need to put an end, in statute, to eminent domain used
to take land for public benefit,” Bailey says. “That is a very subjective
element in the consideration and it needs to be rolled back, limited. There needs
to be a specific process in place. And, if land’s going to be taken, how does
it benefit the people of the state of Missouri?”Bailey says his office is advising property owners to do their
research before agreeing to sell land for any right-of-way.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/MO-Attorney-General-Andrew-Bailey-doesnt-like-the-Grain-Belt-Express-e2dnmme" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Missouri AG says Grain Belt shows weakness in eminent domain protections

A 39-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of
a firearm after brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner when a police
pursuit ended at 16th and Garfield Tuesday night.

Nicholas Glen Newton, listed as a homeless St. Joseph
resident, fled from police in what appears to have been a stolen U-Haul truck.
Shots were fired in the incident. No one was harmed.

Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators are reviewing the
St. Joseph police officer’s role in the shooting. Highway Patrol Troop H
spokesman, Sgt. Shane Hux, says the patrol responded to the scene as soon as
requested.

“St. Joseph Police Department requested Missouri State Highway
Patrol’s assistance with an officer-involved shooting,” Hux tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “Our Division of Drugs and Crime Control responded to the scene.
They are investigating the officer-involved shooting. They are not
investigating the initial incident that led up to that.”

St. Joseph police report a 45-caliber handgun was recovered at
the scene.

The probable cause statement filed in the case reports Newton
refused to pull the truck over during an attempted traffic stop around 10 o’clock
Tuesday night, continuing to drive west on Garfield. Officers deployed spike
strips. Newton lost control of the truck in the 1600 block of Garfield. It went
off the street and got stuck on railroad tracks.

St. Joseph police report Newton threatened officers with a
handgun, believed to have been stolen in October. Newtown is a convicted felon
and, thus, prohibited from having a firearm. Police say Newton had an active
parole violation warrant out for him and had a long list of previous
convictions, including eight citations for failure to appear in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703770787158.png" alt="Newton-photo Buchanan County" />
 <figcaption>Newton-photo Buchanan County</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 39-year-old man has been charged with unlawful possession of
a firearm after brandishing a weapon in a threatening manner when a police
pursuit ended at 16th and Garfield Tuesday night.Nicholas Glen Newton, listed as a homeless St. Joseph
resident, fled from police in what appears to have been a stolen U-Haul truck.
Shots were fired in the incident. No one was harmed.Missouri State Highway Patrol investigators are reviewing the
St. Joseph police officer’s role in the shooting. Highway Patrol Troop H
spokesman, Sgt. Shane Hux, says the patrol responded to the scene as soon as
requested.“St. Joseph Police Department requested Missouri State Highway
Patrol’s assistance with an officer-involved shooting,” Hux tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “Our Division of Drugs and Crime Control responded to the scene.
They are investigating the officer-involved shooting. They are not
investigating the initial incident that led up to that.”St. Joseph police report a 45-caliber handgun was recovered at
the scene.The probable cause statement filed in the case reports Newton
refused to pull the truck over during an attempted traffic stop around 10 o’clock
Tuesday night, continuing to drive west on Garfield. Officers deployed spike
strips. Newton lost control of the truck in the 1600 block of Garfield. It went
off the street and got stuck on railroad tracks.St. Joseph police report Newton threatened officers with a
handgun, believed to have been stolen in October. Newtown is a convicted felon
and, thus, prohibited from having a firearm. Police say Newton had an active
parole violation warrant out for him and had a long list of previous
convictions, including eight citations for failure to appear in court.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

HW Patrol investigates St. Joseph police shooting; unlawful possession charge filed

A pedestrian suffered serious injury when a vehicle struck him at
South 22nd Street and Mitchell Wednesday night, then fled from the
scene.

St. Joseph police report the victim was conscious and spoke
with officers after being struck. He suffered a large cut to his head and
internal injuries. Though serious, the injuries are not considered life
threatening.

An officer arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run shortly after
one o’clock Thursday morning at 36th and South 22nd
Street.

Charges are pending. The investigation continues.

by BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA pedestrian suffered serious injury when a vehicle struck him at
South 22nd Street and Mitchell Wednesday night, then fled from the
scene.St. Joseph police report the victim was conscious and spoke
with officers after being struck. He suffered a large cut to his head and
internal injuries. Though serious, the injuries are not considered life
threatening.An officer arrested a suspect in the hit-and-run shortly after
one o’clock Thursday morning at 36th and South 22nd
Street.Charges are pending. The investigation continues.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Pedestrian injured in St. Joseph hit-and-run; suspect under arrest

Legislation would task the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with regulating delta-8 products, just as the agency does for marijuana program

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

A Republican state senator has filed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">legislation</a>&nbsp;to renew last spring’s failed effort to regulate intoxicating hemp products in Missouri, such as Delta-8 drinks and edibles.

Delta-8 THC products can be sold in stores in Missouri because the intoxicating ingredient, THC, is derived from hemp, not marijuana which is a controlled substance. And hemp is federally legal.

There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;

And there’s no requirement to list potential effects on the label or test how much THC is actually in them.

State Sen. Nick Schroer,&nbsp;a Republican from O’Fallon who chairs the legislative committee that oversees Missouri’s marijuana rules, said the products are too easily accessible to children, particularly teenagers.&nbsp;

“I’ve had constituents reaching out to me saying that their kids had been hospitalized,” Schroer said.&nbsp;

Schroer’s bill would task the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with regulating these products, as the agency currently does for the state’s marijuana program. And products would have to be sold at DHSS-licensed dispensaries. State Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican, has filed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">companion bill</a>&nbsp;in the House.&nbsp;

DHSS spokeswoman Lisa Cox said the department does not take positions on proposed bills.

“However,” she said, “we do acknowledge the potential and ongoing public health impact of unregulated THC products.”

Over the past few years, Cox said there’s has been an increase in children going to the hospital for cannabis exposure.

“The department has increased its emphasis on regulatory mechanisms that protect health and children in order to minimize any contribution of the regulated cannabis market to such incidents,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“As of right now, there is no such protective framework for unregulated THC products.”

Sean Hackman, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said his organization advocates for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.

“While any overdose report, especially those involving minors, is deeply concerning, this does not constitute a public health emergency but rather an opportunity for improved regulation,”&nbsp;Hackman said in an email to The Independent, in response to the legislation.

The association opposes tasking the department with regulating the products and requiring them to be sold in dispensaries.

A similar bill filed by Republican state Rep. Kurtis Gregory of Marshall got stuck in committee&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">during the last legislative session</a>.&nbsp;

During a hearing on the bill, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers pushed back on the idea of forcing the hemp industry under the umbrella of DHSS, saying that would allow the “marijuana monopoly” to take over this market given the limited number of licenses for dispensaries available.

After voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in 2018, competition for licenses became fierce when the state capped the number of applications it would approve — initially issuing 338 licenses to sell, grow and process marijuana.

Widespread reports of irregularities in how applications were scored fueled criticism of the industry and accusations that insiders were building a monopoly. That criticism spilled into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana last year, though the proposal still won voter approval.

Some applicants who didn’t land medical marijuana licenses turned to producing hemp-derived THC products.

Another concern critics had last year was that hemp is federally legal, and lumping it in with the regulations of a controlled substance could result in lawsuits.

Schroer said he’ll be closely watching the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/18/company-behind-missouri-marijuana-recall-poses-legal-challenge-to-states-regulations/">ongoing legal case</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;Robertsville-based marijuana manufacturer&nbsp;Delta Extraction.

Delta Extraction had its<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/16/cannabis-regulators-to-revoke-license-of-missouri-company-at-center-of-recall/">&nbsp;license to manufacture cannabis products revoked</a>&nbsp;in November, months after a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">massive recall</a>&nbsp;pulled more than 60,000 products off the shelves — which the state says were illegally made with a hemp-derived THC concentrate imported from out of state.

While hemp is federally legal, state regulators argue that once hemp-derived THC comes into the marijuana realm, they can regulate it.&nbsp;

The question currently before the Administrative Hearing Commission is whether or not Missouri regulators have the authority to prohibit licensed companies from infusing Missouri-grown marijuana products with hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;

If the company loses its appeal before the commission, then Delta will continue to fight in court, the company’s attorneys have said.

And Delta will be arguing the state has no authority to regulate hemp products at all.&nbsp;

“The Division of Cannabis Regulation’s authority to regulate is limited to non-hemp marijuana and does not depend on whether it is used to make THC,” Delta’s attorney, Chuck Hatfield, wrote in a recent letter to the department.&nbsp;

Schroer said his proposed legislation will be mindful of the court’s decision in the case.&nbsp;

“We’re still going to use this judicial guidance to craft a type of law compliant with that case law,” he said, “that is going to protect the youth of our state and any type of consumer of these types of products.”

In September, a federal judge in Arkansas sided with hemp companies in granting a preliminary injunction on a state law — similar to the one Schroer and Perkins have proposed — aimed at regulating hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;

U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson said if Arkansas wants to participate in the federal hemp program, then it can’t pick and choose which parts of the law it wants to follow.

Despite the preliminary court order in Arkansas, Schroer said he’s not convinced the federal government has the authority to prevent state legislators from passing laws to regulate intoxicating cannabinoids.&nbsp;

“When you’re putting these things into the stream of commerce and you look at the 10th Amendment,” he said, “there’s really nothing in the U.S. Constitution that says that we can’t clearly legislate this type of issue.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697160674008.png" alt="&nbsp;Delta-8 THC products like this cherry seltzer can be sold in stores in Missouri because the intoxicating ingredient, THC, is derived from hemp, not marijuana which is a controlled substance (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Delta-8 THC products like this cherry seltzer can be sold in stores in Missouri because the intoxicating ingredient, THC, is derived from hemp, not marijuana which is a controlled substance (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Legislation would task the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with regulating delta-8 products, just as the agency does for marijuana program</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A Republican state senator has filed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">legislation</a>&nbsp;to renew last spring’s failed effort to regulate intoxicating hemp products in Missouri, such as Delta-8 drinks and edibles.Delta-8 THC products can be sold in stores in Missouri because the intoxicating ingredient, THC, is derived from hemp, not marijuana which is a controlled substance. And hemp is federally legal.There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;And there’s no requirement to list potential effects on the label or test how much THC is actually in them.State Sen. Nick Schroer,&nbsp;a Republican from O’Fallon who chairs the legislative committee that oversees Missouri’s marijuana rules, said the products are too easily accessible to children, particularly teenagers.&nbsp;“I’ve had constituents reaching out to me saying that their kids had been hospitalized,” Schroer said.&nbsp;Schroer’s bill would task the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services with regulating these products, as the agency currently does for the state’s marijuana program. And products would have to be sold at DHSS-licensed dispensaries. State Rep. Chad Perkins, a Bowling Green Republican, has filed a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">companion bill</a>&nbsp;in the House.&nbsp;DHSS spokeswoman Lisa Cox said the department does not take positions on proposed bills.“However,” she said, “we do acknowledge the potential and ongoing public health impact of unregulated THC products.”Over the past few years, Cox said there’s has been an increase in children going to the hospital for cannabis exposure.“The department has increased its emphasis on regulatory mechanisms that protect health and children in order to minimize any contribution of the regulated cannabis market to such incidents,”&nbsp;she said.&nbsp;“As of right now, there is no such protective framework for unregulated THC products.”Sean Hackman, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said his organization advocates for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.“While any overdose report, especially those involving minors, is deeply concerning, this does not constitute a public health emergency but rather an opportunity for improved regulation,”&nbsp;Hackman said in an email to The Independent, in response to the legislation.The association opposes tasking the department with regulating the products and requiring them to be sold in dispensaries.A similar bill filed by Republican state Rep. Kurtis Gregory of Marshall got stuck in committee&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">during the last legislative session</a>.&nbsp;During a hearing on the bill, both Republican and Democratic lawmakers pushed back on the idea of forcing the hemp industry under the umbrella of DHSS, saying that would allow the “marijuana monopoly” to take over this market given the limited number of licenses for dispensaries available.After voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing medical marijuana in 2018, competition for licenses became fierce when the state capped the number of applications it would approve — initially issuing 338 licenses to sell, grow and process marijuana.Widespread reports of irregularities in how applications were scored fueled criticism of the industry and accusations that insiders were building a monopoly. That criticism spilled into the campaign to legalize recreational marijuana last year, though the proposal still won voter approval.Some applicants who didn’t land medical marijuana licenses turned to producing hemp-derived THC products.Another concern critics had last year was that hemp is federally legal, and lumping it in with the regulations of a controlled substance could result in lawsuits.Schroer said he’ll be closely watching the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/18/company-behind-missouri-marijuana-recall-poses-legal-challenge-to-states-regulations/">ongoing legal case</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;Robertsville-based marijuana manufacturer&nbsp;Delta Extraction.Delta Extraction had its<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/11/16/cannabis-regulators-to-revoke-license-of-missouri-company-at-center-of-recall/">&nbsp;license to manufacture cannabis products revoked</a>&nbsp;in November, months after a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/16/state-faces-pushback-from-missouri-marijuana-industry-over-product-recall/">massive recall</a>&nbsp;pulled more than 60,000 products off the shelves — which the state says were illegally made with a hemp-derived THC concentrate imported from out of state.While hemp is federally legal, state regulators argue that once hemp-derived THC comes into the marijuana realm, they can regulate it.&nbsp;The question currently before the Administrative Hearing Commission is whether or not Missouri regulators have the authority to prohibit licensed companies from infusing Missouri-grown marijuana products with hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;If the company loses its appeal before the commission, then Delta will continue to fight in court, the company’s attorneys have said.And Delta will be arguing the state has no authority to regulate hemp products at all.&nbsp;“The Division of Cannabis Regulation’s authority to regulate is limited to non-hemp marijuana and does not depend on whether it is used to make THC,” Delta’s attorney, Chuck Hatfield, wrote in a recent letter to the department.&nbsp;Schroer said his proposed legislation will be mindful of the court’s decision in the case.&nbsp;“We’re still going to use this judicial guidance to craft a type of law compliant with that case law,” he said, “that is going to protect the youth of our state and any type of consumer of these types of products.”In September, a federal judge in Arkansas sided with hemp companies in granting a preliminary injunction on a state law — similar to the one Schroer and Perkins have proposed — aimed at regulating hemp-derived THC.&nbsp;U.S. District Judge Billy Roy Wilson said if Arkansas wants to participate in the federal hemp program, then it can’t pick and choose which parts of the law it wants to follow.Despite the preliminary court order in Arkansas, Schroer said he’s not convinced the federal government has the authority to prevent state legislators from passing laws to regulate intoxicating cannabinoids.&nbsp;“When you’re putting these things into the stream of commerce and you look at the 10th Amendment,” he said, “there’s really nothing in the U.S. Constitution that says that we can’t clearly legislate this type of issue.”

Missouri lawmakers renew push to regulate ‘delta-8 THC’ hemp products

ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man who continues to skip scheduled court appearances spent Christmas in jail.

On Sunday, police arrested 28-year-old Wiliam T. White of Atchison, on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

On Saturday, he was issued a&nbsp;notice to appear in court for leaving the scene of an accident that occurred in the 600 block Spring.

Since May of 2022, White has been jailed three times for failure to appear in court, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703687433839.png" alt="White-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>White-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —A Kansas man who continues to skip scheduled court appearances spent Christmas in jail.On Sunday, police arrested 28-year-old Wiliam T. White of Atchison, on District Court warrants for failure to appear in court, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.On Saturday, he was issued a&nbsp;notice to appear in court for leaving the scene of an accident that occurred in the 600 block Spring.Since May of 2022, White has been jailed three times for failure to appear in court, according to online jail records.

Kan. man spent Christmas in jail after continually skipping court

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Wednesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patol reported a 2001 Jeep Wrangler driven by Justin E. Peery, 41, Albany, was northbound on Route A at NE Glenwood Road two miles north of Maysville.

The driver lost control on the snow covered bridge. The jeep, struck a guardrail, traveled off the right side of the road and struck the bridge.

DeKalb Clinton EMS transported Peery to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30a.m. Wednesday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patol reported a 2001 Jeep Wrangler driven by Justin E. Peery, 41, Albany, was northbound on Route A at NE Glenwood Road two miles north of Maysville.The driver lost control on the snow covered bridge. The jeep, struck a guardrail, traveled off the right side of the road and struck the bridge.DeKalb Clinton EMS transported Peery to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man injured after jeep strikes snow covered bridge

Officials with the St. Joseph School District are continuing to analyze information from the latest state report card.  

The report card showed the district had made strides in attendance, some academic areas, but continued to struggle with teacher retention and hiring. 

Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services Ashly McGinnis says the district has still had trouble bouncing back from the pandemic. 

"I think some folks got into a bad habit of not being engaged, whether that's with school or work, or even with community and family," Mcginnis tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think there's been a disconnect from that, and we're still trying to come back and make sure the community values education." 

The district saw progress in attendance, increasing student attendance to 79-percent.  

McGinnis says, however, the district didn't quite hit the state's standard of 80-percent., which is frustrating. 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostOfficials with the St. Joseph School District are continuing to analyze information from the latest state report card. The report card showed the district had made strides in attendance, some academic areas, but continued to struggle with teacher retention and hiring. Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education Services Ashly McGinnis says the district has still had trouble bouncing back from the pandemic. "I think some folks got into a bad habit of not being engaged, whether that's with school or work, or even with community and family," Mcginnis tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think there's been a disconnect from that, and we're still trying to come back and make sure the community values education." The district saw progress in attendance, increasing student attendance to 79-percent. McGinnis says, however, the district didn't quite hit the state's standard of 80-percent., which is frustrating. "Attendance we grew significantly in that area, but according to the APR report you have to be at 80% as a district to get any points at all, so we were just shy of that at 79%," Mcginnis explains. "Which is frustrating for us because we're putting in so many efforts towards attendance, but there is progress and then there's also areas we need continued focus." Mcginnis says the district has continued implementing several strategies to help continue that progress, such as bringing back the Strive for Five campaign. The district also made strides academically in social studies but continues to struggle in math. St. Joseph school officials hope to improve academics by hiring more high-quality teachers. McGinnis says while the district does have many good teachers, the hiring pool isn't as deep as it once was. "When I was the principal at Lafayette, we had a PE position open, we had 24 applications, now we may be lucky if we get two," Mcginnis says. "There's just not as many people going into education now and with Missouri being 50th in pay, that makes it challenging to attract teachers." Mcginnis noted that even recently during a hiring fair she was next to the Omaha school district, offering starting wages over $50,000 dollars, which is challenging to compete with.

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