Two men who were instrumental in bringing Kansas City Chiefs training camp to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph are now members of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Dirck Clark, former president of the Missouri Western Board of Governors, and Charlie Shields, former State Senator of the 34th District, were among the inductees in this year’s St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Class.

Shields, a St. Joseph resident, says he was surprised by the honor, but humbled nonetheless.

"It's been awhile since we actually got training camp to St. Joseph," Shields told KFEQ Radio. "It's a great honor and I know Dirck (Clark) feels the same thing to be recognized for our efforts to help bring the camp to St. Joseph."

Training camp has been in St. Joseph since 2010. Leading up that, Shields says it was a years-long process of getting the agreement done.

The idea and vision of camp being held at Missouri Western really started several years before 2010, when the team held OTAs on campus.

"A few years before we located the camp, we had summer OTAs at Missouri Western," Shields recalled. "And the community just turned out. It was a beautiful summer morning, and I think the Chiefs were impressed with how the community turned out, what the facilities looked like and I think they started to see the possibility."

Talks continued between Shields, then President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate, the Missouri Western Board of Governors and Chiefs ownership about moving training camp from River Falls, Wisconsin to St. Joseph.

 Shields says there was a meeting with then Chiefs General Manager Carl Peterson and team chairman Clark Hunt at halftime of a preseason game with the St. Louis Rams.

Part of the agreement was Shields securing $25 million in tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board to help with Arrowhead Stadium renovations.

"But, there's really one thing that was going to make this attractive - bringing the camp back to St. Joseph and Missouri," Shields said, "and they agreed that it was a great idea. That if we put a package together, they would do that. That's exactly how the whole thing got started."

As part of the plan, the Chiefs donated $10 million to Missouri Western to help with construction of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex and other facilities to help lure the Chiefs to campus.

The original deal was for five seasons. Now, 14 years later, Shields says all of Chiefs Kingdom can see how beneficial and impactful having the camp at Missouri Western has been.

"The indoor training facility with the weight rooms, conditioning rooms, therapy rooms, all top notch. All of that adds together as to why that thing has been there 14 years. It's good for the Chiefs, the community and Missouri Western."

"And the fans, all you have to do is watch on one of those practice mornings, the trail of cars coming up from Kansas City to see training camp. It shows that it makes a huge impact."

You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719427664252.jpeg" alt="Stock photo by&nbsp; Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo by&nbsp; Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostTwo men who were instrumental in bringing Kansas City Chiefs training camp to Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph are now members of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame.Dirck Clark, former president of the Missouri Western Board of Governors, and Charlie Shields, former State Senator of the 34th District, were among the inductees in this year’s St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Class.Shields, a St. Joseph resident, says he was surprised by the honor, but humbled nonetheless."It's been awhile since we actually got training camp to St. Joseph," Shields told KFEQ Radio. "It's a great honor and I know Dirck (Clark) feels the same thing to be recognized for our efforts to help bring the camp to St. Joseph."Training camp has been in St. Joseph since 2010. Leading up that, Shields says it was a years-long process of getting the agreement done.The idea and vision of camp being held at Missouri Western really started several years before 2010, when the team held OTAs on campus."A few years before we located the camp, we had summer OTAs at Missouri Western," Shields recalled. "And the community just turned out. It was a beautiful summer morning, and I think the Chiefs were impressed with how the community turned out, what the facilities looked like and I think they started to see the possibility."Talks continued between Shields, then President Pro Tem of the Missouri Senate, the Missouri Western Board of Governors and Chiefs ownership about moving training camp from River Falls, Wisconsin to St. Joseph. Shields says there was a meeting with then Chiefs General Manager Carl Peterson and team chairman Clark Hunt at halftime of a preseason game with the St. Louis Rams.Part of the agreement was Shields securing $25 million in tax credits from the Missouri Development Finance Board to help with Arrowhead Stadium renovations."But, there's really one thing that was going to make this attractive - bringing the camp back to St. Joseph and Missouri," Shields said, "and they agreed that it was a great idea. That if we put a package together, they would do that. That's exactly how the whole thing got started."As part of the plan, the Chiefs donated $10 million to Missouri Western to help with construction of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex and other facilities to help lure the Chiefs to campus.The original deal was for five seasons. Now, 14 years later, Shields says all of Chiefs Kingdom can see how beneficial and impactful having the camp at Missouri Western has been."The indoor training facility with the weight rooms, conditioning rooms, therapy rooms, all top notch. All of that adds together as to why that thing has been there 14 years. It's good for the Chiefs, the community and Missouri Western.""And the fans, all you have to do is watch on one of those practice mornings, the trail of cars coming up from Kansas City to see training camp. It shows that it makes a huge impact."Charlie Shields interview<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Charlie-Shields---history-of-Chiefs-camp-e2lbfbj" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719427899002.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Charlie Shields recalls the agreement that first brought Chiefs camp to St. Joseph

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has extended the state’s
emergency declaration to cover potential Missouri River flooding.

Parson first declared a State of Emergency on May 2nd
in response to severe weather, primarily in southern Missouri.

Executive Order 24-08 extends that State of Emergency to
prepare for potential flooding along the Missouri River as floodwaters from
northwest Iowa make their way downstream on the Missouri. Rulo, Nebraska has
already experienced minor-to-moderate flooding with St. Joseph expected to see
a crest of the Missouri River at 24 feet by the end of this week, which is
considered moderate flooding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reduced water releases
from Gavins Point Dam into the Missouri River from 24,000 cubic feet per second
to 20,000 cfs.

“We have seen the tremendous, destructive force of flooding
this past week in neighboring states to our north and must ensure resources are
available should flooding threaten areas of our state,” Gov. Parson
said in a written statement released by his office. “This extension allows
us to be ready to respond and support our communities. We encourage Missourians
to follow their local forecasts and have preparations in place to protect
themselves and their loved ones.”

Extending the State of Emergency authorizes the state to
directly assist local jurisdictions, allowing increased flexibility and
capacity to support response and recovery efforts. A State of Emergency is also
the first step required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek a
major disaster declaration if statewide damages meet federal thresholds for
Missouri, according to the governor’s office.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719422484408.jpeg" alt="Missouri River flooding along I-29 in Sioux City, Iowa/KSCJ photo, courtesy of Radio Iowa" />
 <figcaption>Missouri River flooding along I-29 in Sioux City, Iowa/KSCJ photo, courtesy of Radio Iowa</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Gov. Mike Parson has extended the state’s
emergency declaration to cover potential Missouri River flooding.Parson first declared a State of Emergency on May 2nd
in response to severe weather, primarily in southern Missouri.Executive Order 24-08 extends that State of Emergency to
prepare for potential flooding along the Missouri River as floodwaters from
northwest Iowa make their way downstream on the Missouri. Rulo, Nebraska has
already experienced minor-to-moderate flooding with St. Joseph expected to see
a crest of the Missouri River at 24 feet by the end of this week, which is
considered moderate flooding.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reduced water releases
from Gavins Point Dam into the Missouri River from 24,000 cubic feet per second
to 20,000 cfs.“We have seen the tremendous, destructive force of flooding
this past week in neighboring states to our north and must ensure resources are
available should flooding threaten areas of our state,” Gov. Parson
said in a written statement released by his office. “This extension allows
us to be ready to respond and support our communities. We encourage Missourians
to follow their local forecasts and have preparations in place to protect
themselves and their loved ones.”Extending the State of Emergency authorizes the state to
directly assist local jurisdictions, allowing increased flexibility and
capacity to support response and recovery efforts. A State of Emergency is also
the first step required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to seek a
major disaster declaration if statewide damages meet federal thresholds for
Missouri, according to the governor’s office.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Gov. Parson extends state of emergency to cover potential Missouri River flooding

Filming on a movie described by director Joshua Brandon as a family dramedy called '25 Miles to Normal' is taking place in St. Joseph and Kansas City.  

St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel says if it wasn't for Missouri's film tax credit, Missouri wouldn't have even been considered. 

"Just because it's such a competitive industry and there's so much money in film, I mean it's probably the most expensive artform out there, it's a multibillion dollar industry," Mengel tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, anywhere that they can save money at all matters a great deal." 

The movie, both written and directed by Brandon, focuses on a doctor and his estranged father who reluctantly agrees to reunite at a family reunion.  

Mengel says the impact the film will have on tourism is two-fold, starting in pre-production 

Just before everything goes on, leading up to when they are filming, they will spend a ton of money researching and looking for the right places, throwing themselves into the community, Mengel explains. 

And on the back end of production, Mengel says the filmmakers will share in their own circle the experience they had filming here 

"We want that to obviously be a super positive experience, we want people to know its a film friendly community, so that's what we're going to try to leave them with," Mengel says. 

Mengel says films and TV shows also carry a powerful weight in influencing places where people want to travel to see unique locations where it's filmed. 

The newly reinstated tax credit for movie production was vital in bringing the production team for '25 Miles to Normal' to St. Joseph and Kansas City. 

Mengel says just as important was the community support shown during visits from producers. 

" I saw all of them interact with locals here, and locals who had no idea that they were searching for their next film location," Mengel points out. "And they were just hit with awesome hospitality, and they were super welcoming, and they were instantly excited to tell them about their own building, their own place, or their own history they knew about something." 

Filming for the movie is underway and will run through July. For more information on the film, you can visit click <a href="https://www.25milestonormal.com/">HERE</a>.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Hollywood is coming to the St. Joseph. Filming on a movie described by director Joshua Brandon as a family dramedy called '25 Miles to Normal' is taking place in St. Joseph and Kansas City. St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel says if it wasn't for Missouri's film tax credit, Missouri wouldn't have even been considered. "Just because it's such a competitive industry and there's so much money in film, I mean it's probably the most expensive artform out there, it's a multibillion dollar industry," Mengel tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, anywhere that they can save money at all matters a great deal." The movie, both written and directed by Brandon, focuses on a doctor and his estranged father who reluctantly agrees to reunite at a family reunion. Mengel says the impact the film will have on tourism is two-fold, starting in pre-production Just before everything goes on, leading up to when they are filming, they will spend a ton of money researching and looking for the right places, throwing themselves into the community, Mengel explains. And on the back end of production, Mengel says the filmmakers will share in their own circle the experience they had filming here "We want that to obviously be a super positive experience, we want people to know its a film friendly community, so that's what we're going to try to leave them with," Mengel says. Mengel says films and TV shows also carry a powerful weight in influencing places where people want to travel to see unique locations where it's filmed. The newly reinstated tax credit for movie production was vital in bringing the production team for '25 Miles to Normal' to St. Joseph and Kansas City. Mengel says just as important was the community support shown during visits from producers. " I saw all of them interact with locals here, and locals who had no idea that they were searching for their next film location," Mengel points out. "And they were just hit with awesome hospitality, and they were super welcoming, and they were instantly excited to tell them about their own building, their own place, or their own history they knew about something." Filming for the movie is underway and will run through July. For more information on the film, you can visit click <a href="https://www.25milestonormal.com/">HERE</a>.

Hollywood comes to St. Joseph

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves praises
the job House Speaker Mike Johnson has done after assuming the role in wake of
Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.

Graves, a Republican, says Johnson inherited the
same small faction of Republicans who drove McCarthy from the speakership.

“See, the unfortunate part is there are people on
the Republican side and there are people on the Democrat side that would rather
blow the process up than govern,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “That’s
what’s unfortunate, because Congress is suppose to govern and that takes
compromise.”

Graves says with such a slim majority, Johnson
has had to navigate very rough political waters.

“But this idea that it’s all or nothing is what’s
the problem,” Graves says, referring to some of his fellow Republicans. “And when
you have as thin a margin as Speaker Johnson has, or as Speaker McCarthy had
prior to that, it makes it very, very tough to do the job, to govern.”

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz led a successful effort
to remove California Congressman Kevin McCarthy from the speakership. Gaetz,
who complained McCarthy compromised too much with President Biden and
Democrats, relied on 208 Democrats along with only seven Republicans to pass a
motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. Republicans scrambled to promote a
successor, finally settling on Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who had served as the
vice chair of the House Republican Conference.

Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene failed in a
similar effort against Johnson, who she called “pathetic, weak, and
unacceptable.” An overwhelming majority of the U.S. House voted against Greene’s
motion.

“You know, it’s unfortunate that they have to
deal with this, but I think Mike is doing a good job and I support him,” Graves
says.

There are 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in
the United States House with four vacancies.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves praises
the job House Speaker Mike Johnson has done after assuming the role in wake of
Kevin McCarthy’s ouster.Graves, a Republican, says Johnson inherited the
same small faction of Republicans who drove McCarthy from the speakership.“See, the unfortunate part is there are people on
the Republican side and there are people on the Democrat side that would rather
blow the process up than govern,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “That’s
what’s unfortunate, because Congress is suppose to govern and that takes
compromise.”Graves says with such a slim majority, Johnson
has had to navigate very rough political waters.“But this idea that it’s all or nothing is what’s
the problem,” Graves says, referring to some of his fellow Republicans. “And when
you have as thin a margin as Speaker Johnson has, or as Speaker McCarthy had
prior to that, it makes it very, very tough to do the job, to govern.”Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz led a successful effort
to remove California Congressman Kevin McCarthy from the speakership. Gaetz,
who complained McCarthy compromised too much with President Biden and
Democrats, relied on 208 Democrats along with only seven Republicans to pass a
motion to vacate the Speaker’s chair. Republicans scrambled to promote a
successor, finally settling on Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who had served as the
vice chair of the House Republican Conference.Congresswoman Majorie Taylor Greene failed in a
similar effort against Johnson, who she called “pathetic, weak, and
unacceptable.” An overwhelming majority of the U.S. House voted against Greene’s
motion.“You know, it’s unfortunate that they have to
deal with this, but I think Mike is doing a good job and I support him,” Graves
says.There are 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in
the United States House with four vacancies.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves praises Speaker Johnson for navigating rough political waters

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.

Just before 4:30p.m. June 22,&nbsp;Brown County and the Kansas Department for Children and Familes went to a residence in Morrill on a welfare check, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

Upon conclusion of the interaction, Alicia Jennings, 33&nbsp; and Patrick Perkins 38 both of Morrill were arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; 

The children in the home were placed in Police Protective Custody.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719261171231.png" alt="Perkins- Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Perkins- Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just before 4:30p.m. June 22,&nbsp;Brown County and the Kansas Department for Children and Familes went to a residence in Morrill on a welfare check, according to Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719261130683.png" alt="Jennings-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Jennings-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon conclusion of the interaction, Alicia Jennings, 33&nbsp; and Patrick Perkins 38 both of Morrill were arrested on requested charges of Possession of Meth and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.&nbsp; The children in the home were placed in Police Protective Custody.

Children placed into protective custody after Kan. drug bust

St.
Joseph School Board member Isaura Garcia has dropped her civil lawsuit against
fellow board member Whitney Lanning.

Garcia,
in a statement released via email, says the criminal justice system has held
Lanning accountable and, as a result, there is no need to continue to pursue
civil litigation. Lanning has been placed on two years probation after pleading
guilty to second-degree harassment.

Lanning
confronted Garcia after a tense school board meeting February 26th in
which the board narrowly rejected moving to a four-day school week. Lanning
supported the measure. Garcia opposed it.

Garcia
claimed Lanning threatened her and threw a bag, hitting a wall next to her.
Lanning has countered that Garcia made an inappropriate reference to her child.
The St. Joseph Board of Education officially censured Lanning for her actions.

Garcia
maintains that Lanning should resign from the school board. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/579a21f7-5b7f-4d5b-942a-ff3d79fcdbc4">Lanning has told
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post she has no plans to resign.</a>

"I am pleased that
our criminal justice system held Mrs. Lanning accountable for her outrageous
conduct when she pled guilty to harassment earlier this month. I am also
grateful the court ordered her to participate in anger management. From the
beginning, my only objective was to see that she was held accountable for her
inexcusable actions. The criminal justice system has now held Mrs. Lanning
accountable, and, as a result, there is no need for me to continue to pursue
civil litigation. I will continue to serve the students, staff, and community.
While I remain convinced that her actions make her unfit to serve on the Board
and believe she should resign, I sincerely hope that we can work together
professionally for the remainder of our tenure on the Board. "

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719345412328.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph School Board members (left to right) David Foster, Isaura Garcia, Kenneth Reeder, and Whitney Lanning.JPG" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph School Board members (left to right) David Foster, Isaura Garcia, Kenneth Reeder, and Whitney Lanning.JPG</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt.
Joseph School Board member Isaura Garcia has dropped her civil lawsuit against
fellow board member Whitney Lanning.Garcia,
in a statement released via email, says the criminal justice system has held
Lanning accountable and, as a result, there is no need to continue to pursue
civil litigation. Lanning has been placed on two years probation after pleading
guilty to second-degree harassment.Lanning
confronted Garcia after a tense school board meeting February 26th in
which the board narrowly rejected moving to a four-day school week. Lanning
supported the measure. Garcia opposed it.Garcia
claimed Lanning threatened her and threw a bag, hitting a wall next to her.
Lanning has countered that Garcia made an inappropriate reference to her child.
The St. Joseph Board of Education officially censured Lanning for her actions.Garcia
maintains that Lanning should resign from the school board. <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/579a21f7-5b7f-4d5b-942a-ff3d79fcdbc4">Lanning has told
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post she has no plans to resign.</a>Garcia
released the following statement:"I am pleased that
our criminal justice system held Mrs. Lanning accountable for her outrageous
conduct when she pled guilty to harassment earlier this month. I am also
grateful the court ordered her to participate in anger management. From the
beginning, my only objective was to see that she was held accountable for her
inexcusable actions. The criminal justice system has now held Mrs. Lanning
accountable, and, as a result, there is no need for me to continue to pursue
civil litigation. I will continue to serve the students, staff, and community.
While I remain convinced that her actions make her unfit to serve on the Board
and believe she should resign, I sincerely hope that we can work together
professionally for the remainder of our tenure on the Board. "You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Garcia drops civil suit against fellow St. Joseph School Board member Lanning

A 38-year-old St. Joseph resident has been arrested, suspected
in two armed robberies late Monday night.

St. Joseph police say the reports of armed robberies came
nearly at the same time, about half an hour before midnight. In the first, the
suspect is reported to enter U.S. Oil at 601 South 22nd Street with a
firearm, allegedly stealing property. Shortly after, an armed robber threatened
a clerk at Woods, 1334 Frederick, demanding and leaving with cash.

Police arrested the suspect shortly before midnight while he
was on foot in the 900 block of North 20th Street.

Police report officers arrested a suspected accomplice, a
28-year-old St. Joseph resident, in the 29-Hundred block of Patee Street around one o’clock Tuesday morning.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 38-year-old St. Joseph resident has been arrested, suspected
in two armed robberies late Monday night.St. Joseph police say the reports of armed robberies came
nearly at the same time, about half an hour before midnight. In the first, the
suspect is reported to enter U.S. Oil at 601 South 22nd Street with a
firearm, allegedly stealing property. Shortly after, an armed robber threatened
a clerk at Woods, 1334 Frederick, demanding and leaving with cash.Police arrested the suspect shortly before midnight while he
was on foot in the 900 block of North 20th Street.Police report officers arrested a suspected accomplice, a
28-year-old St. Joseph resident, in the 29-Hundred block of Patee Street around one o’clock Tuesday morning.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Suspect in custody in two St. Joseph armed robberies

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

A constellation of political action committees tied to a Jefferson City lobbyist raked in $530,000 in contributions this month from a pair of companies.

The six PACs — MO Majority PAC, Missouri Growth PAC, Missouri C PAC, Missouri Senior PAC, Missouri AG PAC and Conservative Leaders of Missouri — are connected to Steve Tilley, a lobbyist and former Republican speaker of the Missouri House.&nbsp;

And both of the donors — Torch Electronics and New Day Healthcare — are Tilley clients.&nbsp;

It’s a familiar pattern. Tilley’s clients for years have spread donations among the six PACs, drawing criticism from those who see it as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/23/exploiting-a-loophole-pacs-tied-to-missouri-lobbyist-draw-new-criticism/">a way to skirt limits on how much a candidate</a>&nbsp;can accept from an individual or PAC, as well as a ban on direct corporate contribution to candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A spokeswoman for Tilley’s firm declined to comment on the donations.&nbsp;

Torch, which owns games that operate like slot machines that state gambling regulars argue are illegal, cut checks last week for $55,000 to each of the six PACs. Since 2022, the company has given the PACs $750,000.&nbsp;

New Day owns Missouri-based Phoenix Home Care and Hospice. It gave $40,000 checks to each PAC, adding to the $400,000 Phoenix has directly donated to the PACs since 2022.&nbsp;

The haul comes a little over a month before voters head to the polls for the statewide primary on Aug. 6.&nbsp;

None of the PACs made any donations this year until Monday, when all six dropped $20,000 each into the campaign committee supporting state Sen. Lincoln Hough’s campaign for lieutenant governor, for a one-day total of $120,000.&nbsp;

Before Hough, the largest beneficiary of the PACs largesse was&nbsp;House Speaker Dean Plocher. The committee supporting his candidacy for secretary of state has received $50,000 in combined donations since 2021 from Conservative Leaders of Missouri, Missouri Senior PAC&nbsp;and MO Majority PAC.

In addition to its donations to Tilley’s PACs, Torch also gave $15,000 this month to Uniting Missouri, a committee set up in 2018 by supporters of Republican Gov. Mike Parson.

Tilley is a<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article234512532.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;longtime friend and advisor</a>&nbsp;to the governor. And though Parson has made it clear that he has no intention of ever running for office again, Uniting Missouri keeps raising and spending money.&nbsp;

On the same day as the Torch donation, Uniting Missouri received $50,000 from the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, which is also a Tilley client.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Tom Burcham, an attorney who serves as spokesman for Uniting Missouri, did not respond to a request for comment on the future of the PAC or its ongoing purpose with Parson’s political career nearly over.&nbsp;

Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, said in an emailed statement that second-term governors “always raise funds to support causes and to promote the great State of Missouri. We are happy to help this effort.”

Parson took over as governor in June 2018 when his predecessor — Eric Greitens — resigned to avoid impeachment and settle a felony charge in St. Louis.&nbsp;

He won a full term in 2020. But because Greitens had more than two years left on his term when he resigned, Parson is prohibited from running again because of term limits.&nbsp;

After his 2020 victory, Uniting Missouri spent much of its money on campaign advisers and advertising —&nbsp; $69,000 on consultants in 2022, along with, $150,000 on ads.

Spending patterns changed the last two years, focused mostly on Parson’s travel.&nbsp;

Uniting Missouri spent $58,000 in 2023 and $65,000 for Parson’s trip to watch the Super Bowl. The PAC also spent $52,000 in 2023 in payments to an aviation company owned by Tilley.

This story was updated to reflect donations made to the PAC supporting Lincoln Hough for lieutenant governor.&nbsp;

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>A constellation of political action committees tied to a Jefferson City lobbyist raked in $530,000 in contributions this month from a pair of companies.The six PACs — MO Majority PAC, Missouri Growth PAC, Missouri C PAC, Missouri Senior PAC, Missouri AG PAC and Conservative Leaders of Missouri — are connected to Steve Tilley, a lobbyist and former Republican speaker of the Missouri House.&nbsp;And both of the donors — Torch Electronics and New Day Healthcare — are Tilley clients.&nbsp;It’s a familiar pattern. Tilley’s clients for years have spread donations among the six PACs, drawing criticism from those who see it as&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/23/exploiting-a-loophole-pacs-tied-to-missouri-lobbyist-draw-new-criticism/">a way to skirt limits on how much a candidate</a>&nbsp;can accept from an individual or PAC, as well as a ban on direct corporate contribution to candidates.&nbsp;&nbsp;A spokeswoman for Tilley’s firm declined to comment on the donations.&nbsp;Torch, which owns games that operate like slot machines that state gambling regulars argue are illegal, cut checks last week for $55,000 to each of the six PACs. Since 2022, the company has given the PACs $750,000.&nbsp;New Day owns Missouri-based Phoenix Home Care and Hospice. It gave $40,000 checks to each PAC, adding to the $400,000 Phoenix has directly donated to the PACs since 2022.&nbsp;The haul comes a little over a month before voters head to the polls for the statewide primary on Aug. 6.&nbsp;None of the PACs made any donations this year until Monday, when all six dropped $20,000 each into the campaign committee supporting state Sen. Lincoln Hough’s campaign for lieutenant governor, for a one-day total of $120,000.&nbsp;Before Hough, the largest beneficiary of the PACs largesse was&nbsp;House Speaker Dean Plocher. The committee supporting his candidacy for secretary of state has received $50,000 in combined donations since 2021 from Conservative Leaders of Missouri, Missouri Senior PAC&nbsp;and MO Majority PAC.In addition to its donations to Tilley’s PACs, Torch also gave $15,000 this month to Uniting Missouri, a committee set up in 2018 by supporters of Republican Gov. Mike Parson.Tilley is a<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article234512532.html" target="_blank">&nbsp;longtime friend and advisor</a>&nbsp;to the governor. And though Parson has made it clear that he has no intention of ever running for office again, Uniting Missouri keeps raising and spending money.&nbsp;On the same day as the Torch donation, Uniting Missouri received $50,000 from the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, which is also a Tilley client.&nbsp;&nbsp;Tom Burcham, an attorney who serves as spokesman for Uniting Missouri, did not respond to a request for comment on the future of the PAC or its ongoing purpose with Parson’s political career nearly over.&nbsp;Andrew Mullins, executive director of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, said in an emailed statement that second-term governors “always raise funds to support causes and to promote the great State of Missouri. We are happy to help this effort.”Parson took over as governor in June 2018 when his predecessor — Eric Greitens — resigned to avoid impeachment and settle a felony charge in St. Louis.&nbsp;He won a full term in 2020. But because Greitens had more than two years left on his term when he resigned, Parson is prohibited from running again because of term limits.&nbsp;After his 2020 victory, Uniting Missouri spent much of its money on campaign advisers and advertising —&nbsp; $69,000 on consultants in 2022, along with, $150,000 on ads.Spending patterns changed the last two years, focused mostly on Parson’s travel.&nbsp;Uniting Missouri spent $58,000 in 2023 and $65,000 for Parson’s trip to watch the Super Bowl. The PAC also spent $52,000 in 2023 in payments to an aviation company owned by Tilley.This story was updated to reflect donations made to the PAC supporting Lincoln Hough for lieutenant governor.&nbsp;

PACs connected to Missouri lobbyist take in $530K from pair of companies

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent crime.

On Sunday, police arrested 24-year-old Jonathan M. Hundley of Rushville Mo, on a District Court warrant for battery and criminal damage to property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

In 2019, Hundley was jailed on requested charges of burglary and theft of firearms, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719236465282.png" alt="Hundley from a 2019 arrest- photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Hundley from a 2019 arrest- photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent crime.On Sunday, police arrested 24-year-old Jonathan M. Hundley of Rushville Mo, on a District Court warrant for battery and criminal damage to property, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.In 2019, Hundley was jailed on requested charges of burglary and theft of firearms, according to online jail records.

Missouri man jailed in Kansas for alleged violent crime

BROWN COUNTY —Law&nbsp; enforcement in Brown County are investigating a suspect for skipping court.

On June 22, deputies arrested&nbsp; 33-year-old Latisha Campbell of Hiawatha on a Brown County Failure to Appear Warrant, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719261375542.png" alt="Campbell-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Campbell-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law&nbsp; enforcement in Brown County are investigating a suspect for skipping court.On June 22, deputies arrested&nbsp; 33-year-old Latisha Campbell of Hiawatha on a Brown County Failure to Appear Warrant, according to Sheriff John Merchant.She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman jailed for skipping court appearance

The St. Joseph Frontier Casino is celebrating 30 years of operation the St. Joseph Community 

General Manager Don Wren says it's very special to be able to celebrate such a milestone 

" I think being able to be in an environment like this for 30 years in a small little town, to be able to not only have the guests come in and enjoy the environment and the entertainment we provide, but also being able to work with the community and all the vendors that we're able to employ, in addition to the employees, I think it's some of the most rewarding stuff, it really is," Wren tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

The casino that sits on the Missouri River is the second smallest in the state and was one of four original casinos that opened when riverboat gambling was legalized in 1993. 

Director of Gaming Operations Becky Boyles says it has been difficult through the years.  

"We did have a flood in 2011, and that water stayed in a long time, so we were out of work for a long time," Boyles says. "But we did have a great opportunity to spend a lot of our time representing the casino in the community during that event." 

The casino rebranded following the 2011 flood and rebranded once more in 2019 following another flood.  Boyles, whose worked at the casino for 25 years, says it has been challenging. 

"We have always been able to with a strong core group of long-term employees to pull it through," Boyles says.

Boyles says through the years the casino has seen a lot of evolution in the gaming industry 

"When I first started I came up through table games and we had table games from the front door all the way back to the men's room and in that time that I've been here we've transitioned more away from live table games into a wide variety of slot machines, because slot machines are really where it's at," Boyles explains.  

"But over the years we've been able to provide one of the main staples of entertainment in the St. Joseph area." 

The casino recently underwent a massive renovation to the gaming floor Wren says the reception to the renovations has been very positive 

"I think that the property was a little outdated, you know we had already remodeled the pavilion and then it just didn't really match with the boat," Wren points out. "But if you look at the history of the property, it's been through two major floods, it's been through several owners, and it's just gotten better every single time." 

Wren says that's a product of the community and the people they work with at the casino that helps the casino continue to get better through the years. 

The casino is also celebrating the anniversary with its patrons, offering a chance to win entries to spin a wheel and earn up to 300-thousand dollars through the 29th.&nbsp; More information <a href="https://www.stjofrontiercasino.com/event/30th-anniversary-300000-drawings/">HERE</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719263631125.jpeg" alt="Officials with the St. Joseph Frontier Casino cut the ribbon celebrating 30 years of serving St. Joseph/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Officials with the St. Joseph Frontier Casino cut the ribbon celebrating 30 years of serving St. Joseph/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph Frontier Casino is celebrating 30 years of operation the St. Joseph Community General Manager Don Wren says it's very special to be able to celebrate such a milestone " I think being able to be in an environment like this for 30 years in a small little town, to be able to not only have the guests come in and enjoy the environment and the entertainment we provide, but also being able to work with the community and all the vendors that we're able to employ, in addition to the employees, I think it's some of the most rewarding stuff, it really is," Wren tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. The casino that sits on the Missouri River is the second smallest in the state and was one of four original casinos that opened when riverboat gambling was legalized in 1993. Director of Gaming Operations Becky Boyles says it has been difficult through the years. "We did have a flood in 2011, and that water stayed in a long time, so we were out of work for a long time," Boyles says. "But we did have a great opportunity to spend a lot of our time representing the casino in the community during that event." The casino rebranded following the 2011 flood and rebranded once more in 2019 following another flood. Boyles, whose worked at the casino for 25 years, says it has been challenging. "We have always been able to with a strong core group of long-term employees to pull it through," Boyles says.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719263765906.jpeg" alt="General Manager Don Wren speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate 30 years of the St. Joseph Frontier Casino/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>General Manager Don Wren speaks to a crowd gathered to celebrate 30 years of the St. Joseph Frontier Casino/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Boyles says through the years the casino has seen a lot of evolution in the gaming industry "When I first started I came up through table games and we had table games from the front door all the way back to the men's room and in that time that I've been here we've transitioned more away from live table games into a wide variety of slot machines, because slot machines are really where it's at," Boyles explains. "But over the years we've been able to provide one of the main staples of entertainment in the St. Joseph area." The casino recently underwent a massive renovation to the gaming floor Wren says the reception to the renovations has been very positive "I think that the property was a little outdated, you know we had already remodeled the pavilion and then it just didn't really match with the boat," Wren points out. "But if you look at the history of the property, it's been through two major floods, it's been through several owners, and it's just gotten better every single time." Wren says that's a product of the community and the people they work with at the casino that helps the casino continue to get better through the years. The casino is also celebrating the anniversary with its patrons, offering a chance to win entries to spin a wheel and earn up to 300-thousand dollars through the 29th.&nbsp; More information <a href="https://www.stjofrontiercasino.com/event/30th-anniversary-300000-drawings/">HERE</a>.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Frontier Casino celebrates 30 years of entertainment

Flooding in northwest Iowa is working its way downstream on
the Missouri River.

Officials with the Army Corps of Engineers are keeping an eye
on the Missouri River level, especially in Holt County.

“We have a flood fight team coming out of Glasgow, Missouri
that’ll be traveling to the area to meet with levee districts and address any
issues or concerns they may have up there,” Emergency Management Specialist
Mike Dulin with the Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City office tells those on a
conference call held in wake of the heavy rainfall in northwest Iowa that
spawned widespread flooding.

Dulin says the forecast calls for at least minor flooding
along the Missouri River as a result of the heavy rainfall in Iowa.

“Current forecasts from the National Weather Service, Missouri
Basin River Forecast Center, are projecting moderate flood stage between Rulo,
Nebraska and St. Joe, Missouri as the flood crest moves through between 29 and
30 June,” Minor says. “Minor flooding is forecast to occur downstream of St.
Joe, all the way down to Herman.”

Minor flooding along the Missouri River is expected in Rulo beginning
Tuesday morning, working its way downstream.

Dulin says a flood fight team has been sent to Holt County as
higher Missouri River levels test newly repaired levees.

“Levee rehab efforts following the 2019 and 2021 flood events
have been completed and all levee systems in our district’s PL (public law)
84-99 program have been fully restored to their pre-flood levels of protection,”
according to Dulin.

The Army Corps of Engineers has drastically reduced water
flows from upstream Missouri River dams in wake of the southwest Iowa flooding.

Iowa officials say their preliminary estimate is that at least
1,900 properties in 22 counties have been swamped by floodwaters with hundreds
of homes destroyed.

Radio Iowa contributed to this article.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719257741876.jpeg" alt="Gavins Point Dam/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Gavins Point Dam/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFlooding in northwest Iowa is working its way downstream on
the Missouri River.Officials with the Army Corps of Engineers are keeping an eye
on the Missouri River level, especially in Holt County.“We have a flood fight team coming out of Glasgow, Missouri
that’ll be traveling to the area to meet with levee districts and address any
issues or concerns they may have up there,” Emergency Management Specialist
Mike Dulin with the Army Corps of Engineers Kansas City office tells those on a
conference call held in wake of the heavy rainfall in northwest Iowa that
spawned widespread flooding.Dulin says the forecast calls for at least minor flooding
along the Missouri River as a result of the heavy rainfall in Iowa.“Current forecasts from the National Weather Service, Missouri
Basin River Forecast Center, are projecting moderate flood stage between Rulo,
Nebraska and St. Joe, Missouri as the flood crest moves through between 29 and
30 June,” Minor says. “Minor flooding is forecast to occur downstream of St.
Joe, all the way down to Herman.”Minor flooding along the Missouri River is expected in Rulo beginning
Tuesday morning, working its way downstream.Dulin says a flood fight team has been sent to Holt County as
higher Missouri River levels test newly repaired levees.“Levee rehab efforts following the 2019 and 2021 flood events
have been completed and all levee systems in our district’s PL (public law)
84-99 program have been fully restored to their pre-flood levels of protection,”
according to Dulin.The Army Corps of Engineers has drastically reduced water
flows from upstream Missouri River dams in wake of the southwest Iowa flooding.Iowa officials say their preliminary estimate is that at least
1,900 properties in 22 counties have been swamped by floodwaters with hundreds
of homes destroyed.Radio Iowa contributed to this article.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Flooding in southwest Iowa working its way downstream on the Missouri River

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe brought his campaign for
governor to Savannah, part of a statewide press for votes ahead of the August 6th
primary.

“This is our 77th stop on our bus tour. I’m sure
we’ll be well over a hundred and some by the time we get to election day;
continue to go out and meet people,” Kehoe tells reporters following his
campaign stop at United Electric Cooperative. “We’re doing four or five, six
stops a day, making sure they get a chance to meet me and understand what we’re
doing. And then, obviously, get our message out on the media side of it,
electronically. That’s really important for people to find out who Mike Kehoe
is.”

Kehoe faces a crowded Republican primary, urging northwest
Missouri voters to go to the polls in August, arguing that whoever wins the
Republican nomination will win the General Election in November. There are nine
names on the Republican ballot.

“It will be a difficult primary,” Kehoe says. “Several of them
have probably better name ID than others, but we like where we’re going. There’s
lots of polling out now showing us getting even or maybe a few points behind or
ahead and they’ll be additional polls coming out. But we’re going to continue
to work and deploy our strategy.”

The Republican primary for governor features two statewide
office holders and a big voice from the Missouri Senate.

Public opinion polls indicate Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft
leads the race, edging Kehoe. A bit back is state Sen. Bill Eigel of Weldon
Springs, who has made a name for himself by leading filibusters the last couple
of years in the Missouri Senate as a very vocal member of the Freedom Caucus.

Kehoe is running on four primary goals:&nbsp; reduce crime, expand workforce development
beyond high school, agriculture, and economic development.

Kehoe is promoting the elimination of the state income tax as
the main part of his economic plan.

“We think that eliminating the state’s income tax really gives
us a competitive leg with the other states that are using that now as their
tool to bring industry there and get industry to expand,” Kehoe says, referring
particularly to Texas and Tennessee, both of which have eliminated their state
income tax.&nbsp; “And as I mentioned, I’m a
big believer in Reaganomics, that if you put money back in Missourian’s
pockets, they’ll spend it better than we do and you’ll impact the state’s economy
even greater.”

Kehoe doesn’t see the need for an increase in other taxes to
offset the loss of income that would result from eliminating the state income
tax.

“Revenue growth,” Kehoe gives as his short answer. “It would
be growth of our General Revenue to help offset that.”

Democrats will choose from five candidates August 6th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719247850153.jpeg" alt="Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks with a voter during his stop in Savannah/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe speaks with a voter during his stop in Savannah/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe brought his campaign for
governor to Savannah, part of a statewide press for votes ahead of the August 6th
primary.“This is our 77th stop on our bus tour. I’m sure
we’ll be well over a hundred and some by the time we get to election day;
continue to go out and meet people,” Kehoe tells reporters following his
campaign stop at United Electric Cooperative. “We’re doing four or five, six
stops a day, making sure they get a chance to meet me and understand what we’re
doing. And then, obviously, get our message out on the media side of it,
electronically. That’s really important for people to find out who Mike Kehoe
is.”Kehoe faces a crowded Republican primary, urging northwest
Missouri voters to go to the polls in August, arguing that whoever wins the
Republican nomination will win the General Election in November. There are nine
names on the Republican ballot.Kehoe acknowledges this is a tough race.“It will be a difficult primary,” Kehoe says. “Several of them
have probably better name ID than others, but we like where we’re going. There’s
lots of polling out now showing us getting even or maybe a few points behind or
ahead and they’ll be additional polls coming out. But we’re going to continue
to work and deploy our strategy.”The Republican primary for governor features two statewide
office holders and a big voice from the Missouri Senate.Public opinion polls indicate Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft
leads the race, edging Kehoe. A bit back is state Sen. Bill Eigel of Weldon
Springs, who has made a name for himself by leading filibusters the last couple
of years in the Missouri Senate as a very vocal member of the Freedom Caucus.Kehoe is running on four primary goals:&nbsp; reduce crime, expand workforce development
beyond high school, agriculture, and economic development.Kehoe is promoting the elimination of the state income tax as
the main part of his economic plan.“We think that eliminating the state’s income tax really gives
us a competitive leg with the other states that are using that now as their
tool to bring industry there and get industry to expand,” Kehoe says, referring
particularly to Texas and Tennessee, both of which have eliminated their state
income tax.&nbsp; “And as I mentioned, I’m a
big believer in Reaganomics, that if you put money back in Missourian’s
pockets, they’ll spend it better than we do and you’ll impact the state’s economy
even greater.”Kehoe doesn’t see the need for an increase in other taxes to
offset the loss of income that would result from eliminating the state income
tax.“Revenue growth,” Kehoe gives as his short answer. “It would
be growth of our General Revenue to help offset that.”Democrats will choose from five candidates August 6th.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Lt. Gov. Kehoe acknowledges crowded, tough GOP gubernatorial primary

People will have an opportunity to experience the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art for free. 

Communications and Marketing Director Dansare Lawrence says the annual free museum after hours event is coming up tomorrow. 

"With that we always have an artist's trading card swap and this time we're going to have a painting demonstration by Jill Tichenor, she's one of our fantastic teachers who works in pastels, and so she'll be doing a painting demonstration live in the gallery," Lawrence tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

There will also be an art supplies swap in the basement of the Carriage House, where artists can swap their supplies for unused supplies from the Albrecht. 

A new exhibition is being held at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art.  

The exhibit called Small Wonders features works from Debra Keirce, Denise Horn-Kaplan and Brenda Morgan.  

Lawrence says these artists work in miniatures and pay homage to a classical art form. 

"Miniatures have been made for close to 25 hundred years and they were kind of very often intimate little gifts that people could give to each other to court someone or to share with a loved family member," Lawrence explains. "So, these are really special little pieces that they like to say that they invite the viewers to lean in and look a little closer." 

The exhibition will run through September 15th.  An opportunity to view the exhibit for free comes tomorrow (Tues.) during a free museum after hours event, running from 5 to 7pm. 

Several art classes are also being held at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph.  

An upcoming class this week, a Collage Workshop hosted by Robin Vanhoozer. 

Lawrence says the class will focus on creating a personal narrative through collage work 

"So that's kind of just merging imagery that you can find in magazines and books and kind of pulling little pieces together that really find your personal voice and who you are and describe you," Lawrence says. "That's a very fun medium to work in." 

And Lawrence adds it's also a very unintimidating medium to work in, not having to draw anything specifically and just working to combine different art methods.  

The class will be held on Wednesday from 10am t0 4pm. You can contact the Albrecht with any additional questions or click <a href="https://www.albrecht-kemper.org/calendar/collage-workshop">HERE</a> for more information.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post People will have an opportunity to experience the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art for free. Communications and Marketing Director Dansare Lawrence says the annual free museum after hours event is coming up tomorrow. "With that we always have an artist's trading card swap and this time we're going to have a painting demonstration by Jill Tichenor, she's one of our fantastic teachers who works in pastels, and so she'll be doing a painting demonstration live in the gallery," Lawrence tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. There will also be an art supplies swap in the basement of the Carriage House, where artists can swap their supplies for unused supplies from the Albrecht. A new exhibition is being held at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art. The exhibit called Small Wonders features works from Debra Keirce, Denise Horn-Kaplan and Brenda Morgan. Lawrence says these artists work in miniatures and pay homage to a classical art form. "Miniatures have been made for close to 25 hundred years and they were kind of very often intimate little gifts that people could give to each other to court someone or to share with a loved family member," Lawrence explains. "So, these are really special little pieces that they like to say that they invite the viewers to lean in and look a little closer." The exhibition will run through September 15th. An opportunity to view the exhibit for free comes tomorrow (Tues.) during a free museum after hours event, running from 5 to 7pm. Several art classes are also being held at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph. An upcoming class this week, a Collage Workshop hosted by Robin Vanhoozer. Lawrence says the class will focus on creating a personal narrative through collage work "So that's kind of just merging imagery that you can find in magazines and books and kind of pulling little pieces together that really find your personal voice and who you are and describe you," Lawrence says. "That's a very fun medium to work in." And Lawrence adds it's also a very unintimidating medium to work in, not having to draw anything specifically and just working to combine different art methods. The class will be held on Wednesday from 10am t0 4pm. You can contact the Albrecht with any additional questions or click <a href="https://www.albrecht-kemper.org/calendar/collage-workshop">HERE</a> for more information.

New classes, exhibits and fun experiences at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art

A difficult personal experience motivated an area state
senator to push for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment in the Missouri
state budget.

Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe sponsored a bill appropriating
$4.3 million toward PTSD treatment for Missouri’s military personnel, police,
firefighters, and other emergency personnel.

Black came face-to-face with the problems of PTSD when his son
came home from the military threatening to take his own life.

“In three days, Rusty Black and Karie Black knew a hell of a
lot more about PTSD and how to do treatment than what we would have ever known
before,” Black tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, instead of my wife and I
staying quiet about it, we’re trying to bring treatments to the state of
Missouri.”

Black says his son received successful treatment, but had to
seek it in Texas.

The senator says the money in the Missouri budget would fund
clinics throughout the state, including two in Kansas City as well as a mobile
unit that could provide treatment to rural Missouri.

Black says those tasked with difficult and dangerous jobs need
to know they can get support.

“Because if I remember right, the police officer that took his
life from St. Joe, I believe he had a Bronze Star. He probably served in the
military the same time my son did,” Black says. “And we need them to know that there’s
help out there and there’s various ways to be able to get treatment and try to
promote it.”

St. Joseph Police Officer Kyle Graham took his own life May 30th.
Graham earned two Bronze Stars during his service in Afghanistan and Iraq as
part of Bravo Company 2-22 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division. Graham
also served as a captain in the Army Reserves 209th Regional Support
Group. Graham was 40.

The death of Graham by suicide tragically brought home the
pressures on those who have served in the military as well as those active in
the police force.

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster calls Graham’s death a
tragic loss for the department and the community.

“I think it’s important for our community to know, for your
listeners to know, that this is an extremely difficult job in many different
ways, but the mental toll this job takes on the men and women out there every
day can be overwhelming at times,” Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline.

The legislature approved the allocation for PTSD treatment in
response to a handful of self-inflicted deaths among Missouri emergency
personnel. The $51 billion budget has been sent to Gov. Mike Parson for his
consideration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719235999080.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rusty Black (left) being interviewed by Brent Martin/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rusty Black (left) being interviewed by Brent Martin/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA difficult personal experience motivated an area state
senator to push for post-traumatic stress disorder treatment in the Missouri
state budget.Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe sponsored a bill appropriating
$4.3 million toward PTSD treatment for Missouri’s military personnel, police,
firefighters, and other emergency personnel.Black came face-to-face with the problems of PTSD when his son
came home from the military threatening to take his own life.“In three days, Rusty Black and Karie Black knew a hell of a
lot more about PTSD and how to do treatment than what we would have ever known
before,” Black tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, instead of my wife and I
staying quiet about it, we’re trying to bring treatments to the state of
Missouri.”Black says his son received successful treatment, but had to
seek it in Texas.The senator says the money in the Missouri budget would fund
clinics throughout the state, including two in Kansas City as well as a mobile
unit that could provide treatment to rural Missouri.Black says those tasked with difficult and dangerous jobs need
to know they can get support.“Because if I remember right, the police officer that took his
life from St. Joe, I believe he had a Bronze Star. He probably served in the
military the same time my son did,” Black says. “And we need them to know that there’s
help out there and there’s various ways to be able to get treatment and try to
promote it.”St. Joseph Police Officer Kyle Graham took his own life May 30th.
Graham earned two Bronze Stars during his service in Afghanistan and Iraq as
part of Bravo Company 2-22 Infantry, 10th Mountain Division. Graham
also served as a captain in the Army Reserves 209th Regional Support
Group. Graham was 40.The death of Graham by suicide tragically brought home the
pressures on those who have served in the military as well as those active in
the police force.St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster calls Graham’s death a
tragic loss for the department and the community.“I think it’s important for our community to know, for your
listeners to know, that this is an extremely difficult job in many different
ways, but the mental toll this job takes on the men and women out there every
day can be overwhelming at times,” Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline.The legislature approved the allocation for PTSD treatment in
response to a handful of self-inflicted deaths among Missouri emergency
personnel. The $51 billion budget has been sent to Gov. Mike Parson for his
consideration.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/PTSD-Training-in-State-Budget-e2l8bg6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

A difficult family experience leads senator to seek PTSD treatment in MO budget

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—Four Missouri teens were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Tahoe driven by a 16-year-old Chillicothe boy was eastbound on LIV 256 two miles west of Chillicothe.

The SUV began sliding on gravel. The vehicle traveled off the south side of the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.

The teen driver was air-lifted to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS transported a 13-year-old girl from Chillicothe to Hedrick Medical Center. 

A private vehicle transported two other passengers, a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old both of Chillicothe for treatment. The MSHP did not report where they were taken. The driver and passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—Four Missouri teens were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Tahoe driven by a 16-year-old Chillicothe boy was eastbound on LIV 256 two miles west of Chillicothe.The SUV began sliding on gravel. The vehicle traveled off the south side of the road, overturned and the driver was ejected.The teen driver was air-lifted to Children's Mercy.&nbsp; Chillicothe EMS transported a 13-year-old girl from Chillicothe to Hedrick Medical Center. A private vehicle transported two other passengers, a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old both of Chillicothe for treatment. The MSHP did not report where they were taken. The driver and passengers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

4 Missouri teens injured after SUV rollover accident

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Sunday in Atchison County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Camry driven by Partha&nbsp;Chowdhury, 52, Blue Springs, was westbound on Atchison Street in the city of Atchison.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign on 8th Street and struck a southbound 2020 GMC Sierra driven by Clinton Ellerman, 47, Atchison.&nbsp; After impact, the Toyota left the roadway and struck a power pole.

EMS transported a passenger in the passenger in the pickup Jamie&nbsp;Goodpasture, 44, Atchison, to Amberwell. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Sunday in Atchison County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Toyota Camry driven by Partha&nbsp;Chowdhury, 52, Blue Springs, was westbound on Atchison Street in the city of Atchison.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign on 8th Street and struck a southbound 2020 GMC Sierra driven by Clinton Ellerman, 47, Atchison.&nbsp; After impact, the Toyota left the roadway and struck a power pole.EMS transported a passenger in the passenger in the pickup Jamie&nbsp;Goodpasture, 44, Atchison, to Amberwell. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman injured in car, pickup crash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>

Abigail Arellano keeps her son Samuel’s medical bills in a blue folder in a cabinet above the microwave. Even now, four months after the 11-year-old was shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, the bills keep coming.

There’s one for $1,040 for the ambulance ride to the hospital that February afternoon. Another for $2,841.17 from an emergency room visit they made three days after the shooting because his bullet wound looked infected. More follow-ups and counseling in March added another $1,500.

“I think I’m missing some,” Arellano said as she leafed through the pages.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719141597423.png" alt="Unable to work after being shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, Jacob Gooch Sr. initially received short-term disability payments. But that assistance abruptly stopped in May when he started seeing a new doctor who was in network with his health insurance. The issue was resolved in June and he was expecting back pay soon (Christopher Smith/KFF News)." />
 <figcaption>Unable to work after being shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade in February, Jacob Gooch Sr. initially received short-term disability payments. But that assistance abruptly stopped in May when he started seeing a new doctor who was in network with his health insurance. The issue was resolved in June and he was expecting back pay soon (Christopher Smith/KFF News).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/peggylowe/">PEGGY LOWE</a>&nbsp;AND&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/bramsablesmith/">BRAM SABLE-SMITH</a>Abigail Arellano keeps her son Samuel’s medical bills in a blue folder in a cabinet above the microwave. Even now, four months after the 11-year-old was shot at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, the bills keep coming.There’s one for $1,040 for the ambulance ride to the hospital that February afternoon. Another for $2,841.17 from an emergency room visit they made three days after the shooting because his bullet wound looked infected. More follow-ups and counseling in March added another $1,500.“I think I’m missing some,” Arellano said as she leafed through the pages.The Arellanos are uninsured and counting on assistance from the fund that raised nearly $2 million in the aftermath of the shooting that left one dead and at least 24 other people with bullet wounds. She keeps that application in the blue folder as well.The medical costs incurred by the survivors of the shooting are hitting hard, and they won’t end soon. The average medical spending for someone who is shot&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M21-2812">increases by nearly $30,000</a>&nbsp;in the first year, according to a Harvard Medical School study. Another study found that number&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/children-who-survive-shootings-endure-huge-health-obstacles-and-costs/">goes up to $35,000</a>&nbsp;for children. Ten kids were shot at the parade.Then there are life’s ordinary bills — rent, utilities, car repairs — that don’t stop just because someone survived a mass shooting, even if their injuries prevent them from working or sending kids to school.The financial burden that comes with surviving is so common it has a name, according to Aswad Thomas of the nonprofit Alliance for Safety and Justice: victimization debt. Some pay it out-of-pocket. Some open a new credit card. Some find help from generous strangers. Others can’t make ends meet.“We’re really broke right now,” said Jacob Gooch Sr., another survivor, who was shot through the foot and has not yet been able to return to work.“We’re, like, exhausting our third credit card.”As is common after mass shootings, a mosaic of new and established resources emerged in this Missouri city promising help. Those include the #KCStrong fund established by the United Way of Greater Kansas City, which is expected to begin paying victims at the end of June.Survivors must navigate each opportunity to request help as best they can — and hope money comes through.<h2>GoFundMe, generous strangers and a new line of credit</h2>Mostly, it’s the moms who keep the bills organized. Tucked above the microwave. Zipped inside a purse. Screenshots stored on a phone. And then there’s a maze of paperwork: The Missouri state victims’ compensation form is five pages, including instructions. It’s another six pages for help from the United Way.Emily Tavis keeps stacks of paperwork with color-coded binder clips in her basement: Black for her partner, Gooch Sr.; blue for her stepson, Jacob Gooch Jr.; pink for herself. All three were shot at the parade.Tavis was able to walk after a bullet ripped through her leg, and she considered declining the ambulance ride because she was worried about the cost — she lacked insurance at the time.Gooch Sr. was unable to walk because he’d been shot in the foot. So they shared an ambulance to the hospital with two of their kids.“I’m not paying for this s—. I didn’t ask for this life,” Tavis, laughing, recalled thinking at the time. They soon realized 14-year-old Gooch Jr. had a bullet in his foot as well.Tavis and Gooch Sr. received separate $1,145 bills for the ambulance. Gooch Jr. did not, possibly because he has health coverage through Medicaid, Tavis said.She sends the medical bills to victims’ compensation, a program to help with the economic losses from a crime, such as medical expenses and lost wages. Even though Tavis and Gooch live in Leavenworth, Kansas, their compensation comes from the program in Missouri, where the shooting occurred.The program pays only for economic losses not covered by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dps.mo.gov/dir/programs/cvc/documents/CVC-Fact-Sheet.pdf">other sources</a>&nbsp;like health insurance, donations, and crowdsourced fundraisers. Gooch Sr. and Jr. both had health insurance at the time of the parade, so the family has been sending only the uncovered portion to victims’ compensation.The family initially received a lot of support. Friends and relatives made sure they had food to eat. The founder of an online group of Kansas City Chiefs fans sent $1,000 and gifts for the family. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-one-family-at-a-time-kc-parade-tragedy">GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;page raised $9,500. And their tax refund helped.They knew money might get tight with Gooch Sr. unable to work, so they paid three months’ rent in advance. They also paid to have his Ford Escape fixed so he could eventually return to work and bought Tavis a used Honda Accord so she could drive to the job she started 12 days after the parade.And because the donations were intended for the whole family, they decided to buy summer passes to the Worlds of Fun amusement park for the kids.But recently, they’ve felt stretched. Gooch Sr.’s short-term disability payments abruptly stopped in May when his health insurance prompted him to see an in-network doctor. He said the short-term disability plan initially didn’t approve the paperwork from his new doctor and started an investigation. The issue was resolved in June and he was expecting back pay soon. In the interim, though, the couple opened a new credit card to cover their bills.In the interim, the couple opened a new credit card to cover their bills.“We’ve definitely been robbing Peter to pay Paul,” Tavis said.Ideally, the money that eventually comes from the United Way, victims’ compensation, and, they hope, back pay from short-term disability will be enough to pay off their debts.But, Tavis said, “You gotta do what you gotta do. We’re not going to go without lights.”<h2>United Way payout expected at end of June</h2>With every mass shooting, donations for survivors inevitably flow in, “just like peanut butter goes with jelly, because people want to help,” said Jeff Dion, executive director of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://massviolencesurvivorsfund.org/">Mass Violence Survivors Fund</a>, a nonprofit that has helped many communities manage such funds.Typically, he said, it takes about five months to disburse the money from these large community funds. Victims can potentially get money sooner if their community has a plan in place for these types of funds before a mass shooting. Funds may also advance money to people with urgent financial needs who are certain to qualify.The United Way hung banners in the Chiefs colors on Kansas City’s Union Station with its #KCStrong campaign within days of the shootings. Driven by large donations from the team, the NFL, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, other individuals, and local companies, it ultimately raised more than $1.8 million.The promise of a large payout has kept the injured hopeful, even as many felt confused by the process. Some people interviewed for this story did not wish to say anything negative, fearing it would hurt their allocation.United Way officials announced in April that donations would be closed at the end of that month. On May 1, the organization&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://unitedwaygkc.org/2024/05/01/kcstrong-update-fund-delivery-process-in-motion/">posted a notice</a>&nbsp;saying it would issue “claimant forms” and that the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office was helping verify shooting victims. The United Way affiliate’s board of trustees plans to meet June 26 to determine allocations, with payments arriving as early as June 27.Kera Mashek, a spokesperson for United Way of Greater Kansas City, said payouts will be made to 20 of the 24 shooting survivors. The other four either couldn’t be verified as victims or turned down the funds, she said. Claimants do not include the 67 people prosecutors say were trampled in the melee, she said.Pending board approval, money will also be disbursed to 14 community groups that support nonviolence initiatives, mental health concerns, and first responders, Mashek said.To criticism that the United Way didn’t communicate well with the victims, Mashek said it tried to respond in a timely manner.“We’ve tried to keep that line of communication open as fast as possible and most people have been very patient,” she said. “I think that they will be very grateful and very, I believe, pleasantly surprised with the amount of funding that they receive.”<h2>Other resources available</h2>Abigail Arellano hadn’t heard of victims’ compensation, which is common. A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://allianceforsafetyandjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Alliance-for-Safety-and-Justice-Crime-Survivors-Speak-September-2022.pdf">2022 survey</a>&nbsp;from the Alliance for Safety and Justice found that 96% of victims did not receive that support and many didn’t know it existed.Arellano and her husband, Antonio, didn’t attend the parade but they’ve had medical expenses as well. Antonio has been going to therapy at a local health center to help with the stressful task of guiding his son through the trauma. It’s been helpful. But he’s been paying around $125 out-of-pocket for each session, he said, and the bills are mounting.One of Samuel’s sisters set up a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/bhwqge-samuels-medical-expenses?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&amp;utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer&amp;modal=share">GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;that raised $12,500, and Abigail said it helped that the family shared their story publicly and that Abigail reached out to help others in the Latino community affected by the shooting.It was Abigail, for instance, who connected&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/the-injured-super-bowl-parade-kansas-city-bullets-still-bodies/">71-year-old Sarai Holguin</a>&nbsp;with the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City. The consulate, in turn, helped Holguin register as an official victim of the shooting, which will enable her to receive assistance from the United Way. Holguin’s bills now include a fourth surgery, to remove the bullet lodged near her knee that she had previously made peace with living with forever — until it began protruding through her skin.<h2>‘Generous and quick’ relief to victims</h2>Several survivors were relieved and grateful to receive funds from a less high-profile, nondenominational group called “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thechurchloveskansascity.org/">The Church Loves Kansas City.</a>”The day after the shooting, Gary Kendall, who ran a Christian nonprofit called “Love KC,” started a text chain at 6 a.m. with city leaders and faith-based groups, and eventually received pledges of $184,500. (Love KC has now merged with another nonprofit, “Unite KC,” which is disbursing its funds.)The first payout went to the family of Lisa Lopez-Galvan, the 43-year-old mother of two and popular DJ who was the sole fatality during the parade shootings. Unite KC spent $15,000 on her burial expenses.Unite KC spent $2,800 so James and Brandie Lemons could get their health insurance restored because James couldn’t work. Unite KC also paid $2,200 for the out-of-pocket surgical costs when James decided to get the bullet removed from his leg.“I appreciate it,” an emotional James Lemons said. “They don’t have to do that, to open their hearts for no reason.”Erika Nelson was struggling to pay for household expenses and had to take time off from her home health care job to take her injured daughter, 15-year-old Mireya, to doctor appointments. Mireya was shot&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2024-05-08/chiefs-super-bowl-parade-shot-bullets-in-bodies-kansas-city-surgery-doctor">in the chin and shoulder</a>&nbsp;and is recovering.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/child-super-bowl-parade-shooting-victim">GoFundMe</a>&nbsp;page set up by Nelson’s best friend raised about $11,000, but it was frozen after Nelson tried to get into the account and GoFundMe thought it was being hacked. She feared the lights would be shut off in their apartment, because of unpaid electric bills, and was feeling desperate.“I’m struggling with, like, you know, groceries,” Nelson said. “People were like, ‘Oh, go to food pantries.’ Well, the food pantries are not open the times I can get off. I can’t just take off work to go to a food pantry.”After meeting with Gary Kendall, Nelson received three months of rent and utility payments, about $3,500.“A weight off my shoulder. I mean, yeah. In a big way,” she whispered. “’Cause you never know. You never know what can happen in two days, five days, two weeks, two months.”Samuel Arellano’s family recently connected with Unite KC, which will pay for his ambulance bill, one of the hospital bills, and some therapy, worth about $6,000. The bill for the initial emergency room trip was about $20,000, his parents said, but the hospital had been reluctant to send it and ultimately covered the cost.And Unite KC also intends to pay off a $1,300 credit card bill for Emily Tavis and Jacob Gooch Sr.Unite KC has disbursed $40,000 so far and hopes to connect with more of the injured families, hoping to be as “generous and quick as we can,” Kendall said. United Way will be like a “lightning bolt” for victims’ relief, Kendall said, but his group is aiming for something different, more like a campfire that burns for the next year.“We agree this is a horrific thing that happened. It’s a sad state of humanity but it’s a real part,” he said. “So we want to remind them that God has not forgotten you. And that although he allowed this, he has not abandoned them. We believe we can be like an extension of his love to these people.”<a target="_blank" href="https://kffhealthnews.org/about-us">KFF Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us">KFF</a>.

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