By ANNELISE HANSHAW,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announced on Tuesday that she plans to resign at the end of June.&nbsp;

After making her announcement during the State Board of Education meeting, Vandeven told reporters it was “the right time to move on personally and professionally to a new opportunity [she] hasn’t discovered yet.”

Her resignation caps a tumultuous tenure as the state’s highest ranking education official.&nbsp;

Vandeven became the commissioner in January of 2015, but she was ousted from the job in December 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens stacked the board of education in order to force her out.&nbsp;

After Greitens was himself forced out of office the next summer, the board reinstated Vandeven.&nbsp;

In addition to the saga with Greitens, Vandeven also led the education department through the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw a transition to a new standardized testing regime.&nbsp;

“Margie has been a true champion for public education and a steadfast leader throughout her tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,” Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement released Tuesday morning&nbsp;

“During COVID,” Parson said, “Margie kept a level head and successfully led Missouri schools through a global pandemic. Margie will be missed, but my team and I wish her the best. We are grateful for her commitment and dedication to our Missouri administrators, teachers, students, and parents.”

Board members Tuesday lauded Vandeven’s leadership through “challenges.”

Charlie Shields, the board’s president, said he has served through five commissioners, but Vandeven has faced the biggest trials.

“The challenges Margie Vandeven has faced make the challenges those previous commissioners had pale in comparison,” he said.

Peter Herschend, a board member from Branson, said he’s been on the board through eight commissioners. He believes Vandeven had the best vision and hope for Missouri education.

“I hope your successor can do as well,” Herschend said. “You have made a difference in the lives of kids. And that’s all that really matters.”

Vandeven told the board that serving as commissioner has been “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

“To be commissioner has meant building relationships with students, parents, educators, elected officials, community and business leaders, other state agencies, colleagues across the nation, board members and 1700 staff members at (the department) and helping them see what is possible when we all work together towards a common goal,” she said.

Her priorities in her final months as commissioner are the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.srsnmo.org/">Success Ready Students Network</a>, a competency-based learning program, and the Blue Ribbon Commission, a group that studies teacher recruitment and retention.

“The teacher is one of the most important professions of our day,” Vandeven told reporters. “It is the workforce that creates all other workforces.”

She said the teacher recruitment and retention problem must be addressed, and she has seen incremental improvements.

Although she does not have her next position lined up, she would like to stay attached to education, she told reporters.

Vandeven began her education career in 1990 as a communication arts teacher in O’Fallon. She served as a teacher and administrator in Missouri and Maryland until 2005, when she went to work for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The board will choose Vandeven’s successor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697559741910.png" alt=" Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announces her resignation during the State Board of Education meeting Tuesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announces her resignation during the State Board of Education meeting Tuesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNELISE HANSHAW,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven announced on Tuesday that she plans to resign at the end of June.&nbsp;After making her announcement during the State Board of Education meeting, Vandeven told reporters it was “the right time to move on personally and professionally to a new opportunity [she] hasn’t discovered yet.”Her resignation caps a tumultuous tenure as the state’s highest ranking education official.&nbsp;Vandeven became the commissioner in January of 2015, but she was ousted from the job in December 2017 when then-Gov. Eric Greitens stacked the board of education in order to force her out.&nbsp;After Greitens was himself forced out of office the next summer, the board reinstated Vandeven.&nbsp;In addition to the saga with Greitens, Vandeven also led the education department through the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw a transition to a new standardized testing regime.&nbsp;“Margie has been a true champion for public education and a steadfast leader throughout her tenure as Commissioner of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,” Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement released Tuesday morning&nbsp;“During COVID,” Parson said, “Margie kept a level head and successfully led Missouri schools through a global pandemic. Margie will be missed, but my team and I wish her the best. We are grateful for her commitment and dedication to our Missouri administrators, teachers, students, and parents.”Board members Tuesday lauded Vandeven’s leadership through “challenges.”Charlie Shields, the board’s president, said he has served through five commissioners, but Vandeven has faced the biggest trials.“The challenges Margie Vandeven has faced make the challenges those previous commissioners had pale in comparison,” he said.Peter Herschend, a board member from Branson, said he’s been on the board through eight commissioners. He believes Vandeven had the best vision and hope for Missouri education.“I hope your successor can do as well,” Herschend said. “You have made a difference in the lives of kids. And that’s all that really matters.”Vandeven told the board that serving as commissioner has been “the opportunity of a lifetime.”“To be commissioner has meant building relationships with students, parents, educators, elected officials, community and business leaders, other state agencies, colleagues across the nation, board members and 1700 staff members at (the department) and helping them see what is possible when we all work together towards a common goal,” she said.Her priorities in her final months as commissioner are the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.srsnmo.org/">Success Ready Students Network</a>, a competency-based learning program, and the Blue Ribbon Commission, a group that studies teacher recruitment and retention.“The teacher is one of the most important professions of our day,” Vandeven told reporters. “It is the workforce that creates all other workforces.”She said the teacher recruitment and retention problem must be addressed, and she has seen incremental improvements.Although she does not have her next position lined up, she would like to stay attached to education, she told reporters.Vandeven began her education career in 1990 as a communication arts teacher in O’Fallon. She served as a teacher and administrator in Missouri and Maryland until 2005, when she went to work for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.The board will choose Vandeven’s successor.

Missouri commissioner of education announces resignation

The U.S. Grains Council kicked off the week by hosting the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., held for the first time since 2019. 

The Global Ethanol Summit is an education and trade forum that seeks to elevate bioethanol's international visibility. 

U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand says, “I’m thrilled to see so many industry leaders and policymakers gathering here in the Washington area with the common goal of implementing environmental and human-health friendly bioethanol in regions around the world.” 

Monday programming offered keynote addresses from POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin, Summit Agricultural Group Executive Chairman Bruce Rastetter and U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Undersecretary Jason Hafemeister. 

Memorandums of understanding will be signed between domestic producers and overseas importers Tuesday. At the end of the event, 11 groups of participants will travel around the country to view the biofuel value chain firsthand before returning to their home countries. The event concludes Wednesday.

The U.S. Grains Council kicked off the week by hosting the Global Ethanol Summit in Washington, D.C., held for the first time since 2019. The Global Ethanol Summit is an education and trade forum that seeks to elevate bioethanol's international visibility. U.S. Grains Council President and CEO Ryan LeGrand says, “I’m thrilled to see so many industry leaders and policymakers gathering here in the Washington area with the common goal of implementing environmental and human-health friendly bioethanol in regions around the world.” Monday programming offered keynote addresses from POET Founder and CEO Jeff Broin, Summit Agricultural Group Executive Chairman Bruce Rastetter and U.S. Department of Agriculture Acting Deputy Undersecretary Jason Hafemeister. Memorandums of understanding will be signed between domestic producers and overseas importers Tuesday. At the end of the event, 11 groups of participants will travel around the country to view the biofuel value chain firsthand before returning to their home countries. The event concludes Wednesday.- NAFB

U.S. Grains Council hosting Global Ethanol Summit

A structure fire claimed the life of a St. Joseph resident Monday night.

The St. Joseph Fire Department and the St. Joseph Police
Department are investigating the fatal fire that did extensive damage to a house
located in the 3200 block of South 22nd Street. Firefighters
discovered one person dead inside the structure. No identity has been released.
No cause of death has been released. The cause of the fire is under
investigation.

St. Joseph police say an assist call was issued just after
eight o’clock last night as firefighters were on the scene. The fire was
brought under control late in the evening.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA structure fire claimed the life of a St. Joseph resident Monday night.The St. Joseph Fire Department and the St. Joseph Police
Department are investigating the fatal fire that did extensive damage to a house
located in the 3200 block of South 22nd Street. Firefighters
discovered one person dead inside the structure. No identity has been released.
No cause of death has been released. The cause of the fire is under
investigation.St. Joseph police say an assist call was issued just after
eight o’clock last night as firefighters were on the scene. The fire was
brought under control late in the evening.

St. Joseph structure fire claims a life

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

Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation said last week that it’s “become aware” that some people who recently received small-scale cannabis business licenses — which are meant to boost opportunities for businesses in disadvantaged communities — are now trying to sell them.&nbsp;

On Oct. 2, the state issued 48 licenses to the winners of a lottery that determined who gets to participate in Missouri’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/28/missouri-holds-outreach-events-in-run-up-to-lottery-for-cannabis-microbusiness-licenses/">microbusiness program</a>.&nbsp;

The division warned in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/pdf/dcr-microbusiness-ownership.pdf">guidance</a>&nbsp;issued on Oct. 10 that if winners try to sell the licenses, the businesses must continue to be majority owned and operated by individuals who meet the eligibility qualifications.&nbsp;

There are seven categories where people could qualify for a microbusiness license, ranging from having a lower income level or living in an area considered impoverished to having past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.&nbsp;

When asked how many licenses the division is aware of being posted for sale, spokeswoman Lisa Cox said&nbsp;in an email to The Independent that the division is “aware of two advertisements.”

“We spoke directly with the licensees, and they explained they are seeking investors and do not intend to sell the licenses prior to becoming operational or without department approval,” Cox said. “Seeking additional investors prior to being operational is allowed, if the change in ownership does not exceed 50%.”

In the guidance, the division said any application to change ownership “must also include eligibility documentation for any new individual whose voting or financial interest will contribute to majority ownership.”

If ownership changes hands without the division’s approval, it “may result in penalties, including fines, suspension or revocation.”

The microbusiness program was approved by voters in November through the constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana.

“It is imperative that the microbusiness program operate as the voter-approved law was intended,” division Director Amy Moore said in a press release Friday. “Regulations around microbusiness ownership ensure marginalized or under-represented individuals are leading and benefiting from this portion of the legal marijuana market.”

The division&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/">posted the list</a>&nbsp;of the final winners on Oct. 2, but not much is known about them. While the division normally posts contact information for licensed facilities on its website, it didn’t do so with the microbusiness license holders.&nbsp;

Cox said the division is working on posting that information.&nbsp;

Six winners were selected in each of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts.&nbsp;

Of the six in each district, two will be microbusiness dispensaries, and four will be microbusiness wholesale facilities – where the owners can grow up to 250 plants.

In many cases, the winners – including names like “Cannarooted LLC” and “Frankenstein Enemy, LLC” — are not names registered as legal businesses in the state of Missouri.&nbsp;

In one district, the winner is nameless and only identified as “individual.”&nbsp;

John Payne, founder and managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, said he worked with a number of clients who applied for microbusiness licenses throughout the state. None of his winning clients are trying to sell their licenses, he said, but he’s aware that “some licenses are being shopped.”

In total, the state received applications from 1,625 people from July 27 to Aug. 10.&nbsp;

The state has not yet said which categories of eligibility were the most prevalent in the applications, but it will likely be included in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/14/missouri-official-vows-to-conduct-survey-on-cannabis-business-demographics/">chief equity officer’s annual report</a>&nbsp;due by Jan. 1.

Any applicant not chosen by lottery is eligible for a refund of the $1,500 application fee, which must be requested by submitting a microbusiness application refund request form. Requests for a refund will be accepted beginning Nov. 2, and the microbusiness application refund request form and refund instructions will be available on the division’s website by that date.

An additional 48 licenses will be issued in both 2024 and 2025. For more information about microbusiness licensing and application requirements, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/microbusiness.php">Cannabis.Mo.Gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697542261892.png" alt="Photo (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>Photo (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation said last week that it’s “become aware” that some people who recently received small-scale cannabis business licenses — which are meant to boost opportunities for businesses in disadvantaged communities — are now trying to sell them.&nbsp;On Oct. 2, the state issued 48 licenses to the winners of a lottery that determined who gets to participate in Missouri’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/28/missouri-holds-outreach-events-in-run-up-to-lottery-for-cannabis-microbusiness-licenses/">microbusiness program</a>.&nbsp;The division warned in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/pdf/dcr-microbusiness-ownership.pdf">guidance</a>&nbsp;issued on Oct. 10 that if winners try to sell the licenses, the businesses must continue to be majority owned and operated by individuals who meet the eligibility qualifications.&nbsp;There are seven categories where people could qualify for a microbusiness license, ranging from having a lower income level or living in an area considered impoverished to having past arrests or incarcerations related to marijuana offenses.&nbsp;When asked how many licenses the division is aware of being posted for sale, spokeswoman Lisa Cox said&nbsp;in an email to The Independent that the division is “aware of two advertisements.”“We spoke directly with the licensees, and they explained they are seeking investors and do not intend to sell the licenses prior to becoming operational or without department approval,” Cox said. “Seeking additional investors prior to being operational is allowed, if the change in ownership does not exceed 50%.”In the guidance, the division said any application to change ownership “must also include eligibility documentation for any new individual whose voting or financial interest will contribute to majority ownership.”If ownership changes hands without the division’s approval, it “may result in penalties, including fines, suspension or revocation.”The microbusiness program was approved by voters in November through the constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana.“It is imperative that the microbusiness program operate as the voter-approved law was intended,” division Director Amy Moore said in a press release Friday. “Regulations around microbusiness ownership ensure marginalized or under-represented individuals are leading and benefiting from this portion of the legal marijuana market.”The division&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/">posted the list</a>&nbsp;of the final winners on Oct. 2, but not much is known about them. While the division normally posts contact information for licensed facilities on its website, it didn’t do so with the microbusiness license holders.&nbsp;Cox said the division is working on posting that information.&nbsp;Six winners were selected in each of Missouri’s eight Congressional districts.&nbsp;Of the six in each district, two will be microbusiness dispensaries, and four will be microbusiness wholesale facilities – where the owners can grow up to 250 plants.In many cases, the winners – including names like “Cannarooted LLC” and “Frankenstein Enemy, LLC” — are not names registered as legal businesses in the state of Missouri.&nbsp;In one district, the winner is nameless and only identified as “individual.”&nbsp;John Payne, founder and managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, said he worked with a number of clients who applied for microbusiness licenses throughout the state. None of his winning clients are trying to sell their licenses, he said, but he’s aware that “some licenses are being shopped.”In total, the state received applications from 1,625 people from July 27 to Aug. 10.&nbsp;The state has not yet said which categories of eligibility were the most prevalent in the applications, but it will likely be included in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/14/missouri-official-vows-to-conduct-survey-on-cannabis-business-demographics/">chief equity officer’s annual report</a>&nbsp;due by Jan. 1.Any applicant not chosen by lottery is eligible for a refund of the $1,500 application fee, which must be requested by submitting a microbusiness application refund request form. Requests for a refund will be accepted beginning Nov. 2, and the microbusiness application refund request form and refund instructions will be available on the division’s website by that date.An additional 48 licenses will be issued in both 2024 and 2025. For more information about microbusiness licensing and application requirements, visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/microbusiness.php">Cannabis.Mo.Gov</a>.

Missouri regulators aware of ads seeking to sell microbusiness cannabis licenses

GRUNDY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Mercury Tracer driven by a Miles S. Tratchel, 68, Trenton, was westbound on MO 146 four miles west of Trenton.

The car struck a deer. Grundy County EMS transported a 15-year-old male passenger from Plano, Iowa, to Wright Memorial Hospital. Tratchel was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 7p.m. Monday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1995 Mercury Tracer driven by a Miles S. Tratchel, 68, Trenton, was westbound on MO 146 four miles west of Trenton.The car struck a deer. Grundy County EMS transported a 15-year-old male passenger from Plano, Iowa, to Wright Memorial Hospital. Tratchel was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

15-year-old injured after car strikes a deer

A federal grant will help a behavioral health consortium in northwest Missouri find ways to address a growing pediatric mental health crisis.  

Director of the St. Francis Foundation Megan Jennings says a foundation has already been laid to address these needs, but this grant will help further that.  

One example of what it will benefit is the five-county cooperative mental health board which meets to address mental health needs. Jennings says this grant will provide money towards that 

"So, our consortium can work through this great board that already exists from these counties to say we have some startup funds, and we can really begin digging into this deeper," Jennings tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And so, this is really a strategic planning grant." 

This grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Jennings says, is a planning grant to begin finding ways to tackle the issue better. 

"But really this planning grant helps in a huge, huge way come together as kind of a consortium and really begin identifying what are the key needs, what are the major gaps in the area, and how do we respond better to this crisis," Jennings explains. 

The assessment will examine which populations in the six-county region, consisting of Nodaway, Worth, Andrew, Atchison, Gentry, and Holt, have difficulty accessing mental health services.  

Jennings says one area the grant could help address is finding ways to bring more medical providers into Mosaic's system. 

"That can help address some of these gaps, I had a call from a school district just a couple of weeks ago that was trying to get a fourth grader in to see a mental health counselor within our system here in Maryville, and they said it's a six week wait time," Jennings says. "And the reality is that looks pretty good for us, we've in the past had a 12 week wait time, and that's reality for a lot of services across the United States." 

Jennings says the planning could help them find ways to get students into services sooner along with providing more resources. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A federal grant will help a behavioral health consortium in northwest Missouri find ways to address a growing pediatric mental health crisis. Director of the St. Francis Foundation Megan Jennings says a foundation has already been laid to address these needs, but this grant will help further that. One example of what it will benefit is the five-county cooperative mental health board which meets to address mental health needs. Jennings says this grant will provide money towards that "So, our consortium can work through this great board that already exists from these counties to say we have some startup funds, and we can really begin digging into this deeper," Jennings tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And so, this is really a strategic planning grant." This grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Jennings says, is a planning grant to begin finding ways to tackle the issue better. "But really this planning grant helps in a huge, huge way come together as kind of a consortium and really begin identifying what are the key needs, what are the major gaps in the area, and how do we respond better to this crisis," Jennings explains. The assessment will examine which populations in the six-county region, consisting of Nodaway, Worth, Andrew, Atchison, Gentry, and Holt, have difficulty accessing mental health services. Jennings says one area the grant could help address is finding ways to bring more medical providers into Mosaic's system. "That can help address some of these gaps, I had a call from a school district just a couple of weeks ago that was trying to get a fourth grader in to see a mental health counselor within our system here in Maryville, and they said it's a six week wait time," Jennings says. "And the reality is that looks pretty good for us, we've in the past had a 12 week wait time, and that's reality for a lot of services across the United States." Jennings says the planning could help them find ways to get students into services sooner along with providing more resources.

Federal grant helps Mosaic in Maryville explore how to better serve mental health needs

An $80 million USDA grant will be used to enhance
environmental agricultural practices in northern Missouri and southern Iowa.

Roeslein Alternative Energy of Unionville applied
for the grant with help from Iowa State University. Brandon Butler with
Roeslein says the company has been capturing energy from livestock waste since
its beginning in 2012.

“We’ve got close to a hundred lagoons covered,” Butler
says. “So, if you’re one of those people scratching their head, wondering why
don’t I smell those hog farms nearly as much as I used to, well that’s because
Roeslein has come in and tarped over all of those lagoons and we capture all
those gases.”

Butler says those captured gases can be turned
into energy.

“We’re able to, again, tarp over those lagoons,
captured all of those gases, bring them to a centralized gas purification skid
that we manufacture and we separate those molecules,” Butler says. “We upgrade
the methane into natural gas called renewable natural gas or RNG and we
directly inject that into the natural gas grid.”

Butler says sustainable agriculture holds great
promise for the rural economy.

“The biogas is really, really important to rural
America and agricultural communities, because this is really our chance to
interact with this extreme push towards a more sustainable future,” according
to Butler.

The $80 million USDA grant will be matched with $4.7
million in local funds. It will provide financial incentives for farmers to
plant prairie grasses and cover crops in marginal fields to be harvested and
converted into biogas and biofertilizer.

“We want to create processes that are good
economically, they’re good environmentally, and they’re good for wildlife.
Because when it’s good for wildlife, it’s good for us as well,” according to Butler.

The northern Missouri/southern Iowa projects is
part of the $3.1 billion Climate-Smart Commodities Projects financed by the USDA.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn $80 million USDA grant will be used to enhance
environmental agricultural practices in northern Missouri and southern Iowa.Roeslein Alternative Energy of Unionville applied
for the grant with help from Iowa State University. Brandon Butler with
Roeslein says the company has been capturing energy from livestock waste since
its beginning in 2012.“We’ve got close to a hundred lagoons covered,” Butler
says. “So, if you’re one of those people scratching their head, wondering why
don’t I smell those hog farms nearly as much as I used to, well that’s because
Roeslein has come in and tarped over all of those lagoons and we capture all
those gases.”Butler says those captured gases can be turned
into energy.“We’re able to, again, tarp over those lagoons,
captured all of those gases, bring them to a centralized gas purification skid
that we manufacture and we separate those molecules,” Butler says. “We upgrade
the methane into natural gas called renewable natural gas or RNG and we
directly inject that into the natural gas grid.”Butler says sustainable agriculture holds great
promise for the rural economy.“The biogas is really, really important to rural
America and agricultural communities, because this is really our chance to
interact with this extreme push towards a more sustainable future,” according
to Butler.The $80 million USDA grant will be matched with $4.7
million in local funds. It will provide financial incentives for farmers to
plant prairie grasses and cover crops in marginal fields to be harvested and
converted into biogas and biofertilizer.Butler says Roeslein has a simple goal.“We want to create processes that are good
economically, they’re good environmentally, and they’re good for wildlife.
Because when it’s good for wildlife, it’s good for us as well,” according to Butler.The northern Missouri/southern Iowa projects is
part of the $3.1 billion Climate-Smart Commodities Projects financed by the USDA.

USDA awards $80M grant for sustainable agriculture in northern MO/southern IA

Health officials have euthanized a Minnesota commercial turkey flock after tests confirmed it was positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

The flock contained approximately 140,000 birds and is the state’s first confirmed case of the disease since last spring. 

As is typically the case during spring or fall, officials say the disease is likely connected to the seasonal migration of wild birds. 

Commercial flocks in South Dakota and Utah have also tested positive for the virus. Michael Crusan, spokesman for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, says now is the time for producers to keep up with biosecurity measures and keep the area around their animals clean. 

Minnesota Public Radio says poultry farmers should be on the lookout for birds that eat or drink less than normal and a drop in egg production, depression, or sudden death. Last year, HPAI cost America’s poultry producers almost 59 million birds in 47 states.

Health officials have euthanized a Minnesota commercial turkey flock after tests confirmed it was positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza. The flock contained approximately 140,000 birds and is the state’s first confirmed case of the disease since last spring. As is typically the case during spring or fall, officials say the disease is likely connected to the seasonal migration of wild birds. Commercial flocks in South Dakota and Utah have also tested positive for the virus. Michael Crusan, spokesman for the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, says now is the time for producers to keep up with biosecurity measures and keep the area around their animals clean. Minnesota Public Radio says poultry farmers should be on the lookout for birds that eat or drink less than normal and a drop in egg production, depression, or sudden death. Last year, HPAI cost America’s poultry producers almost 59 million birds in 47 states.- NAFB

HPAI infections now in three states

Some public comments accuse Missouri education department of raising ‘snowflakes’

Missouri’s board of education will decide Tuesday whether to implement social emotional learning standards for K-12 students.

But though board members praised the potential guidelines during an August meeting as teaching “the basics of what it means to be human,” the proposal has also inspired plenty of negative feedback among the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/2023-october-consideration-proposed-k-12-learning-standards-glossary-and-student-0">1,800 public comments</a>&nbsp;submitted in the run up to Tuesday’s meeting in Jefferson City.

The negative comments, which made up roughly a third of those submitted, include accusations that the department is trying to raise “emotionally fragile snowflakes” and establish “critical race theory.”

Five respondents indicated that they were state legislators — all with negative reviews.

Positive feedback was shorter, with comments like, “Looks good to me.” Some were hopeful that students’ mental health would benefit but worried about adding a burden to educators.

Missourians had a 30-day public comment period through the department’s website. The survey prompted participants to identify their title and county of residence.

The groups more likely to hold a negative view than a positive or neutral response were: community members, employers, legislators, school board members and superintendents.

Social-emotional learning, according to the August board meeting, is “the direct attempt to build children’s social and emotional competencies in school settings.”

Of the five Missouri lawmakers who offered comments, one repeatedly described the standards as “psychobabble group think,” and another wanted to “teach the Bible and the Bill of Rights.”

Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Norwood Republican who recently announced a campaign for State Senate, said parents were responsible for the emotional wellbeing of their children.

“This is the role of the family kitchen table. Absolutely inappropriate expansion of government education,” she wrote in DESE’s survey.

Speaking to The Independent, she said she was worried the standards could become a performance measure for teachers and eventually be attached to money.

“Missouri families need to address these issues at the kitchen table,” Kelly said. “These issues should not be added to the demands in the classroom for teachers to perform on.”

Kimberly Bailey, a member of the Missouri State Board of Education from Raymore, said during the August meeting that neither the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education nor the state board are advocating for anyone to change their values.

“Like reading, writing and arithmetic, this is just the basics of what it means to be human,” she said. “Then if a community wants to teach values in addition to that… We’re not teaching values; we’re teaching basics.”

Bailey pushed for more words to be defined in the standards, worried people would “weaponize” the guidelines if not clearly explained. The proposal contains a lengthy glossary, defining words like “fair” and “kindness.”

Board President Charlie Shields knew social-emotional learning would create controversy. But he said he sees these traits outlined in his friends on either side of the political spectrum.

“People are just going to attack and say, ‘Well, this has no part in education,’” he said during the August meeting. “Given all the challenges we face…&nbsp; If we can’t (have these standards), how do you expect learning to happen?”

DESE administrators told board members that districts with social-emotional learning are having less teacher turnover, as the standards for respect improves discipline.

The Plato R-V school district, which recently adopted a policy improving school climate and culture, saw teacher turnover decrease from 40% to 11%, said Chrissy Bashore, coordinator of school counseling and student wellness.

Potosi teacher Kim Greenlee, who worked on the standards, said social-emotional learning is “what teachers need.”

“When we spend time and are given permission to spend time with the (social-emotional-learning) standards, we’re going to see that student achievement comes up,” she said. “Because if students feel like they belong, attendance is going to start to rise in a school setting. And if students are there more, we’re going to see that their learning grows.”

Of the 321 K-12 educator responses, 52% were in favor of the standards and 20.4% were neutral.

The largest group of commenters were parents, comprising 46% of respondents, of which 52% were positive.

The geographic spread of public comments were disproportionate to the state’s population, with over 28% of respondents identified as living in St. Louis city and St. Louis County and 12.8% in St. Charles County.

Other items in Tuesday’s meeting include recommendations to dissolve the state’s special administrative boards currently in place over the Riverview Gardens and Normandy Schools Collaborative school boards and return to local governance.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697464086225.png" alt=" The Missouri State Board of Education listens to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's blue ribbon commission's latest set of recommendations August 15. They discussed a lack of student discipline since the pandemic (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Missouri State Board of Education listens to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's blue ribbon commission's latest set of recommendations August 15. They discussed a lack of student discipline since the pandemic (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Some public comments accuse Missouri education department of raising ‘snowflakes’</h2>By ANNELISE HANSHAW,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri’s board of education will decide Tuesday whether to implement social emotional learning standards for K-12 students.But though board members praised the potential guidelines during an August meeting as teaching “the basics of what it means to be human,” the proposal has also inspired plenty of negative feedback among the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/2023-october-consideration-proposed-k-12-learning-standards-glossary-and-student-0">1,800 public comments</a>&nbsp;submitted in the run up to Tuesday’s meeting in Jefferson City.The negative comments, which made up roughly a third of those submitted, include accusations that the department is trying to raise “emotionally fragile snowflakes” and establish “critical race theory.”Five respondents indicated that they were state legislators — all with negative reviews.Positive feedback was shorter, with comments like, “Looks good to me.” Some were hopeful that students’ mental health would benefit but worried about adding a burden to educators.Missourians had a 30-day public comment period through the department’s website. The survey prompted participants to identify their title and county of residence.The groups more likely to hold a negative view than a positive or neutral response were: community members, employers, legislators, school board members and superintendents.Social-emotional learning, according to the August board meeting, is “the direct attempt to build children’s social and emotional competencies in school settings.”Of the five Missouri lawmakers who offered comments, one repeatedly described the standards as “psychobabble group think,” and another wanted to “teach the Bible and the Bill of Rights.”Rep. Hannah Kelly, a Norwood Republican who recently announced a campaign for State Senate, said parents were responsible for the emotional wellbeing of their children.“This is the role of the family kitchen table. Absolutely inappropriate expansion of government education,” she wrote in DESE’s survey.Speaking to The Independent, she said she was worried the standards could become a performance measure for teachers and eventually be attached to money.“Missouri families need to address these issues at the kitchen table,” Kelly said. “These issues should not be added to the demands in the classroom for teachers to perform on.”Kimberly Bailey, a member of the Missouri State Board of Education from Raymore, said during the August meeting that neither the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education nor the state board are advocating for anyone to change their values.“Like reading, writing and arithmetic, this is just the basics of what it means to be human,” she said. “Then if a community wants to teach values in addition to that… We’re not teaching values; we’re teaching basics.”Bailey pushed for more words to be defined in the standards, worried people would “weaponize” the guidelines if not clearly explained. The proposal contains a lengthy glossary, defining words like “fair” and “kindness.”Board President Charlie Shields knew social-emotional learning would create controversy. But he said he sees these traits outlined in his friends on either side of the political spectrum.“People are just going to attack and say, ‘Well, this has no part in education,’” he said during the August meeting. “Given all the challenges we face…&nbsp; If we can’t (have these standards), how do you expect learning to happen?”DESE administrators told board members that districts with social-emotional learning are having less teacher turnover, as the standards for respect improves discipline.The Plato R-V school district, which recently adopted a policy improving school climate and culture, saw teacher turnover decrease from 40% to 11%, said Chrissy Bashore, coordinator of school counseling and student wellness.Potosi teacher Kim Greenlee, who worked on the standards, said social-emotional learning is “what teachers need.”“When we spend time and are given permission to spend time with the (social-emotional-learning) standards, we’re going to see that student achievement comes up,” she said. “Because if students feel like they belong, attendance is going to start to rise in a school setting. And if students are there more, we’re going to see that their learning grows.”Of the 321 K-12 educator responses, 52% were in favor of the standards and 20.4% were neutral.The largest group of commenters were parents, comprising 46% of respondents, of which 52% were positive.The geographic spread of public comments were disproportionate to the state’s population, with over 28% of respondents identified as living in St. Louis city and St. Louis County and 12.8% in St. Charles County.Other items in Tuesday’s meeting include recommendations to dissolve the state’s special administrative boards currently in place over the Riverview Gardens and Normandy Schools Collaborative school boards and return to local governance.

Missouri education board set to discuss social-emotional learning standards

BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp;

Just before 10:30 a.m., Oct. 12, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road on Prairie near 280th with an individual possibly passed out, according to Sheriff John Merchant.

&nbsp;Deputies arrived and a male subject later identified as 50-year-old William Smalley of Independence, Missouri, was outside of the vehicle. 

As deputies approached, Smalley got back in to the vehicle.&nbsp; Upon speaking with Smalley, he gave deputies&nbsp; false information when asked for identification.&nbsp; Deputies&nbsp; also determined that the license plate on the vehicle was expired and came back to an entirely different vehicle.&nbsp; 

Smalley refused to comply with a request to exit the vehicle and obtained possession of a small black bag that was within his reach.

Deputies subsequently removed Smalley and after a short struggle placed him under arrested.&nbsp; 

The black bag had fallen to the ground during the struggle and contained a 9mm pistol which was in plain view.&nbsp; 

Only minor injuries were reported by the two deputies. Smalley is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Obstruction, Illegal Registration, No Proof of Insurance,Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697232112238.png" alt="Smalley-Photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Smalley-Photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp;Just before 10:30 a.m., Oct. 12, the Brown County law enforcement dispatch received a call about a suspicious vehicle parked on the side of the road on Prairie near 280th with an individual possibly passed out, according to Sheriff John Merchant.&nbsp;Deputies arrived and a male subject later identified as 50-year-old William Smalley of Independence, Missouri, was outside of the vehicle. As deputies approached, Smalley got back in to the vehicle.&nbsp; Upon speaking with Smalley, he gave deputies&nbsp; false information when asked for identification.&nbsp; Deputies&nbsp; also determined that the license plate on the vehicle was expired and came back to an entirely different vehicle.&nbsp; Smalley refused to comply with a request to exit the vehicle and obtained possession of a small black bag that was within his reach.Deputies subsequently removed Smalley and after a short struggle placed him under arrested.&nbsp; The black bag had fallen to the ground during the struggle and contained a 9mm pistol which was in plain view.&nbsp; Only minor injuries were reported by the two deputies. Smalley is being held on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Obstruction, Illegal Registration, No Proof of Insurance,Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Kansas deputies injured during arrest of drug suspect

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

There are currently 260 people in Missouri jails waiting to be transferred to a hospital for mental health treatment —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/20/missourians-wait-an-average-of-8-months-in-jail-for-court-ordered-mental-health-services/#:~:text=By%3A%20Clara%20Bates%20%2D%20September%2020%2C%202023%205%3A55%20am&amp;text=Missourians%20who%20are%20arrested%2C%20deemed,to%20a%20mental%20health%20facility.">a slight uptick from last month</a>, as state officials work to develop plans for the “jail-based competency restoration” program approved by the legislature this year.

Those 260 people were arrested, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered into mental health treatment.&nbsp;

They are supposed to receive rehabilitative mental health services that allow them to stand trial, a process called competency restoration. But they languish in jails, often for months, without having been found guilty of any crime because there are no hospital beds available to transfer them to.

The monthly update came from Nora Bock, director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Division of Behavioral Health, during a mental health commission meeting Thursday.

<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/20/missourians-wait-an-average-of-8-months-in-jail-for-court-ordered-mental-health-services/">Last month,</a>&nbsp;there were 253 awaiting treatment and the wait time was eight months. The Department did not provide an updated wait time Thursday.&nbsp;

The state has long struggled to transfer people from jails into mental hospitals once they are found to be incompetent to stand trial, in part because of a lack of hospital beds, staffing issues within the department of mental health and an increase in referrals.&nbsp;

Bock said many of the agency’s staffing issues persist, noting that “our vacancy rates are better, but we still have significant turnover.&nbsp;

That, Bock said, means “training over and over.”

Vacancy rates for social workers in particular “are very, very high, with 70% (licensed clinical social worker)&nbsp; positions either vacant or they’re filled with a non-licensed mental health professional,” Bock said.

And more people in need of treatment are in the pipeline: The department will add 55 people who have been evaluated and determined incompetent to stand trial once they receive the court’s order to do so. It expects around 136 people with open pre-trial evaluations (half of the 273 evaluations open) will be found incompetent to stand trial and need treatment, Bock said.

“So that makes it very important that we are launching and getting ready to launch the jail-based competency restoration along with community outpatient competency restoration,” Bock said.

A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/tat/SB106.pdf">law</a>&nbsp;passed this year gives the agency the authority to treat arrested people within jails, called jail-based competency restoration, or on an outpatient basis if the person can be safely released and treated.&nbsp;

“We continue to develop the curriculum and connect with the jails that are designated for that,” Bock said, “And we’ll continue to get that up and moving.”

This year’s budget set aside&nbsp;$<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/Comm/BudgetNotes/TATFP/HB%2010%20Mental%20Health%20Div%20of%20Comp%20Psychiatric%20Services.pdf">2.5 million</a>&nbsp;for the jail-based competency programs to be established in jails in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jackson County, Clay County and Greene County.

Services in jail-based competency restoration will include room and board, along with medical care for 10 slots at each jail, contracted staff from a local behavioral health organization, and psychiatric care from DMH’s “mobile team practitioners.” The agency hopes to reduce wait times through the program. They have not provided a timeline for when it will be up and running.

Elsewhere, there have been recent high-profile lawsuits against long wait times in jail for those needing mental health services in states including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-mental-illness-jail-incompetent-treatment/">Indiana</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/aclu-kansas-sues-over-unconstitutionally-long-wait-times-competency-evaluations-and">Kansas</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-mental-illness-jail-incompetent-treatment/">Pennsylvania</a>, arguing that long wait times are unconstitutional because they deprive people of due process.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697406937952.png" alt=" Last month, there were 253 awaiting treatment and the wait time was eight months. The Department did not provide an updated wait time Thursday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Last month, there were 253 awaiting treatment and the wait time was eight months. The Department did not provide an updated wait time Thursday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By CLARA BATES,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>There are currently 260 people in Missouri jails waiting to be transferred to a hospital for mental health treatment —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/20/missourians-wait-an-average-of-8-months-in-jail-for-court-ordered-mental-health-services/#:~:text=By%3A%20Clara%20Bates%20%2D%20September%2020%2C%202023%205%3A55%20am&amp;text=Missourians%20who%20are%20arrested%2C%20deemed,to%20a%20mental%20health%20facility.">a slight uptick from last month</a>, as state officials work to develop plans for the “jail-based competency restoration” program approved by the legislature this year.Those 260 people were arrested, deemed unfit to stand trial and ordered into mental health treatment.&nbsp;They are supposed to receive rehabilitative mental health services that allow them to stand trial, a process called competency restoration. But they languish in jails, often for months, without having been found guilty of any crime because there are no hospital beds available to transfer them to.The monthly update came from Nora Bock, director of the Missouri Department of Mental Health’s Division of Behavioral Health, during a mental health commission meeting Thursday.<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/20/missourians-wait-an-average-of-8-months-in-jail-for-court-ordered-mental-health-services/">Last month,</a>&nbsp;there were 253 awaiting treatment and the wait time was eight months. The Department did not provide an updated wait time Thursday.&nbsp;The state has long struggled to transfer people from jails into mental hospitals once they are found to be incompetent to stand trial, in part because of a lack of hospital beds, staffing issues within the department of mental health and an increase in referrals.&nbsp;Bock said many of the agency’s staffing issues persist, noting that “our vacancy rates are better, but we still have significant turnover.&nbsp;That, Bock said, means “training over and over.”Vacancy rates for social workers in particular “are very, very high, with 70% (licensed clinical social worker)&nbsp; positions either vacant or they’re filled with a non-licensed mental health professional,” Bock said.And more people in need of treatment are in the pipeline: The department will add 55 people who have been evaluated and determined incompetent to stand trial once they receive the court’s order to do so. It expects around 136 people with open pre-trial evaluations (half of the 273 evaluations open) will be found incompetent to stand trial and need treatment, Bock said.“So that makes it very important that we are launching and getting ready to launch the jail-based competency restoration along with community outpatient competency restoration,” Bock said.A&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/pdf-bill/tat/SB106.pdf">law</a>&nbsp;passed this year gives the agency the authority to treat arrested people within jails, called jail-based competency restoration, or on an outpatient basis if the person can be safely released and treated.&nbsp;“We continue to develop the curriculum and connect with the jails that are designated for that,” Bock said, “And we’ll continue to get that up and moving.”This year’s budget set aside&nbsp;$<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/Comm/BudgetNotes/TATFP/HB%2010%20Mental%20Health%20Div%20of%20Comp%20Psychiatric%20Services.pdf">2.5 million</a>&nbsp;for the jail-based competency programs to be established in jails in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jackson County, Clay County and Greene County.Services in jail-based competency restoration will include room and board, along with medical care for 10 slots at each jail, contracted staff from a local behavioral health organization, and psychiatric care from DMH’s “mobile team practitioners.” The agency hopes to reduce wait times through the program. They have not provided a timeline for when it will be up and running.Elsewhere, there have been recent high-profile lawsuits against long wait times in jail for those needing mental health services in states including&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-mental-illness-jail-incompetent-treatment/">Indiana</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aclukansas.org/en/press-releases/aclu-kansas-sues-over-unconstitutionally-long-wait-times-competency-evaluations-and">Kansas</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.spotlightpa.org/news/2023/03/pa-mental-illness-jail-incompetent-treatment/">Pennsylvania</a>, arguing that long wait times are unconstitutional because they deprive people of due process.&nbsp;

260 Missourians are waiting in jails for mental health services

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Focus driven by a 17-year-old&nbsp; Parnell boy was westbound on 275th Street one half mile east of Maryville.

The car crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound 2014 Ford Escape driven by Melissa S. Tyler, 40, Maryville, head-on.

Nodaway County EMS transported the teen driver to Mosaic Maryville. Tyler was not injured. The teen driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Saturday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Focus driven by a 17-year-old&nbsp; Parnell boy was westbound on 275th Street one half mile east of Maryville.The car crossed the centerline and struck an eastbound 2014 Ford Escape driven by Melissa S. Tyler, 40, Maryville, head-on.Nodaway County EMS transported the teen driver to Mosaic Maryville. Tyler was not injured. The teen driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen hospitalized after head-on crash

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Gentry County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a GMC Denali driven by Kyle G. Hayes, 82, Pensacola, Florida, was southbound on Route EE at Route T two miles west of McFall.

The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle crossed Route T, became airborne and rolled. Grand River EMS transported Hayes to Cameron Regional Medial Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

GENTRY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Gentry County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a GMC Denali driven by Kyle G. Hayes, 82, Pensacola, Florida, was southbound on Route EE at Route T two miles west of McFall.The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The vehicle crossed Route T, became airborne and rolled. Grand River EMS transported Hayes to Cameron Regional Medial Center. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Driver hospitalized after vehicle goes airborne, rolls

Missouri Western State University is abuzz about
a football game Saturday.

It is the game with Northwest Missouri State
University. It is the rivalry game.

Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says
this game has the St. Joseph campus excited for football Saturday.

“We’re excited about that,” Kennedy tells host
Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “With the new coaches that we have in. We’ve
always had the talent, but now the talent is shining and we are so excited to
have that. So, there’s lots of excitement.”

Though rivals, the games between Missouri Western
and Northwest Missouri State of late have been lopsided. The two schools are only
45 miles apart, but the roads the two programs have taken have diverged
greatly. While Northwest built a national powerhouse complete with national
championships, Missouri Western has struggled for relevance in the MIAA
Conference. Northwest has won the last nine games against Missouri Western.

Missouri Western football and its fans hope this
year is different. The current matchup has already made history. For the first
time, the Griffons enter the game nationally ranked while the Bearcats are not.

Kennedy says the campus couldn’t be more excited for
the game.

“It’s exciting for our students and our faculty
and staff, but it’s so wonderful to see the community come out and support (us),”
Kennedy says. “We do lots of tailgating before the football game for our
students. Our faculty tailgate. Alumni come, just fans in general. And it
really is such a nice, festive atmosphere. It’s really wonderful to have that
community support.”

Missouri Western will open the parking lots three
hours prior to kick-off, which is set for one o’clock.

“So, if you want to come out and tailgate and get
really ramped up, we’ll be ready and open for you,” Kennedy says. “So, we’re
excited about that. It’s going to be a big game. I’m just rooting our team on.
Go Griffs, right?”

The Griffons are 5-and-1 on the year. The
Bearcats have an uncharacteristic 3-and-3 record.

Kick-off from Spratt Stadium is set for one
o’clock. The broadcast on KFEQ begins at noon.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western State University is abuzz about
a football game Saturday.And, it’s not just any football game.It is the game with Northwest Missouri State
University. It is the rivalry game.Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says
this game has the St. Joseph campus excited for football Saturday.“We’re excited about that,” Kennedy tells host
Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “With the new coaches that we have in. We’ve
always had the talent, but now the talent is shining and we are so excited to
have that. So, there’s lots of excitement.”Though rivals, the games between Missouri Western
and Northwest Missouri State of late have been lopsided. The two schools are only
45 miles apart, but the roads the two programs have taken have diverged
greatly. While Northwest built a national powerhouse complete with national
championships, Missouri Western has struggled for relevance in the MIAA
Conference. Northwest has won the last nine games against Missouri Western.Missouri Western football and its fans hope this
year is different. The current matchup has already made history. For the first
time, the Griffons enter the game nationally ranked while the Bearcats are not.Kennedy says the campus couldn’t be more excited for
the game.“It’s exciting for our students and our faculty
and staff, but it’s so wonderful to see the community come out and support (us),”
Kennedy says. “We do lots of tailgating before the football game for our
students. Our faculty tailgate. Alumni come, just fans in general. And it
really is such a nice, festive atmosphere. It’s really wonderful to have that
community support.”Missouri Western will open the parking lots three
hours prior to kick-off, which is set for one o’clock.Kennedy expects a fired-up crowd “So, if you want to come out and tailgate and get
really ramped up, we’ll be ready and open for you,” Kennedy says. “So, we’re
excited about that. It’s going to be a big game. I’m just rooting our team on.
Go Griffs, right?”The Griffons are 5-and-1 on the year. The
Bearcats have an uncharacteristic 3-and-3 record.Kick-off from Spratt Stadium is set for one
o’clock. The broadcast on KFEQ begins at noon.

MWSU vs. NWMSU - a rivalry game like no other Saturday

As the temperatures begin to drop and harvest season rolls on, deer and wild animals are beginning to roam more--sometimes out onto the roadways. 

MoDOT Northwest District Engineer Greg Bolon says drivers should be on the lookout for wild animals, he finds, between dusk and dawn. 

"They can come out of anywhere off the side of the road and you won't see them unless you happen to catch a glimpse of their eyes," Bolon tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But I really watch right around those two times but they're moving around whether it be for food or whether it be for mating." 

Bolon says especially when you get closer to hunting season, which begins next month, deer and other wild animals tend to move around more. 

Bolon says animal movement is unpredictable, especially at night. 

"It's one of those that you kind of just have to look at those shoulder lines and see if you can detect any movement," Bolon explains. "But you know a lot of times what I always see is the eyes are glowing, so if I can see the eyes, I have a chance to either slow down or get out of the way, but if they're not facing at you when it's dark out it's just sometimes hard to detect." 

Bolon says if you see a deer before it's in the road, its best to try to slow down, but when one is in the road Bolon says the best course of action might be to just hit the deer 

"Because you don't want to run off of a steep side of a road and risk turning the vehicle over, you don't want to cross center line and go into oncoming traffic, so sometimes the best course of action is to try to just hit the deer and slow down as much as possible before that collision occurs," Bolon points out. 

Bolon says if you do get into an accident involving a deer, you should only contact the Department of Transportation if the deer is in the road blocking traffic. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post As the temperatures begin to drop and harvest season rolls on, deer and wild animals are beginning to roam more--sometimes out onto the roadways. MoDOT Northwest District Engineer Greg Bolon says drivers should be on the lookout for wild animals, he finds, between dusk and dawn. "They can come out of anywhere off the side of the road and you won't see them unless you happen to catch a glimpse of their eyes," Bolon tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But I really watch right around those two times but they're moving around whether it be for food or whether it be for mating." Bolon says especially when you get closer to hunting season, which begins next month, deer and other wild animals tend to move around more. Bolon says animal movement is unpredictable, especially at night. "It's one of those that you kind of just have to look at those shoulder lines and see if you can detect any movement," Bolon explains. "But you know a lot of times what I always see is the eyes are glowing, so if I can see the eyes, I have a chance to either slow down or get out of the way, but if they're not facing at you when it's dark out it's just sometimes hard to detect." Bolon says if you see a deer before it's in the road, its best to try to slow down, but when one is in the road Bolon says the best course of action might be to just hit the deer "Because you don't want to run off of a steep side of a road and risk turning the vehicle over, you don't want to cross center line and go into oncoming traffic, so sometimes the best course of action is to try to just hit the deer and slow down as much as possible before that collision occurs," Bolon points out. Bolon says if you do get into an accident involving a deer, you should only contact the Department of Transportation if the deer is in the road blocking traffic.

Colder temperatures mean that wild animals are beginning to roam more

Buchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett is asking for the public’s
help in locating the suspect in the armed robbery of the Smoker’s Heaven store
in Winthrop.

Puett reports an unidentified black male described as
approximately 30-to-40 years old wearing a white hat, blue bandana style face
covering, maroon shirt, gray sweatpants, gray shoes, and black and blue gloves
walked into Smoker’s Heaven around 7:30 Wednesday night. The suspect threatened
the cashier with a black handgun and demanded money.

The suspect fled across the Amelia Earhart bridge into Kansas
in a light-colored four-door sedan driven by another suspect.

If you have any information that might be related to the armed
robbery, contact the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division
at 816-236-8845 or 816-238-TIPS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697209068926.jpeg" alt="Photo of robbery suspect provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo of robbery suspect provided by the Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBuchanan County Sheriff Bill Puett is asking for the public’s
help in locating the suspect in the armed robbery of the Smoker’s Heaven store
in Winthrop.Puett reports an unidentified black male described as
approximately 30-to-40 years old wearing a white hat, blue bandana style face
covering, maroon shirt, gray sweatpants, gray shoes, and black and blue gloves
walked into Smoker’s Heaven around 7:30 Wednesday night. The suspect threatened
the cashier with a black handgun and demanded money.The suspect fled across the Amelia Earhart bridge into Kansas
in a light-colored four-door sedan driven by another suspect.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697209125515.jpeg" alt="Photo of robbery suspect vehicle provided by Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept." />
 <figcaption>Photo of robbery suspect vehicle provided by Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>If you have any information that might be related to the armed
robbery, contact the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division
at 816-236-8845 or 816-238-TIPS.

Sheriff asks for public's help in Winthrop armed robbery

Hemp industry leaders, state marijuana regulators and members of Congress all seem to agree the feds should regulate CBD. But the standoff is over intoxicating hemp products

Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high.&nbsp;

It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.

But much has changed since hemp was taken off the controlled substance list in 2018 by the last&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2">U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act</a>, more commonly known as the farm bill.&nbsp;

Now state regulators can barely keep up with the constantly evolving ways that people have found to make intoxicating products from hemp. The market for things like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">Delta-8 drinks</a>&nbsp;and edibles is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697160674008.png" alt=" 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> 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>Hemp industry leaders, state marijuana regulators and members of Congress all seem to agree the feds should regulate CBD. But the standoff is over intoxicating hemp products</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high.&nbsp;It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.But much has changed since hemp was taken off the controlled substance list in 2018 by the last&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/2">U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act</a>, more commonly known as the farm bill.&nbsp;Now state regulators can barely keep up with the constantly evolving ways that people have found to make intoxicating products from hemp. The market for things like&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/14/missouri-lawmakers-take-aim-at-unregulated-delta-8-thc-hemp-products/">Delta-8 drinks</a>&nbsp;and edibles is one of the fastest growing markets in the country.&nbsp;In Missouri, the issue has taken center stage in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/11/missouri-company-at-center-of-cannabis-recall-used-hemp-instead-of-marijuana-in-products/">massive cannabis recall</a>, where a company is accused of illegally importing marijuana but insists it actually brought legal, unregulated hemp into the state.With the farm bill up for renewal, the debate on whether some hemp products need to be considered controlled substances is back on the table — though delays make it unclear if any changes will occur at all.Hemp industry leaders, state marijuana regulators and members of Congress all seem to agree on one thing — the U.S. Food and Drug Administration should regulate CBD. But the divides come with intoxicating hemp products, and the standoff is over criminalization and prohibition.&nbsp;Hemp industry leaders don’t want to see these intoxicating products banned and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hempsupporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/USHR-Response-to-Congressional-RFI.pdf">have suggested</a>&nbsp;the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau handle their regulation.&nbsp;But state regulators believe Congress should “set the floor not the ceiling” on creating standards of hemp products.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;“…states should be able to enact regulations that extend beyond federal minimums to further protect their communities and consumers,”&nbsp; said leaders of the Cannabis Regulator Association (CANNRA) in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cann-ra.org/news-events/cannra-responds-to-congressional-request-for-information-on-federal-cannabinoid-hemp-regulation">statement</a>&nbsp;provided to Congress.&nbsp;&nbsp;When the current farm bill passes, it will likely have guidance for the FDA to monitor the production and testing of CBD.But it won’t likely have anything to help states regulate intoxicating hemp products, said Jonathan Miller, general counsel for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, a coalition of hemp industry leaders across the country.“My guess is that the farm bill will not resolve that,” Miller said, “and that will be something that will be continued to be studied and handled in the states.”Hemp industry leaders in Missouri have pushed back regulation coming under the Department of Health and Senior Services, the agency that oversees the cannabis program. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24025765-mhta-rfi-response">Missouri Hemp Trade Association told Congress&nbsp;</a>that it would like a separate “regulatory regime” that would allow for the use of intoxicating hemp products while providing for consumer safety and product testing.&nbsp;“This approach has avoided the massive bureaucratic costs of enforcing outright prohibition, criminalizing and incarcerating responsible, law-abiding adults, and forcing consumers away from alternatives to opiates and other deadly drugs,” the association stated in a<a target="_blank" href="https://d1dth6e84htgma.cloudfront.net/FINAL_RFI_CBD_signatures_1_1_ad8e840af4.pdf">&nbsp;Congressional Request for Information on cannabinoid hemp</a>&nbsp;regulation from the U.S. House Committee on Energy &amp; Commerce and the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.<h2>Small piece of the farm bill</h2>The previous farm bill&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.marylandmatters.org/2023/08/17/farm-bill-timeline-in-flux-as-a-messy-september-for-congress-nears/">expired</a>&nbsp;Sept. 30. Its renewal, a process that occurs every five years,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/farm-bill-stalled-amid-u-s-house-speaker-battle-delay-of-spending-bills/">remains in the drafting stage</a>.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12047">expansive</a>&nbsp;agricultural and food policy bill covers farmer safety net programs, conservation and sustainability incentives, international trade, rural area development, and food and nutrition programs for low-income Americans — the last of which by far accounts for the largest portion of the bill.&nbsp;A very small piece of the bill would be the hemp provisions.“We’re one of the very rare industries out there that is asking Congress to regulate it,” Miller said.&nbsp;In its response to Congress, CANNRA suggested closing “loopholes” that have allowed for intoxicating hemp products to go unregulated, including the “0.3% loophole” and the “THCA loophole.”&nbsp;Delta-9 THC is the most common form of intoxicating cannabinoid. While the threshold of 0.3% delta-9 THC by weight is a small amount of THC in a hemp plant, when applied to things like chocolate bars or beverages that can weigh significantly more, 0.3% by weight can amount to hundreds of milligrams of THC.&nbsp;For example, a 50-gram chocolate bar at 0.3% THC would have around 150 mg of THC — 30 times the standard 5 mg THC dose established by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A family sized pack of cookies weighing 20 oz can contain around 1,700 mg of THC using the 0.3% THC threshold.Instead, Miller and other hemp leaders suggest setting the intoxicating floor at 5 mg.&nbsp;Others believe it should be 2.5 mg.Missouri is currently shining a light on the THCA loophole. After more than 60,000 cannabis products were recalled in August, a company has revealed that it was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/25/missouri-cannabis-recall-hemp/">importing THCA</a>&nbsp;extracted from the hemp plant and putting it in marijuana products — arguing that THCA is not actually intoxicating until it is heated, so it doesn’t count as total THC.&nbsp;CANNRA told Congress that despite some states’ efforts to address this issue, many hemp businesses are selling “THCA hemp” flower that contains less than 0.3% delta-9 THC but has a total THC concentration of 15% to 20%.&nbsp;“This so-called ‘hemp’ is indistinguishable from marijuana flower,” the association stated.&nbsp;<h2>Patchwork of state laws&nbsp;</h2>Right now&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://hempsupporter.com/news/update-in-three-states-and-another-court-case/">states have passed&nbsp;</a>a “patchwork of different laws,” including some that are being challenged in courts, Miller said.&nbsp;Miller is hoping that the current legal conflicts between recent court decisions and the DEA will push Congress to act.On Sept. 8, a federal judge in Arkansas&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/67652494/bio-gen-llc-v-arkansas-state-of/">granted a preliminary injunction</a>&nbsp;in a lawsuit against the state, saying that hemp-derived cannabinoids, like THCA, are protected under the 2018 farm bill.&nbsp;But a few months before that, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cannabislegalhighlights.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/47/2023/06/DEA-THCA-and-HHC-letter.pdf">reaffirmed its position</a>&nbsp;that all these cannabinoids are illegal under federal law and not protected by the farm bill.The federal judge indicated that Congress should be the one to decide how to regulate hemp-derived THC products.&nbsp;“If we don’t change the definition and the federal court in Arkansas is correct, then maybe you can’t put limits on these products other than .3% Delta-9 THC,” Miller said. “It’s possible that if there’s no action at the federal level that courts could say, ‘We are kind of in the wild west without federal action.’”

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