ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Saturday.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by Blaydan R. Basler, 19, Savannah, was eastbound on Route C at CR 177 one mile east of Rosendale.

The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The&nbsp; pickup traveled off the left side of the road, struck an embankment, became airborne, traveled over CR 177 and came&nbsp; rest of the left side of the road.

Basler was arrested on requested charges of driving while intoxicated, failure to register a motor vehicle, failure to report an accident, no seat belt and operate a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident, according to the MSHP.

A private vehicle transported Basler to Mosaic Life Care.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 3:30a.m. Saturday.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 GMC Sierra driven by Blaydan R. Basler, 19, Savannah, was eastbound on Route C at CR 177 one mile east of Rosendale.The driver failed to negotiate a curve. The&nbsp; pickup traveled off the left side of the road, struck an embankment, became airborne, traveled over CR 177 and came&nbsp; rest of the left side of the road.Basler was arrested on requested charges of driving while intoxicated, failure to register a motor vehicle, failure to report an accident, no seat belt and operate a motor vehicle in a careless and imprudent manner involving an accident, according to the MSHP.A private vehicle transported Basler to Mosaic Life Care.

Savannah man accused of DWI after violent pickup crash

Some suspect AG Andrew Bailey intended to target the state’s two largest intoxicating hemp businesses, but went after the wrong company

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

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into four companies Wednesday as part of an effort to crack down on intoxicating hemp products.

The problem, according to Bailey, is the products in question — such Delta-8 edibles and vape pens — are not clearly labeled to indicate that they’ll get you high.

“When purchasing products, Missourians have a right to know if they will be subject to serious and potentially dangerous side effects,” Bailey stated in his press release, “like psychotic episodes, severe confusion, hallucinations and other life-threatening problems.”&nbsp;

Intoxicating hemp products are completely unregulated but can still be sold in places like bars and gas stations — because&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">hemp is federally legal</a>.&nbsp;

However, everyone from the companies making these products to stores selling them to elected officials want to see age restrictions put in place by the state, along with label and testing requirements.

Two Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation to do that, but the bills would also likely&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/01/proposed-legislation-could-ban-the-majority-of-delta-8-drinks-and-edibles-in-missouri/">ban a majority of the intoxicating hemp products</a>&nbsp;currently on the market — putting hundreds of companies out of business.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/push-for-restrictions-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-spurs-clash-over-who-should-regulate/">large divide</a>&nbsp;in how regulations should happen has essentially tanked the bills’ chances of making it to the governor’s desk.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Bailey seems to be joining the push to regulate the products. However, it’s unclear exactly who he’s targeting.

Bailey issued a “civil investigative demand,” which are essentially subpoenas, to CBD Kratom Connect LLC of St. Louis, a company that several leaders in the hemp industry say they’ve never heard of and which has virtually no online presence indicating it is operating in Missouri.&nbsp;

Some wonder if Bailey meant to target CBD Kratom, which is one of the largest intoxicating hemp companies in the state and country.&nbsp;

When asked for clarification, Madeline Sieren, spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office, said: “Unfortunately because the investigations are ongoing, I cannot comment beyond what is written in the CIDs.”

Also based in St. Louis, CBD Kratom has over 60 retail locations throughout Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis. And it has no connection to CBD Kratom Connect, the company’s owner David Palatnik told The Independent Thursday.&nbsp;

During hearings regarding the proposed legislation, Palatnik testified in support of banning products that look like candy and are attractive to children — the exact issue Bailey is hoping to address by the investigations.&nbsp;

“It’s an issue in the industry that some people sell child-looking packaging that is also fraudulent and is also a violation of federal laws,” Palatnik said. “So we’d agree with the attorney general on that front.”

His company ensures all its products have transparent labeling, he said. Palatnik says he opposed the legislation proposed in the Missouri General Assembly because of the harmful impact it would have on hemp businesses.

On Wednesday, Bailey also ordered an investigation into American Shaman, one of the largest intoxicating hemp companies in the state and country.&nbsp;

Vince Sanders, owner of American Shaman, told The Independent Thursday that his company makes gummies and chocolates made with hemp-derived THC, but they’re sold in child-proof containers, similar to what is required by state law for marijuana products.

“They all say ‘21-plus,’” Sanders said. “If you’re in one of our stores, you actually have to sign a document that says you understand that these are psychoactive.”

Sanders has also been a vocal and influential opponent to the proposed legislation.

Two individuals also received investigation notices from Bailey: Cara Buchanan with Smoke Smart LLC in St. Louis and Tariq Zeiadeh with Vape Society Supplies in Columbia.&nbsp;

An employee at the Smoke Smart location in St. Peters said Buchanan no longer owns the business or lives in Missouri, and the current owners do not operate as Smoke Smart LLC. Zeidadeh has not responded to a request for comment.

In his press release, Bailey states that he’s received reports that businesses were “potentially violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which grants Missourians the right to a marketplace free from fraudulent or deceptive business practices.”

Bailey also pointed to the six elementary-age children in St. Louis County who became sick and intoxicated at school after&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=b9bad048b2&amp;e=34f783ca45">reportedly</a>&nbsp;ingesting Delta-8 products that were packaged as “Nerds Rope Bites and Mad Monkey Sour Strawberry Premium Gummies.”

The attorney general’s office didn’t respond to The Independent’s question on whether any of the four companies under investigation made the products in the St. Louis County incident.

Among the biggest supporters of the proposed legislation are leaders of the marijuana industry. The intoxicating hemp industry poses a major threat to marijuana businesses.&nbsp;

Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high. It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.

However, 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;Since then, people have found numerous ways to make intoxicating products from hemp — largely through a chemical process of converting CBD to THC. 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.

Because of the farm bill, there’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors, including American Shaman and CBD Kratom, have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;

Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical, said at a recent industry summit that the intent of the bill was to put the hemp-derived products under the strict packaging and other requirements that marijuana companies must go through.&nbsp;

“So that’s why we’re just in complete amazement that this stuff just can be out there without any of these checks and balances,” Meyers said.

The Missouri Hemp Trade Association has continuously advocated for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.

The big problem the hemp industry has with the legislation is that it would place these products under the same constitutional framework and rules that the marijuana industry must abide by — including the mandate that products are only sold at licensed marijuana dispensaries regulated by the cannabis division within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;

There are no new marijuana facility licenses available currently, so there would be no way for the current hemp storefronts to sell these products.

Last week, Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater offered a different draft of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">House</a>&nbsp;legislation — backed by the hemp industry — that would allow the Division of Cannabis Regulation to issue licenses to companies that sell intoxicating hemp products, as well as oversee age restrictions and labeling requirements.&nbsp;

Under Hovis’ proposal, the licensees would not come under other marijuana rules, which includes a ban on the “chemical conversion” process used to create the majority of hemp-derived THC products. The state rules also&nbsp;require that THC may only come from cannabis cultivated by a Missouri-licensed cultivation facility. Most hemp-derived THC is currently brought in from other states.

Few products currently on the market would meet these requirements.&nbsp;

Hovis’ proposal failed, largely because the division said the licensing fee he proposed wouldn’t produce enough revenue to cover the division’s costs.&nbsp;

“There’s something we need to do because of the unregulated market that we have right now,” Hovis said. “I do feel that for the safety of children… this would be a good move.”

State Sen. Karla May, a Democrat from St. Louis, said she plans on offering an amendment to Republican Sen. Nick Schroer’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">bill</a>&nbsp;to regulate these products, which will likely be similar to Hovis’ proposal. May said the license fees in her proposal will be higher.

Schroer’s bill could be brought up on the Senate floor for debate any time, May said, and that’s when she’d offer her proposal.&nbsp;

“My only concern is that we get an independent structure for these businesses,” May said, “and that they don’t have to come up under marijuana. Because the only license they will be given is a&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 license</a>&nbsp;and that is not fair to them.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681466878038.png" alt="&nbsp;Attorney General Andrew Bailey -courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Attorney General Andrew Bailey -courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Some suspect AG Andrew Bailey intended to target the state’s two largest intoxicating hemp businesses, but went after the wrong company</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey launched an investigation into four companies Wednesday as part of an effort to crack down on intoxicating hemp products.The problem, according to Bailey, is the products in question — such Delta-8 edibles and vape pens — are not clearly labeled to indicate that they’ll get you high.“When purchasing products, Missourians have a right to know if they will be subject to serious and potentially dangerous side effects,” Bailey stated in his press release, “like psychotic episodes, severe confusion, hallucinations and other life-threatening problems.”&nbsp;Intoxicating hemp products are completely unregulated but can still be sold in places like bars and gas stations — because&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">hemp is federally legal</a>.&nbsp;However, everyone from the companies making these products to stores selling them to elected officials want to see age restrictions put in place by the state, along with label and testing requirements.Two Republican lawmakers have proposed legislation to do that, but the bills would also likely&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/01/proposed-legislation-could-ban-the-majority-of-delta-8-drinks-and-edibles-in-missouri/">ban a majority of the intoxicating hemp products</a>&nbsp;currently on the market — putting hundreds of companies out of business.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/push-for-restrictions-on-intoxicating-hemp-products-spurs-clash-over-who-should-regulate/">large divide</a>&nbsp;in how regulations should happen has essentially tanked the bills’ chances of making it to the governor’s desk.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bailey seems to be joining the push to regulate the products. However, it’s unclear exactly who he’s targeting.Bailey issued a “civil investigative demand,” which are essentially subpoenas, to CBD Kratom Connect LLC of St. Louis, a company that several leaders in the hemp industry say they’ve never heard of and which has virtually no online presence indicating it is operating in Missouri.&nbsp;Some wonder if Bailey meant to target CBD Kratom, which is one of the largest intoxicating hemp companies in the state and country.&nbsp;When asked for clarification, Madeline Sieren, spokeswoman for the Attorney General’s office, said: “Unfortunately because the investigations are ongoing, I cannot comment beyond what is written in the CIDs.”Also based in St. Louis, CBD Kratom has over 60 retail locations throughout Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis. And it has no connection to CBD Kratom Connect, the company’s owner David Palatnik told The Independent Thursday.&nbsp;During hearings regarding the proposed legislation, Palatnik testified in support of banning products that look like candy and are attractive to children — the exact issue Bailey is hoping to address by the investigations.&nbsp;“It’s an issue in the industry that some people sell child-looking packaging that is also fraudulent and is also a violation of federal laws,” Palatnik said. “So we’d agree with the attorney general on that front.”His company ensures all its products have transparent labeling, he said. Palatnik says he opposed the legislation proposed in the Missouri General Assembly because of the harmful impact it would have on hemp businesses.On Wednesday, Bailey also ordered an investigation into American Shaman, one of the largest intoxicating hemp companies in the state and country.&nbsp;Vince Sanders, owner of American Shaman, told The Independent Thursday that his company makes gummies and chocolates made with hemp-derived THC, but they’re sold in child-proof containers, similar to what is required by state law for marijuana products.“They all say ‘21-plus,’” Sanders said. “If you’re in one of our stores, you actually have to sign a document that says you understand that these are psychoactive.”Sanders has also been a vocal and influential opponent to the proposed legislation.Two individuals also received investigation notices from Bailey: Cara Buchanan with Smoke Smart LLC in St. Louis and Tariq Zeiadeh with Vape Society Supplies in Columbia.&nbsp;An employee at the Smoke Smart location in St. Peters said Buchanan no longer owns the business or lives in Missouri, and the current owners do not operate as Smoke Smart LLC. Zeidadeh has not responded to a request for comment.In his press release, Bailey states that he’s received reports that businesses were “potentially violating the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, which grants Missourians the right to a marketplace free from fraudulent or deceptive business practices.”Bailey also pointed to the six elementary-age children in St. Louis County who became sick and intoxicated at school after&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.us20.list-manage.com/track/click?u=55bd24fd8f5e7d3dc227d1072&amp;id=b9bad048b2&amp;e=34f783ca45">reportedly</a>&nbsp;ingesting Delta-8 products that were packaged as “Nerds Rope Bites and Mad Monkey Sour Strawberry Premium Gummies.”The attorney general’s office didn’t respond to The Independent’s question on whether any of the four companies under investigation made the products in the St. Louis County incident.<h2>The great divide</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713628004108.png" alt="John Pennington, CEO of Proper Brands; Jamey Murphy, Sen. Nick Schroer’s chief of staff; Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical; Amy Moore, Director, Division of Cannabis Regulation; and John Payne, managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, discuss legislation on intoxicating hemp products at an industry summit in downtown St. Louis on March 28 (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>John Pennington, CEO of Proper Brands; Jamey Murphy, Sen. Nick Schroer’s chief of staff; Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical; Amy Moore, Director, Division of Cannabis Regulation; and John Payne, managing partner at Amendment 2 Consultants, discuss legislation on intoxicating hemp products at an industry summit in downtown St. Louis on March 28 (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Among the biggest supporters of the proposed legislation are leaders of the marijuana industry. The intoxicating hemp industry poses a major threat to marijuana businesses.&nbsp;Hemp is often known for being the part of the cannabis plant that doesn’t get people high. It’s full of CBD, a nonpyschoactive cannabinoid that helps people relax and often found in massage oils and sleep aids.However, 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;Since then, people have found numerous ways to make intoxicating products from hemp — largely through a chemical process of converting CBD to THC. 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.Because of the farm bill, there’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors, including American Shaman and CBD Kratom, have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical, said at a recent industry summit that the intent of the bill was to put the hemp-derived products under the strict packaging and other requirements that marijuana companies must go through.&nbsp;“So that’s why we’re just in complete amazement that this stuff just can be out there without any of these checks and balances,” Meyers said.The Missouri Hemp Trade Association has continuously advocated for measures such as prohibiting sales to minors and mandating clear user instructions and rigorous product testing.The big problem the hemp industry has with the legislation is that it would place these products under the same constitutional framework and rules that the marijuana industry must abide by — including the mandate that products are only sold at licensed marijuana dispensaries regulated by the cannabis division within the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.&nbsp;There are no new marijuana facility licenses available currently, so there would be no way for the current hemp storefronts to sell these products.Last week, Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater offered a different draft of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1781&amp;year=2024&amp;code=R">House</a>&nbsp;legislation — backed by the hemp industry — that would allow the Division of Cannabis Regulation to issue licenses to companies that sell intoxicating hemp products, as well as oversee age restrictions and labeling requirements.&nbsp;Under Hovis’ proposal, the licensees would not come under other marijuana rules, which includes a ban on the “chemical conversion” process used to create the majority of hemp-derived THC products. The state rules also&nbsp;require that THC may only come from cannabis cultivated by a Missouri-licensed cultivation facility. Most hemp-derived THC is currently brought in from other states.Few products currently on the market would meet these requirements.&nbsp;Hovis’ proposal failed, largely because the division said the licensing fee he proposed wouldn’t produce enough revenue to cover the division’s costs.&nbsp;“There’s something we need to do because of the unregulated market that we have right now,” Hovis said. “I do feel that for the safety of children… this would be a good move.”State Sen. Karla May, a Democrat from St. Louis, said she plans on offering an amendment to Republican Sen. Nick Schroer’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/24info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=834">bill</a>&nbsp;to regulate these products, which will likely be similar to Hovis’ proposal. May said the license fees in her proposal will be higher.Schroer’s bill could be brought up on the Senate floor for debate any time, May said, and that’s when she’d offer her proposal.&nbsp;“My only concern is that we get an independent structure for these businesses,” May said, “and that they don’t have to come up under marijuana. Because the only license they will be given is a&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 license</a>&nbsp;and that is not fair to them.”

Missouri AG launches investigation of intoxicating hemp products

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Friday in Holt County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Honda Civic driven by Esteban Sanchez Hernandez, 44, Kansas City, Kansas, was southbound on Interstate 29 seven miles northeast of Oregon.

The car traveled off the east side of the highway. The driver overcorrected and the car began to skid.&nbsp; The car traveled off the west side of the highway, struck an embankment and rolled.

Holt County EMS transported Hernandez to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30p.m. Friday in Holt County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Honda Civic driven by Esteban Sanchez Hernandez, 44, Kansas City, Kansas, was southbound on Interstate 29 seven miles northeast of Oregon.The car traveled off the east side of the highway. The driver overcorrected and the car began to skid.&nbsp; The car traveled off the west side of the highway, struck an embankment and rolled.Holt County EMS transported Hernandez to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Kansas man hospitalized in St. Joe after rollover crash

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

Just aft 10:00 p.m. April 17, Sheriff's Deputies initiated a welfare check of a child at a residence&nbsp; in Morrill, Kansas, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

Upon conclusion of the investigation, deputies arrested 31-year-old Samantha Losson and&nbsp; 34-year-old Todd Cain 34both of Morrill on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Aggravated Child Endangerment.&nbsp; 

Cain was additionally charged with Posssession of Marijuana.&nbsp; DCF assisted in the case, according to Merchant.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713466728229.png" alt="Cain photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Cain photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug allegations.Just aft 10:00 p.m. April 17, Sheriff's Deputies initiated a welfare check of a child at a residence&nbsp; in Morrill, Kansas, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713466682449.png" alt="Losson photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Losson photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Upon conclusion of the investigation, deputies arrested 31-year-old Samantha Losson and&nbsp; 34-year-old Todd Cain 34both of Morrill on requested charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Obstruction and Aggravated Child Endangerment.&nbsp; Cain was additionally charged with Posssession of Marijuana.&nbsp; DCF assisted in the case, according to Merchant.

Kansas DCF assists in drug bust at Kansas home 

Two Missouri Western State University music majors get to
perform with the St. Joseph Symphony Saturday evening in a concert
appropriately entitled The Future’s So Bright.

Senior soprano Sara Poet of St. Joseph will sing, “Sorry Her
Lot Who Loves Too Well” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.

“I have been working on this piece for two-and-a-half years, really
working to hone in and perfect it,” Poet tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline. “I’ve taken it to competitions. I’ve done it in recitals; a lot of it
in preparation for this.”

Junior trombone player, David Welter, who is from
Stewartsville, will perform “Concerto for Trombone” by Rimsky-Korsakov.

“I’ve been working on this piece for about a year now,” Welter
tells Birr. “So, it’s nice to finally unveil it on a more grand scale than just
a brass studio recital.”

Welter and Poet won a young artists competition during
auditions held in December for the honor of sharing the Missouri Theater stage
with the St. Joseph Symphony.

As for her choice of songs, Poet says the song has grown on
her as she has grown as a music major.

“That’s really my connection with it. It’s kind of a lament
between loyalty to her father and a new found love with a sailor and she’s
caught in between those tides,” Poet says. &nbsp;“Getting to explore those emotions and her
heart cry has been really interesting.”

Poet says she expects to be blown away by the experience of
performing with the symphony.

Welter says he took up the trombone, because his father, a
music teacher, is a trombone player.

“I picked it mainly because I was inspired by my Dad’s work,
but then as time went on, I just kind of started to fall in love with the
instrument and thought, I made the right choice,” Welter says. “Instead of doing
something like trumpet or tuba, I made the right choice by doing trombone. It’s
something that fits me.”

The symphony will conclude the concert with “The Ukrainian,”
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2.

The concert begins at seven o’clock Saturday night at the
Missouri Theater. A public social time will follow at Felix Street Gourmet, at
8th and Felix.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwo Missouri Western State University music majors get to
perform with the St. Joseph Symphony Saturday evening in a concert
appropriately entitled The Future’s So Bright.Senior soprano Sara Poet of St. Joseph will sing, “Sorry Her
Lot Who Loves Too Well” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.“I have been working on this piece for two-and-a-half years, really
working to hone in and perfect it,” Poet tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline. “I’ve taken it to competitions. I’ve done it in recitals; a lot of it
in preparation for this.”Junior trombone player, David Welter, who is from
Stewartsville, will perform “Concerto for Trombone” by Rimsky-Korsakov.“I’ve been working on this piece for about a year now,” Welter
tells Birr. “So, it’s nice to finally unveil it on a more grand scale than just
a brass studio recital.”Welter and Poet won a young artists competition during
auditions held in December for the honor of sharing the Missouri Theater stage
with the St. Joseph Symphony.As for her choice of songs, Poet says the song has grown on
her as she has grown as a music major.“That’s really my connection with it. It’s kind of a lament
between loyalty to her father and a new found love with a sailor and she’s
caught in between those tides,” Poet says. &nbsp;“Getting to explore those emotions and her
heart cry has been really interesting.”Poet says she expects to be blown away by the experience of
performing with the symphony.Welter says he took up the trombone, because his father, a
music teacher, is a trombone player.“I picked it mainly because I was inspired by my Dad’s work,
but then as time went on, I just kind of started to fall in love with the
instrument and thought, I made the right choice,” Welter says. “Instead of doing
something like trumpet or tuba, I made the right choice by doing trombone. It’s
something that fits me.”The symphony will conclude the concert with “The Ukrainian,”
Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 2.The concert begins at seven o’clock Saturday night at the
Missouri Theater. A public social time will follow at Felix Street Gourmet, at
8th and Felix.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Future's So Bright:  MWSU students prepare to perform with St. Joseph Symphony

As the weather begins to warm up, road construction workers will be out, vulnerable to drivers not paying attention.  

Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Marty Liles says last year a record number of work zone fatalities happened in Missouri.  

"35 fatalities occurred in work zone crashes, which is the highest number of work zone fatalities in Missouri history," Liles tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

MoDOT is wrapping up Work Zone Awareness week, which Liles says they hold every year around this time as construction ramps up 

"Just trying to make awareness of the upcoming work zones and why it's so important for motorists to pay attention," Liles explains. 

Distracted driving contributed to 588 work zone crashes, five of which resulted in fatalities.   

Liles says after a record number of work zone fatalities in the state last year, there's a fear it will continue to trend upward 

"We've already had our maintenance forces out there doing work, we've already had in the last month two of our attenuators that have been hit trying to protect our workers and the traveling public," Liles says. 

Liles says those protective vehicles were hit locally during bridge work on I-29 south of St. Joseph.

Liles says one effort to protect both workers and drivers in work zones is giving plenty of advanced warning 

"So as the traveling public is coming up on the work zones, they're seeing well in advance the signage that some kind of work zone is happening," Liles explains.  

Liles says work zones are also required to have protective vehicles in place.  

"Those protective vehicles are vehicles that if a crash occurs it's there to take the energy of that crash before it gets into the zone and hits one of our workers," Liles says. 

Liles reminds drivers as you hit the roads to plan accordingly, buckle up, put your phone down, and be aware of your speed in work zones.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713540736027.jpeg" alt="An attenuator that was hit during bridge work on I-29 south of St. Joseph/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>An attenuator that was hit during bridge work on I-29 south of St. Joseph/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post As the weather begins to warm up, road construction workers will be out, vulnerable to drivers not paying attention. Missouri Department of Transportation District Engineer Marty Liles says last year a record number of work zone fatalities happened in Missouri. "35 fatalities occurred in work zone crashes, which is the highest number of work zone fatalities in Missouri history," Liles tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. MoDOT is wrapping up Work Zone Awareness week, which Liles says they hold every year around this time as construction ramps up "Just trying to make awareness of the upcoming work zones and why it's so important for motorists to pay attention," Liles explains. Distracted driving contributed to 588 work zone crashes, five of which resulted in fatalities. Liles says after a record number of work zone fatalities in the state last year, there's a fear it will continue to trend upward "We've already had our maintenance forces out there doing work, we've already had in the last month two of our attenuators that have been hit trying to protect our workers and the traveling public," Liles says. Liles says those protective vehicles were hit locally during bridge work on I-29 south of St. Joseph.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713540785154.jpeg" alt="Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Liles says one effort to protect both workers and drivers in work zones is giving plenty of advanced warning "So as the traveling public is coming up on the work zones, they're seeing well in advance the signage that some kind of work zone is happening," Liles explains. Liles says work zones are also required to have protective vehicles in place. "Those protective vehicles are vehicles that if a crash occurs it's there to take the energy of that crash before it gets into the zone and hits one of our workers," Liles says. Liles reminds drivers as you hit the roads to plan accordingly, buckle up, put your phone down, and be aware of your speed in work zones.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713540827658.jpeg" alt="Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Dont-be-distracted-Roadwork-ramps-up-as-weather-gets-warmer-e2ik36k" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MoDOT plea: Drivers pay attention in work zones

Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt says he will continue to press
the Air Force and the Air National Guard on why the 139th Airlift
Wing has not yet received the latest version of the C-130 cargo plane.

Schmitt, during a hearing in Washington, questioned why the
139th, based at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, didn’t
receive the new C-130J models in the first round of allocations. Schmitt points
out the current federal budget has money for eight more C-130J models. 

“There have been eight J’s, essentially, appropriated for.
There are eight available in the next round (of funding) and Rosecrans should
get those,” Schmitt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

A recent evaluation of Air Guard bases appears to have the 139th
as the next-in-line to receive the modern cargo planes.

Federal, state, and city money has been poured into Rosecrans
to upgrade the military base to meet federal criteria for the new planes.

Schmitt points out the 139th trains pilots from
around the globe at its Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center at Rosecrans.

“Like, when the Indian, the country of India’s Air Force,
comes in for training, they ‘ve got the newer model and we’ve got the H’s from
the 1980s. And we’re training these folks,” Schmitt says. “And so, it just
makes all the sense in the world for those J’s to be home there at Rosecrans
and we’re going to do everything we can to continue to press on that issue.”

Schmitt, a Republican, serves on the Senate Armed Services
Committee and recently brought up the issue to Air Force Secretary Frank
Kendall during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713535487033.jpeg" alt="139th Air Guard C-130H cargo planes at Rosecrans Memorial Airport/file photo" />
 <figcaption>139th Air Guard C-130H cargo planes at Rosecrans Memorial Airport/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt says he will continue to press
the Air Force and the Air National Guard on why the 139th Airlift
Wing has not yet received the latest version of the C-130 cargo plane.Schmitt, during a hearing in Washington, questioned why the
139th, based at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, didn’t
receive the new C-130J models in the first round of allocations. Schmitt points
out the current federal budget has money for eight more C-130J models. “There have been eight J’s, essentially, appropriated for.
There are eight available in the next round (of funding) and Rosecrans should
get those,” Schmitt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.A recent evaluation of Air Guard bases appears to have the 139th
as the next-in-line to receive the modern cargo planes.Federal, state, and city money has been poured into Rosecrans
to upgrade the military base to meet federal criteria for the new planes.Schmitt points out the 139th trains pilots from
around the globe at its Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center at Rosecrans.“Like, when the Indian, the country of India’s Air Force,
comes in for training, they ‘ve got the newer model and we’ve got the H’s from
the 1980s. And we’re training these folks,” Schmitt says. “And so, it just
makes all the sense in the world for those J’s to be home there at Rosecrans
and we’re going to do everything we can to continue to press on that issue.”Schmitt, a Republican, serves on the Senate Armed Services
Committee and recently brought up the issue to Air Force Secretary Frank
Kendall during a committee hearing on Capitol Hill.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Sen. Schmitt vows to keeping pressing Air Force on new C-130 planes at Rosecrans

ATCHISON COUNTY—Police in Atchison recovered a 2008 Suzuki 90cc four wheeler that had been reported stolen on Wednesday from the 900 block Parallel Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; 

An on-going investigation by Atchison Police also resulted in the recovery of other property that may be stolen from other jurisdictions.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest in the case or additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713537864622.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Police in Atchison recovered a 2008 Suzuki 90cc four wheeler that had been reported stolen on Wednesday from the 900 block Parallel Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; An on-going investigation by Atchison Police also resulted in the recovery of other property that may be stolen from other jurisdictions.&nbsp; Police have not reported an arrest in the case or additional details.

Police recover 4 wheeler, other reported stolen property

A local state representative isn’t all that worried about how
slowly the Missouri legislative session is moving, though he is keeping his eye
on one measure in particular.

Rep. Dean VanSchoiack of Savannah also is pleased with the emphasis
on transportation in the $51 billion state budget approved by the Missouri
House and sent to the Senate.

VanSchoiack says changes in the initiative petition process
and providing tax breaks to boost child care options in the state seem to be
the top priorities this legislative session. But VanSchoiack says a tax
collected by hospitals vital to the funding of Medicaid needs to pass.

“The thing I’m worried about most is getting the FRA (federal
reimbursement allowance) passed this year,” VanSchoiack tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “Hopefully, we can get that done without having to go to special session
like we did two years ago.”

Hospitals collect a little more than $4 billion through the FRA
tax in support of the state Medicaid program. Members of the Freedom Caucus in
the State Senate have held up passage of the tax.

VanSchoiack, a Republican, isn’t sold yet on efforts to turn U.S.
Highway 36 into Interstate 72.

VanSchoiack acknowledges an interstate designation would help the
cities along Highway 36, but he worries the restricted access to an interstate
would harm the agricultural economy of northern Missouri.

“That will cut down access for farmers getting their machinery
from one farm to another and getting their produce to the market and livestock
as well,” VanSchoiack says.&nbsp; “It’s got
pluses, it’s got minuses.”

VanSchoiack says he would be interested in what a study of
turning Highway 36 into I-72 would reveal. The representative says the push for
I-72 comes more from the Hannibal area than northwest Missouri.

Gov. Mike Parson vetoed the funding last year, but backers of
the provision believe they might have answered the governor’s objections this
year.

VanSchoiack is pleased the state budget again contains $100
million to repair and upgrade the rural, two-lane, blacktop roads throughout
the state. VanSchoiack says the General Assembly had to allocate funding for those
rural roads through state appropriations, because the Department of
Transportation doesn’t seem too willing to fund it out of the highway budget.

“We have many that have been neglected for years and years,”
according to VanSchoiack. “It seems like MoDOT’s not willing to spend their
money on them. They have other projects they feel are more important. We as a
legislature feel it’s a priority. So, we’ve put in $100 million every year for three
years now, specifically for those lettered routes.”

VanSchoiack says that allocation for rural, blacktop roads is
very important for his district.

The Missouri Senate is expected to debate the state budget
soon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713533569820.jpeg" alt="Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA local state representative isn’t all that worried about how
slowly the Missouri legislative session is moving, though he is keeping his eye
on one measure in particular.Rep. Dean VanSchoiack of Savannah also is pleased with the emphasis
on transportation in the $51 billion state budget approved by the Missouri
House and sent to the Senate.VanSchoiack says changes in the initiative petition process
and providing tax breaks to boost child care options in the state seem to be
the top priorities this legislative session. But VanSchoiack says a tax
collected by hospitals vital to the funding of Medicaid needs to pass.“The thing I’m worried about most is getting the FRA (federal
reimbursement allowance) passed this year,” VanSchoiack tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “Hopefully, we can get that done without having to go to special session
like we did two years ago.”Hospitals collect a little more than $4 billion through the FRA
tax in support of the state Medicaid program. Members of the Freedom Caucus in
the State Senate have held up passage of the tax.VanSchoiack, a Republican, isn’t sold yet on efforts to turn U.S.
Highway 36 into Interstate 72.VanSchoiack acknowledges an interstate designation would help the
cities along Highway 36, but he worries the restricted access to an interstate
would harm the agricultural economy of northern Missouri.“That will cut down access for farmers getting their machinery
from one farm to another and getting their produce to the market and livestock
as well,” VanSchoiack says.&nbsp; “It’s got
pluses, it’s got minuses.”VanSchoiack says he would be interested in what a study of
turning Highway 36 into I-72 would reveal. The representative says the push for
I-72 comes more from the Hannibal area than northwest Missouri.Gov. Mike Parson vetoed the funding last year, but backers of
the provision believe they might have answered the governor’s objections this
year.VanSchoiack is pleased the state budget again contains $100
million to repair and upgrade the rural, two-lane, blacktop roads throughout
the state. VanSchoiack says the General Assembly had to allocate funding for those
rural roads through state appropriations, because the Department of
Transportation doesn’t seem too willing to fund it out of the highway budget.“We have many that have been neglected for years and years,”
according to VanSchoiack. “It seems like MoDOT’s not willing to spend their
money on them. They have other projects they feel are more important. We as a
legislature feel it’s a priority. So, we’ve put in $100 million every year for three
years now, specifically for those lettered routes.”VanSchoiack says that allocation for rural, blacktop roads is
very important for his district.The Missouri Senate is expected to debate the state budget
soon.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Rep. VanSchoiack worries about hospital tax and wonders about impact of I-72

Wesley Bell, challenging Cori Bush in the 1st District, and Lucas Kunce, making his second bid for the Senate against Josh Hawley, had the edge as campaigns seek cash

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

With one seat in Congress&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/04/blaine-luetkemeyer-opts-out-of-another-term-in-congress/">up for grabs</a>, an incumbent&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/wesley-bell-drops-out-senate-race-jumps-into-primary-against-democrat-cori-bush/">facing a serious challenge</a>&nbsp;and a former publisher and media personality&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/ray-hartmann-founder-of-riverfront-times-files-for-congress-in-missouris-2nd-district/">taking on a long-time officeholder</a>, this year’s federal elections in Missouri promise an interesting summer and fall.

Add to that&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/06/democrat-lucas-kunce-says-hell-challenge-josh-hawley-in-2024-missouri-senate-race/">the U.S. Senate race</a>, where both likely fall contenders have more money already than almost every other candidate running statewide.&nbsp;

In the 3rd Congressional District, where Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is not seeking re-election, and the 1st District, where Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush is being challenged by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, the key battle will be the Aug. 6 primary.&nbsp;

Both districts were drawn by lawmakers to be safe seats for the party in power.

In the 2nd Congressional District, solidly Republican rural counties were added by lawmakers to shore up the GOP’s chances to keep it. Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner and Democratic candidate Ray Hartmann, founder of the Riverfront Times, are the likely nominees for a fall match-up.

In the Senate race, Lucas Kunce, who lost a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/02/beer-heiress-trudy-bucsh-valentine-captures-missouri-democratic-nomination-for-u-s-senate/">2022 Democratic primary</a>&nbsp;in the contest ultimately won by Republican Eric Schmitt, is hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican hoping to secure a second term.&nbsp;

Campaign disclosure reports that were due Monday at the Federal Election Commission are the first indication of which contenders are ready to run full-scale campaigns. And for Hawley and Bush, their challengers managed to outraise them in the first quarter of the year. Hawley’s campaign committee took in $1.9 million between January and April, about $600,000 more than his expenses and leaving&nbsp; his cash on hand on March 31 to $5.4 million. Kunce’s campaign raised $2.3 million, spent $1.2 million and reported $3.3 million in the bank.

More than $1 million of the amount reported by Hawley’s campaign was a transfer from the Hawley Victory Committee, a joint fundraising PAC that raised a total of $1.5 million in the quarter.

In a news release about his fundraising, Kunce said he feels momentum behind his campaign because he has regularly raised more than Hawley over the past year.

“Since last year, we’ve built a worker-led, people-powered, record-breaking coalition to win this race and take this U.S. Senate back for everyday people in Missouri,” Kunce said in his release.

To get to the fall election, Kunce must defeat three primary opponents, including state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, who reported raising $9,136 in the first quarter and $6,304 in the bank.&nbsp;

The other two primary candidates are December Harmon of Columbia and Mita Biswas of St. Louis. Harmon reported raising $344 in the quarter and had $1,969 on hand.

In the 1st District, which includes St. Louis and much of St. Louis County, Bell entered the race to unseat Bush after flirting with a bid for U.S. Senate. Bell, elected to his current post in 2018, raised $960,000 in the first quarter of the year, outpacing Bush and amassing a big lead in cash on hand.

Bush, who is seeking her third term, raised $495,000 in the quarter. She reported $215,000 in the bank, compared to $1.1 million for Bell.

Bush and Bell are both in office because of successful primary challenges to incumbents. Bell defeated long-time prosecutor Bob McCulloch in 2018, while Bush defeated U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Bush easily defeated state Sen. Steve Roberts in the 2022 primary on her way to winning a second term.

The 3rd District, which runs through all or part of 16 counties from the Lake of the Ozarks to the Mississippi River, is the only Missouri congressional seat certain to change hands this year. There is an eight candidate GOP primary, but only three of the candidates – former state Sens. Bob Onder and Kurt Schaefer and state Rep. Justin Hicks – filed disclosure reports with the FEC.

That means the other candidates have raised minimal amounts and have no report due.

On the strength of a $500,000 personal donation, Onder has a big early fundraising lead. His campaign took in $700,000 during the quarter, spent $6,677 and reported $693,000 on hand.

Schaefer raised $118,000, spent $7,063 and reported $110,765.&nbsp;

Hicks, a first-term lawmaker, raised about $45,000, spent $3,462 and had $41,865 remaining at the end of the quarter.

Other candidates in the Republican primary are Arnie C. AC Arn Dienoff of O’Fallon, a perennial candidate; Chad Bicknell of O’Fallon, who lost a primary to Luetkemeyer in 2018; Kyle Bone of DeSoto, who lost a 2018 primary for a Missouri House seat; Brandon Wilkinson of Fenton, who lost to Luetkemeyer in the 2020 and 2022 GOP primaries; and Bruce A. Bowman, a Jefferson City businessman.

Two Democrats, Bethany Mann of Wentzville and Andrew Daly of Fulton have also filed, as has Libertarian Jordan Rowden of Vienna.

In the 2nd District, Hartmann entered the race in mid-March and raised $23,253 by the end of the month. After spending about $3,316, he had $19,937 on hand.&nbsp;

Wagner, who is seeking her seventh term, raised $428,000 and had $2.8 million in the bank at the end of the quarter.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1622137642862.png" alt="Mo. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley" />
 <figcaption>Mo. U.S. Senator Josh Hawley</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Wesley Bell, challenging Cori Bush in the 1st District, and Lucas Kunce, making his second bid for the Senate against Josh Hawley, had the edge as campaigns seek cash</h2>By RUDI KELLER,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>With one seat in Congress&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/04/blaine-luetkemeyer-opts-out-of-another-term-in-congress/">up for grabs</a>, an incumbent&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/wesley-bell-drops-out-senate-race-jumps-into-primary-against-democrat-cori-bush/">facing a serious challenge</a>&nbsp;and a former publisher and media personality&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/ray-hartmann-founder-of-riverfront-times-files-for-congress-in-missouris-2nd-district/">taking on a long-time officeholder</a>, this year’s federal elections in Missouri promise an interesting summer and fall.Add to that&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/06/democrat-lucas-kunce-says-hell-challenge-josh-hawley-in-2024-missouri-senate-race/">the U.S. Senate race</a>, where both likely fall contenders have more money already than almost every other candidate running statewide.&nbsp;In the 3rd Congressional District, where Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer is not seeking re-election, and the 1st District, where Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Cori Bush is being challenged by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, the key battle will be the Aug. 6 primary.&nbsp;Both districts were drawn by lawmakers to be safe seats for the party in power.In the 2nd Congressional District, solidly Republican rural counties were added by lawmakers to shore up the GOP’s chances to keep it. Republican U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner and Democratic candidate Ray Hartmann, founder of the Riverfront Times, are the likely nominees for a fall match-up.In the Senate race, Lucas Kunce, who lost a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/02/beer-heiress-trudy-bucsh-valentine-captures-missouri-democratic-nomination-for-u-s-senate/">2022 Democratic primary</a>&nbsp;in the contest ultimately won by Republican Eric Schmitt, is hoping to unseat U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, a Republican hoping to secure a second term.&nbsp;Campaign disclosure reports that were due Monday at the Federal Election Commission are the first indication of which contenders are ready to run full-scale campaigns. And for Hawley and Bush, their challengers managed to outraise them in the first quarter of the year. Hawley’s campaign committee took in $1.9 million between January and April, about $600,000 more than his expenses and leaving&nbsp; his cash on hand on March 31 to $5.4 million. Kunce’s campaign raised $2.3 million, spent $1.2 million and reported $3.3 million in the bank.More than $1 million of the amount reported by Hawley’s campaign was a transfer from the Hawley Victory Committee, a joint fundraising PAC that raised a total of $1.5 million in the quarter.In a news release about his fundraising, Kunce said he feels momentum behind his campaign because he has regularly raised more than Hawley over the past year.“Since last year, we’ve built a worker-led, people-powered, record-breaking coalition to win this race and take this U.S. Senate back for everyday people in Missouri,” Kunce said in his release.To get to the fall election, Kunce must defeat three primary opponents, including state Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, who reported raising $9,136 in the first quarter and $6,304 in the bank.&nbsp;The other two primary candidates are December Harmon of Columbia and Mita Biswas of St. Louis. Harmon reported raising $344 in the quarter and had $1,969 on hand.In the 1st District, which includes St. Louis and much of St. Louis County, Bell entered the race to unseat Bush after flirting with a bid for U.S. Senate. Bell, elected to his current post in 2018, raised $960,000 in the first quarter of the year, outpacing Bush and amassing a big lead in cash on hand.Bush, who is seeking her third term, raised $495,000 in the quarter. She reported $215,000 in the bank, compared to $1.1 million for Bell.Bush and Bell are both in office because of successful primary challenges to incumbents. Bell defeated long-time prosecutor Bob McCulloch in 2018, while Bush defeated U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay in the 2020 Democratic primary.Bush easily defeated state Sen. Steve Roberts in the 2022 primary on her way to winning a second term.The 3rd District, which runs through all or part of 16 counties from the Lake of the Ozarks to the Mississippi River, is the only Missouri congressional seat certain to change hands this year. There is an eight candidate GOP primary, but only three of the candidates – former state Sens. Bob Onder and Kurt Schaefer and state Rep. Justin Hicks – filed disclosure reports with the FEC.That means the other candidates have raised minimal amounts and have no report due.On the strength of a $500,000 personal donation, Onder has a big early fundraising lead. His campaign took in $700,000 during the quarter, spent $6,677 and reported $693,000 on hand.Schaefer raised $118,000, spent $7,063 and reported $110,765.&nbsp;Hicks, a first-term lawmaker, raised about $45,000, spent $3,462 and had $41,865 remaining at the end of the quarter.Other candidates in the Republican primary are Arnie C. AC Arn Dienoff of O’Fallon, a perennial candidate; Chad Bicknell of O’Fallon, who lost a primary to Luetkemeyer in 2018; Kyle Bone of DeSoto, who lost a 2018 primary for a Missouri House seat; Brandon Wilkinson of Fenton, who lost to Luetkemeyer in the 2020 and 2022 GOP primaries; and Bruce A. Bowman, a Jefferson City businessman.Two Democrats, Bethany Mann of Wentzville and Andrew Daly of Fulton have also filed, as has Libertarian Jordan Rowden of Vienna.In the 2nd District, Hartmann entered the race in mid-March and raised $23,253 by the end of the month. After spending about $3,316, he had $19,937 on hand.&nbsp;Wagner, who is seeking her seventh term, raised $428,000 and had $2.8 million in the bank at the end of the quarter.

Challengers outraise incumbents in Missouri races for Senate, 1st Congressional District

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an August 2023 shooting that injured a teen&nbsp; have arrested&nbsp;Dreyona K. Seymore, 21 of Atchison.

Just after 4p.m. August 26, police responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the 400 block U Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; First responders found a 15-year-old girl had been shot while she was sitting in a parked vehicle. 

A private vehicle transported the teen to Amberwell Hospital and she was later taken to a Kansas City hospital, and released the next day.

An investigation determined that the victim was sitting in a parked vehicle when a second vehicle pulled up next to the parked vehicle and a person in the moving vehicle fired a shot into the parked vehicle, striking the 15 year old victim.

On Wednesday, police arrested Seymore in the 1100 block North 7th Street on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713476029734.png" alt="Seymore photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Seymore photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities investigating an August 2023 shooting that injured a teen&nbsp; have arrested&nbsp;Dreyona K. Seymore, 21 of Atchison.Just after 4p.m. August 26, police responded to a shooting that had just occurred in the 400 block U Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; First responders found a 15-year-old girl had been shot while she was sitting in a parked vehicle. A private vehicle transported the teen to Amberwell Hospital and she was later taken to a Kansas City hospital, and released the next day.An investigation determined that the victim was sitting in a parked vehicle when a second vehicle pulled up next to the parked vehicle and a person in the moving vehicle fired a shot into the parked vehicle, striking the 15 year old victim.On Wednesday, police arrested Seymore in the 1100 block North 7th Street on a District Court warrant for aggravated battery and criminal discharge of a firearm. She is being held on a $500,000 bond, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman jailed for drive-by shooting of 15-year-old

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to expand private school scholarships statewide, an effort made possible by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-funding-missouri-education-3b13597465a5485ad921ab16887a15f2">extensive compromises</a>&nbsp;including a commitment to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on public schools.

The GOP-led House voted with a bare-minimum margin of 82-69 to send the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Parson. If signed, it would offer up to $6,375 per child for expenses including tuition, textbooks, tutoring, transportation, extracurriculars and summer school.

The bill’s passage is a victory for advocates who have struggled for years to expand access to charter schools, virtual schools and private schools in Missouri. Worries about taking away resources from traditional kindergarten-12th grade public schools have been bipartisan.

The heart of the legislation is the expansion of Missouri Empowerment Scholarships Accounts, which low-income families can draw from. The money will come from private donors, who in return get tax credits.

“This is a victory for parents who want more control over their children’s education and for students who will now have more avenues to achieve their full potential," Republican Rep. Phil Christofanelli said in a statement.

The current scholarship program limits recipients to residents of the state’s largest cities and to families who make less than 200% of the federal poverty level, which works out to $62,400 a year for a family of four.

The bill passed Thursday would raise the cap to 300%, or $93,600 for a family of four. Public school students who need extra help through individualized education plans would get some additional scholarship money under the new law.

The legislation increases the cap on tax credits for the private donations from $50 million to $75 million per year, to help pay for a possible influx of students.

To gain support from lawmakers focused on helping traditional public schools, senators included money to raise minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 a year and adjusted the state's formula for funding public schools, a change expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more to public education over time.

Several House Democrats cautioned that the state might not have enough revenue in future years to provide the massive influx in funding to public schools that the bill commits to.

“While the voucher expansion is essentially guaranteed, the promises to public schools depend on additional funding the state isn’t expected to have and future lawmakers aren’t required to provide,” House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade said in a statement.

Another provision would allow charter schools in Boone County, where Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden lives. The bill also would require public votes to approve a school district’s switch to four-day school weeks and incentivize schools that maintain five-day weeks.

This issue supporters call “school choice” has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8965cac8b27cb87e99bb2dab244fa4e">divided lawmakers</a>&nbsp;beyond typical Republican-Democrat lines in Missouri.

GOP legislators from rural districts have opposed allowing charter schools in their areas for years, fearing they could draw students away from traditional public schools seen as the backbone of their communities. Some Democrats, meanwhile, want students in underperforming urban schools to have more options.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill to expand private school scholarships statewide, an effort made possible by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-funding-missouri-education-3b13597465a5485ad921ab16887a15f2">extensive compromises</a>&nbsp;including a commitment to spend hundreds of millions of dollars more on public schools.The GOP-led House voted with a bare-minimum margin of 82-69 to send the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Parson. If signed, it would offer up to $6,375 per child for expenses including tuition, textbooks, tutoring, transportation, extracurriculars and summer school.The bill’s passage is a victory for advocates who have struggled for years to expand access to charter schools, virtual schools and private schools in Missouri. Worries about taking away resources from traditional kindergarten-12th grade public schools have been bipartisan.The heart of the legislation is the expansion of Missouri Empowerment Scholarships Accounts, which low-income families can draw from. The money will come from private donors, who in return get tax credits.“This is a victory for parents who want more control over their children’s education and for students who will now have more avenues to achieve their full potential," Republican Rep. Phil Christofanelli said in a statement.The current scholarship program limits recipients to residents of the state’s largest cities and to families who make less than 200% of the federal poverty level, which works out to $62,400 a year for a family of four.The bill passed Thursday would raise the cap to 300%, or $93,600 for a family of four. Public school students who need extra help through individualized education plans would get some additional scholarship money under the new law.The legislation increases the cap on tax credits for the private donations from $50 million to $75 million per year, to help pay for a possible influx of students.To gain support from lawmakers focused on helping traditional public schools, senators included money to raise minimum teacher salaries to $40,000 a year and adjusted the state's formula for funding public schools, a change expected to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars more to public education over time.Several House Democrats cautioned that the state might not have enough revenue in future years to provide the massive influx in funding to public schools that the bill commits to.“While the voucher expansion is essentially guaranteed, the promises to public schools depend on additional funding the state isn’t expected to have and future lawmakers aren’t required to provide,” House Democratic Minority Leader Crystal Quade said in a statement.Another provision would allow charter schools in Boone County, where Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden lives. The bill also would require public votes to approve a school district’s switch to four-day school weeks and incentivize schools that maintain five-day weeks.This issue supporters call “school choice” has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/c8965cac8b27cb87e99bb2dab244fa4e">divided lawmakers</a>&nbsp;beyond typical Republican-Democrat lines in Missouri.GOP legislators from rural districts have opposed allowing charter schools in their areas for years, fearing they could draw students away from traditional public schools seen as the backbone of their communities. Some Democrats, meanwhile, want students in underperforming urban schools to have more options.

Mo. lawmakers expand private school scholarships backed by tax credits

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district so that he can spend more time with his four young children, he announced Thursday.

LaTurner is among nearly two dozen Republicans in the U.S. House who are not running again or seeking another office.

“The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for,” LaTurner said.

LaTurner's announcement leaves Republicans with no declared candidates in a district he likely would have had little trouble winning again. While the district includes Democratic strongholds in the state capital of Topeka and northern Kansas City, they're offset by rural areas that heavily favored former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.

LaTurner, 36, has put on hold what seemed a promising long-term political career, saying also that he wouldn't seek any office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and Republicans had mentioned LaTurner as a possible candidate for the job that year.

He worked for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins when he won a state Senate seat in 2012 at age 24, and he became Kansas' youngest-ever state treasurer at 29 when then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him to fill a vacancy.

LaTurner's statement mentioned “the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill,” with the narrow Republican majority in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-democrats-vacate-ukraine-e506951def3f78cf637274d230b89152">a threat from the hard-right</a>&nbsp;to topple Speaker Mike Johnson, but he also said he's optimistic about the nation's future. Instead, he said, serving in Congress has taken a toll on him, his wife, Suzanne, and their children.

“I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about,” his statement Thursday said.

While Republicans have represented the 2nd District in 27 of the past 30 years, Democrats have waged aggressive campaigns since Jenkins decided not to seek reelection in 2018. One Democrat, former teacher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/07/01/topeka-democrat-hopes-to-oust-gop-rep-jake-laturner-from-congress/70362683007/">Eli Woody IV,</a>&nbsp;has filed to run in November.

<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">In the 2020 primary</a>, LaTurner handily defeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/political-news-general-news-house-elections-united-states-house-of-representatives-34882545094f4e83b9117dba13b6b7e3">Republican Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;and won the November election by almost 15 percentage points. In 2022, LaTurner won his general election race by a slightly wider margin.

In June 2022, the congressman beefed up security at his home and Topeka office out of concern for his family's safety after a man left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatening voicemail</a>&nbsp;after hours that said, “I will kill you.”

The man, Chase Neill, is now serving a sentence of nearly four years in prison after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-albuquerque-kansas-topeka-prisons-bf01d9142e08750036a8eb1148de7b08">convicted in federal court</a>&nbsp;of one count of threating a U.S. official. LaTurner testified at the trial, and Neill, representing himself,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-lawrence-df22820adfa2c5515085eb20279317a0">cross-examined him personally.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702582014813.png" alt="File photo -Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner presided over the House Floor in December during the vote on the National Defense Authorization Act." />
 <figcaption>File photo -Kansas Congressman Jake LaTurner presided over the House Floor in December during the vote on the National Defense Authorization Act.</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Two-term Republican U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner is not running for reelection this year in his GOP-leaning eastern Kansas district so that he can spend more time with his four young children, he announced Thursday.LaTurner is among nearly two dozen Republicans in the U.S. House who are not running again or seeking another office.“The unrepeatable season of life we are in, where our kids are still young and at home, is something I want to be more present for,” LaTurner said.LaTurner's announcement leaves Republicans with no declared candidates in a district he likely would have had little trouble winning again. While the district includes Democratic strongholds in the state capital of Topeka and northern Kansas City, they're offset by rural areas that heavily favored former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020.LaTurner, 36, has put on hold what seemed a promising long-term political career, saying also that he wouldn't seek any office in 2026. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly is term-limited and Republicans had mentioned LaTurner as a possible candidate for the job that year.He worked for U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins when he won a state Senate seat in 2012 at age 24, and he became Kansas' youngest-ever state treasurer at 29 when then-GOP Gov. Sam Brownback appointed him to fill a vacancy.LaTurner's statement mentioned “the current dysfunction on Capitol Hill,” with the narrow Republican majority in the House and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-johnson-democrats-vacate-ukraine-e506951def3f78cf637274d230b89152">a threat from the hard-right</a>&nbsp;to topple Speaker Mike Johnson, but he also said he's optimistic about the nation's future. Instead, he said, serving in Congress has taken a toll on him, his wife, Suzanne, and their children.“I am hopeful that in another season of life, with new experiences and perspectives, I can contribute in some small way and advocate for the issues I care most about,” his statement Thursday said.While Republicans have represented the 2nd District in 27 of the past 30 years, Democrats have waged aggressive campaigns since Jenkins decided not to seek reelection in 2018. One Democrat, former teacher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cjonline.com/story/news/politics/government/2023/07/01/topeka-democrat-hopes-to-oust-gop-rep-jake-laturner-from-congress/70362683007/">Eli Woody IV,</a>&nbsp;has filed to run in November.<a href="https://apnews.com/general-news-43776f9e6a0d4cd6ea07ab802a548f8d">In the 2020 primary</a>, LaTurner handily defeated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/political-news-general-news-house-elections-united-states-house-of-representatives-34882545094f4e83b9117dba13b6b7e3">Republican Steve Watkins</a>&nbsp;and won the November election by almost 15 percentage points. In 2022, LaTurner won his general election race by a slightly wider margin.In June 2022, the congressman beefed up security at his home and Topeka office out of concern for his family's safety after a man left a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-mental-kansas-topeka-lawrence-537e4ab84e3c459053d19f12352981bd">threatening voicemail</a>&nbsp;after hours that said, “I will kill you.”The man, Chase Neill, is now serving a sentence of nearly four years in prison after being&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-albuquerque-kansas-topeka-prisons-bf01d9142e08750036a8eb1148de7b08">convicted in federal court</a>&nbsp;of one count of threating a U.S. official. LaTurner testified at the trial, and Neill, representing himself,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/topeka-kansas-lawrence-df22820adfa2c5515085eb20279317a0">cross-examined him personally.</a>

Kansas congressman Jake LaTurner won't run for reelection

A benefit performance hosted by the Dance Arts Center will raise money to benefit Voices of Courage.  

Voices of Courage Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the organization is a child advocacy center working with children who have been through abuse or trauma 

"We work with child abuse victims in a couple of different ways, we provide several services," Birdsell tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "We do the forensic interview, which is the initial step in the investigation of a child abuse case, and then we work with the family regarding advocating for them, finding them resources, helping them in any way that we can." 

Birdsell says the organization does the forensic interview for victims, but makes sure from the beginning the child is only interviewed once 

"When a child goes through some kind of trauma, when you interview them over and over that retraumatizes them every time it can, and the other thing it does is it makes them feel like no one is believing them if they have to keep telling the story over and over again," Birdsell explains.  

"So, our goal is to get one interview, we record that interview, and that's then used in the investigation." 

Birdsell says that process helps make the focus on the child and that they are treated safely.  

The performance, called A Chance to Dance, has been held for 18 years and has raised roughly $140,000 for Voices of Courage. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A benefit performance hosted by the Dance Arts Center will raise money to benefit Voices of Courage. Voices of Courage Executive Director Melissa Birdsell says the organization is a child advocacy center working with children who have been through abuse or trauma "We work with child abuse victims in a couple of different ways, we provide several services," Birdsell tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "We do the forensic interview, which is the initial step in the investigation of a child abuse case, and then we work with the family regarding advocating for them, finding them resources, helping them in any way that we can." Birdsell says the organization does the forensic interview for victims, but makes sure from the beginning the child is only interviewed once "When a child goes through some kind of trauma, when you interview them over and over that retraumatizes them every time it can, and the other thing it does is it makes them feel like no one is believing them if they have to keep telling the story over and over again," Birdsell explains. "So, our goal is to get one interview, we record that interview, and that's then used in the investigation." Birdsell says that process helps make the focus on the child and that they are treated safely. The performance, called A Chance to Dance, has been held for 18 years and has raised roughly $140,000 for Voices of Courage. Dance Arts Center owner Marla Heeler says the idea for the benefit came from her just wanting to help make a difference "I work with kids and have pretty much my entire life as far as being a dance teacher, so it just always hit me really hard when you would hear those stories on the news of things that had happened to kids," Heeler says. Heeler started the effort while she lived in Illinois, but when she moved back to St. Joseph brought the idea to Voices of Courage "I said I want to put together this benefit dance concert, because that's really all I know how to do is dance, so I said but i think we could raise some money at least and help out," Heeler explains. This year's performance will be held on Saturday at Central High School starting at 6pm. Tickets can be purchased at <a href="https://jomotickets.com/events">JoMoTickets.com</a> or at the door.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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