Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has made two appointments to
positions in northwest Missouri.

Parson appointed Dennis Hicks of Chillicothe as Livingston
County Eastern District Commissioner. Hicks owns Hicks Hometown Drive-In. Hicks
is a member of the Chillicothe Development board. He also served previously as
North Missouri Construction superintendent.

Parson has also appointed Rochelle Moore of Rock Port as the
Atchison County Assessor. Moore has served as chief deputy collector for
Atchison County since 2016. She previously served as loan secretary for
Citizens Bank and Trust.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Gov. Mike Parson has made two appointments to
positions in northwest Missouri.Parson appointed Dennis Hicks of Chillicothe as Livingston
County Eastern District Commissioner. Hicks owns Hicks Hometown Drive-In. Hicks
is a member of the Chillicothe Development board. He also served previously as
North Missouri Construction superintendent.Parson has also appointed Rochelle Moore of Rock Port as the
Atchison County Assessor. Moore has served as chief deputy collector for
Atchison County since 2016. She previously served as loan secretary for
Citizens Bank and Trust.

Gov. Parson makes appointments in Livingston and Atchison Counties

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri released its annual U.S. Baseline Outlook report. 

It includes projections for agricultural and biofuel markets and helps in evaluating alternative scenarios for agricultural policy. 

“Projected prices for most crops, poultry, and dairy products all retreat in 2023 from recent peaks, and so do some production expenses,” says FAPRI Director Pat Westhoff. 

Among the findings, the report says if weather conditions allow crop yields to return to trend-line levels in 2023, prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and many other crops are likely to fall. 

Higher fertilizer, fuel, and feed costs contributed to a very sharp increase in farm production costs last year, but a smaller increase is projected in 2023. 

Lower prices in some inputs will likely bring down production costs in 2024 and 2025. Hog, poultry, and dairy prices will fall, but beef prices will remain high.

The Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute at the University of Missouri released its annual U.S. Baseline Outlook report. It includes projections for agricultural and biofuel markets and helps in evaluating alternative scenarios for agricultural policy. “Projected prices for most crops, poultry, and dairy products all retreat in 2023 from recent peaks, and so do some production expenses,” says FAPRI Director Pat Westhoff. Among the findings, the report says if weather conditions allow crop yields to return to trend-line levels in 2023, prices for corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and many other crops are likely to fall. Higher fertilizer, fuel, and feed costs contributed to a very sharp increase in farm production costs last year, but a smaller increase is projected in 2023. Lower prices in some inputs will likely bring down production costs in 2024 and 2025. Hog, poultry, and dairy prices will fall, but beef prices will remain high.- NAFB

FAPRI releases U.S. Baseline Outlook

An Endangered Person Advisory has been
issued by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department for a 15-year-old missing
since late last night.

The sheriff’s department is looking
for 15-year-old Alexis Humes, described as a white female, 5-feet, three-inches
tall, weighing 110 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes.

The department states Humes advised
she was taken from 18560 SW 20 Road in DeKalb against her will around 10:30 Tuesday night and might well
be in the Kirksville area.

It is suspected that Carter Hall or
Carter Sanders Hall, a 17-year-old, took Humes against her will in a white
Chevrolet Silverado pickup with black wheels with unknown registration.

Anyone seeing the
missing person, suspect, associate, or vehicle, or anyone having any
information related to the endangered missing person should immediately dial
911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Buchanan County
Sheriff’s Department at 816-271-4777. &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694003886306.jpeg" alt="Alexis Humes/Photo provided by Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept." />
 <figcaption>Alexis Humes/Photo provided by Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn Endangered Person Advisory has been
issued by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department for a 15-year-old missing
since late last night.The sheriff’s department is looking
for 15-year-old Alexis Humes, described as a white female, 5-feet, three-inches
tall, weighing 110 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes.The department states Humes advised
she was taken from 18560 SW 20 Road in DeKalb against her will around 10:30 Tuesday night and might well
be in the Kirksville area.It is suspected that Carter Hall or
Carter Sanders Hall, a 17-year-old, took Humes against her will in a white
Chevrolet Silverado pickup with black wheels with unknown registration.Anyone seeing the
missing person, suspect, associate, or vehicle, or anyone having any
information related to the endangered missing person should immediately dial
911 to contact the nearest law enforcement agency or call the Buchanan County
Sheriff’s Department at 816-271-4777. &nbsp;

Endangered Person Advisory issued for missing DeKalb teen

A St. Joseph teenager has been treated for a couple of minor
gunshot wounds after a shooting Tuesday night at 21st and
Lafayette Streets in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police report dispatchers received several calls about
gunshots fired in the area shortly before 11 o’clock. Callers reported up to 20
shots were fired. Witnesses tell police two subjects shot multiple rounds from
a dark SUV. Officers arrived at the scene and found multiple shell casings.

Shortly afterward, a 17-year-old black male juvenile arrived
at the emergency room with two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.

There are no suspects at this
time. The investigation continues.

This article has been updated with additional information.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph teenager has been treated for a couple of minor
gunshot wounds after a shooting Tuesday night at 21st and
Lafayette Streets in St. Joseph.St. Joseph police report dispatchers received several calls about
gunshots fired in the area shortly before 11 o’clock. Callers reported up to 20
shots were fired. Witnesses tell police two subjects shot multiple rounds from
a dark SUV. Officers arrived at the scene and found multiple shell casings.Shortly afterward, a 17-year-old black male juvenile arrived
at the emergency room with two non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.There are no suspects at this
time. The investigation continues.This article has been updated with additional information.

Teen arrives at ER with gunshot wounds after St. Joseph shooting

A shooting Tuesday afternoon in St. Joseph left a man with a
wound to his leg that appears non-life-threatening.

St. Joseph police says officers responded to a call about a
shooting and pulled over a vehicle at 13th and Mitchell Streets. A friend
was taking the victim to the hospital for medical attention. Officers called an
ambulance to the scene to take the victim to the hospital.

Police say the 23-year-old white male is not cooperating in
the investigation.

The article has been updated with additional information.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA shooting Tuesday afternoon in St. Joseph left a man with a
wound to his leg that appears non-life-threatening.St. Joseph police says officers responded to a call about a
shooting and pulled over a vehicle at 13th and Mitchell Streets. A friend
was taking the victim to the hospital for medical attention. Officers called an
ambulance to the scene to take the victim to the hospital.Police say the 23-year-old white male is not cooperating in
the investigation.The investigation continues.The article has been updated with additional information.

St. Joseph shooting leaves man with wound to his leg

PLATTE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in Platte County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda passenger vehicle driven by Musa Adbi, 22, Kansas City, was southbound on Interstate 29 just south of Mexico City Avenue.

The Honda traveled off the road, struck the cable barrier, returned to the road and struck a southbound 2014 Mitsubishi passenger vehicle driven by David G. Heise, 71, St. Joseph, on the drivers side.&nbsp;

After impact, the Mitsubishi traveled off the road and struck a ditch. The Honda then traveled off the road and struck the Mitsubishi in the ditch.

Heise was treated at the scene. Adbi was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

PLATTE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in Platte County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda passenger vehicle driven by Musa Adbi, 22, Kansas City, was southbound on Interstate 29 just south of Mexico City Avenue.The Honda traveled off the road, struck the cable barrier, returned to the road and struck a southbound 2014 Mitsubishi passenger vehicle driven by David G. Heise, 71, St. Joseph, on the drivers side.&nbsp;After impact, the Mitsubishi traveled off the road and struck a ditch. The Honda then traveled off the road and struck the Mitsubishi in the ditch.Heise was treated at the scene. Adbi was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph man injured in 2-vehicle crash

The St. Joseph Mustangs and the St. Joseph School District are teaming up this school year to encourage regular school attendance.

With September being Attendance Awareness Month, the Mustangs are offering a special incentive to each school in the SJSD that meets their attendance goal for the year.

Every school that hits their attendance goal of 90% will be invited to their own special night at a Mustangs' home game in 2024. This includes free tickets for the students and staff.

"The backbone of our community is our schools," said Mustangs owner and president Ky Turner. "We share the same thoughts of how important it is for people to show up, whether it's a Mustangs game or school. Whatever we can do to encourage students and reward them."

"It's a nice chance for everyone to get together in the summer and celebrate. Not only by attending school, but also academically, what they were able to accomplish by showing up more often."

The partnership is one of several ways the St. Joseph School District is raising awareness about truancy and working to improve the district’s proportional attendance rate.

“The St. Joseph School District is excited to partner with the Mustangs to hit our attendance goal of 90 percent," said Dr. Kendra Lau, Director of School Improvement for SJSD.

The Mustangs have planned several other activities to engage with students and encourage regular attendance throughout the school year.

The Mustangs provide a free reading program to local elementary schools, where students can earn free Mustangs tickets and other prizes by participating. 

The Mustangs also travel to various schools for a free program, promoting reading, attendance and more.

"It's really important to build that bridge between the schools and the community," Turner noted. "Just how important they are. At Phil Welch (Stadium) and Mustangs games, we see people from all over."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689481192189.jpeg" alt="Stock photo by Matt Pike." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo by Matt Pike.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs and the St. Joseph School District are teaming up this school year to encourage regular school attendance.With September being Attendance Awareness Month, the Mustangs are offering a special incentive to each school in the SJSD that meets their attendance goal for the year.Every school that hits their attendance goal of 90% will be invited to their own special night at a Mustangs' home game in 2024. This includes free tickets for the students and staff."The backbone of our community is our schools," said Mustangs owner and president Ky Turner. "We share the same thoughts of how important it is for people to show up, whether it's a Mustangs game or school. Whatever we can do to encourage students and reward them.""It's a nice chance for everyone to get together in the summer and celebrate. Not only by attending school, but also academically, what they were able to accomplish by showing up more often."The partnership is one of several ways the St. Joseph School District is raising awareness about truancy and working to improve the district’s proportional attendance rate.“The St. Joseph School District is excited to partner with the Mustangs to hit our attendance goal of 90 percent," said Dr. Kendra Lau, Director of School Improvement for SJSD.The Mustangs have planned several other activities to engage with students and encourage regular attendance throughout the school year.The Mustangs provide a free reading program to local elementary schools, where students can earn free Mustangs tickets and other prizes by participating. The Mustangs also travel to various schools for a free program, promoting reading, attendance and more."It's really important to build that bridge between the schools and the community," Turner noted. "Just how important they are. At Phil Welch (Stadium) and Mustangs games, we see people from all over."You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Mustangs partnering with SJSD, encouraging strong school attendance

American Red Cross volunteers have deployed to Florida to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Idalia hit last week.  

However, Red Cross volunteers are also working on other disasters around the country.   

Executive Director for the Greater Kansas City and northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says overall 15 or 16 volunteers are currently deployed. 

"So, we have probably about five or six people in Hawaii supporting response efforts out there," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We've got one individual who is deployed to Spokane, Washington supporting efforts there after wildfires." 

Woody says five volunteers from the Greater Kansas City chapter have deployed to Florida for hurricane relief. 

Woody says what volunteers will assist with will depend on some key factors. 

"What is the damage, what are the impacts, who has been affected, and what do we need to do to support these folks?" Woody explains. 

Woody points out the initial efforts revolve around finding the people affected adequate shelter, food, and medicine if it's needed. 

Woody says volunteers are asked to give two to three weeks of their time while deployed 

"That allows for continuity, it allows for consistency in service, and it helps us be much more efficient with all of the costs that go with transporting, and housing, and taking care of volunteers on the ground," Woody says. "And it helps them really get their stride with that two-to-three-week assignment." 

Woody says some volunteers will offer to extend and stay longer to help the communities affected, sometimes staying four to six weeks on site. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post American Red Cross volunteers have deployed to Florida to assist in relief efforts after Hurricane Idalia hit last week. However, Red Cross volunteers are also working on other disasters around the country. Executive Director for the Greater Kansas City and northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says overall 15 or 16 volunteers are currently deployed. "So, we have probably about five or six people in Hawaii supporting response efforts out there," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We've got one individual who is deployed to Spokane, Washington supporting efforts there after wildfires." Woody says five volunteers from the Greater Kansas City chapter have deployed to Florida for hurricane relief. Woody says what volunteers will assist with will depend on some key factors. "What is the damage, what are the impacts, who has been affected, and what do we need to do to support these folks?" Woody explains. Woody points out the initial efforts revolve around finding the people affected adequate shelter, food, and medicine if it's needed. Woody says volunteers are asked to give two to three weeks of their time while deployed "That allows for continuity, it allows for consistency in service, and it helps us be much more efficient with all of the costs that go with transporting, and housing, and taking care of volunteers on the ground," Woody says. "And it helps them really get their stride with that two-to-three-week assignment." Woody says some volunteers will offer to extend and stay longer to help the communities affected, sometimes staying four to six weeks on site. <div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Red-Cross-volunteers-deployed-across-US-to-help-with-relief-effots-e28uqoe" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

American Red Cross volunteers deployed across the US to help with relief efforts

Twelve people died on Missouri roadways during the three-day
Labor Day weekend, two in northwest Missouri.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports an Iowa teenager
died early Sunday evening when his motorcycle went into a skid and struck a
pick-up towing a trailer in a Nodaway County intersection.

The Missouri Highway Patrol
reports 18-year-old Seger Mace of Coin, Iowa was pronounced dead at a regional
hospital after the wreck at the intersection of Railroad Street and Route C in
Elmo. The patrol reports Mace failed to yield at the intersection, went into a
skid, and ran into the trailer. He was not wearing a helmet.

A 47-year-old Texas man died Friday
when he lost control on a curve on Mitchell Road east of St. Joseph.

The patrol reports Tomas Ramos of
El Paso died at the scene.

The patrol says Ramos was not
buckled in and was ejected from his pickup after it went off the south side of Michell
Road, struck an embankment, continued eastbound in the ditch before striking
another embankment.

The patrol reports no fatal
boating crashes over the Labor Day counting period and no one drowned.

The 2023 counting period began
Friday evening at six o’clock and ended at midnight Monday.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostTwelve people died on Missouri roadways during the three-day
Labor Day weekend, two in northwest Missouri.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports an Iowa teenager
died early Sunday evening when his motorcycle went into a skid and struck a
pick-up towing a trailer in a Nodaway County intersection.The Missouri Highway Patrol
reports 18-year-old Seger Mace of Coin, Iowa was pronounced dead at a regional
hospital after the wreck at the intersection of Railroad Street and Route C in
Elmo. The patrol reports Mace failed to yield at the intersection, went into a
skid, and ran into the trailer. He was not wearing a helmet.A 47-year-old Texas man died Friday
when he lost control on a curve on Mitchell Road east of St. Joseph.The patrol reports Tomas Ramos of
El Paso died at the scene.The patrol says Ramos was not
buckled in and was ejected from his pickup after it went off the south side of Michell
Road, struck an embankment, continued eastbound in the ditch before striking
another embankment.The patrol reports no fatal
boating crashes over the Labor Day counting period and no one drowned.The 2023 counting period began
Friday evening at six o’clock and ended at midnight Monday.

12 die on Missouri roads during Labor Day weekend; 2 in northwest Missouri

Prolonged drought and record heat are threatening soybean yields in several key growing states across the Midwest. 

With most of the soybean crop still in the critical pod-setting phase that depends on August moisture, persistent dry conditions are lowering yield production and raising concerns about the availability of supplies. 

CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange did research that found soybeans have a much tighter supply situation than corn due to the loss of planted acres.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“If hot and dry conditions continue in the Midwest and yield loss for soybeans increases, the U.S. soybean supply will tighten further,” says Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist for CoBank. 

“That will result in stronger interior cash basis and lower exports.” More pods will likely get aborted if the hot and dry conditions continue. In addition to drought and heat stress, scouts on the recent Pro Farmer Crop Tour noticed sudden death syndrome across multiple soybean fields.

Prolonged drought and record heat are threatening soybean yields in several key growing states across the Midwest. With most of the soybean crop still in the critical pod-setting phase that depends on August moisture, persistent dry conditions are lowering yield production and raising concerns about the availability of supplies. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange did research that found soybeans have a much tighter supply situation than corn due to the loss of planted acres.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If hot and dry conditions continue in the Midwest and yield loss for soybeans increases, the U.S. soybean supply will tighten further,” says Tanner Ehmke, lead grains and oilseeds economist for CoBank. “That will result in stronger interior cash basis and lower exports.” More pods will likely get aborted if the hot and dry conditions continue. In addition to drought and heat stress, scouts on the recent Pro Farmer Crop Tour noticed sudden death syndrome across multiple soybean fields.- NAFB

CoBank: Drought, heat threaten soybean crop at a critical stage

The cost of transporting harvested commodities down the Mississippi River is climbing. 

The rates are rapidly rising as shrinking water levels drive barge freight rates higher. 

The forecast calling for below-average rainfall isn’t offering any relief. 

Bloomberg says barge spot rates on August 29 were up 49 percent from the prior week and 42 percent from last year at $23.34 per ton. 

USDA data says that’s 85 percent higher than the three-year average.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last year, extremely low water levels stranded more than 2,000 barges on the Mississippi River, bringing commerce to a halt on the waterway.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Mississippi River carries more than 45 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports to ports in the South. Water levels resumed dropping in June, restricting the amount of grain allowed on each barge.&nbsp;&nbsp;In turn, that leads to a tighter supply of barges as more of them are required to transport the same amount of grain.

The cost of transporting harvested commodities down the Mississippi River is climbing. The rates are rapidly rising as shrinking water levels drive barge freight rates higher. The forecast calling for below-average rainfall isn’t offering any relief. Bloomberg says barge spot rates on August 29 were up 49 percent from the prior week and 42 percent from last year at $23.34 per ton. USDA data says that’s 85 percent higher than the three-year average.&nbsp;&nbsp;Last year, extremely low water levels stranded more than 2,000 barges on the Mississippi River, bringing commerce to a halt on the waterway.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Mississippi River carries more than 45 percent of all U.S. agricultural exports to ports in the South. Water levels resumed dropping in June, restricting the amount of grain allowed on each barge.&nbsp;&nbsp;In turn, that leads to a tighter supply of barges as more of them are required to transport the same amount of grain.- NAFB

Barge freight rates climb on lower water levels

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves has a few he likes,
but he hasn’t decided who he favors in the Republican presidential primary
race.

Graves says the first debate didn’t reveal that much, because
the stage was too crowded.

“It’s hard in a first debate, because you have so many
candidates up there it’s hard for them to really get their ideas and thoughts
out,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Graves says those ideas will become clearer as the field
narrows.

“As we go forward, we’re going to see fewer and fewer and
fewer candidates on the stage and that’s when I will probably pay more
attention than any other time, because that’s when they’ll be able to get more
of their ideas and what they stand for out,” Graves says.

Graves expects the Iowa Caucuses to whittle the field down.

“It will absolutely whittle the field quite a little bit and
New Hampshire,” Graves says. “In fact, all the early states, that will narrow
things considerably. And just the simple weight of running nationwide that’s
going to have an impact, too. I know some of the candidates are struggling just
to keep their fundraising numbers up and their poll numbers up. So, it will whittle
down pretty fast.”

“I really like DeSantis. I do like Nikki. Ramaswamy, I like
him as well,” Graves says. “So, I’m paying attention to those.”

Early speculation had Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a strong
challenger to former President Donald Trump, but that has materialized as
successive indictments seems to only solidify Trump’s status as the frontrunner
in the Republican presidential primary. Former South Carolina Governor and
United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has received positive marks for her
debate performance. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has aligned himself most
closely with the Trump agenda.

Graves says while each has strengths, he isn’t sure any is
strong enough to catch former Trump, the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

“I mean it’s hard to tell,” Graves says. “We’ve got a lot of
water to cross under the bridge between now and then. So, we’ll just have to
see what happens.”

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike
Pence also are considered strong candidates for the Republican nomination. Dark
horses in the contest include former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, former New
Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

Graves says he will support whoever the Republican nominee
turns out to be.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693927201584.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves has a few he likes,
but he hasn’t decided who he favors in the Republican presidential primary
race.Graves says the first debate didn’t reveal that much, because
the stage was too crowded.“It’s hard in a first debate, because you have so many
candidates up there it’s hard for them to really get their ideas and thoughts
out,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Graves says those ideas will become clearer as the field
narrows.“As we go forward, we’re going to see fewer and fewer and
fewer candidates on the stage and that’s when I will probably pay more
attention than any other time, because that’s when they’ll be able to get more
of their ideas and what they stand for out,” Graves says.Graves expects the Iowa Caucuses to whittle the field down.“It will absolutely whittle the field quite a little bit and
New Hampshire,” Graves says. “In fact, all the early states, that will narrow
things considerably. And just the simple weight of running nationwide that’s
going to have an impact, too. I know some of the candidates are struggling just
to keep their fundraising numbers up and their poll numbers up. So, it will whittle
down pretty fast.”Graves does have his favorites.“I really like DeSantis. I do like Nikki. Ramaswamy, I like
him as well,” Graves says. “So, I’m paying attention to those.”Early speculation had Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as a strong
challenger to former President Donald Trump, but that has materialized as
successive indictments seems to only solidify Trump’s status as the frontrunner
in the Republican presidential primary. Former South Carolina Governor and
United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has received positive marks for her
debate performance. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy has aligned himself most
closely with the Trump agenda.Graves says while each has strengths, he isn’t sure any is
strong enough to catch former Trump, the clear frontrunner for the Republican nomination.“I mean it’s hard to tell,” Graves says. “We’ve got a lot of
water to cross under the bridge between now and then. So, we’ll just have to
see what happens.”South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike
Pence also are considered strong candidates for the Republican nomination. Dark
horses in the contest include former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, former New
Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.Graves says he will support whoever the Republican nominee
turns out to be.

Graves not sure any GOP candidate can catch Trump

The weekly Drought Monitor showed drought getting worse across areas in the Midwest, South, Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. 

In the Midwest, extreme heat impacted areas like Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. 

Record high temps were set in cities like Chicago (98), Milwaukee (101), and Minneapolis (101). 

Areas in the South, including the Texas Gulf Coast, Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi, saw continued drought-related deterioration on this week’s map. 

Temperatures continued to push over 100 degrees during the week, breaking records. Houston reached 109, San Antonio hit 104, Austin was 107, and Dallas topped out at 109. 

Some areas on the map did see some improvement, including southern Texas, where heavy rains from Tropical Storm Harold provided much-needed relief to the region. 

Rainfall accumulation along the southern Gulf Coast and South Texas Plains regions ranged from two to six inches. In the Southeast, areas of Florida were impacted by Hurricane Idalia.

The weekly Drought Monitor showed drought getting worse across areas in the Midwest, South, Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest. In the Midwest, extreme heat impacted areas like Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Record high temps were set in cities like Chicago (98), Milwaukee (101), and Minneapolis (101). Areas in the South, including the Texas Gulf Coast, Louisiana, and Southern Mississippi, saw continued drought-related deterioration on this week’s map. Temperatures continued to push over 100 degrees during the week, breaking records. Houston reached 109, San Antonio hit 104, Austin was 107, and Dallas topped out at 109. Some areas on the map did see some improvement, including southern Texas, where heavy rains from Tropical Storm Harold provided much-needed relief to the region. Rainfall accumulation along the southern Gulf Coast and South Texas Plains regions ranged from two to six inches. In the Southeast, areas of Florida were impacted by Hurricane Idalia.- NAFB

Drought intensifies in the weekly Drought Monitor

The state is moving forward to change how it calculates payment rates for its self-directed supports program — a situation families say took them by surprise and that they fear could mean rates for caretakers are frozen at low levels or become unpredictable

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

Nearly 40 years ago, Victoria McMullen and her husband traveled from St. Louis to Sikeston to adopt a six-year-old boy with severe developmental disabilities named Ron.&nbsp;

Now 44, Ron has cerebral palsy, autism and intellectual disabilities. He’s unable to live independently and for the last 23 years his parents have relied on a state service to help pay for in-home caregivers to provide the intensive assistance he needs.

The service, called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/programs/self-directed-supports">self-directed supports</a>, lets McMullen hire, train and manage the staff herself, tailoring the help to Ron’s needs. Caretakers, many of them local university students, work with Ron 13 hours a day, helping him go to the bathroom, do physical therapy, bathe and dress, as well as doing social activities with him like cooking.

Without that funding, McMullen would be unable to care for him, especially after a back injury left her unable to physically support or help lift him.&nbsp;

“We could not do it without it negatively impacting our health,” she said.&nbsp;

This year, McMullen wrote to state lawmakers urging them to put more money into pay for direct care workers who assist those with developmental disabilities.

The staff hired through self-directed supports, as well as through traditional home health agencies, desperately need a pay bump, she said, noting one of Ron’s caregivers works 40 hours a week, needs to buy her own insurance and rarely can afford to take time off.

She was pleased in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">May</a>&nbsp;when the legislature voted to raise the rates for caregivers. But the good news quickly soured.&nbsp;

Missouri’s Department of Mental Health announced in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://moddcouncil.org/attention-public-comment-duesunday-aug-13-2023-for-the-mo-healthnet-home-and-community-based-services-hcbs-waiver/">July</a>&nbsp;that the program Ron and 3,030 individuals around the state rely on could be excluded from the rate increase.

Complicating matters even more, state regulators have proposed a change in how it calculates rates for the self-directed supports program, a situation advocates fear could mean rates are frozen at low levels or become unpredictable.

The proposed change in the rate calculation is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/sites/dmh/files/media/pdf/2023/08/blast9csr453080.pdf">open for public comment until&nbsp;Monday.&nbsp;</a>It would remove the regulation linking the rate the state pays for direct services to the rate they pay home health agencies.&nbsp;

“It makes it difficult to keep and maintain staff if we can’t offer competitive wages,” McMullen said, adding that the self-directed supports staff need higher wages than staff hired through home health agencies, because the former are not provided benefits.

The state has not offered a rationale for proposing the changes to the program’s rates, beyond the procedural. Debra Walker, spokesperson for the Department of Mental Health said that “Currently [self-directed supports] is the only service with rate parameters within [Missouri Code of State Regulations],” and the removal of that language from the regulations will&nbsp;allow the state to “fully align” rate methodologies for all of its Medicaid home and community-based services.&nbsp;

Families using self-directed supports say the changes caught them completely by surprise.

“If they’re going to make changes like this without our input, what other changes are they going to make?” McMullen asked.

Adam Sommer, an attorney and podcaster who lives in Warrensburg and has a daughter, Clara, with&nbsp;a rare genetic condition called Rett&nbsp;syndrome, uses self-directed supports to cover her caretaker. She can’t talk and uses a screen in front of her that allows her to communicate with her eyes.

He said the state hasn’t told them how they plan to calculate the new rates.&nbsp;

“What do we tell the employees who have these jobs what their future looks like?” he said.&nbsp;

“It’s a very complicated system, that they are changing while no one’s really looking in a way that creates more uncertainty and more complication. And that could cause some really big problems for people,” Sommer said.

‘Why should we be treated differently?’

Self-directed services are part of a national&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/self-directed-services/index.html">trend</a>&nbsp;over the last few decades away from institutionalization and toward community-based support and integration — based on the belief that decisions about an individual’s care are best made by those closest to them.&nbsp;

The premise of self-directed supports “is that when individuals have control of their resources their quality of life will improve and the overall cost of services will decrease,” according to the state’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://manuals.momed.com/collections/collection_archive/collection_dmh/Print_03012021.pdf">manual on developmental disabilities</a>.&nbsp;

In self-directed supports, someone called a designated representative, often a family member, is in charge of overseeing staff, including recruiting, hiring, training and supervising them, and has the flexibility of choosing how to allocate a yearly budget. They are not paid for the administrative work.

That representative acts as the employer. It’s a task many families may not have the time or ability to do. But advocates argue that although the program is not right for everyone, it’s a choice that should be preserved.&nbsp;

McMullen said she performs an average of one hour a day administrative work, as Ron’s designated representative.

Larry Opinsky, a disability advocate and steering committee member of an advocacy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stladvocate.com/sds-family-support-group/">group</a>&nbsp;composed of over 700 Missouri families using self-directed supports, has been vocal in his opposition to the state’s proposals.

Opinsky’s 24-year-old daughter, Lilly, also has Rett syndrome, and is nonverbal and unable to walk. She “requires full-time assistance with everything she does.”&nbsp;

His family has been utilizing self-directed supports for around 12 years, Opinsky said, particularly drawing caregivers from local universities. The freedom for the caregivers to work within their schedules, making arrangements directly with the family and getting to know them closely “gives them a better opportunity to connect with [Lilly] and create a deeper caregiving bond.”

Opinsky said home health staffing agencies are often&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/24/push-to-spend-900m-to-help-missourians-with-developmental-disabilities-voted-down/#:~:text=By%3A%20Rudi%20Keller%20%2D%20March%2024%2C%202023%206%3A17%20am&amp;text=Republican%20lawmakers%20rejected%20an%20effort,hospitals%2C%20jails%20and%20homeless%20shelters">short-staffed</a>, so they’d be unlikely to find staff that way if they tried. And they prefer finding caregivers themselves: often they are community members who may not otherwise be brought into the formal caregiving world, he said, who forge bonds with Lilly.

The service allows him and his wife to work.&nbsp;

“Without this support,” he said, “without having self-directed services and this team that we were able to bring on, it would be on my wife and I…And we would be struggling to make the bills.”&nbsp;

He said the state’s appearance of preference for agency-based care over self-directed services is especially concerning.

“Why are they discriminating against us because we choose to self direct?” he asked. “Why should we be treated differently than the providers who are doing the exact same service in the exact same locations?”

The Department of Mental Health did not respond to requests for comment.

Opinsky said his group is in contact with Missouri Protection &amp; Advocacy, the federally-mandated program providing legal support to protect individuals with disability.&nbsp;

A staff attorney at the organization told The Independent by email that the group is “aware of this issue” and is “monitoring and evaluating the situation.”

Little discussion of true costs, advocates say

Advocates say a rate study should be conducted before any funding is changed— so that if a change is needed, the state could determine how best to calculate the self-directed supports rate moving forward, using data.

“They tried to pull this off without anybody paying attention…this needs to be done in the open with a full study,” Opinsky said.&nbsp;

The Missouri Department of Mental Health did not respond to requests for comment.

Advocates also say it’s not necessarily true that home health care agencies need higher rates to cover overhead costs.

Families say because they can’t provide employees benefits under self-directed services, but agencies can, they need to pay a higher wage to make up for it.

“Our employees need to be compensated at a higher rate, because we’re not able to provide the fringe benefits that providers can,” Opinsky said. “We not only won’t be able to necessarily attract the same quality employees, but we’ll also have difficulty retaining our employees if they de-link this.”

There was a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/media/pdf/2022-hcbs-rate-study-stakeholder-meeting-presentation-111022">rate study last year&nbsp;</a>the state conducted to determine average wages for staff serving home and community-based health services — but the survey did not evaluate self-directed waiver services.

Some advocates believe that self-directed services actually save the state money, because family members do the administrative work for free and it prevents some individuals from needing more-expensive institutionalized care.&nbsp;

And the state’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://manuals.momed.com/collections/collection_archive/collection_dmh/Print_03012021.pdf">manual</a>&nbsp;notes an overall cost of services decrease is part of the premise of the program.

The National Association for Home Care &amp; Hospice, which represents home care organizations across the country, said by email that although it doesn’t take positions on how states should establish different reimbursement levels, states should take into account the various responsibilities of providers when calculating rates.

“Many states&nbsp;place higher demands on homecare agencies than they do on self-directed providers, most commonly around things such as supervision, scheduling, physical office locations, quality reporting, and similar requirements,” said Damon Terzaghi, director of Medicaid Advocacy at National Association for Home Care &amp; Hospice.

“When there are more stringent requirements placed on agency providers, it is appropriate to have differentiated rates that take the variable mandates into account.”

Cheryl Dennison, of Chesterfield, whose son has has been using&nbsp;self-directed supports&nbsp;for around 11 years, said the staff she has hired have often stayed for years, rather than quickly turning over, and some have come to be like family to them — all of which has prevented her 27-year-old son from going into residential care.

Her son, Jake, has a brain malformation, along with a seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, and physical and intellectual disabilities.

“If we couldn’t take care of Jake in our home, he would move to some kind of institutional living, which costs significantly more than keeping them in our home,” Dennison said. “So I would think the state and federal agencies see that and that they would want to keep perpetuating that.”&nbsp;

“It’s such a brilliant program. They shouldn’t shoot themselves in the foot now to freeze the rates.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693916994531.png" alt="Lilly Opinsky, who has Rett disease, with her personal care attendant, Megan Wallis, at a Cardinals game this year. The family uses a program called self-directed supports to pay caretakers (Photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption>Lilly Opinsky, who has Rett disease, with her personal care attendant, Megan Wallis, at a Cardinals game this year. The family uses a program called self-directed supports to pay caretakers (Photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The state is moving forward to change how it calculates payment rates for its self-directed supports program — a situation families say took them by surprise and that they fear could mean rates for caretakers are frozen at low levels or become unpredictable</h2>By CLARA BATES<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Nearly 40 years ago, Victoria McMullen and her husband traveled from St. Louis to Sikeston to adopt a six-year-old boy with severe developmental disabilities named Ron.&nbsp;Now 44, Ron has cerebral palsy, autism and intellectual disabilities. He’s unable to live independently and for the last 23 years his parents have relied on a state service to help pay for in-home caregivers to provide the intensive assistance he needs.The service, called&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/dev-disabilities/programs/self-directed-supports">self-directed supports</a>, lets McMullen hire, train and manage the staff herself, tailoring the help to Ron’s needs. Caretakers, many of them local university students, work with Ron 13 hours a day, helping him go to the bathroom, do physical therapy, bathe and dress, as well as doing social activities with him like cooking.Without that funding, McMullen would be unable to care for him, especially after a back injury left her unable to physically support or help lift him.&nbsp;“We could not do it without it negatively impacting our health,” she said.&nbsp;This year, McMullen wrote to state lawmakers urging them to put more money into pay for direct care workers who assist those with developmental disabilities.The staff hired through self-directed supports, as well as through traditional home health agencies, desperately need a pay bump, she said, noting one of Ron’s caregivers works 40 hours a week, needs to buy her own insurance and rarely can afford to take time off.She was pleased in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-lawmakers-approve-largest-budget-in-state-history-almost-51-billion/">May</a>&nbsp;when the legislature voted to raise the rates for caregivers. But the good news quickly soured.&nbsp;Missouri’s Department of Mental Health announced in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://moddcouncil.org/attention-public-comment-duesunday-aug-13-2023-for-the-mo-healthnet-home-and-community-based-services-hcbs-waiver/">July</a>&nbsp;that the program Ron and 3,030 individuals around the state rely on could be excluded from the rate increase.Complicating matters even more, state regulators have proposed a change in how it calculates rates for the self-directed supports program, a situation advocates fear could mean rates are frozen at low levels or become unpredictable.The proposed change in the rate calculation is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/sites/dmh/files/media/pdf/2023/08/blast9csr453080.pdf">open for public comment until&nbsp;Monday.&nbsp;</a>It would remove the regulation linking the rate the state pays for direct services to the rate they pay home health agencies.&nbsp;“It makes it difficult to keep and maintain staff if we can’t offer competitive wages,” McMullen said, adding that the self-directed supports staff need higher wages than staff hired through home health agencies, because the former are not provided benefits.The state has not offered a rationale for proposing the changes to the program’s rates, beyond the procedural. Debra Walker, spokesperson for the Department of Mental Health said that “Currently [self-directed supports] is the only service with rate parameters within [Missouri Code of State Regulations],” and the removal of that language from the regulations will&nbsp;allow the state to “fully align” rate methodologies for all of its Medicaid home and community-based services.&nbsp;Families using self-directed supports say the changes caught them completely by surprise.“If they’re going to make changes like this without our input, what other changes are they going to make?” McMullen asked.Adam Sommer, an attorney and podcaster who lives in Warrensburg and has a daughter, Clara, with&nbsp;a rare genetic condition called Rett&nbsp;syndrome, uses self-directed supports to cover her caretaker. She can’t talk and uses a screen in front of her that allows her to communicate with her eyes.He said the state hasn’t told them how they plan to calculate the new rates.&nbsp;“What do we tell the employees who have these jobs what their future looks like?” he said.&nbsp;“It’s a very complicated system, that they are changing while no one’s really looking in a way that creates more uncertainty and more complication. And that could cause some really big problems for people,” Sommer said.<h2>‘Why should we be treated differently?’</h2>Self-directed services are part of a national&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/self-directed-services/index.html">trend</a>&nbsp;over the last few decades away from institutionalization and toward community-based support and integration — based on the belief that decisions about an individual’s care are best made by those closest to them.&nbsp;The premise of self-directed supports “is that when individuals have control of their resources their quality of life will improve and the overall cost of services will decrease,” according to the state’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://manuals.momed.com/collections/collection_archive/collection_dmh/Print_03012021.pdf">manual on developmental disabilities</a>.&nbsp;In self-directed supports, someone called a designated representative, often a family member, is in charge of overseeing staff, including recruiting, hiring, training and supervising them, and has the flexibility of choosing how to allocate a yearly budget. They are not paid for the administrative work.That representative acts as the employer. It’s a task many families may not have the time or ability to do. But advocates argue that although the program is not right for everyone, it’s a choice that should be preserved.&nbsp;McMullen said she performs an average of one hour a day administrative work, as Ron’s designated representative.Larry Opinsky, a disability advocate and steering committee member of an advocacy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stladvocate.com/sds-family-support-group/">group</a>&nbsp;composed of over 700 Missouri families using self-directed supports, has been vocal in his opposition to the state’s proposals.Opinsky’s 24-year-old daughter, Lilly, also has Rett syndrome, and is nonverbal and unable to walk. She “requires full-time assistance with everything she does.”&nbsp;His family has been utilizing self-directed supports for around 12 years, Opinsky said, particularly drawing caregivers from local universities. The freedom for the caregivers to work within their schedules, making arrangements directly with the family and getting to know them closely “gives them a better opportunity to connect with [Lilly] and create a deeper caregiving bond.”Opinsky said home health staffing agencies are often&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/24/push-to-spend-900m-to-help-missourians-with-developmental-disabilities-voted-down/#:~:text=By%3A%20Rudi%20Keller%20%2D%20March%2024%2C%202023%206%3A17%20am&amp;text=Republican%20lawmakers%20rejected%20an%20effort,hospitals%2C%20jails%20and%20homeless%20shelters">short-staffed</a>, so they’d be unlikely to find staff that way if they tried. And they prefer finding caregivers themselves: often they are community members who may not otherwise be brought into the formal caregiving world, he said, who forge bonds with Lilly.The service allows him and his wife to work.&nbsp;“Without this support,” he said, “without having self-directed services and this team that we were able to bring on, it would be on my wife and I…And we would be struggling to make the bills.”&nbsp;He said the state’s appearance of preference for agency-based care over self-directed services is especially concerning.“Why are they discriminating against us because we choose to self direct?” he asked. “Why should we be treated differently than the providers who are doing the exact same service in the exact same locations?”The Department of Mental Health did not respond to requests for comment.Opinsky said his group is in contact with Missouri Protection &amp; Advocacy, the federally-mandated program providing legal support to protect individuals with disability.&nbsp;A staff attorney at the organization told The Independent by email that the group is “aware of this issue” and is “monitoring and evaluating the situation.”<h2>Little discussion of true costs, advocates say</h2>Advocates say a rate study should be conducted before any funding is changed— so that if a change is needed, the state could determine how best to calculate the self-directed supports rate moving forward, using data.“They tried to pull this off without anybody paying attention…this needs to be done in the open with a full study,” Opinsky said.&nbsp;The Missouri Department of Mental Health did not respond to requests for comment.Advocates also say it’s not necessarily true that home health care agencies need higher rates to cover overhead costs.Families say because they can’t provide employees benefits under self-directed services, but agencies can, they need to pay a higher wage to make up for it.“Our employees need to be compensated at a higher rate, because we’re not able to provide the fringe benefits that providers can,” Opinsky said. “We not only won’t be able to necessarily attract the same quality employees, but we’ll also have difficulty retaining our employees if they de-link this.”There was a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dmh.mo.gov/media/pdf/2022-hcbs-rate-study-stakeholder-meeting-presentation-111022">rate study last year&nbsp;</a>the state conducted to determine average wages for staff serving home and community-based health services — but the survey did not evaluate self-directed waiver services.Some advocates believe that self-directed services actually save the state money, because family members do the administrative work for free and it prevents some individuals from needing more-expensive institutionalized care.&nbsp;And the state’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://manuals.momed.com/collections/collection_archive/collection_dmh/Print_03012021.pdf">manual</a>&nbsp;notes an overall cost of services decrease is part of the premise of the program.The National Association for Home Care &amp; Hospice, which represents home care organizations across the country, said by email that although it doesn’t take positions on how states should establish different reimbursement levels, states should take into account the various responsibilities of providers when calculating rates.“Many states&nbsp;place higher demands on homecare agencies than they do on self-directed providers, most commonly around things such as supervision, scheduling, physical office locations, quality reporting, and similar requirements,” said Damon Terzaghi, director of Medicaid Advocacy at National Association for Home Care &amp; Hospice.“When there are more stringent requirements placed on agency providers, it is appropriate to have differentiated rates that take the variable mandates into account.”Cheryl Dennison, of Chesterfield, whose son has has been using&nbsp;self-directed supports&nbsp;for around 11 years, said the staff she has hired have often stayed for years, rather than quickly turning over, and some have come to be like family to them — all of which has prevented her 27-year-old son from going into residential care.Her son, Jake, has a brain malformation, along with a seizure disorder, cerebral palsy, and physical and intellectual disabilities.“If we couldn’t take care of Jake in our home, he would move to some kind of institutional living, which costs significantly more than keeping them in our home,” Dennison said. “So I would think the state and federal agencies see that and that they would want to keep perpetuating that.”&nbsp;“It’s such a brilliant program. They shouldn’t shoot themselves in the foot now to freeze the rates.”

Mo. advocates decry proposed change to at-home disability care funding

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a suspect on drug allegations after an traffic accident.

Shortly before 1p.m. Sept. 1, police responded to a vehicle accident in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Mike Wilson. 

A Dodge Charger driven by 21-year-old Quinn Gamino, Atchison, had been southbound on 5th Street when it struck a parked vehicle. 

EMS was on the scene and evaluated Gamino but he refused medical treatment. While officers were working the traffic accident they discovered controlled substances that included hundreds of pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The investigation at the scene led to Gamino’s arrest.

He was jailed on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1693866780972.png" alt="Gamino-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Gamino-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating&nbsp; a suspect on drug allegations after an traffic accident.Shortly before 1p.m. Sept. 1, police responded to a vehicle accident in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Mike Wilson. A Dodge Charger driven by 21-year-old Quinn Gamino, Atchison, had been southbound on 5th Street when it struck a parked vehicle. EMS was on the scene and evaluated Gamino but he refused medical treatment. While officers were working the traffic accident they discovered controlled substances that included hundreds of pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The investigation at the scene led to Gamino’s arrest.He was jailed on requested charges of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Wilson.

Police: Alleged Kansas drug dealer captured after car crash

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Monday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle driven by James L. Banks, 76, Plattsburg, was northbound on route A one mile south of&nbsp; Cameron.

The motorcycle crossed the center line, traveled off the west side of the road, struck the ground and overturned.

Cameron EMS transported Banks to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Monday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Yamaha motorcycle driven by James L. Banks, 76, Plattsburg, was northbound on route A one mile south of&nbsp; Cameron.The motorcycle crossed the center line, traveled off the west side of the road, struck the ground and overturned.Cameron EMS transported Banks to Mosaic in St. Joseph. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized in St. Joe after motorcycle crash

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Honda motorcycle driven by Seger V. Mace, 18, Coin, Iowa, was norghbound on Railroad Street in Elmo. A 2002 Chevy 1500 driven by Darrin E. Harvey, 54, Elmo, was westbound on Route C.&nbsp; The vehicles approached the intersection of the two roads.&nbsp;

The motorcycle driver failed to yield to the pickup as it entered the intersection. The pickup attempted to avoid the motorcycle, partially ran off the road and began to skid. The motorcycle began to skid, overturned and struck the pickup's towed unit.

Seger was transported to Clarinda Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased just after 7:40p.m. Harvey was not injured. Mace was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a Honda motorcycle driven by Seger V. Mace, 18, Coin, Iowa, was norghbound on Railroad Street in Elmo. A 2002 Chevy 1500 driven by Darrin E. Harvey, 54, Elmo, was westbound on Route C.&nbsp; The vehicles approached the intersection of the two roads.&nbsp;The motorcycle driver failed to yield to the pickup as it entered the intersection. The pickup attempted to avoid the motorcycle, partially ran off the road and began to skid. The motorcycle began to skid, overturned and struck the pickup's towed unit.Seger was transported to Clarinda Regional Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased just after 7:40p.m. Harvey was not injured. Mace was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Man dies after motorcycle, pickup crash in Nodaway Co.

MERCER COUNTY–One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday in Mercer County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 KTM motorcycle driven by Wyler C. Evans, 21,&nbsp; Princeton, was northbound on Route U five miles north of Princeton.

The motorcycle struck a deer in the road. Mercer Co. ambulance transported Evans to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP reported no additional details.

MERCER COUNTY–One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Sunday in Mercer County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 KTM motorcycle driven by Wyler C. Evans, 21,&nbsp; Princeton, was northbound on Route U five miles north of Princeton.The motorcycle struck a deer in the road. Mercer Co. ambulance transported Evans to Liberty Hospital.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP reported no additional details.

Missouri man injured after motorcycle strikes a deer

CEDAR COUNTY —Two people including a woman from St. Joseph were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Sunday in Cedar County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Harley Davidson driven by Mitchell W. Praiswater, 47, King City, was northbound on Route J thre miles north of Stockton.

The motorcycle had a tire malfunction, overturned and the two occupants were ejected.&nbsp;

EMS transported Praiswater and a passenger Madison K. Rucker, 23, St. Joseph, to Citizen's Memorial Hospital in Boliver. Both were wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

CEDAR COUNTY —Two people including a woman from St. Joseph were injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Sunday in Cedar County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Harley Davidson driven by Mitchell W. Praiswater, 47, King City, was northbound on Route J thre miles north of Stockton.The motorcycle had a tire malfunction, overturned and the two occupants were ejected.&nbsp;EMS transported Praiswater and a passenger Madison K. Rucker, 23, St. Joseph, to Citizen's Memorial Hospital in Boliver. Both were wearing helmets, according to the MSHP.

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