BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Saturday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford F150 driven by Jon M. Snapp, 53, St. Joseph, was northbound on Interstate 29 in the city limits of St. Joseph.

The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and the driver overcorrected. The pickup returned to the road and rolled onto its top.

A private vehicle transported Snapp to Mosaic Life Care. He was later arrested on requested charges of Felony DWI; persistent offender and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Snapp was properly restrained at the time of the crash, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Saturday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Ford F150 driven by Jon M. Snapp, 53, St. Joseph, was northbound on Interstate 29 in the city limits of St. Joseph.The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and the driver overcorrected. The pickup returned to the road and rolled onto its top.A private vehicle transported Snapp to Mosaic Life Care. He was later arrested on requested charges of Felony DWI; persistent offender and failure to drive on the right half of the roadway. Snapp was properly restrained at the time of the crash, according to the MSHP.

St. Joseph man jailed for alleged DWI after rollover crash

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

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of two single mothers who were charged with violating the state’s compulsory attendance law after their children missed school without a documented illness.

<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/24/missouri-supreme-court-to-decide-whether-school-districts-can-jail-parents-for-absent-students/">Oral arguments in May</a>&nbsp;focused on what “regular attendance” means and whether the state law was too vague.

Ellen Flottman, a public defender representing the mothers, argued the law is inconsistently applied. The children’s school district, Lebanon R-III School District, required students to attend school at least 90% of the time, but defendants didn’t know if this percentage included excused absences.

“My clients were not acting knowingly…. They’re being misled by the school handbook and the school administrators,” Flottman said in May.

Assistant Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang, who represented the state, told the Supreme Court that the definition of “a regular basis” means attending school every day school is in session.

According to the filing, one student missed nine days of school without an excuse called into the school’s office, and the other defendant’s child was absent seven days without an excuse.

Missouri Supreme Court Judge Robin Ransom wrote, with five in concurrence, that these unexcused absences violated state law.

She wrote that there are two reasons children can be absent from class: If a parent removes them from the school’s rolls or if they are “mentally or physically incapacitated to the satisfaction of school officials.”

Ransom wrote that, because state law doesn’t mandate 90% attendance, the discussion of the district’s policy is “of little relevance.”

The district’s actions did, though, inform the parents that they were breaking the law, the ruling says.

“Neither (defendant) was provided information by the school to suggest there would be no consequences for each child’s failure to attend,” Ransom wrote. “Rather, school officials consistently communicated that regular attendance was required.”

The ruling affirms both state law and the decisions of the lower courts to convict the parents.

Because of Laclede County Circuit Court’s ruling, one mother spent seven days in jail, and the other received two years of probation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637537733050.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the convictions of two single mothers who were charged with violating the state’s compulsory attendance law after their children missed school without a documented illness.<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/24/missouri-supreme-court-to-decide-whether-school-districts-can-jail-parents-for-absent-students/">Oral arguments in May</a>&nbsp;focused on what “regular attendance” means and whether the state law was too vague.Ellen Flottman, a public defender representing the mothers, argued the law is inconsistently applied. The children’s school district, Lebanon R-III School District, required students to attend school at least 90% of the time, but defendants didn’t know if this percentage included excused absences.“My clients were not acting knowingly…. They’re being misled by the school handbook and the school administrators,” Flottman said in May.Assistant Attorney General Shaun Mackelprang, who represented the state, told the Supreme Court that the definition of “a regular basis” means attending school every day school is in session.According to the filing, one student missed nine days of school without an excuse called into the school’s office, and the other defendant’s child was absent seven days without an excuse.Missouri Supreme Court Judge Robin Ransom wrote, with five in concurrence, that these unexcused absences violated state law.She wrote that there are two reasons children can be absent from class: If a parent removes them from the school’s rolls or if they are “mentally or physically incapacitated to the satisfaction of school officials.”Ransom wrote that, because state law doesn’t mandate 90% attendance, the discussion of the district’s policy is “of little relevance.”The district’s actions did, though, inform the parents that they were breaking the law, the ruling says.“Neither (defendant) was provided information by the school to suggest there would be no consequences for each child’s failure to attend,” Ransom wrote. “Rather, school officials consistently communicated that regular attendance was required.”The ruling affirms both state law and the decisions of the lower courts to convict the parents.Because of Laclede County Circuit Court’s ruling, one mother spent seven days in jail, and the other received two years of probation.

Court: Parents in Mo. can face jail time over unexcused school absences

ATCHISON —Two people were injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Friday in Atchison.

According to Police Chief Mike Wilson, a Mercury Marquis 4 door passenger car driven by Malachi Burnett, 20, Atchison, was southbound on 15th Street when it collided with a Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Robert Burgoon, 64, Atchison, that had been westbound on Commercial Street.

EMS transported Burnett to Amberwell Hospital for examination. A private vehicle transported a 36-year-old female passenger in the pickup to Amberwell Hospital.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692388140495.png" alt="photo Police Chief Mike Wilson" />
 <figcaption>photo Police Chief Mike Wilson</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON —Two people were injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Friday in Atchison.According to Police Chief Mike Wilson, a Mercury Marquis 4 door passenger car driven by Malachi Burnett, 20, Atchison, was southbound on 15th Street when it collided with a Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Robert Burgoon, 64, Atchison, that had been westbound on Commercial Street.EMS transported Burnett to Amberwell Hospital for examination. A private vehicle transported a 36-year-old female passenger in the pickup to Amberwell Hospital.

Two hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash in Atchison

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays High School Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Bob Davis.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Hays High Athletic Hall of Fall inductee Bob Davis" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=59w2u-14848e7-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays High School Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Bob Davis.

🎤 Forward Ever: Radio voice Bob Davis, Hays High Athletics Hall of Fall inductee

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

Missouri campaign finance laws exist so voters know who is involved in and supports a campaign, as well as how the campaign spends its money.

Ballot measures, candidates and committees are regulated by the state’s campaign finance laws&nbsp; —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=130.048">Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 130</a>&nbsp;— which are enforced by the Missouri Ethics Commission.

Individuals have been known to attempt to conceal this information either by not filing the required information or reports. These actions prevent community members from deciding if the campaign’s policies are sensible and if those involved in those campaigns are honest and trustworthy.

Along with this “paid for by” disclosure that requires the campaign committee and treasurer’s name clearly displayed, the persons’ involved must also register their committee and file the legally-defined reports. Missouri law even sets out reporting requirements for individuals who are not a committee.

Perhaps the most important test a campaign faces is the “smell test.” Voters make a judgment&nbsp; about how the candidate or a campaign conducts itself leading up to the election along with the available information to determine how to vote.

Last week’s vote in Cole County is an example of why these laws are so important.

Cole County voters were asked to decide whether the Missouri River Regional’s tax levy would be increased. When people began putting out signs and flyers without being registered as a committee until the day before the election — and without having the required “paid for by” information on signs and flyers — voters did not have a means to determine who was behind this effort.

Not only did Missouri laws appear to be broken, but misleading and incomplete information was provided that made it difficult for voters to discern the truth&nbsp;

It is not how a person votes that the Missouri laws and the “smell taste” address, but that voters have clear and complete information. In fact, people expressed confusion and dismay over the propaganda being distributed and not knowing the facts.

For example, the flyers contained statements that the library tax would itself increase property taxes by 75%. The library tax is a small portion of our tax bill and the net increase to an individual’s entire property tax bill would have been about 2.5%.

In addition, right before the election, voters received and read about in the newspaper a notice of a 6 to 7% property value increase and rightly feared their property taxes would rise accordingly.

Missouri’s constitution limits annual tax increases to the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is less. In addition, as property taxes rise, today’s library tax levy rate or any future voter-approved levy rate must be reduced to a rate that provides the same amount the library would have received without the property tax rise.

It would have been helpful to voters to have this information before the election.&nbsp;

Candidates, public officials and campaign finance committees should avail themselves of the resources the MEC makes available for compliance with Missouri’s laws. To make the best decisions, voters can use the available on-line MEC tools to dig a bit deeper into the facts.

Equally important, those involved in a campaign and our public officials’ conduct should be observed, and each of us ask: “What would mamma say?”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600983522414.jpeg" alt="Ballot measures, candidates and committees are regulated by the state’s&nbsp;campaign finance laws which are enforced by the Missouri Ethics Commission -file photo" />
 <figcaption>Ballot measures, candidates and committees are regulated by the state’s&nbsp;campaign finance laws which are enforced by the Missouri Ethics Commission -file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By Julie Allen&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri campaign finance laws exist so voters know who is involved in and supports a campaign, as well as how the campaign spends its money.Ballot measures, candidates and committees are regulated by the state’s campaign finance laws&nbsp; —&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=130.048">Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 130</a>&nbsp;— which are enforced by the Missouri Ethics Commission.Individuals have been known to attempt to conceal this information either by not filing the required information or reports. These actions prevent community members from deciding if the campaign’s policies are sensible and if those involved in those campaigns are honest and trustworthy.Along with this “paid for by” disclosure that requires the campaign committee and treasurer’s name clearly displayed, the persons’ involved must also register their committee and file the legally-defined reports. Missouri law even sets out reporting requirements for individuals who are not a committee.Perhaps the most important test a campaign faces is the “smell test.” Voters make a judgment&nbsp; about how the candidate or a campaign conducts itself leading up to the election along with the available information to determine how to vote.Last week’s vote in Cole County is an example of why these laws are so important.Cole County voters were asked to decide whether the Missouri River Regional’s tax levy would be increased. When people began putting out signs and flyers without being registered as a committee until the day before the election — and without having the required “paid for by” information on signs and flyers — voters did not have a means to determine who was behind this effort.Not only did Missouri laws appear to be broken, but misleading and incomplete information was provided that made it difficult for voters to discern the truth&nbsp;It is not how a person votes that the Missouri laws and the “smell taste” address, but that voters have clear and complete information. In fact, people expressed confusion and dismay over the propaganda being distributed and not knowing the facts.For example, the flyers contained statements that the library tax would itself increase property taxes by 75%. The library tax is a small portion of our tax bill and the net increase to an individual’s entire property tax bill would have been about 2.5%.In addition, right before the election, voters received and read about in the newspaper a notice of a 6 to 7% property value increase and rightly feared their property taxes would rise accordingly.Missouri’s constitution limits annual tax increases to the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is less. In addition, as property taxes rise, today’s library tax levy rate or any future voter-approved levy rate must be reduced to a rate that provides the same amount the library would have received without the property tax rise.It would have been helpful to voters to have this information before the election.&nbsp;Candidates, public officials and campaign finance committees should avail themselves of the resources the MEC makes available for compliance with Missouri’s laws. To make the best decisions, voters can use the available on-line MEC tools to dig a bit deeper into the facts.Equally important, those involved in a campaign and our public officials’ conduct should be observed, and each of us ask: “What would mamma say?”Then, be sure and cast your vote.

Library tax vote shows why Missouri campaign disclosure laws are vital

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the United States is establishing a dispute settlement panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. 

The U.S. is challenging Mexico’s measures on biotech corn. Mexico set rules in place during a decree in February that banned the use of biotech corn in tortillas or dough. 

The Mexican government also instructed its agencies to gradually substitute – i.e., ban – the use of biotech corn in all products for human consumption and for animal feed. 

Mexico’s measures aren’t based on science and undermine the market access it agreed to provide in the USMCA. “The United States has used the tools provided by the USMCA in attempting to resolve concerns with Mexico’s biotechnology measures,” says Tai. 

“We’re taking the next step in enforcing Mexico’s obligations under the agreement.” She also says Mexico’s approach to biotechnology isn’t based on science and runs counter to decades worth of evidence clearly demonstrating its safety.

U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the United States is establishing a dispute settlement panel under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The U.S. is challenging Mexico’s measures on biotech corn. Mexico set rules in place during a decree in February that banned the use of biotech corn in tortillas or dough. The Mexican government also instructed its agencies to gradually substitute – i.e., ban – the use of biotech corn in all products for human consumption and for animal feed. Mexico’s measures aren’t based on science and undermine the market access it agreed to provide in the USMCA. “The United States has used the tools provided by the USMCA in attempting to resolve concerns with Mexico’s biotechnology measures,” says Tai. “We’re taking the next step in enforcing Mexico’s obligations under the agreement.” She also says Mexico’s approach to biotechnology isn’t based on science and runs counter to decades worth of evidence clearly demonstrating its safety.- NAFB

U.S. establishes dispute panel on Mexico’s biotech measures

Development of a new animal shelter in St. Joseph is still being held up as Friends of the Animal Shelter and the city are at a crossroads.  

Friends of the Animal Shelter Board Secretary Kathy Ermler says floor plans have been developed but no construction has happened because of a roadblock with city officials. 

"We're sort of on a different page between the city, what the city and the staff want, and what we're capable of producing with $2.5 million," Ermler tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think once we get on the same page that things will develop and begin to build very quickly." 

Ermler says that has factored into the delay, but on top of that the cost of materials continues to rise. 

"It will probably double the price of what we could have possibly gotten before COVID and the supply chain problems," Ermler explains. "Those two things along with just the kind of doubling of prices and inflation really put a damper on our progress." 

Ermler says right now a new shelter seems to be not high on the priority list but adds the need for a new shelter is critical. 

"The size of the kennels, the areas, there's a meeting room in the current shelter that doubles as a lunchroom, a meeting room, a staff meeting, store the animals, for the toys, just everything," Ermler points out. "It's just not an appropriate place, it's not an educational place." 

Ermler says with the current set up the shelter is loud and cramped and has no space for people to come in for educational experiences. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692356557310.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Development of a new animal shelter in St. Joseph is still being held up as Friends of the Animal Shelter and the city are at a crossroads. Friends of the Animal Shelter Board Secretary Kathy Ermler says floor plans have been developed but no construction has happened because of a roadblock with city officials. "We're sort of on a different page between the city, what the city and the staff want, and what we're capable of producing with $2.5 million," Ermler tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, I think once we get on the same page that things will develop and begin to build very quickly." Ermler says that has factored into the delay, but on top of that the cost of materials continues to rise. "It will probably double the price of what we could have possibly gotten before COVID and the supply chain problems," Ermler explains. "Those two things along with just the kind of doubling of prices and inflation really put a damper on our progress." Ermler says right now a new shelter seems to be not high on the priority list but adds the need for a new shelter is critical. "The size of the kennels, the areas, there's a meeting room in the current shelter that doubles as a lunchroom, a meeting room, a staff meeting, store the animals, for the toys, just everything," Ermler points out. "It's just not an appropriate place, it's not an educational place." Ermler says with the current set up the shelter is loud and cramped and has no space for people to come in for educational experiences. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579900177813.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Animal Shelter's new building on Corporate Drive. Photo by Sarah Thomack." />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Animal Shelter's new building on Corporate Drive. Photo by Sarah Thomack.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Another roadblock, development of new St. Joseph Animal Shelter delayed again

The Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 13th year of training camp in St. Joseph Thursday with a short, 10-10-10 practice at Missouri Western.

The Chiefs came down the hill an hour earlier than normal at 8 a.m. and worked for just over an hour in half pads.

Head coach Andy Reid has overseen 10 training camps in St. Joseph and was once again very complimentary of Missouri Western's hospitality.

That, and the energy of Chiefs' Kingdom, who sat out in the heat for the last three weeks just to watch practice.

"Thanks to Missouri Western State University here, man," Reid said. "They've been tremendous again for us. Treating us well, feeding us well and the hospitality is second to none."

"And the fans coming out here. They've been incredible every day."

The Chiefs had 19 total training camp practices in St. Joseph since July 23.

There was no official injury report after Thursday's practice. Kadarius Toney (knee), Nikko Remigio (shoulder), Nic Jones (hand), L'Jarius Sneed (knee), Chris Jones and Turk Wharton (knee) didn't practice.

Nick Allegretti (shoulder) was present, but didn't work. Receiver Kekoa Crawford was absent Thursday, but a Chiefs spokesperson said it wasn't due to an injury.

Tight end Jody Forston, who's on injured reserve, revealed on social media Wednesday that he has undergone a successful shoulder surgery.

Kansas City now turns its attention toward their second preseason game at Arizona, which comes up this Saturday at 7 p.m. Coach Reid says the starters will play most of the first half, with the "twos and threes" rotating in the second half.

Patrick Mahomes says he wants the first-team players to get off to a better start than they did this past Sunday when the Saints raced out to a 17-0 lead.

"I just think having a better urgency from the get-go and throughout the entire game," he said. "Not necessarily (about) the result, you obviously want to win, but you want to have that mentality throughout the entire game."

Overall, Mahomes says it was a productive camp for their unit and the entire team.

"We improved on a lot of stuff," he said. "We didn't add a lot of receivers, but getting those new receivers in and flying around. Those guys here for a second year, you could see the improvements in how they practice. I thought it was a good camp. Offense, defense, special teams. We just flew around and competed every day, which is what you always want."

"You started this foundation," Reid said, recounting his final message to the team as camp adjourned.

"This is where it starts. You're building this thing as it goes up. Every week is different. Every day is different in this thing. But, you've accomplished some things here that will help carry you through during the season in a positive way."

Saturday's game at Arizona can be heard on Q Country 92.7 FM and KFEQ (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.

Mitch Holthus interview with KFEQ on training camp (8-11-23)

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692287254136.jpeg" alt="Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton leaves the field after the final training camp practice Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Chiefs' linebacker Nick Bolton leaves the field after the final training camp practice Thursday. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs concluded their 13th year of training camp in St. Joseph Thursday with a short, 10-10-10 practice at Missouri Western.The Chiefs came down the hill an hour earlier than normal at 8 a.m. and worked for just over an hour in half pads.Head coach Andy Reid has overseen 10 training camps in St. Joseph and was once again very complimentary of Missouri Western's hospitality.That, and the energy of Chiefs' Kingdom, who sat out in the heat for the last three weeks just to watch practice."Thanks to Missouri Western State University here, man," Reid said. "They've been tremendous again for us. Treating us well, feeding us well and the hospitality is second to none.""And the fans coming out here. They've been incredible every day."The Chiefs had 19 total training camp practices in St. Joseph since July 23.There was no official injury report after Thursday's practice. Kadarius Toney (knee), Nikko Remigio (shoulder), Nic Jones (hand), L'Jarius Sneed (knee), Chris Jones and Turk Wharton (knee) didn't practice.Nick Allegretti (shoulder) was present, but didn't work. Receiver Kekoa Crawford was absent Thursday, but a Chiefs spokesperson said it wasn't due to an injury.Tight end Jody Forston, who's on injured reserve, revealed on social media Wednesday that he has undergone a successful shoulder surgery.Kansas City now turns its attention toward their second preseason game at Arizona, which comes up this Saturday at 7 p.m. Coach Reid says the starters will play most of the first half, with the "twos and threes" rotating in the second half.Patrick Mahomes says he wants the first-team players to get off to a better start than they did this past Sunday when the Saints raced out to a 17-0 lead."I just think having a better urgency from the get-go and throughout the entire game," he said. "Not necessarily (about) the result, you obviously want to win, but you want to have that mentality throughout the entire game."Overall, Mahomes says it was a productive camp for their unit and the entire team."We improved on a lot of stuff," he said. "We didn't add a lot of receivers, but getting those new receivers in and flying around. Those guys here for a second year, you could see the improvements in how they practice. I thought it was a good camp. Offense, defense, special teams. We just flew around and competed every day, which is what you always want.""You started this foundation," Reid said, recounting his final message to the team as camp adjourned."This is where it starts. You're building this thing as it goes up. Every week is different. Every day is different in this thing. But, you've accomplished some things here that will help carry you through during the season in a positive way."Saturday's game at Arizona can be heard on Q Country 92.7 FM and KFEQ (680, 95.3) in St. Joseph.Mitch Holthus interview with KFEQ on training camp (8-11-23)<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Voice-of-the-Chiefs-Mitch-Holthus---August-2023-e287ehe" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291154510.jpeg" alt="Joe Thuney (left) waves as he leaves the practice field Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Joe Thuney (left) waves as he leaves the practice field Thursday.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291180858.jpeg" alt="Jerick McKinnon signs autographs following Thursday's practice." />
 <figcaption>Jerick McKinnon signs autographs following Thursday's practice.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692291237087.jpeg" alt="Isiah Pacheco signs memorabilia for military personnel Thursday after practice. Thursday was Military Appreciation Day." />
 <figcaption>Isiah Pacheco signs memorabilia for military personnel Thursday after practice. Thursday was Military Appreciation Day.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chiefs wrap another year of training camp in St. Joseph with short Thursday practice

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office welcomed a report from the World Trade Organization calling U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs justified for security reasons. 

The WTO report recognized that U.S. Section 232 actions on steel and aluminum are security measures, and that China illegally retaliated with sham "safeguard" tariffs. 

The panel rejected China's argument that the U.S. Section 232 actions are safeguard measures that may be "rebalanced" under WTO rules. 

However, officials from China called on the U.S. to lift the tariffs imposed on Chinese products following the report. China's commerce ministry claims the root cause lies in "the unilateralist and protectionist" nature of the United States. 

China maintains that its actions "are a legitimate move to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests." Tariffs imposed on American agricultural exports in retaliation for Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports led to an overall $27 billion reduction in U.S. ag exports from mid-2018 to the end of 2019.

The U.S. Trade Representative's Office welcomed a report from the World Trade Organization calling U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs justified for security reasons. The WTO report recognized that U.S. Section 232 actions on steel and aluminum are security measures, and that China illegally retaliated with sham "safeguard" tariffs. The panel rejected China's argument that the U.S. Section 232 actions are safeguard measures that may be "rebalanced" under WTO rules. However, officials from China called on the U.S. to lift the tariffs imposed on Chinese products following the report. China's commerce ministry claims the root cause lies in "the unilateralist and protectionist" nature of the United States. China maintains that its actions "are a legitimate move to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests." Tariffs imposed on American agricultural exports in retaliation for Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum imports led to an overall $27 billion reduction in U.S. ag exports from mid-2018 to the end of 2019.- NAFB

US welcomes WTO report on China trade retaliations

Fertilizer prices have continued their more than year-long decline through the first two weeks of August 2023. 

The University of Illinois’ FarmdocDAILY website shows that on a per pound of nitrogen basis, urea and liquid nitrogen fertilizers have historically been priced at a premium of 35 to 40 percent above anhydrous ammonia. 

However, the premium narrowed in 2022 as the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted global fertilizer markets. 

The premium on liquid, relative to anhydrous, has returned to more historical levels while the gap has continued to narrow between urea and anhydrous prices. This is attributed to continued expansion in global production capacity combined with lower demand prospects. 

The continued decline in fertilizer prices improves return and income prospects as we look ahead to soon-to-be-released crop budgets for 2024. If the low premium on urea relative to anhydrous extends into the coming months, it may make urea a more attractive nitrogen option for farmers in 2024.

Fertilizer prices have continued their more than year-long decline through the first two weeks of August 2023. The University of Illinois’ FarmdocDAILY website shows that on a per pound of nitrogen basis, urea and liquid nitrogen fertilizers have historically been priced at a premium of 35 to 40 percent above anhydrous ammonia. However, the premium narrowed in 2022 as the Russia-Ukraine conflict disrupted global fertilizer markets. The premium on liquid, relative to anhydrous, has returned to more historical levels while the gap has continued to narrow between urea and anhydrous prices. This is attributed to continued expansion in global production capacity combined with lower demand prospects. The continued decline in fertilizer prices improves return and income prospects as we look ahead to soon-to-be-released crop budgets for 2024. If the low premium on urea relative to anhydrous extends into the coming months, it may make urea a more attractive nitrogen option for farmers in 2024.- NAFB

Fertilizer prices continue decline

A company is accused of bringing illegal marijuana product into the Missouri market and obstructing the state’s investigation by staging a robbery at its facility

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

Twice this summer, Andrew Mullins emailed state marijuana regulators to make sure they knew about a potential problem.

Mullins, the president of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, feared that licensed Missouri cannabis companies may be tempted to add illegal marijuana products brought in from other states to their own products in order to keep their production numbers up — a process known as “inversion.”

“We understand that production is still catching up with demand and wholesale commodities are in short supply,” he wrote in a June 30 email to Amy Moore, director of Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation. “This is an environment that tends to breed shortcuts and bad actors. We are hopeful it’s not the case but fear it could be.”

A month later, Mullins emailed Moore again to ask if her department had the capability to “review extraction efficiency percentages” to see if the illegal products are being introduced during production.

Within hours, Moore replied to Mullins that the state was building teams devoted to this kind of analysis, but the “fastest route” to identify this issue is for a whistleblower to file a complaint.

Soon after, state regulators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910262-dhss-response-aug-12">received an anonymous tip</a>&nbsp;about a potential problem at Delta Extraction, a Robertsville-based licensed marijuana manufacturer that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens and edibles and sold to other Missouri manufacturers for their infused products.

Days later, Delta Extraction was suspended from conducting business in Missouri, accused of sourcing untested “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.” This week,&nbsp;the state issued a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/">product recall</a>&nbsp;that pulled more than 60,000 items off the shelves that contained ingredients from Delta Extraction.

The decision to issue a recall surprised the state’s burgeoning marijuana industry.&nbsp;

Even Mullins’ association, who urged the state to pay attention to the issue,&nbsp;believes the state can continue its investigation without recalling thousands of products or “jeopardizing public safety,” because the manufacturers who used Delta’s distillate in their products had to go through another round of “rigorous testing.”&nbsp;

“It is our understanding that all the finished, packaged products currently on hold…have successfully passed the state’s lab testing requirements that determine if cannabis products in Missouri are safe for consumption,” he wrote in his Friday letter.

The back and forth between the industry’s worry about financial hardship and the state’s concern about a threat to public safety culminated Monday, when Delta made its case in front of Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Commission to appeal the state’s decision to suspend its operations.

Mullins’ emails to Moore were included in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910293-exhibit-f-delta-extraction">case exhibits submitted by the state</a>. The commission has not made a decision in the case.

In their&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910298-delta-aug-3-appeal">motion to appeal</a>, Delta Extraction said they didn’t understand what they were being accused of, other than potentially adding a hemp-derived THCa, a cannabinoid that must be heated to produce a high — such as through a vape pen. Hemp products can legally cross over state lines, but Missouri’s new cannabis regulations that went into effect on July 30 specifically banned adding THCa brought from other states to Missouri products.&nbsp;

“To the extent any of Delta Extraction’s processes required the use of THC-A distillate, Delta Extraction ceased any such process on or before July 30, 2023,” the motion stated.

In its legal filings to the commission, the state did not specify the allegations were limited to sourcing THCa.&nbsp;

Regulators said there have been “no adverse reactions” reported from the products. But the state has been unable to verify that the&nbsp;recalled products “came from marijuana grown in Missouri or that the product passed required testing prior to being sold at dispensaries,” the state’s Monday press release stated.

At every phase, marijuana products are weighed and tracked through a system called Metrc, or Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance.&nbsp;

If a company says it yielded a certain amount in production, and then that total jumps significantly down the line, that’s a red flag. It could mean that the company brought in distillate or a THC commodities from another state like Oklahoma, where it’s much cheaper, and tried to pass it off as their own yields.&nbsp;

That’s the accusation facing Delta Extraction. State regulators provided instances where there was an “unsupportable increase in product weight occurred after mandatory testing was conducted.”&nbsp;

“This is an example of how a licensee may introduce untested and illegal marijuana into the Missouri regulated market through the statewide track and trace system,” the state’s Aug. 12 motion states. “Once the untested and illegal product is in Metrc, the licensee may continue moving the illegal product to other Missouri licensees to make final marijuana products that will be sold to patients and consumers.”&nbsp;

However, that’s not all. The company is also accused of obstructing the state’s investigation.

On Aug. 7, the cannabis division was supposed to visit Delta Extraction’s facility, but the company asked investigators to postpone it to the next day. That night, the company notified the state that someone had broken into the facility and stolen their security equipment.&nbsp;

“In the few short days since the issuance of the [Order of Immediate Suspension], critical evidence of potential regulatory and criminal behavior has been spoiled,” according to the state’s Aug. 12 motion. “The security equipment maintaining the video recordings within the facility and that stored the facility’s access control information have vanished.”&nbsp;

Franklin County law enforcement reported that “a facility representative believed the suspect was possibly an employee attempting to destroy the security system due to an audit the state was conducting,” the motion further states.

Investigators went to the scene and saw that the burglars mysteriously didn’t take the “large volume of marijuana and marijuana products, checks, and drone equipment” that was in their path to the security equipment.&nbsp;

This, combined with the timing of the burglary, “indicate intentional interference” in the department’s investigation, the motion states.&nbsp;

In Delta’s appeal, the company argues the claims are unsubstantiated, and their suspension could lead to them shuttering their business, according to testimony from Rachael (Herndon) Dunn, the company’s chief operations officer.

“Delta Extraction employs 18 individuals,” Dunn stated in an Aug. 9 affidavit of her testimony. “If Delta Extraction is required to cease operations for any substantial period of time or completely, it may be required to at a minimum temporarily lay-off employees or permanently fire them.”

However, the state argued the threat to public safety has not yet been eliminated.

The state is advising patients and consumers who have purchased the recalled product to discontinue using it.&nbsp;

“All unused product(s) should be discarded or returned to the dispensary where purchased,” according to the state’s Monday press release. “Returned products will not count toward a patient’s purchase limit.”

If they have adverse reactions, patients and consumers should report them to to CannabisComplaints@health.mo.gov&nbsp;or fill out a complaint form located&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/pdf/580-3338s.pdf">here</a>.

Earlier this month,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/marijuana/potential-product-safety-concerns-prompt-missouri-to-suspend-3-marijuana-facilities/article_588c7bb6-32da-11ee-a81b-db05e22daf7c.html">&nbsp;the state said that three marijuana facilities</a>&nbsp;had been suspended pending investigation, but didn’t name the companies.

Right after the state suspended Delta, they also ordered dispensaries statewide to pull thousands of cannabis products that had been infused with Delta’s product from their shelves and put them in secured vaults, where they’ve stayed for two weeks pending the investigation.

About a dozen other manufacturers regularly purchase Delta’s distillate and add it to their own products, industry leaders say. They trusted it was a legal product, and that’s why the recall was so widespread and is impacting so many companies.

“What releasing these holds absolutely will do is head off financial ruin for dozens of Missouri small businesses, who through no fault of their own have found themselves with no good path forward,” said Mullins’ Aug. 12 letter to Moore, prior to the recall. “We absolutely believe that a failure to do so will greatly increase the likelihood hundreds of Missouri jobs will be lost and some businesses will be irreparably damaged or forced out of business.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692273868300.png" alt="Missouri voters signed off on recreational marijuana in November, four years after legalizing a medical cannabis program (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri voters signed off on recreational marijuana in November, four years after legalizing a medical cannabis program (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A company is accused of bringing illegal marijuana product into the Missouri market and obstructing the state’s investigation by staging a robbery at its facility</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Twice this summer, Andrew Mullins emailed state marijuana regulators to make sure they knew about a potential problem.Mullins, the president of the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, feared that licensed Missouri cannabis companies may be tempted to add illegal marijuana products brought in from other states to their own products in order to keep their production numbers up — a process known as “inversion.”“We understand that production is still catching up with demand and wholesale commodities are in short supply,” he wrote in a June 30 email to Amy Moore, director of Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulation. “This is an environment that tends to breed shortcuts and bad actors. We are hopeful it’s not the case but fear it could be.”A month later, Mullins emailed Moore again to ask if her department had the capability to “review extraction efficiency percentages” to see if the illegal products are being introduced during production.Within hours, Moore replied to Mullins that the state was building teams devoted to this kind of analysis, but the “fastest route” to identify this issue is for a whistleblower to file a complaint.Soon after, state regulators&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910262-dhss-response-aug-12">received an anonymous tip</a>&nbsp;about a potential problem at Delta Extraction, a Robertsville-based licensed marijuana manufacturer that specializes in making THC distillate, a highly potent and pure form of THC used for things like vape pens and edibles and sold to other Missouri manufacturers for their infused products.Days later, Delta Extraction was suspended from conducting business in Missouri, accused of sourcing untested “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910265-conference-call-delta-extraction">marijuana or converted hemp</a>&nbsp;from outside of a Missouri licensed cultivation facility.” This week,&nbsp;the state issued a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/">product recall</a>&nbsp;that pulled more than 60,000 items off the shelves that contained ingredients from Delta Extraction.The decision to issue a recall surprised the state’s burgeoning marijuana industry.&nbsp;Even Mullins’ association, who urged the state to pay attention to the issue,&nbsp;believes the state can continue its investigation without recalling thousands of products or “jeopardizing public safety,” because the manufacturers who used Delta’s distillate in their products had to go through another round of “rigorous testing.”&nbsp;“It is our understanding that all the finished, packaged products currently on hold…have successfully passed the state’s lab testing requirements that determine if cannabis products in Missouri are safe for consumption,” he wrote in his Friday letter.The back and forth between the industry’s worry about financial hardship and the state’s concern about a threat to public safety culminated Monday, when Delta made its case in front of Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Commission to appeal the state’s decision to suspend its operations.Mullins’ emails to Moore were included in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910293-exhibit-f-delta-extraction">case exhibits submitted by the state</a>. The commission has not made a decision in the case.In their&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23910298-delta-aug-3-appeal">motion to appeal</a>, Delta Extraction said they didn’t understand what they were being accused of, other than potentially adding a hemp-derived THCa, a cannabinoid that must be heated to produce a high — such as through a vape pen. Hemp products can legally cross over state lines, but Missouri’s new cannabis regulations that went into effect on July 30 specifically banned adding THCa brought from other states to Missouri products.&nbsp;“To the extent any of Delta Extraction’s processes required the use of THC-A distillate, Delta Extraction ceased any such process on or before July 30, 2023,” the motion stated.In its legal filings to the commission, the state did not specify the allegations were limited to sourcing THCa.&nbsp;Regulators said there have been “no adverse reactions” reported from the products. But the state has been unable to verify that the&nbsp;recalled products “came from marijuana grown in Missouri or that the product passed required testing prior to being sold at dispensaries,” the state’s Monday press release stated.<h2>Red flags</h2>At every phase, marijuana products are weighed and tracked through a system called Metrc, or Marijuana Enforcement Tracking Reporting Compliance.&nbsp;If a company says it yielded a certain amount in production, and then that total jumps significantly down the line, that’s a red flag. It could mean that the company brought in distillate or a THC commodities from another state like Oklahoma, where it’s much cheaper, and tried to pass it off as their own yields.&nbsp;That’s the accusation facing Delta Extraction. State regulators provided instances where there was an “unsupportable increase in product weight occurred after mandatory testing was conducted.”&nbsp;“This is an example of how a licensee may introduce untested and illegal marijuana into the Missouri regulated market through the statewide track and trace system,” the state’s Aug. 12 motion states. “Once the untested and illegal product is in Metrc, the licensee may continue moving the illegal product to other Missouri licensees to make final marijuana products that will be sold to patients and consumers.”&nbsp;However, that’s not all. The company is also accused of obstructing the state’s investigation.On Aug. 7, the cannabis division was supposed to visit Delta Extraction’s facility, but the company asked investigators to postpone it to the next day. That night, the company notified the state that someone had broken into the facility and stolen their security equipment.&nbsp;“In the few short days since the issuance of the [Order of Immediate Suspension], critical evidence of potential regulatory and criminal behavior has been spoiled,” according to the state’s Aug. 12 motion. “The security equipment maintaining the video recordings within the facility and that stored the facility’s access control information have vanished.”&nbsp;Franklin County law enforcement reported that “a facility representative believed the suspect was possibly an employee attempting to destroy the security system due to an audit the state was conducting,” the motion further states.Investigators went to the scene and saw that the burglars mysteriously didn’t take the “large volume of marijuana and marijuana products, checks, and drone equipment” that was in their path to the security equipment.&nbsp;This, combined with the timing of the burglary, “indicate intentional interference” in the department’s investigation, the motion states.&nbsp;In Delta’s appeal, the company argues the claims are unsubstantiated, and their suspension could lead to them shuttering their business, according to testimony from Rachael (Herndon) Dunn, the company’s chief operations officer.“Delta Extraction employs 18 individuals,” Dunn stated in an Aug. 9 affidavit of her testimony. “If Delta Extraction is required to cease operations for any substantial period of time or completely, it may be required to at a minimum temporarily lay-off employees or permanently fire them.”However, the state argued the threat to public safety has not yet been eliminated.The state is advising patients and consumers who have purchased the recalled product to discontinue using it.&nbsp;“All unused product(s) should be discarded or returned to the dispensary where purchased,” according to the state’s Monday press release. “Returned products will not count toward a patient’s purchase limit.”If they have adverse reactions, patients and consumers should report them to to CannabisComplaints@health.mo.gov&nbsp;or fill out a complaint form located&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://health.mo.gov/safety/cannabis/pdf/580-3338s.pdf">here</a>.Earlier this month,<a target="_blank" href="https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/marijuana/potential-product-safety-concerns-prompt-missouri-to-suspend-3-marijuana-facilities/article_588c7bb6-32da-11ee-a81b-db05e22daf7c.html">&nbsp;the state said that three marijuana facilities</a>&nbsp;had been suspended pending investigation, but didn’t name the companies.Right after the state suspended Delta, they also ordered dispensaries statewide to pull thousands of cannabis products that had been infused with Delta’s product from their shelves and put them in secured vaults, where they’ve stayed for two weeks pending the investigation.About a dozen other manufacturers regularly purchase Delta’s distillate and add it to their own products, industry leaders say. They trusted it was a legal product, and that’s why the recall was so widespread and is impacting so many companies.“What releasing these holds absolutely will do is head off financial ruin for dozens of Missouri small businesses, who through no fault of their own have found themselves with no good path forward,” said Mullins’ Aug. 12 letter to Moore, prior to the recall. “We absolutely believe that a failure to do so will greatly increase the likelihood hundreds of Missouri jobs will be lost and some businesses will be irreparably damaged or forced out of business.”

State faces pushback from Missouri marijuana industry over product recall

Out of all the counties to work in across Missouri, Buchanan County could be one of the best.  

Out of 115 counties in Missouri, Buchanan County ranked seventh in highest average wages, a jump from the last rankings in 2021.  

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Redmond says one reason for the high wages in St. Joseph is the number of manufacturing jobs. 

"We're closer to 30% manufacturing where most communities our size are 10 to 15%, most communities our size are going to be more heavy in restaurant retail, hospitality, and those jobs just don't pay as well, and I just don't think people think about that from our community perspective," Redmond tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr.  

Another reason, Redmond says, is the amount of high skilled jobs in St. Joseph. 

"It's like scientist at Nestle', R&amp;D, or at Boehringer Ingelheim, welders and diesel mechanics, and some of those skilled jobs are paying very well these days," Redmond explains. "So, it's not the manufacturing days of the 80's, I mean its skilled manufacturing and we have a lot of those jobs which a lot of our colleagues across the state are very jealous because they're high paying jobs." 

Redmond says the manufacturing line has evolved so much over time with robotics, which brings more high skilled jobs 

"Where it's taking that manual labor job and changing it into a machine job, that's not taking jobs away it's just making those jobs more high skilled, which also makes them better paid," Redmond says. "So, instead of lifting that sack of wheat onto the pallet, you're fixing the machine, or you're working with the electronics on the robots." 

Redmond says she believes that's also a reason these manufacturing jobs have become more attractive to kids with the idea of working with robotics. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Out of all the counties to work in across Missouri, Buchanan County could be one of the best. Out of 115 counties in Missouri, Buchanan County ranked seventh in highest average wages, a jump from the last rankings in 2021. St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Redmond says one reason for the high wages in St. Joseph is the number of manufacturing jobs. "We're closer to 30% manufacturing where most communities our size are 10 to 15%, most communities our size are going to be more heavy in restaurant retail, hospitality, and those jobs just don't pay as well, and I just don't think people think about that from our community perspective," Redmond tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. Another reason, Redmond says, is the amount of high skilled jobs in St. Joseph. "It's like scientist at Nestle', R&amp;D, or at Boehringer Ingelheim, welders and diesel mechanics, and some of those skilled jobs are paying very well these days," Redmond explains. "So, it's not the manufacturing days of the 80's, I mean its skilled manufacturing and we have a lot of those jobs which a lot of our colleagues across the state are very jealous because they're high paying jobs." Redmond says the manufacturing line has evolved so much over time with robotics, which brings more high skilled jobs "Where it's taking that manual labor job and changing it into a machine job, that's not taking jobs away it's just making those jobs more high skilled, which also makes them better paid," Redmond says. "So, instead of lifting that sack of wheat onto the pallet, you're fixing the machine, or you're working with the electronics on the robots." Redmond says she believes that's also a reason these manufacturing jobs have become more attractive to kids with the idea of working with robotics. <div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/St--Joseph-has-high-paying-jobs-e2875g3" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

In the top 10: Buchanan County ranks seventh in highest average wages across Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred threw his support behind a new stadium for the Royals on Wednesday, calling both of their potential sites near downtown Kansas City “unbelievably high quality” for the type of revenue-producing, multi-use districts that are necessary for small-market clubs to compete.

Manfred spoke for an hour at the Urban Youth Academy, which is designed to encourage inner-city youth in baseball, alongside Royals chairman John Sherman and Bob Kendrick, the president of the nearby Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — which itself is in the midst of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/negro-leagues-museum-baseball-052a989f39e338f0aa8ec9c225227ef7">a $25 million fundraising effort for a new home.</a>

The Royals plan to announce in September whether they will build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium in the East Village, an area near the T-Mobile Center and the existing Power &amp; Light District, or across the Missouri River in Clay County, where there is more land available for a potentially larger baseball village.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for this community — forget the Royals,” Manfred said. "Either of these sites are outstanding sites for a new ballpark. Either present the opportunity for entertainment district development around the ballpark.

“I think in our economic system,” Manfred said, “new facilities provide a ballclub with an opportunity for revenue generation that simply doesn't exist in older footprints. At some point — great ballpark here, but having said that, it is an older ballpark that does not have the kind of premier revenue-generating opportunities that you get in a new facility for a market this size.”

The Royals have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-stadium-kansas-missouri-ddd25487770de16bcb48595a0eea550d">the new ballpark project will cost about $2 billion</a>. Most will be privately funded, but a portion of the money is expected to come from the renewal of a 3/8-cent sales tax that has been used the upkeep of Kauffman Stadium.

However, the sales tax was passed by voters in Jackson County, which is where the downtown ballpark location sits; if that location is chosen, the vote for it would likely occur in April. But the site across the river sits in Clay County, and that would potentially require a different funding structure than what has long been envisioned.

Another factor is that the Royals have shared that tax revenue with the Chiefs, because Kauffman Stadium shares the Truman Sports Complex with Arrowhead Stadium. But the NFL franchise prefers Arrowhead Stadium rather than build anew, and how those two franchises can continue to co-exist in different locations is not entirely clear.

Regardless of the choice of location, Sherman has said the new Royals stadium will take about three years to complete, which would mean opening day for the 2027 or 2028 season. He also said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-stadium-proposals-0a1e4314065597f9f17730bf5899b672">in a recent letter to fans</a>&nbsp;that the project would create about 20,000 jobs, produce roughly $1.4 billion in labor income and $2.8 billion in total economic output, while its inaugural season would “generate some $185 million more in regional economic output than The K does today.”

Much of that money would come from premier seating and club spaces that are not possible at Kauffman Stadium, which has long been one of the jewels of Major League Baseball, but is currently the sixth-oldest park still in operation.

“Our region is at a critical juncture, and I say that in a positive way,” Sherman said. “We have a new airport. The World Cup is coming (in 2026). We just hosted the NFL Draft. We have a women's soccer stadium coming out of the ground on the riverfront, the only one of its kind, and the Chiefs and Royals are talking about doing some really special things for this community.”

Manfred pointed to the way new stadiums for the Nationals and Braves have driven revitalization and revenue.

In the case of the Nationals, their new ballpark has sped up development of what was once a largely industrial neighborhood known as Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. In the case of the Braves, the glittering new Truist Park serves as the fulcrum of The Battery Atlanta, where restaurants and high-end residential areas have sprung from the ground.

“I lived in the District, worked in the District for 15 years. The Navy Yard, where Nationals Park sits, the time I lived there you wouldn't go there. Nobody went there,” Manfred said. “If you go there now, you have the ballpark, all this development, high-class housing, mixed-use development. ... (In Atlanta), they built a city where there was none. It has become one of the prime entertainment centers in the metropolitan area where there was nothing."

Both of the Kansas City sites are optimal for development in that they are riddled with old, vacant buildings and empty lots. But both also would require substantial investment in parking, ingress and egress, and other infrastructure.

“This process that we're in the middle of right now — evaluating — it's imperative we do this right now to find a new home, a new stadium, a new ballpark,” Sherman said, “but as importantly a new location where we can bring vibrancy and energy around the ballpark and do great things for this city.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692267539889.jpeg" alt="A fan dressed as a hot dog takes part in a race between innings of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>A fan dressed as a hot dog takes part in a race between innings of a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 12, 2023, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred threw his support behind a new stadium for the Royals on Wednesday, calling both of their potential sites near downtown Kansas City “unbelievably high quality” for the type of revenue-producing, multi-use districts that are necessary for small-market clubs to compete.Manfred spoke for an hour at the Urban Youth Academy, which is designed to encourage inner-city youth in baseball, alongside Royals chairman John Sherman and Bob Kendrick, the president of the nearby Negro Leagues Baseball Museum — which itself is in the midst of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/negro-leagues-museum-baseball-052a989f39e338f0aa8ec9c225227ef7">a $25 million fundraising effort for a new home.</a>The Royals plan to announce in September whether they will build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium in the East Village, an area near the T-Mobile Center and the existing Power &amp; Light District, or across the Missouri River in Clay County, where there is more land available for a potentially larger baseball village.“This is a tremendous opportunity for this community — forget the Royals,” Manfred said. "Either of these sites are outstanding sites for a new ballpark. Either present the opportunity for entertainment district development around the ballpark.“I think in our economic system,” Manfred said, “new facilities provide a ballclub with an opportunity for revenue generation that simply doesn't exist in older footprints. At some point — great ballpark here, but having said that, it is an older ballpark that does not have the kind of premier revenue-generating opportunities that you get in a new facility for a market this size.”The Royals have said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-stadium-kansas-missouri-ddd25487770de16bcb48595a0eea550d">the new ballpark project will cost about $2 billion</a>. Most will be privately funded, but a portion of the money is expected to come from the renewal of a 3/8-cent sales tax that has been used the upkeep of Kauffman Stadium.However, the sales tax was passed by voters in Jackson County, which is where the downtown ballpark location sits; if that location is chosen, the vote for it would likely occur in April. But the site across the river sits in Clay County, and that would potentially require a different funding structure than what has long been envisioned.Another factor is that the Royals have shared that tax revenue with the Chiefs, because Kauffman Stadium shares the Truman Sports Complex with Arrowhead Stadium. But the NFL franchise prefers Arrowhead Stadium rather than build anew, and how those two franchises can continue to co-exist in different locations is not entirely clear.Regardless of the choice of location, Sherman has said the new Royals stadium will take about three years to complete, which would mean opening day for the 2027 or 2028 season. He also said&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/royals-stadium-proposals-0a1e4314065597f9f17730bf5899b672">in a recent letter to fans</a>&nbsp;that the project would create about 20,000 jobs, produce roughly $1.4 billion in labor income and $2.8 billion in total economic output, while its inaugural season would “generate some $185 million more in regional economic output than The K does today.”Much of that money would come from premier seating and club spaces that are not possible at Kauffman Stadium, which has long been one of the jewels of Major League Baseball, but is currently the sixth-oldest park still in operation.“Our region is at a critical juncture, and I say that in a positive way,” Sherman said. “We have a new airport. The World Cup is coming (in 2026). We just hosted the NFL Draft. We have a women's soccer stadium coming out of the ground on the riverfront, the only one of its kind, and the Chiefs and Royals are talking about doing some really special things for this community.”Manfred pointed to the way new stadiums for the Nationals and Braves have driven revitalization and revenue.In the case of the Nationals, their new ballpark has sped up development of what was once a largely industrial neighborhood known as Navy Yard in Washington, D.C. In the case of the Braves, the glittering new Truist Park serves as the fulcrum of The Battery Atlanta, where restaurants and high-end residential areas have sprung from the ground.“I lived in the District, worked in the District for 15 years. The Navy Yard, where Nationals Park sits, the time I lived there you wouldn't go there. Nobody went there,” Manfred said. “If you go there now, you have the ballpark, all this development, high-class housing, mixed-use development. ... (In Atlanta), they built a city where there was none. It has become one of the prime entertainment centers in the metropolitan area where there was nothing."Both of the Kansas City sites are optimal for development in that they are riddled with old, vacant buildings and empty lots. But both also would require substantial investment in parking, ingress and egress, and other infrastructure.“This process that we're in the middle of right now — evaluating — it's imperative we do this right now to find a new home, a new stadium, a new ballpark,” Sherman said, “but as importantly a new location where we can bring vibrancy and energy around the ballpark and do great things for this city.”

MLB commissioner throws support behind new stadium for the Kansas City Royals

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn GT Thompson says, "We're probably going to need an extension," referring to the timing of the 2023 Farm Bill. 

At a listening session in Missouri this week, the Pennsylvania Republican acknowledged that "the clock is ticking," with the current farm bill set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, September 30. 

The event is one of many held by the committee that Thompson calls a "perpetual barnstorming tour" across rural America. 

The House Agriculture Committee is expected to release a draft version of the 2023 Farm Bill, possibly by the end of the month, according to Thompson. 

The chairman says, "There's a lot of competition" for time on the House floor next month, with appropriations bills still needing attention, as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, any continuing resolution would likely have a farm-bill extension included. Thompson adds, "I hope it's a very short extension," if one is needed.

House Agriculture Chairman Glenn GT Thompson says, "We're probably going to need an extension," referring to the timing of the 2023 Farm Bill. At a listening session in Missouri this week, the Pennsylvania Republican acknowledged that "the clock is ticking," with the current farm bill set to expire at the end of the fiscal year, September 30. The event is one of many held by the committee that Thompson calls a "perpetual barnstorming tour" across rural America. The House Agriculture Committee is expected to release a draft version of the 2023 Farm Bill, possibly by the end of the month, according to Thompson. The chairman says, "There's a lot of competition" for time on the House floor next month, with appropriations bills still needing attention, as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;However, any continuing resolution would likely have a farm-bill extension included. Thompson adds, "I hope it's a very short extension," if one is needed.- NAFB

Thompson: Farm Bill extension likely

One charter school and 19 districts to depart from state assessment standards for progress-focused evaluations

The Missouri State Board of Education unanimously approved an exemption for 19 districts and one charter school to measure student achievement using alternative assessments instead of the state’s prescribed methods.

Students in these districts will begin to see changes this fall as districts in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.srsnmo.org/">Success Ready Students Network</a>&nbsp;implement their plan.

“Progress monitoring during the school year is already taking place within these school districts, though it may not be monitored by the state at this time,” Jeremy Tucker, superintendent of the Liberty 53 School District and Success Ready Students Network facilitator, told the board Tuesday. “We can really add more touch points from the start of the year all the way to the end of the year.”

The state board’s approval, called an innovation waiver, will allow the districts to break from components of the state’s evaluation system for three years.

“(Missouri Assessment Program results) don’t inform what we do on a regular basis,” Branson Public Schools Superintendent Brad Swofford told the board, mentioning the delay in receiving the test’s results.

Teachers prefer to look at assessments that show students progress over the school year, allowing them to adapt to the data and instill confidence in learning students, he said. Branson currently gives students NWEA assessments, tests that adapt questions to students’ achievement level and outputs a number to describe their level of knowledge.

Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, another of the districts in the network, will use this assessment to track students’ progress over the school year, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services Christy Barger told The Independent.

State Board of Education member Mary Schrag said she has heard that in states that already have similar programs, students feel “much more vested” in their educational progress.

Students in participating districts will likely complete the MAP test to comply with federal requirements, unless districts receive a federal waiver, but their schools will not be scored at the state level based on those results.&nbsp;

Consequently, the accreditation status of the 20 districts will be paused throughout the three-year pilot program.

Parents should still expect accountability because the districts are responsible for reporting students’ literacy and numeracy scores.

Barger said the innovation waiver allows schools to test the progress of all students, including high achievers, instead of administering an annual exam.

“We can hold districts accountable and measure district quality in a way that supports student learning,” she said.

The ability to apply for innovation waivers is new, as lawmakers passed the legislation in 2022. Kansas City Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur, who pushed for the legislation,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LaurenArthurMO/status/1691102092138618881?s=20">posted on Twitter</a>&nbsp;she was glad to see the new law put to use.

“These districts have proposed meaningful changes to the current system in order to center personalized student learning, support teachers, and bring our classrooms into the 21st century,” she wrote.

The districts in the Success Ready Students Network are:&nbsp;Affton 101, Branson R-IV, Center 58, Confluence Academies charter school, Fayette R-III, Lebanon R-III, Lee’s Summit R-VII, Lewis County C-1, Liberty 53, Lindbergh, Lonedell R-14, Mehlville R-IX, Neosho, Ozark R-VI, Parkway C-2, Pattonville R-III, Raymore-Peculiar R-II, Ritenour, Shell Knob 78 and Ste. Genevieve County R-II.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692202643095.png" alt="he Missouri State Board of Education approves the Success Ready Students Network's request for an innovation waiver Tuesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>he Missouri State Board of Education approves the Success Ready Students Network's request for an innovation waiver Tuesday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>One charter school and 19 districts to depart from state assessment standards for progress-focused evaluations</h2>The Missouri State Board of Education unanimously approved an exemption for 19 districts and one charter school to measure student achievement using alternative assessments instead of the state’s prescribed methods.Students in these districts will begin to see changes this fall as districts in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.srsnmo.org/">Success Ready Students Network</a>&nbsp;implement their plan.“Progress monitoring during the school year is already taking place within these school districts, though it may not be monitored by the state at this time,” Jeremy Tucker, superintendent of the Liberty 53 School District and Success Ready Students Network facilitator, told the board Tuesday. “We can really add more touch points from the start of the year all the way to the end of the year.”The state board’s approval, called an innovation waiver, will allow the districts to break from components of the state’s evaluation system for three years.“(Missouri Assessment Program results) don’t inform what we do on a regular basis,” Branson Public Schools Superintendent Brad Swofford told the board, mentioning the delay in receiving the test’s results.Teachers prefer to look at assessments that show students progress over the school year, allowing them to adapt to the data and instill confidence in learning students, he said. Branson currently gives students NWEA assessments, tests that adapt questions to students’ achievement level and outputs a number to describe their level of knowledge.Lee’s Summit R-VII School District, another of the districts in the network, will use this assessment to track students’ progress over the school year, Associate Superintendent of Academic Services Christy Barger told The Independent.State Board of Education member Mary Schrag said she has heard that in states that already have similar programs, students feel “much more vested” in their educational progress.Students in participating districts will likely complete the MAP test to comply with federal requirements, unless districts receive a federal waiver, but their schools will not be scored at the state level based on those results.&nbsp;Consequently, the accreditation status of the 20 districts will be paused throughout the three-year pilot program.Parents should still expect accountability because the districts are responsible for reporting students’ literacy and numeracy scores.Barger said the innovation waiver allows schools to test the progress of all students, including high achievers, instead of administering an annual exam.“We can hold districts accountable and measure district quality in a way that supports student learning,” she said.The ability to apply for innovation waivers is new, as lawmakers passed the legislation in 2022. Kansas City Democratic Sen. Lauren Arthur, who pushed for the legislation,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/LaurenArthurMO/status/1691102092138618881?s=20">posted on Twitter</a>&nbsp;she was glad to see the new law put to use.“These districts have proposed meaningful changes to the current system in order to center personalized student learning, support teachers, and bring our classrooms into the 21st century,” she wrote.The districts in the Success Ready Students Network are:&nbsp;Affton 101, Branson R-IV, Center 58, Confluence Academies charter school, Fayette R-III, Lebanon R-III, Lee’s Summit R-VII, Lewis County C-1, Liberty 53, Lindbergh, Lonedell R-14, Mehlville R-IX, Neosho, Ozark R-VI, Parkway C-2, Pattonville R-III, Raymore-Peculiar R-II, Ritenour, Shell Knob 78 and Ste. Genevieve County R-II.

Missouri ed board approves ‘innovation waivers’ for districts to opt out of state tests

The St. Joseph School District is still searching to fill some teacher positions just ahead of the start of the new school year.  

Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Kraus says the district is trying to be creative in their ways of recruiting teachers.  

"Whether that's people in the community who have bachelor's degrees in something else that might want to become teachers, we have our grow your own program, and our pathway to teaching program," Kraus said during the district's annual back to school news conference. "We're bringing in some international teachers, se we're doing everything we can to alleviate the problem." 

Kraus says there are still six or seven open teaching positions, including one critical need for a science teacher at Central High School.  

Kraus says it's a balancing act of sorts to make sure that critical teaching positions are filled.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692186206124.jpeg" alt="Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Kraus speaks on the teaching shortages in the St. Joseph School District during the annual Back to School News Conference/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Kraus speaks on the teaching shortages in the St. Joseph School District during the annual Back to School News Conference/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School District is still searching to fill some teacher positions just ahead of the start of the new school year. Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Brian Kraus says the district is trying to be creative in their ways of recruiting teachers. "Whether that's people in the community who have bachelor's degrees in something else that might want to become teachers, we have our grow your own program, and our pathway to teaching program," Kraus said during the district's annual back to school news conference. "We're bringing in some international teachers, se we're doing everything we can to alleviate the problem." Kraus says there are still six or seven open teaching positions, including one critical need for a science teacher at Central High School. Kraus says it's a balancing act of sorts to make sure that critical teaching positions are filled. "If we have a building where we have three sections of 15, maybe we can combine that to two sections if we need an Elementary teacher for instance," Kraus explains. "We look at master schedules and see if there's an enrollment of five or six in several classes, we look at do we need to offer those or can we shift it to a higher need." Kraus says there are a number of factors that go into the difficulty of recruiting teachers as districts all over are facing the same staffing problems. "Some of it is geography, some of it is pay, some of it is perceived working conditions, there's a lot of factors that go into determining where someone is going to want to land as far as a teaching spot," Kraus points out. "Weve been working as hard as we can to make our salary schedule competitive and then other factors that go along with that." The district did fill several teaching positions by hiring 140 new teachers, including some during a hiring fair earlier this summer. The first day of school for the St. Joseph School District is on Monday.You can follow Matt on Twitter @KFEQMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/St--Joseph-School-District-still-needs-teachers-e285uq6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

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