A controversy that arose over the reappointment of a member to the Public Library Board has prompted the St. Joseph City Council to change the process it uses to appoint and reappoint members to boards and commissions. &nbsp;

Grace Calvary Chapel Pastor Josh Blevins raised objections to the reelection of Library Board Vice President Brian Kirk, pastor of the First Christian Church who advocates for the LGBTQ community.&nbsp;

Mayor John Josendale says the policy changes come after hearing from several members of the public.&nbsp;

"The people that are currently up, can be put back up, and there's no one that can't be put up for review and new people can come forward that are interested in serving on that board," Josendale tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "We're very interested in seeing who will be put up and who is interested in serving in that."&nbsp;

Josendale says it's important for people in the public to get all of the facts on candidates before making a judgment.&nbsp;

Josendale says people should understand Kirk would have no say over library policies on the board.&nbsp;

"The library board is responsible for hiring and firing of the director, and so in a roundabout way you can say anything you want but there is input into that," Josendale explains. &nbsp;

Josendale says the city heard from more than 300 community members on the issue&nbsp;

"And it's important that when people react to or respond to who is being put on a board, or why they're putting on a board, or why they're not being put on a board, it's important to hear all the facts," Josendale says.&nbsp;

Josendale hopes the changes to the process will be more transparent with the public.&nbsp;

"Letting people know whose applying and if they have other people that they want to talk to to encourage to apply, then that would be brought out, I would pick three, we'd bring those up to the council, and then they'd be voted on by the council," Josendale points out.&nbsp;

The new process hopes to make the public more aware of opportunities on boards and commissions in the city.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;A controversy that arose over the reappointment of a member to the Public Library Board has prompted the St. Joseph City Council to change the process it uses to appoint and reappoint members to boards and commissions. &nbsp;Grace Calvary Chapel Pastor Josh Blevins raised objections to the reelection of Library Board Vice President Brian Kirk, pastor of the First Christian Church who advocates for the LGBTQ community.&nbsp;Mayor John Josendale says the policy changes come after hearing from several members of the public.&nbsp;"The people that are currently up, can be put back up, and there's no one that can't be put up for review and new people can come forward that are interested in serving on that board," Josendale tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "We're very interested in seeing who will be put up and who is interested in serving in that."&nbsp;Josendale says it's important for people in the public to get all of the facts on candidates before making a judgment.&nbsp;Josendale says people should understand Kirk would have no say over library policies on the board.&nbsp;"The library board is responsible for hiring and firing of the director, and so in a roundabout way you can say anything you want but there is input into that," Josendale explains. &nbsp;Josendale says the city heard from more than 300 community members on the issue&nbsp;"And it's important that when people react to or respond to who is being put on a board, or why they're putting on a board, or why they're not being put on a board, it's important to hear all the facts," Josendale says.&nbsp;Josendale hopes the changes to the process will be more transparent with the public.&nbsp;"Letting people know whose applying and if they have other people that they want to talk to to encourage to apply, then that would be brought out, I would pick three, we'd bring those up to the council, and then they'd be voted on by the council," Josendale points out.&nbsp;The new process hopes to make the public more aware of opportunities on boards and commissions in the city.&nbsp;

Controversy over St. Joseph library board leads to new policy

A 38-year-old Savannah man is being held in the Andrew County
jail without bond after being arrested on suspicion that he possessed child pornography.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Matthew Raya was
arrested after an investigation that discovered alleged child porn on his cell
phone. The patrol says investigators executed a search warrant on his residence
in Savannah in late June.

The patrol’s Division
of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigations Unit conducted the
investigation with the assistance of the Kansas City Police Department.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688740367746.png" alt="Raya-photo Andrew Co." />
 <figcaption>Raya-photo Andrew Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 38-year-old Savannah man is being held in the Andrew County
jail without bond after being arrested on suspicion that he possessed child pornography.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Matthew Raya was
arrested after an investigation that discovered alleged child porn on his cell
phone. The patrol says investigators executed a search warrant on his residence
in Savannah in late June.The patrol’s Division
of Drug and Crime Control’s Digital Forensics Investigations Unit conducted the
investigation with the assistance of the Kansas City Police Department.

Savannah man arrested on suspicion of child porn possession

A helicopter pilot who was spraying crops in DeKalb County is
being treated for moderate injuries after crashing.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports the helicopter
crashed in the northwest part of the county Wednesday afternoon. The pilot was
the only person onboard. DeKalb County ambulance crew members rushed the pilot to
a local hospital to be treated.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the
crash.

You can follow Brent on Twitter @GBrent and St. Joseph Post.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA helicopter pilot who was spraying crops in DeKalb County is
being treated for moderate injuries after crashing.The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office reports the helicopter
crashed in the northwest part of the county Wednesday afternoon. The pilot was
the only person onboard. DeKalb County ambulance crew members rushed the pilot to
a local hospital to be treated.The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the
crash.You can follow Brent on Twitter @GBrent and St. Joseph Post.

Helicopter pilot injured in DeKalb County crash

Only bill vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson would have also enacted ‘Blair’s Law,’ raise age for trying youth as adults, expanded conviction review process

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

The state shouldn’t be responsible for paying people released after their convictions have been overturned, Gov. Mike Parson wrote explaining his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44562">veto of a bill</a>&nbsp;that expands who is eligible for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/missouri-legislators-seek-to-expand-law-providing-restitution-for-wrongful-convictions/">compensation for being wrongly imprisoned</a>.

Under current law, only someone shown to be innocent by means of a DNA test is eligible for compensation after being released. The law allows $36,500 a year for the same number of years the person was wrongly incarcerated.

The vetoed bill would have increased the payment to $65,000 a year and expanded it to include people freed by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/06/01/pending-law-to-correct-wrongful-convictions-could-depend-on-missouri-attorney-general/">conviction review process</a>&nbsp;created in a 2021 law.&nbsp;

In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.mo.gov/media/pdf/sb-189-veto">letter explaining his veto</a>, Parson wrote that crimes are investigated and prosecuted locally and that juries and judges are from the community where the person was tried and convicted. He objects to the state being made to pay for the mistakes, Parson wrote.

“Local governments should bear the financial cost of their own actions,” he wrote.

The expanded eligibility for the payments is another reason to object to the bill, Parson wrote. It would have allowed payments for anyone released after a hearing that demonstrates the person’s innocence, the letter states.

“The vagueness of the language could allow anyone released from prison this way who simply claimed innocence to receive compensation,” Parson wrote. “I am opposed to subjecting taxpayers to such a nebulous standard.”

The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, could not be reached for comment. In a May interview, he said the current provisions for compensating people released after a finding of innocence are obsolete and inadequate.

“The worst thing that the criminal justice system can do is convict and incarcerate an innocent person,” Luetkemeyer said. “And so this statute reflects that when a state has that happen, that we owe some debt to the individual who’s wrongfully incarcerated.”

The compensation provision was included in a wide-ranging bill addressing criminal justice issues. The bill would have ended the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/30/missouri-bill-ends-crack-penalty-disparity-raises-age-for-trying-youths-as-adults/">sentencing disparity</a>&nbsp;for crack and powder cocaine and bar the courts from trying children aged 12 or 13 as adults, two tough-on-crime policies from the 1980s and early 1990s criticized as falling disparately on people from minority communities.&nbsp;

The bill would also have enacted “Blair’s Law” making it a crime to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/blair-s-law-awaits-a-signature-on-missouri-governor-s-desk/44399524#">discharge a gun within a city</a>. The law was named for Blair Shanahan Lane, killed July 4, 2011, when a celebratory bullet fired into the air struck her while she enjoyed Independence Day activities. She was 11.

“​​This veto is heartbreaking,” state Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, wrote in a text message on Thursday. “Blair’s Law would have saved property damage, injuries, and the lives of innocent Missourians.”

Four people were injured Tuesday by celebratory gunfire in Kansas City, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article277031983.html">Kansas City Star reported</a>.

Razer wrote he is “heartbroken for future victims of this disregard for the common sense one should expect from gun ownership” and “disheartened that the one piece of gun legislation that can unify Democrats and Republicans, the one thing we seem to agree on and all could be proud of, was lost at the last moment.”

Other significant provisions in the bill would have:

The bill would also have allowed people who committed some offenses while teens or young adults to have their records expunged, but Parson said the language in that part of the bill was too broad.

It would have allowed expungement for people who committed sex offenses before the state established a registry or before their particular offense was included on the list of crimes that require registration.

“This change would allow for some serious offenses to be expunged,” Parson wrote, including child pornography or sexual exploitation of a minor for offenses committed before 2004.

“I am deeply concerned that someone could&nbsp; have committed and been convicted of such heinous offenses, only late to receive a pass under the provisions of this bill,” Parson wrote.

Parson said he would have signed the bill absent the provision on compensation and expungement.

The bill “contains many public safety measures that we support and would like to sign into law, including Blair’s Law, Max’s Law, increased penalties for violent repeat offenders and gun crimes, and strengthening the public defender system,” Parson said in a news release. “However, in this case, these unintended consequences unfortunately outweigh the good.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688724701986.png" alt="Missouri Governor Mike Parson completed action on this year's legislation Thursday, including a veto of a bill to increase compensation for people wrongfully convicted-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Governor Mike Parson completed action on this year's legislation Thursday, including a veto of a bill to increase compensation for people wrongfully convicted-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Only bill vetoed by Gov. Mike Parson would have also enacted ‘Blair’s Law,’ raise age for trying youth as adults, expanded conviction review process</h2>By RUDI KELLER&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The state shouldn’t be responsible for paying people released after their convictions have been overturned, Gov. Mike Parson wrote explaining his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/23info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=44562">veto of a bill</a>&nbsp;that expands who is eligible for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/missouri-legislators-seek-to-expand-law-providing-restitution-for-wrongful-convictions/">compensation for being wrongly imprisoned</a>.Under current law, only someone shown to be innocent by means of a DNA test is eligible for compensation after being released. The law allows $36,500 a year for the same number of years the person was wrongly incarcerated.The vetoed bill would have increased the payment to $65,000 a year and expanded it to include people freed by the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/06/01/pending-law-to-correct-wrongful-convictions-could-depend-on-missouri-attorney-general/">conviction review process</a>&nbsp;created in a 2021 law.&nbsp;In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://governor.mo.gov/media/pdf/sb-189-veto">letter explaining his veto</a>, Parson wrote that crimes are investigated and prosecuted locally and that juries and judges are from the community where the person was tried and convicted. He objects to the state being made to pay for the mistakes, Parson wrote.“Local governments should bear the financial cost of their own actions,” he wrote.The expanded eligibility for the payments is another reason to object to the bill, Parson wrote. It would have allowed payments for anyone released after a hearing that demonstrates the person’s innocence, the letter states.“The vagueness of the language could allow anyone released from prison this way who simply claimed innocence to receive compensation,” Parson wrote. “I am opposed to subjecting taxpayers to such a nebulous standard.”The bill’s sponsor, state Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, could not be reached for comment. In a May interview, he said the current provisions for compensating people released after a finding of innocence are obsolete and inadequate.“The worst thing that the criminal justice system can do is convict and incarcerate an innocent person,” Luetkemeyer said. “And so this statute reflects that when a state has that happen, that we owe some debt to the individual who’s wrongfully incarcerated.”The compensation provision was included in a wide-ranging bill addressing criminal justice issues. The bill would have ended the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/30/missouri-bill-ends-crack-penalty-disparity-raises-age-for-trying-youths-as-adults/">sentencing disparity</a>&nbsp;for crack and powder cocaine and bar the courts from trying children aged 12 or 13 as adults, two tough-on-crime policies from the 1980s and early 1990s criticized as falling disparately on people from minority communities.&nbsp;The bill would also have enacted “Blair’s Law” making it a crime to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kmbc.com/article/blair-s-law-awaits-a-signature-on-missouri-governor-s-desk/44399524#">discharge a gun within a city</a>. The law was named for Blair Shanahan Lane, killed July 4, 2011, when a celebratory bullet fired into the air struck her while she enjoyed Independence Day activities. She was 11.“​​This veto is heartbreaking,” state Sen. Greg Razer, D-Kansas City, wrote in a text message on Thursday. “Blair’s Law would have saved property damage, injuries, and the lives of innocent Missourians.”Four people were injured Tuesday by celebratory gunfire in Kansas City, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article277031983.html">Kansas City Star reported</a>.Razer wrote he is “heartbroken for future victims of this disregard for the common sense one should expect from gun ownership” and “disheartened that the one piece of gun legislation that can unify Democrats and Republicans, the one thing we seem to agree on and all could be proud of, was lost at the last moment.”Other significant provisions in the bill would have:<ul>
 <li>Established training standards for chiefs of police under the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. Departments with chiefs who have not met the standard could not receive any commission training funds or federal and state grants.</li><li>Expanded the reasons for denying a person a commission as a peace officer to include crimes committed in other states and “any act of gross misconduct indicating inability to function as a peace officer.”</li><li>Expanded the conviction review process to allow reviews by the state Office of Prosecution Services and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-supreme-court-finds-prosecutor-has-no-jurisdiction-in-washington-county-innocence-claim-case/">fix a loophole</a>&nbsp;that prevented prosecutors from seeking a review in cases moved from their counties on a change of venue.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The bill would also have allowed people who committed some offenses while teens or young adults to have their records expunged, but Parson said the language in that part of the bill was too broad.It would have allowed expungement for people who committed sex offenses before the state established a registry or before their particular offense was included on the list of crimes that require registration.“This change would allow for some serious offenses to be expunged,” Parson wrote, including child pornography or sexual exploitation of a minor for offenses committed before 2004.“I am deeply concerned that someone could&nbsp; have committed and been convicted of such heinous offenses, only late to receive a pass under the provisions of this bill,” Parson wrote.Parson said he would have signed the bill absent the provision on compensation and expungement.The bill “contains many public safety measures that we support and would like to sign into law, including Blair’s Law, Max’s Law, increased penalties for violent repeat offenders and gun crimes, and strengthening the public defender system,” Parson said in a news release. “However, in this case, these unintended consequences unfortunately outweigh the good.”

Effort to boost payment for wrongly convicted vetoed by Missouri governor

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mack Conventional truck driven by Willie A. Johnson, 60, Kingsville, was northbound on Route J three miles east of Stewartsville.

The truck traveled off the east side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle overturned.

DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported Johnson to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Mack Conventional truck driven by Willie A. Johnson, 60, Kingsville, was northbound on Route J three miles east of Stewartsville.The truck traveled off the east side of the road. The driver overcorrected and the vehicle overturned.DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported Johnson to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after truck overturns

Major projects and renovations are planned for Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, and those projects just got a major boost from the state budget signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.

The budget, signed into law this past Friday, allocates $19 million to the airport - $10.2 million in state general revenue funds and $8.8 million in federal funding.

General manager of the airport, Julius Rice, says this money will help fund a new air control tower.

"What this is does, it'll completely fund the air traffic control tower portion of that aviation complex project," Rice said. "We already started the process of the terminal. That went through the city council a few months back."

"We're so grateful for what we got from the general revenue and that'll get us across the line and we should have the terminal and the tower both, hopefully, under construction at the same time out here, getting this aviation complex complete within the next few years."

Work has already begun on a new runway at Rosecrans, and construction is set to begin on a new terminal building in a few months.

Rice says he's hopeful that construction on the new air control tower will begin in spring of 2024.&nbsp;The current terminal building and tower were built in the 1950s.

The city is also hoping to build a new maintenance shed at Rosecrans to house snow removal equipment.

Rice is hopeful that there'll be enough money left over to build that shed.

"We're waiting to see how much the tower comes in at before we can pull the trigger on the snow removal equipment building as well," he said. "That'll get all of the airport operational maintenance equipment under one roof. It'll all be inside, enclosed and the return on investment on that is all of our equipment is going to last longer."&nbsp;

The 139th Airlift Wing is also in the process of moving its headquarters from the south side of Rosecrans to the north side.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631297009153.jpeg" alt="Stock photo." />
 <figcaption>Stock photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMajor projects and renovations are planned for Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, and those projects just got a major boost from the state budget signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Parson.The budget, signed into law this past Friday, allocates $19 million to the airport - $10.2 million in state general revenue funds and $8.8 million in federal funding.General manager of the airport, Julius Rice, says this money will help fund a new air control tower."What this is does, it'll completely fund the air traffic control tower portion of that aviation complex project," Rice said. "We already started the process of the terminal. That went through the city council a few months back.""We're so grateful for what we got from the general revenue and that'll get us across the line and we should have the terminal and the tower both, hopefully, under construction at the same time out here, getting this aviation complex complete within the next few years."Work has already begun on a new runway at Rosecrans, and construction is set to begin on a new terminal building in a few months.Rice says he's hopeful that construction on the new air control tower will begin in spring of 2024.&nbsp;The current terminal building and tower were built in the 1950s.The city is also hoping to build a new maintenance shed at Rosecrans to house snow removal equipment.Rice is hopeful that there'll be enough money left over to build that shed."We're waiting to see how much the tower comes in at before we can pull the trigger on the snow removal equipment building as well," he said. "That'll get all of the airport operational maintenance equipment under one roof. It'll all be inside, enclosed and the return on investment on that is all of our equipment is going to last longer."&nbsp;The 139th Airlift Wing is also in the process of moving its headquarters from the south side of Rosecrans to the north side.You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Rosecrans Memorial Airport receives funding boost from state budget

An unprecedented influx of federal money could well clear up a
backlog of projects needed to maintain navigation on the Missouri River.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced $248 million
from Congress’ infrastructure package will be paired with $100 million from the
supplemental budget to repair and upgrade structures from Rulo, Nebraska to St.
Louis.

Program Manager for Navigation Reliability, Dane Morris, in
the Corps’ Kansas City office points out the Missouri River is self-scouring
with 7,000 control structures over 735 miles, designed to maintain a river
channel nine feet deep and 300-feet wide.

“Doesn’t contain locks and dams like the Mississippi other
major rivers in the United States, but it relies on properly maintaining this
series of stone and timber dikes and revetments to our design parameters to
achieve flow patterns that provide those channel dimensions necessary for commercial
navigation and channel stability,” Morris tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone
interview.

The Kansas City Office maintains the Missouri River from
approximately Rulo, Nebraska all the way to St. Louis where it flows into the
Mississippi River. The Corps’ Omaha district maintains the Missouri from the
upstream reservoirs down to Rulo. Navigation on the Missouri begins at Sioux
City, Iowa.

Morris says the Corps typically gets only about $10-to-20 million
a year for navigation infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Morris says the 2019
Missouri River flood exposed the need for extensive infrastructure repairs to
keep barge traffic moving. High water levels prevented the Corps from
inspecting the structures or from assigning private contractors to complete
repair work. That combination created an even larger backlog of repair work
along the Missouri.

Morris says this latest allocation to repair Missouri River
infrastructure should be enough to clear that backlog or, at least, fund the
majority of delayed repairs.

“So, with this $248 million, that’s quite a bit larger than we
typically have received, obviously, when we get about $10 million per year,”
according to Morris.

Morris says the Corps plans to combine the latest allocation
with $100 million received from the supplemental budget to complete repairs and
keep the barges moving. Morris points out the Mississippi River had to restrict
navigation last fall.

“But the Missouri River has largely remained open,” Morris
says. “We haven’t had a navigation restriction in over a year. So, navigation
traffic has continued to be able to freely move.”

Morris says the Corps has worked hard to keep barge traffic
afloat even though drought has dropped the level of the Missouri River.

“I think a lot of that has to do with the repairs that we’ve
made with these funds so far,” Morris says. “And I think the other part of it
that has been a success is just the communication that we’ve had with industry.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688660363642.jpeg" alt="Loading a barge at the St. Joseph Port on the Missouri River/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Loading a barge at the St. Joseph Port on the Missouri River/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn unprecedented influx of federal money could well clear up a
backlog of projects needed to maintain navigation on the Missouri River.The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has announced $248 million
from Congress’ infrastructure package will be paired with $100 million from the
supplemental budget to repair and upgrade structures from Rulo, Nebraska to St.
Louis.Program Manager for Navigation Reliability, Dane Morris, in
the Corps’ Kansas City office points out the Missouri River is self-scouring
with 7,000 control structures over 735 miles, designed to maintain a river
channel nine feet deep and 300-feet wide.“Doesn’t contain locks and dams like the Mississippi other
major rivers in the United States, but it relies on properly maintaining this
series of stone and timber dikes and revetments to our design parameters to
achieve flow patterns that provide those channel dimensions necessary for commercial
navigation and channel stability,” Morris tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone
interview.The Kansas City Office maintains the Missouri River from
approximately Rulo, Nebraska all the way to St. Louis where it flows into the
Mississippi River. The Corps’ Omaha district maintains the Missouri from the
upstream reservoirs down to Rulo. Navigation on the Missouri begins at Sioux
City, Iowa.Morris says the Corps typically gets only about $10-to-20 million
a year for navigation infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Morris says the 2019
Missouri River flood exposed the need for extensive infrastructure repairs to
keep barge traffic moving. High water levels prevented the Corps from
inspecting the structures or from assigning private contractors to complete
repair work. That combination created an even larger backlog of repair work
along the Missouri.Morris says this latest allocation to repair Missouri River
infrastructure should be enough to clear that backlog or, at least, fund the
majority of delayed repairs.“So, with this $248 million, that’s quite a bit larger than we
typically have received, obviously, when we get about $10 million per year,”
according to Morris.Morris says the Corps plans to combine the latest allocation
with $100 million received from the supplemental budget to complete repairs and
keep the barges moving. Morris points out the Mississippi River had to restrict
navigation last fall.“But the Missouri River has largely remained open,” Morris
says. “We haven’t had a navigation restriction in over a year. So, navigation
traffic has continued to be able to freely move.”Morris says the Corps has worked hard to keep barge traffic
afloat even though drought has dropped the level of the Missouri River.“I think a lot of that has to do with the repairs that we’ve
made with these funds so far,” Morris says. “And I think the other part of it
that has been a success is just the communication that we’ve had with industry.”You can follow Brent on Twitter @GBrent and St. Joseph Post.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Repairing-the-Missouri-River-navigation-channel-e26krsr" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Influx of money could clear backlog of Missouri River navigation projects

If you're looking for a fun family friendly event this weekend, the small town of Gower is the place for you.   

The annual Gower Days Festival returns to the Gower City Park this weekend.  

Gower Days committee president Chip Holman says the festival is a great chance to bring the community together 

"Get everyone together, provide some great vendors, great entertainment, stuff for the entire family to do, but it's a way to showcase and give back to our community," Holman tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Fellow committee member Randy Frye says the festival has been a tradition held for decades 

"So, it's been a real kind of institution, something that people look forward to and have for many, many years," Frye says. 

Frye says the event every year draws several people to Gower and also brings many former residents back home. 

"You see all the time children who've grown up, have their own families, they're working somewhere else, but they make it a point to come back, bring their families, and hang out," Frye explains. "So, there's kind of a family reunion or family reconnection kind of vibe about a lot of what happens there, you just see a lot of people."

The event kicks off tomorrow with several food vendors and live music as well as many other family friendly events.

Holman says the festival is a weekend packed with family friendly entertainment 

"It's something you can bring the whole family to and it's just wonderful to see, last year it was phenomenal to see, it's going to be hard to top that, but I think we're coming close and we're going to do it this year," Holman says. "But the amount of people that show up, grab a nice dinner, lunch, listen to some wonderful local artists and entertainment, it's just a wonderful weekend you just can't go wrong." 

The festival runs tomorrow through Sunday, with opening ceremonies beginning at 5:30 tomorrow evening. 

You can find a full schedule of events on the Gower Days Facebook page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688660544306.jpeg" alt="A crowd gathers in front of the stages during Gower Days 2022 to listen to live music in the park/ Photo used with permission from Chip Holman" />
 <figcaption>A crowd gathers in front of the stages during Gower Days 2022 to listen to live music in the park/ Photo used with permission from Chip Holman</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post If you're looking for a fun family friendly event this weekend, the small town of Gower is the place for you. The annual Gower Days Festival returns to the Gower City Park this weekend. Gower Days committee president Chip Holman says the festival is a great chance to bring the community together "Get everyone together, provide some great vendors, great entertainment, stuff for the entire family to do, but it's a way to showcase and give back to our community," Holman tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Fellow committee member Randy Frye says the festival has been a tradition held for decades "So, it's been a real kind of institution, something that people look forward to and have for many, many years," Frye says. Frye says the event every year draws several people to Gower and also brings many former residents back home. "You see all the time children who've grown up, have their own families, they're working somewhere else, but they make it a point to come back, bring their families, and hang out," Frye explains. "So, there's kind of a family reunion or family reconnection kind of vibe about a lot of what happens there, you just see a lot of people."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688660601497.jpeg" alt="Photo used with permission from Chip Holman" />
 <figcaption>Photo used with permission from Chip Holman</figcaption>
 </figure>The event kicks off tomorrow with several food vendors and live music as well as many other family friendly events.Holman says the festival is a weekend packed with family friendly entertainment "It's something you can bring the whole family to and it's just wonderful to see, last year it was phenomenal to see, it's going to be hard to top that, but I think we're coming close and we're going to do it this year," Holman says. "But the amount of people that show up, grab a nice dinner, lunch, listen to some wonderful local artists and entertainment, it's just a wonderful weekend you just can't go wrong." The festival runs tomorrow through Sunday, with opening ceremonies beginning at 5:30 tomorrow evening. You can find a full schedule of events on the Gower Days Facebook page.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688660622945.jpeg" alt="Gower Days 2023 schedule of events/ Photo courtesy of Gower Days Facebook page" />
 <figcaption>Gower Days 2023 schedule of events/ Photo courtesy of Gower Days Facebook page</figcaption>
 </figure>

Family fun planned for Gower Days this weekend 

America’s farmers, fuel marketers, retailers, and renewable fuel producers called on the Environmental Protection Agency to change its proposed standards for tailpipe emissions. 

The groups want the agency to adopt a market-oriented, technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization in its final tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles. 

In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the groups say the proposed rule favors electric vehicles while failing to consider the decarbonization potential of existing biofuels that can improve the emissions profile of a majority of cars on the road today. 

“EPA should use the best available science to accurately account for the full lifecycle carbon intensity associated with particular fuels and technologies,” the groups say. 

They also feel the proposed rule “artificially tilts the scale” toward electric vehicles without considering other options. The National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and Growth Energy were among the groups signing the letter. 

America’s farmers, fuel marketers, retailers, and renewable fuel producers called on the Environmental Protection Agency to change its proposed standards for tailpipe emissions. The groups want the agency to adopt a market-oriented, technology-neutral approach to transportation decarbonization in its final tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032 light- and medium-duty vehicles. In a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan, the groups say the proposed rule favors electric vehicles while failing to consider the decarbonization potential of existing biofuels that can improve the emissions profile of a majority of cars on the road today. “EPA should use the best available science to accurately account for the full lifecycle carbon intensity associated with particular fuels and technologies,” the groups say. They also feel the proposed rule “artificially tilts the scale” toward electric vehicles without considering other options. The National Corn Growers Association, National Farmers Union, and Growth Energy were among the groups signing the letter. - NAFB&nbsp;

Groups want fairness in tailpipe emissions standards

July 1 was the third anniversary of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement going into effect, and the U.S. pork industry is happy to celebrate the occasion. 

Pork exports to America’s neighbors, especially Mexico, have soared under the successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. 

Since USMCA took effect, U.S. pork exports to Mexico have increased from almost $1.2 billion in 2020 to more than $2 billion last year. 

Exports to Canada have grown from about $853 million in 2020 to $867 million in 2022. For the first four months of this year, both countries are on pace to take in record amounts of American pork during 2023. 

Exports to Mexico and Canada totaled nearly $3 billion, accounted for 38 percent of all U.S. pork exports in 2022, and supported more than 16,000 jobs. The USMCA maintained the zero-tariff rate on pork traded in North America which was first established under NAFTA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1675100511487.jpeg" alt="USMCA (USDA).jpg" />
 <figcaption>USMCA (USDA).jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>July 1 was the third anniversary of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement going into effect, and the U.S. pork industry is happy to celebrate the occasion. Pork exports to America’s neighbors, especially Mexico, have soared under the successor to the North American Free Trade Agreement. Since USMCA took effect, U.S. pork exports to Mexico have increased from almost $1.2 billion in 2020 to more than $2 billion last year. Exports to Canada have grown from about $853 million in 2020 to $867 million in 2022. For the first four months of this year, both countries are on pace to take in record amounts of American pork during 2023. Exports to Mexico and Canada totaled nearly $3 billion, accounted for 38 percent of all U.S. pork exports in 2022, and supported more than 16,000 jobs. The USMCA maintained the zero-tariff rate on pork traded in North America which was first established under NAFTA.- NAFB

Three years of USMCA

A 24-year-old man was struck and injured after apparently
throwing himself in front of a car traveling north on the I-229 double decker
bridge in downtown St. Joseph very early Thursday morning.

St. Joseph police report the pedestrian has been hospitalized
in stable condition.

Police say the driver cooperated with officers at the scene.
According to police, a man walking along I-229 at about 2:18 this morning
appears to have jumped in front of a car which ran into him.

The St. Joseph Police Department has determined the young man suffers from a mental health issue. The department is not releasing the man's identity.

This story has been updated with new information.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 24-year-old man was struck and injured after apparently
throwing himself in front of a car traveling north on the I-229 double decker
bridge in downtown St. Joseph very early Thursday morning.St. Joseph police report the pedestrian has been hospitalized
in stable condition.Police say the driver cooperated with officers at the scene.
According to police, a man walking along I-229 at about 2:18 this morning
appears to have jumped in front of a car which ran into him.The St. Joseph Police Department has determined the young man suffers from a mental health issue. The department is not releasing the man's identity.This story has been updated with new information.

Pedestrian struck and injured on I-229 double decker bridge 

DEKALB COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Isuzu Hombre driven by William D. Moore, 66, Maysville, was southbound on MO 33 three miles south of&nbsp; Maysville.

The driver lost control of the pickup. It traveled into the path of a northbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Rodney W. Inglis, 49, Weatherby.

DeKalb Clinton Ambulance transported Moore to Mosaic Life Care. Inglis was going to seek his own treatment for a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in DeKalb County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Isuzu Hombre driven by William D. Moore, 66, Maysville, was southbound on MO 33 three miles south of&nbsp; Maysville.The driver lost control of the pickup. It traveled into the path of a northbound 2010 Chevy Cobalt driven by Rodney W. Inglis, 49, Weatherby.DeKalb Clinton Ambulance transported Moore to Mosaic Life Care. Inglis was going to seek his own treatment for a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 injured after car, pickup crash in DeKalb County

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

Megan M. Ladwig, 39, Atchison, was arrested on Tuesday on a requested charge of domestic battery in the 800 block Parallel, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

She is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688575680453.png" alt="Ladwig-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Ladwig-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect for an alleged violent crime.Megan M. Ladwig, 39, Atchison, was arrested on Tuesday on a requested charge of domestic battery in the 800 block Parallel, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.She is no longer in custody, according to online jail records.

Kansas woman accused of domestic battery 

St. Joseph won some major victories in the state budget signed
into law by Governor Mike Parson, but also took some hits with the governor’s
line-item vetoes.

The big winner locally was Rosecrans Memorial Airport, which
has been allocated nearly $20 million for upgrades; $10.2 million from state General
Revenue funds and $8.8 million in federal funds.

House Budget Committee member, Rep. Brenda Shields of St.
Joseph, that amount of money makes a statement.

“We are always in competition with other states to lose the
Air National Guard there,” according to Sheilds, who adds this budget makes a
significant investment in Rosecrans. “Not only will ensure the stability of
being able to keep the Air Guard, but also be able to have opportunity to bring
other businesses to our community.”

The airport is undergoing an incredible transformation
coinciding with the Air Guard relocating the 139th Airlift Wing from
the southern portion of the airport which is vulnerable to flooding to the
north, which is on much higher ground. Construction is underway to repave the
main runway. Funding has been nearly completed to build a new terminal building
as well as a new air traffic control tower.

The state budget also allocates $6 million for the Hillyard
Technical Center and $2.5 million for the Convergent Technology Alliance Center
to be located on the Missouri Western State University St. Joseph campus and operated
jointly by Missouri Western and North Central Missouri College of Trenton.

“Our governor has shown over again that he supports technical education
and supports education by this budget through and through; K-12, higher ed,
technical education,” Shields says in an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Shields scores a victory in the budget with $300,000 allocated
to the “Grow You Own” social worker education program at Missouri Western State
University. Another $700,000 has been allocated for the UMKC School of Medicine
program at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.

Vetoes deal a blow to other St. Joseph projects.

Gov. Parson made $555 million in line-item vetoes, a total
amount that took many lawmakers by surprise, including Shields.

Most notably for northwest Missouri, the governor vetoed a $2.5
million appropriation to study the feasibility of turning U.S. Highway 36 into
Interstate 72.

“But we do have a $2.8 billion investment in I-70,” Shields points
out. “And, just like everybody that is in construction, anybody who is trying
to hire people, there is a shortage of workers out there and if you spread
yourself too thin when it comes to transportation you might not be able to get
anything done and I really do believe the governor’s focus is to getting I-70
to three lanes in both directions.”

The governor rejected a proposed $1 million allocation for the
downtown St. Joseph Children’s Discovery Center. Parson vetoed a $608,300
appropriation for a water infrastructure and replacement project in Andrew
County and $500,000 set aside for an innovated anti-crime measure to be
administered by the Northwest Missouri Law Enforcement Foundation headquartered
in St. Joseph.

Shields says she believes the governor acted out of fiscal
prudence, not because he didn’t like the projects.

“I don’t think that these items were bad items,” Shields says.
“I think he was just consistent that if it did not have statewide impact and he
wanted to make sure that we would have the money to do this and keep us fiscally
sound into the future.”

As for those line-item vetoes, Shields points out there’s
always next year.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph won some major victories in the state budget signed
into law by Governor Mike Parson, but also took some hits with the governor’s
line-item vetoes.The big winner locally was Rosecrans Memorial Airport, which
has been allocated nearly $20 million for upgrades; $10.2 million from state General
Revenue funds and $8.8 million in federal funds.House Budget Committee member, Rep. Brenda Shields of St.
Joseph, that amount of money makes a statement.“We are always in competition with other states to lose the
Air National Guard there,” according to Sheilds, who adds this budget makes a
significant investment in Rosecrans. “Not only will ensure the stability of
being able to keep the Air Guard, but also be able to have opportunity to bring
other businesses to our community.”The airport is undergoing an incredible transformation
coinciding with the Air Guard relocating the 139th Airlift Wing from
the southern portion of the airport which is vulnerable to flooding to the
north, which is on much higher ground. Construction is underway to repave the
main runway. Funding has been nearly completed to build a new terminal building
as well as a new air traffic control tower.The state budget also allocates $6 million for the Hillyard
Technical Center and $2.5 million for the Convergent Technology Alliance Center
to be located on the Missouri Western State University St. Joseph campus and operated
jointly by Missouri Western and North Central Missouri College of Trenton.“Our governor has shown over again that he supports technical education
and supports education by this budget through and through; K-12, higher ed,
technical education,” Shields says in an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Shields scores a victory in the budget with $300,000 allocated
to the “Grow You Own” social worker education program at Missouri Western State
University. Another $700,000 has been allocated for the UMKC School of Medicine
program at Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.Vetoes deal a blow to other St. Joseph projects.Gov. Parson made $555 million in line-item vetoes, a total
amount that took many lawmakers by surprise, including Shields.Most notably for northwest Missouri, the governor vetoed a $2.5
million appropriation to study the feasibility of turning U.S. Highway 36 into
Interstate 72.“But we do have a $2.8 billion investment in I-70,” Shields points
out. “And, just like everybody that is in construction, anybody who is trying
to hire people, there is a shortage of workers out there and if you spread
yourself too thin when it comes to transportation you might not be able to get
anything done and I really do believe the governor’s focus is to getting I-70
to three lanes in both directions.”The governor rejected a proposed $1 million allocation for the
downtown St. Joseph Children’s Discovery Center. Parson vetoed a $608,300
appropriation for a water infrastructure and replacement project in Andrew
County and $500,000 set aside for an innovated anti-crime measure to be
administered by the Northwest Missouri Law Enforcement Foundation headquartered
in St. Joseph.Shields says she believes the governor acted out of fiscal
prudence, not because he didn’t like the projects.“I don’t think that these items were bad items,” Shields says.
“I think he was just consistent that if it did not have statewide impact and he
wanted to make sure that we would have the money to do this and keep us fiscally
sound into the future.”As for those line-item vetoes, Shields points out there’s
always next year.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/St--Joseph-wins-and-loses-in-the-state-budget-e26kl8j" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

St. Joseph wins big, loses some in record $50B state budget

A 22-year-old St. Joseph man drowned at Smithville Lake on
Independence Day.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Carlos Antonio
walked off a ledge into the water and never resurfaced. Antonio was not wearing
a life jacket, according to the patrol, which reports the fatality happen near
Little Platte Swim Beach at Smithville Lake.

Antonio was one of four drownings reported by the patrol over
the July Fourth Holiday Counting Period, which ran from Friday evening at six o’clock
until midnight on Independence Day.

The patrol reported eight traffic fatalities over the long
holiday weekend, including four in northwest Missouri. &nbsp;Buchanan County Medical Director, Dr. Scott
Hall, died when he lost control of all-terrain-vehicle while riding north on a
county road three miles south of Bethany just after noon on Independence Day.
Hall’s wife suffered minor injuries and a one-year-old suffered moderate
injuries in the accident.

The patrol reports a double fatality accident in Caldwell
County the morning of the 4th.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, two Falls City,
Nebraska residents died in a crash at Highway 36 and Missouri 13 in Hamilton
when 70-year-old Ricky Nutzman attempted to merge onto east Highway 36 from the
Hamilton interchange and cut in front of a semi-tractor trailer. The truck hit
Nutzman’s SUV, killing him and his passenger, 70-year-old Susan Nutzman.

A 13-year-old Bethany boy died, two others suffered serious
injuries, in a single vehicle wreck on US Highway 136 on Saturday, a mile west
of Stanberry in which the vehicle overturned several times.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 22-year-old St. Joseph man drowned at Smithville Lake on
Independence Day.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Carlos Antonio
walked off a ledge into the water and never resurfaced. Antonio was not wearing
a life jacket, according to the patrol, which reports the fatality happen near
Little Platte Swim Beach at Smithville Lake.Antonio was one of four drownings reported by the patrol over
the July Fourth Holiday Counting Period, which ran from Friday evening at six o’clock
until midnight on Independence Day.The patrol reported eight traffic fatalities over the long
holiday weekend, including four in northwest Missouri. &nbsp;Buchanan County Medical Director, Dr. Scott
Hall, died when he lost control of all-terrain-vehicle while riding north on a
county road three miles south of Bethany just after noon on Independence Day.
Hall’s wife suffered minor injuries and a one-year-old suffered moderate
injuries in the accident.The patrol reports a double fatality accident in Caldwell
County the morning of the 4th.According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, two Falls City,
Nebraska residents died in a crash at Highway 36 and Missouri 13 in Hamilton
when 70-year-old Ricky Nutzman attempted to merge onto east Highway 36 from the
Hamilton interchange and cut in front of a semi-tractor trailer. The truck hit
Nutzman’s SUV, killing him and his passenger, 70-year-old Susan Nutzman.A 13-year-old Bethany boy died, two others suffered serious
injuries, in a single vehicle wreck on US Highway 136 on Saturday, a mile west
of Stanberry in which the vehicle overturned several times.

St. Joseph man 1 of 4 drownings over Independence Day weekend

A series of public meetings were held by the city of St. Joseph to hear feedback on the River Bluff Gateway project. &nbsp;

Historic Preservation Planner Kim Schutte says the meetings were overwhelmingly positive.&nbsp;

"The energy in the rooms was really high, people were really excited," Schutte tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "People who lived in those areas, who have businesses in those areas, were just really overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the whole thing, it was a lot of fun."&nbsp;

Community Alliance Director Tama Wagner says through the meetings the city received very little project ideas from the north end. &nbsp;

"At the community meetings the south end was well represented, downtown was well represented, but if you live in the north end and you've always wondered, or you've always said somebody should do something about that, please give Kim a call," Wagner says. &nbsp;

Wagner says the way the grant is written it covers projects from King Hill to St. Joseph Avenue&nbsp;

"And St. Joseph Avenue is really the true gateway to the River Bluff bike trail," Wagner explains. "So, we want projects in that area to improve that."&nbsp;

Wagner encourages north end residents to contact Kim Schutte at 816-271-5349 with any project ideas they might have. &nbsp;

The project will focus on four areas of the city - the Southside centered on King Hill Avenue, the 6th Street Corridor, Downtown, and Northside centered on St. Joseph Avenue.&nbsp;

Schutte says a valuable part of the project will be sixth street with its easy access to go from north to south. &nbsp;

"It also has a huge amount of potential, it has amazing history, and so there's a lot 0f fun stories to be told along there, I think there's a lot of projects and things that we could do to at least start improving that," Schutte says. "Keeping in mind what happens with 229, that is not grave and in stone yet we're not sure, but we're pretty sure Sixth street will have a role to play there as well, so it's kind of setting up for the future as well."&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;A series of public meetings were held by the city of St. Joseph to hear feedback on the River Bluff Gateway project. &nbsp;Historic Preservation Planner Kim Schutte says the meetings were overwhelmingly positive.&nbsp;"The energy in the rooms was really high, people were really excited," Schutte tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "People who lived in those areas, who have businesses in those areas, were just really overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the whole thing, it was a lot of fun."&nbsp;Community Alliance Director Tama Wagner says through the meetings the city received very little project ideas from the north end. &nbsp;"At the community meetings the south end was well represented, downtown was well represented, but if you live in the north end and you've always wondered, or you've always said somebody should do something about that, please give Kim a call," Wagner says. &nbsp;Wagner says the way the grant is written it covers projects from King Hill to St. Joseph Avenue&nbsp;"And St. Joseph Avenue is really the true gateway to the River Bluff bike trail," Wagner explains. "So, we want projects in that area to improve that."&nbsp;Wagner encourages north end residents to contact Kim Schutte at 816-271-5349 with any project ideas they might have. &nbsp;The project will focus on four areas of the city - the Southside centered on King Hill Avenue, the 6th Street Corridor, Downtown, and Northside centered on St. Joseph Avenue.&nbsp;Schutte says a valuable part of the project will be sixth street with its easy access to go from north to south. &nbsp;"It also has a huge amount of potential, it has amazing history, and so there's a lot 0f fun stories to be told along there, I think there's a lot of projects and things that we could do to at least start improving that," Schutte says. "Keeping in mind what happens with 229, that is not grave and in stone yet we're not sure, but we're pretty sure Sixth street will have a role to play there as well, so it's kind of setting up for the future as well."&nbsp;

River Bluff Gateway project feedback encourages city officials

The National Corn Growers Association is urging farmers to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a new proposal on multi-pollutant emissions standards. 

The call-to-action was launched after the agency first announced the proposal in April. The comment period deadline closes on July 5. 

The new standards would effectively force automakers to produce electric vehicles at an increasingly rapid rate to comply with the stringent proposed rule. 

NCGA leadership believes with this one-size-fits-all approach, EPA is ignoring other low-carbon solutions like ethanol. The proposal picks winners and losers in the energy sector and puts biofuels on the losing side. 

If it’s left unchanged, this rulemaking has the potential to remove hundreds of millions of bushels of domestic corn demand from the market each year. 

The NCGA is encouraging all members and advocates to let the EPA know that ethanol is a low-carbon solution to emissions reduction that is readily available.

The National Corn Growers Association is urging farmers to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency regarding a new proposal on multi-pollutant emissions standards. The call-to-action was launched after the agency first announced the proposal in April. The comment period deadline closes on July 5. The new standards would effectively force automakers to produce electric vehicles at an increasingly rapid rate to comply with the stringent proposed rule. NCGA leadership believes with this one-size-fits-all approach, EPA is ignoring other low-carbon solutions like ethanol. The proposal picks winners and losers in the energy sector and puts biofuels on the losing side. If it’s left unchanged, this rulemaking has the potential to remove hundreds of millions of bushels of domestic corn demand from the market each year. The NCGA is encouraging all members and advocates to let the EPA know that ethanol is a low-carbon solution to emissions reduction that is readily available.- NAFB

NCGA call to action on EPA’s Emissions Standards Proposal

Chinese scientists say they’ve identified what appears to be a new strain of the African Swine Fever virus working its way through three counties in the country. 

A paper published in the journal Nature Communications says the new virus appears to be a hybrid of the new genotype 2 strain that caused the 2018 outbreak of ASF that began in China and a more recent but less deadly strain identified in 2021. 

Chris Netherton, head of ASF Vaccinology at the Pirbright Institute, says that the new variant is called genotype 1 for its apparent similarities to older versions of the virus. 

It causes chronic disease in pigs, but it’s not as deadly as genotype 2, which can kill over 80 percent of the hogs it infects. Feed Strategy Magazine says the data from the Chinese study doesn’t appear to show the new strain is more contagious than the existing variants of ASF.

Chinese scientists say they’ve identified what appears to be a new strain of the African Swine Fever virus working its way through three counties in the country. A paper published in the journal Nature Communications says the new virus appears to be a hybrid of the new genotype 2 strain that caused the 2018 outbreak of ASF that began in China and a more recent but less deadly strain identified in 2021. Chris Netherton, head of ASF Vaccinology at the Pirbright Institute, says that the new variant is called genotype 1 for its apparent similarities to older versions of the virus. It causes chronic disease in pigs, but it’s not as deadly as genotype 2, which can kill over 80 percent of the hogs it infects. Feed Strategy Magazine says the data from the Chinese study doesn’t appear to show the new strain is more contagious than the existing variants of ASF.- NAFB

New ASF variant found in China

St. Joseph police report two shootings late Independence Day
resulting only in property damage.

Police report shots were fired from a vehicle in the 2200 block of North Belt shortly after 10 o’clock Tuesday night. Shortly
thereafter, a similar shooting was reported at 22nd and Messanie. Shots
hit and damaged buildings and vehicles. Police report no one was shot and
wounded in either incident.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph police report two shootings late Independence Day
resulting only in property damage.Police report shots were fired from a vehicle in the 2200 block of North Belt shortly after 10 o’clock Tuesday night. Shortly
thereafter, a similar shooting was reported at 22nd and Messanie. Shots
hit and damaged buildings and vehicles. Police report no one was shot and
wounded in either incident.No suspects are in custody.The investigation continues.

Independence Day shootings damage property in St. Joseph

An overnight storm knocked out power to more than 18,000 Evergy customers, more than 1,500 in St. Joseph.

Several intersections in St. Joseph have blinking traffic lights.

Evergy reports slightly more than 600 outages throughout its
network in Kansas City, northeast Kansas, and northwest Missouri. The outages
are scattered throughout the region with the largest reported in St. Joseph where
81 outages are reported Monday morning, affecting more than 1,500 customers.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn overnight storm knocked out power to more than 18,000 Evergy customers, more than 1,500 in St. Joseph.Several intersections in St. Joseph have blinking traffic lights.Evergy reports slightly more than 600 outages throughout its
network in Kansas City, northeast Kansas, and northwest Missouri. The outages
are scattered throughout the region with the largest reported in St. Joseph where
81 outages are reported Monday morning, affecting more than 1,500 customers.

Storms knocks out power throughout region, including St. Joseph

A deadly extended holiday weekend in northwest Missouri,
including a wreck near Bethany that took the life of Buchanan County Medical
Director, Dr. Scott Hall.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Hall, who was 38,
lost control of his all-terrain-vehicle, while riding north on a county road
three miles south of Bethany just after noon on Independence Day. The patrol
reports the ATV went off the road, Hall overcorrected and struck an embankment.
The ATV overturned, throwing Hall and a passenger from it.

Hall was taken to the hospital, but pronounced dead later of
his injuries.

Hall’s wife, Maggie, suffered
minor injuries. A one-year-old passenger suffered moderate injuries in the
accident.

According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, two Falls City,
Nebraska residents died in a crash at the intersection of Highway 36 and Missouri 13 in Hamilton.

The patrol reports a semi-tractor
trailer being driven by 62-year-old James Shipman of North Carolina was driving
east on 36 as a sport utility vehicle was attempting to merge onto the highway from
Highway 13 off ramp. The semi pulled over to allow the SUV to merge onto 36,
but the SUV cut across both lanes into the path of the truck which struck the
SUV. The driver, 70-year-old Ricky Nutzman of Falls City, died in the wreck as
did 70-year-old Susan Nutzman, a passenger in the SUV.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 46-year-old Dustin
Beaty of Bethany was driving east on 136 when the Jeep went off the south side
of the road and down an embankment. The vehicle struck a field entrance, went
airborne, and overturned multiple times.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688553465605.png" alt="Dr. Scott Hall" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Scott Hall</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA deadly extended holiday weekend in northwest Missouri,
including a wreck near Bethany that took the life of Buchanan County Medical
Director, Dr. Scott Hall.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports Hall, who was 38,
lost control of his all-terrain-vehicle, while riding north on a county road
three miles south of Bethany just after noon on Independence Day. The patrol
reports the ATV went off the road, Hall overcorrected and struck an embankment.
The ATV overturned, throwing Hall and a passenger from it.Hall was taken to the hospital, but pronounced dead later of
his injuries.Hall’s wife, Maggie, suffered
minor injuries. A one-year-old passenger suffered moderate injuries in the
accident.The patrol reports a double fatality accident in Caldwell
County the morning of the 4th.According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, two Falls City,
Nebraska residents died in a crash at the intersection of Highway 36 and Missouri 13 in Hamilton.The patrol reports a semi-tractor
trailer being driven by 62-year-old James Shipman of North Carolina was driving
east on 36 as a sport utility vehicle was attempting to merge onto the highway from
Highway 13 off ramp. The semi pulled over to allow the SUV to merge onto 36,
but the SUV cut across both lanes into the path of the truck which struck the
SUV. The driver, 70-year-old Ricky Nutzman of Falls City, died in the wreck as
did 70-year-old Susan Nutzman, a passenger in the SUV.A 13-year-old Bethany boy died, two others suffered serious
injuries, in a single vehicle wreck on US Highway 136 on Saturday, a mile west
of Stanberry in which the vehicle overturned several times.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports 46-year-old Dustin
Beaty of Bethany was driving east on 136 when the Jeep went off the south side
of the road and down an embankment. The vehicle struck a field entrance, went
airborne, and overturned multiple times.The teenager was taken to the hospital in Albany, but died of
his injuries.Dustin Beaty and another passenger, 43-year-old Angela Beaty,
suffered serious injuries in the wreck, according to the patrol.