BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Arial J.&nbsp; Parker, 19, St. Joseph, was northbound on MO 371 at Barnett Road four miles south of St. Joseph.

The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne for approximately 80 feet, struck the ground and rolled.

Buchanan County EMS transported Parker and passengers Dakota J. Tollefson, 23 and Spenceer A. Tollefson, 29, both of St. Joseph to Mosaic Life Care. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 11:30a.m. Monday in Buchanan County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Ram driven by Arial J.&nbsp; Parker, 19, St. Joseph, was northbound on MO 371 at Barnett Road four miles south of St. Joseph.The pickup traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment, went airborne for approximately 80 feet, struck the ground and rolled.Buchanan County EMS transported Parker and passengers Dakota J. Tollefson, 23 and Spenceer A. Tollefson, 29, both of St. Joseph to Mosaic Life Care. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

3 from St. Joe hospitalized after violent pickup crash

A veteran Congressman and a fairly new Congressman who serve
our area disagree on what might be the impact of the trouble House Republicans
had in finding a new Speaker.

Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, the dean of the
Missouri delegation in his 12th term, believes if the new Speaker,
Mike Johnson of Louisiana, concentrates on the budget, the Farm Bill, and
reauthorizing the FAA, the impact will be minimal.

“His priorities align with the majority of the Republican
conference,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And so, I don’t think it’s
going to have any real impact.”

Eight staunch conservatives broke with the Republican Caucus
and joined with Democrats to get rid of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. It took
three weeks and four candidates to replace him with Mike Johnson.

Though the selection process drug on and left the House
without leadership, Graves doesn’t see much of an impact if the House gets back
to work.

“Oh, I think that if we get our work done and we get the
appropriations bills completed and completed on time I think the public…they’re
going to be happy with that,” Graves says. “I’m not too terribly worried about
that.”

“Mike’s going to make a great Speaker and I’m very happy to
have supported him,” Graves says “He’s a friend. So, I’m looking forward to working
with him.”

While supporting Johnson, eastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner is less dismissive of the impact Republican infighting exposed during
the outset of McCarthy and the messy process to choose Johnson will have on the
party. LaTurner, a Republican in his second term says if the infighting doesn’t
end, Republicans will be punished at the polls.

“You can’t act like a school kid. You can’t take your ball and
go home just because you don’t like something about a person,” LaTurner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “You have to keep your eye on the prize and realize why
you were hired and it was to come here to do a job.”

LaTurner says the narrow majority
Republicans hold in the House of Representatives gives individual members
outsized power in pushing their own agendas. LaTurner says Republicans must
learn from this.

“You can dislike something about
the Speaker personally. You can dislike something about his agenda. And you
have every right to voice that. But you should not be willing to bring the
government to a standstill,” according to LaTurner.

LaTurner says no single Republican has the right to assert a
personal agenda over the good of the country.

“People were frustrated, because we weren’t working," LaTurner says.&nbsp; "The world
is on fire and we were not doing our jobs here in the House, because of a few
people.”

LaTurner says each Republican should be willing to support the
person who receives majority support in the Republican Conference.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA veteran Congressman and a fairly new Congressman who serve
our area disagree on what might be the impact of the trouble House Republicans
had in finding a new Speaker.Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, the dean of the
Missouri delegation in his 12th term, believes if the new Speaker,
Mike Johnson of Louisiana, concentrates on the budget, the Farm Bill, and
reauthorizing the FAA, the impact will be minimal.“His priorities align with the majority of the Republican
conference,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And so, I don’t think it’s
going to have any real impact.”Eight staunch conservatives broke with the Republican Caucus
and joined with Democrats to get rid of Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. It took
three weeks and four candidates to replace him with Mike Johnson.Though the selection process drug on and left the House
without leadership, Graves doesn’t see much of an impact if the House gets back
to work.“Oh, I think that if we get our work done and we get the
appropriations bills completed and completed on time I think the public…they’re
going to be happy with that,” Graves says. “I’m not too terribly worried about
that.”Graves places a lot of faith in Johnson.“Mike’s going to make a great Speaker and I’m very happy to
have supported him,” Graves says “He’s a friend. So, I’m looking forward to working
with him.”While supporting Johnson, eastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner is less dismissive of the impact Republican infighting exposed during
the outset of McCarthy and the messy process to choose Johnson will have on the
party. LaTurner, a Republican in his second term says if the infighting doesn’t
end, Republicans will be punished at the polls.“You can’t act like a school kid. You can’t take your ball and
go home just because you don’t like something about a person,” LaTurner tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “You have to keep your eye on the prize and realize why
you were hired and it was to come here to do a job.”LaTurner says the narrow majority
Republicans hold in the House of Representatives gives individual members
outsized power in pushing their own agendas. LaTurner says Republicans must
learn from this.“You can dislike something about
the Speaker personally. You can dislike something about his agenda. And you
have every right to voice that. But you should not be willing to bring the
government to a standstill,” according to LaTurner.LaTurner says no single Republican has the right to assert a
personal agenda over the good of the country.“People were frustrated, because we weren’t working," LaTurner says.&nbsp; "The world
is on fire and we were not doing our jobs here in the House, because of a few
people.”LaTurner says each Republican should be willing to support the
person who receives majority support in the Republican Conference.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Sam-Graves-and-Jake-LaTurner-talk-new-Speaker-of-the-House-e2bjv73" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Republican Congressmen disagree on impact of messy Speaker transition

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Venture driven by Bradley R. Davis, 23, Jefferson City, was westbound on LIV 2164 approaching LIV 235 one half mile west of Chillicothe.

 The van traveled off the northwest corner of the intersection, down an embankment and overturned.

A private vehicle transported Davis to Hedrick Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8p.m. Sunday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Venture driven by Bradley R. Davis, 23, Jefferson City, was westbound on LIV 2164 approaching LIV 235 one half mile west of Chillicothe. The van traveled off the northwest corner of the intersection, down an embankment and overturned.A private vehicle transported Davis to Hedrick Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after van travels down embankment

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Mason W. Hudson, 20, Hannibal, was northbound on MO 13 one mile north of Kingston.

The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.&nbsp; After investigating, officers arrested Hudson on requested charges of driving while intoxicated and carless imprudent driving.&nbsp;

Caldwell County EMS transported Hudson to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30a.m. Sunday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford F150 driven by Mason W. Hudson, 20, Hannibal, was northbound on MO 13 one mile north of Kingston.The pickup traveled off the west side of the road and rolled.&nbsp; After investigating, officers arrested Hudson on requested charges of driving while intoxicated and carless imprudent driving.&nbsp;Caldwell County EMS transported Hudson to Liberty Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man accused of DWI after pickup rollover crash

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Matrix driven by Thomas J. Simonson, 26, St. Joseph, was southbound on Route D six miles north of St. Joseoph.

The driver attempted to avoid a deer. The car crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the west side of the road and overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported Simonson, and passengers Brittany M. Cunningham, 34, and a 3-year-old girl both from St. Joseph, to Mosaic Life Care. Simonson was&nbsp; not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 2a.m. Sunday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Toyota Matrix driven by Thomas J. Simonson, 26, St. Joseph, was southbound on Route D six miles north of St. Joseoph.The driver attempted to avoid a deer. The car crossed the center line and the driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the west side of the road and overturned.Andrew County EMS transported Simonson, and passengers Brittany M. Cunningham, 34, and a 3-year-old girl both from St. Joseph, to Mosaic Life Care. Simonson was&nbsp; not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

2 adults, 3-year-old from St. Joe injured in crash 

Missouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.

They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.

The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.

Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.

That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.

It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.

The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.

Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.

Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.

Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.

The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.

Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.

Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.

Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor.

 Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.

Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.

Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.

Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.

The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.

Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.

That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.

Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.

Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.

Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.

The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.

The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.

Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.

But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.

On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.

Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.

Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.

Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.

Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. 

The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.

Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.

2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143341347.jpeg" alt="MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>MWSU quarterback Armani Edden (2) looks for running room in a 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western absolutely needed a win Saturday to stay alive in the NCAA Division II playoff race in Super Region Three.They needed to get that win against No. 2 and 9-0 Pittsburg State. No pressure.The Griffons, faced with a tall task, delivered.Missouri Western (8-2) scored 14 unanswered points to open the second half. The Griffons then scored the go-ahead touchdown with 8:56 remaining and they blocked a Pitt State point-after with 7:09 to go.That would be the difference in a 31-30 win for Missouri Western on Senior Day at Spratt Stadium on Saturday afternoon.Missouri Western had never beaten a top three opponent in their history. until Saturday. It's the first win over a top 10 and the first win over a top five opponent since 2012.It also marks the Griffons' first win over Pittsburg State in St. Joseph since 2010.The Gorillas (9-1), who had won 21 straight regular season games coming in, drove 65 yards on 15 plays on the game's opening drive, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.Later in the first, Pitt was pinned deep at their own 11. On a first down play, quarterback Chad Dodson, Jr. went back to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand, resulting in a fumble, which was recovered by Keinan Gaskin.Two plays later, running back Seth Cromwell punched it in on a two-yard touchdown run to put Missouri Western up 7-3 with 3:49 remaining in the first.Pitt State scored four plays later on a 21-yard throw from Dodson to Kolbe Katsis, giving the Gorillas a 10-7 lead into the second.Missouri Western answered with a 31-yard field goal from Cody Watson to knot the game at 10-10 with 11:18 left in the first half.The Gorillas got the ball back on their own 8-yard line, and drove 92 yards on 10 plays in the closing minutes of the second quarter. Dodson scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give Pitt State a 17-10 lead at the break.Both teams came up empty on their first series of the second half, but Missouri Western threw the first haymaker of the third quarter.Sparked by a 46-yard catch from Jonas Bennett, the Griffons scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak from Reagan Jones, knotting the game at 17-17 with 6:31 left in the third.Dodson threw an interception on the first play of the ensuing drive - a ball intended for Devon Garrison was picked off by MWSU's Sam Taylor. Missouri Western turned it into points nine plays later.Cromwell scored his second rushing touchdown of the day, this one from eight yards out, to put the Griffons up 24-17 with 3:02 left in the third.Cromwell finished with 63 yards on 12 carries to lead the Griffons on the ground.Like they had done all day long, Pitt State rallied when their backs were against the wall.The Gorillas drove down the field to end the third quarter and scored on the first play of the fourth. Dodson connected with tight end Mario Kirby Jr. for a six-yard touchdown pass, tying the game at 24-24.Missouri Western then engineered their longest scoring series of the game, going 73 yards on 11 plays.That drive ended on third-and-goal from the 5-yard-line, when quarterback Armani Edden dumped off a pass to Bennett, who caught the ball inside the five and dove for the pylon to put the Griffons ahead 31-24 with 8:56 to go.Bennett caught four passes for 79 yards and a score.Edden completed 16-of-23 passes for 195 yards and a score. He also ran for 41 yards on 12 carries. The Griffons outgained the Gorillas in the ground game 151-59.Yet again, Pitt had a fast answer, going 75 yards in just four plays on the ensuing drive. They scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass from Dodson to running back Cleo Chandler, Jr.The ensuing point-after, however, was a low kick that was blocked, largely by Missouri Western's Brandon Johnson.The Griffons, leading by a point, punted the ball back to the Gorillas with 3:49 to go.Pitt State started at their own 20, and marched all the way to the Griffons' 30-yard-line in the closing minutes.But, a pair of Dakari Streeter sacks and two Pitt State penalties pushed the Gorillas back to the MWSU 40-yard-line&nbsp; - out of field goal range.On 4th-and-13 at the Griffon 33, redshirt freshman and backup quarterback Ty Pennington, who had to relieve an injured Dodson, was strip sacked by Streeter. The fumble was recovered by fellow senior C.J. Ravenell, and the Griffons held on for a massive victory.Streeter finished with 2.5 sacks on his senior day, pushing his season total to 12.5 - the second most sacks in a single season in Griffon history.Missouri Western's defense came up with nine tackles-for-loss and four total sacks. They also turned Pitt State over three times, while the Griffons remained turnover free.Dodson, who got hurt on the game's final drive, completed 20-of-24 passes for 324 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 14 yards and a score.Missouri Western has won three straight, and they have their most regular season wins since 2019. The Griffons conclude the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 11 at Missouri Southern (4-6) in Joplin.Kickoff from Fred G. Hughes Stadium is set for 2 p.m. The game will be on KFEQ Radio (680, 95,3) with coverage starting at 1 p.m.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699143903495.jpeg" alt="Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics." />
 <figcaption>Seth Cromwell (22) scored two rushing touchdowns in Missouri Western's 31-30 win over No. 2 Pittsburg State at Spratt Stadium Saturday. Photo courtesy of MWSU athletics.</figcaption>
 </figure>Postgame interviews<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Tyler-Fenwick---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9go" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Dakari-Streeter---Pitt-State-postgame-e2bg9e2/a-aailkk6" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Full audio broadcast<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---Full-Game-e2bg976/a-aailk67" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>Video highlights<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Down goes #2 Pitt State.<a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MWSU_Football</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 <a href="https://t.co/qSXNdzgguV">pic.twitter.com/qSXNdzgguV</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Athletics (@MWSUGriffons) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSUGriffons/status/1720950301207712017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Let&#39;s relive that final moment against Pitt real quick.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StayGold?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StayGold</a>🔔 | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/A10Mentality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#A10Mentality</a> <a href="https://t.co/VxDeH8Mezp">pic.twitter.com/VxDeH8Mezp</a>&mdash; Missouri Western Football (@MWSU_Football) <a href="https://twitter.com/MWSU_Football/status/1720935941664071870?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Closing moments<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/23-MWSU-vs--2-Pitt-State---closing-moments-e2bg8po/a-aaili74" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>2023 MWSU highlights - pregame show montage<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-sports/embed/episodes/Missouri-Western-football---2023-radio-highlights-e2bfsh5/a-aaik8na" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Missouri Western knocks off #2 Pitt State at Spratt Saturday, bolsters playoff hopes

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured just after noon Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by Evonne R. Meyer, 74, Wittemore, Iowa, was exiting from northbound Interstate 35 to Route&nbsp; PP.

The driver failed to negotiate the cure in the off ramp. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the ramp and struck the ground.

Holt ambulance transported a passenger Cindy F. Iwen, 56 Cylinder, Iowa, to Liberty Hospital. Meyer was not injured. Iwen was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured just after noon Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by Evonne R. Meyer, 74, Wittemore, Iowa, was exiting from northbound Interstate 35 to Route&nbsp; PP.The driver failed to negotiate the cure in the off ramp. The Jeep traveled off the east side of the ramp and struck the ground.Holt ambulance transported a passenger Cindy F. Iwen, 56 Cylinder, Iowa, to Liberty Hospital. Meyer was not injured. Iwen was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Woman hospitalized after Jeep falls off I-35 ramp

A 19-year-old St. Joseph man has been charged in the Friday night shooting of a 17-year-old in the South Belt Walmart in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police say 19-year-old Sean R. McCush has been charged with Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action in the shooting that left the juvenile, who is from St. Joseph, with a severe wound to his abdomen. Initially treated at Mosaic Life Care, the victim has been transferred to another hospital for further treatment.

St. Joseph police responded to the shooting inside the store around seven o'clock Friday evening. Officers found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect had fled.

Officers took McCush into custody later in the evening.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699117801503.png" alt="Sean R. McCush/Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept." />
 <figcaption>Sean R. McCush/Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Police Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA 19-year-old St. Joseph man has been charged in the Friday night shooting of a 17-year-old in the South Belt Walmart in St. Joseph.St. Joseph police say 19-year-old Sean R. McCush has been charged with Assault in the 1st Degree and Armed Criminal Action in the shooting that left the juvenile, who is from St. Joseph, with a severe wound to his abdomen. Initially treated at Mosaic Life Care, the victim has been transferred to another hospital for further treatment.St. Joseph police responded to the shooting inside the store around seven o'clock Friday evening. Officers found the juvenile suffering from a gunshot wound. The suspect had fled.Officers took McCush into custody later in the evening.The investigation continues.

19-year-old St. Joseph man charged in Walmart shooting

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Honda Navi driven by Peter G. NJoo, 53, Smithville, was eastbound on private property on Bush Street in Plattsburg.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and the driver was ejected. A private vehicle transported Njoo to Liberty Hospital. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Honda Navi driven by Peter G. NJoo, 53, Smithville, was eastbound on private property on Bush Street in Plattsburg.The driver lost control of the vehicle. It overturned and the driver was ejected. A private vehicle transported Njoo to Liberty Hospital. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after scooter accident 

St. Joseph police are investigating a shooting inside the South Belt Walmart that left the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen area.

Police report officers arrived at the scene around seven o'clock Friday evening to find one victim. Police have a 19-year-man in custody. The victim is being treated at the hospital.

Police report the scene has been contained while the investigation proceeds.

Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4777.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph police are investigating a shooting inside the South Belt Walmart that left the victim with a gunshot wound to the abdomen area.Police report officers arrived at the scene around seven o'clock Friday evening to find one victim. Police have a 19-year-man in custody. The victim is being treated at the hospital.Police report the scene has been contained while the investigation proceeds.Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call the St. Joseph Police Department at 816-271-4777.

St. Joseph police investigating shooting at South Belt Walmart

The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announced on Friday the arrest of a Union Star man for possession and/or promotion of child pornography.

Forty-year-old Nathan Orr was arrested Tuesday and formally charged Wednesday&nbsp;&nbsp;by the DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney&nbsp;with one count of promoting and one count of possession of child pornography.

Orr is currently being held in the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail without bond.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri Department of Corrections assisted in the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699044601017.jpeg" alt="Nathan Orr." />
 <figcaption>Nathan Orr.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control announced on Friday the arrest of a Union Star man for possession and/or promotion of child pornography.Forty-year-old Nathan Orr was arrested Tuesday and formally charged Wednesday&nbsp;&nbsp;by the DeKalb County Prosecuting Attorney&nbsp;with one count of promoting and one count of possession of child pornography.Orr is currently being held in the Daviess-DeKalb Regional Jail without bond.The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office and Missouri Department of Corrections assisted in the investigation.

Union Star man arrested on child pornography charges

Eastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner says he’s just grateful the United States House has a Speaker and can
get on with its business.

LaTurner, a Republican, says that
after several weeks of uncertainty, the Republican Caucus found the right
Speaker in Mike Johnson of Louisiana.

“Mike Johnson is a good man. He’s a
conservative. He’s sincere,” LaTurner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I’m
really hoping that Republicans are going to be able to stick together, because
listen we just have one-half of the Congress and we have a different point of
the view than the White House and the Senate and the only way for us to be
successful is to hold together on things. I’m hopeful that that will happen.”

LaTurner says he never favored the
move to oust California Congressman Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.

“I was not one of the eight that voted
to oust McCarthy,” LaTurner says. “I supported Steve Scalise. I supported Jim
Jordan. I supported Tom Emmer and I support Mike Johnson. These are all good
people. All of them would have done a good job at managing the House.”

LaTurner says Johnson, though, was the
one who could gain enough votes on the House floor.

LaTurner has been impressed with how
Johnson has handled after being pressed into service.

“I think he’s done a wonderful job of
laying out in an articulate manner the conservative position,” LaTurner says. “But
then also saying, hey listen, we know that we have one-half of the Congress and
we know we have to work with Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. So, he has a
willingness to do that. We can’t compromise our principles, but we can absolutely
come together to get to work for the American people which is what they hired
us all to do, I think.”

LaTurner says it’s important now for
the House to get back to business, especially with work on the budget.

Johnson won election as Speaker of the
House with a 220-209 vote, with a
few absences.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698250303541.png" alt="U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson/photo courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson/photo courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEastern Kansas Congressman Jake
LaTurner says he’s just grateful the United States House has a Speaker and can
get on with its business.LaTurner, a Republican, says that
after several weeks of uncertainty, the Republican Caucus found the right
Speaker in Mike Johnson of Louisiana.“Mike Johnson is a good man. He’s a
conservative. He’s sincere,” LaTurner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And I’m
really hoping that Republicans are going to be able to stick together, because
listen we just have one-half of the Congress and we have a different point of
the view than the White House and the Senate and the only way for us to be
successful is to hold together on things. I’m hopeful that that will happen.”LaTurner says he never favored the
move to oust California Congressman Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.“I was not one of the eight that voted
to oust McCarthy,” LaTurner says. “I supported Steve Scalise. I supported Jim
Jordan. I supported Tom Emmer and I support Mike Johnson. These are all good
people. All of them would have done a good job at managing the House.”LaTurner says Johnson, though, was the
one who could gain enough votes on the House floor.LaTurner has been impressed with how
Johnson has handled after being pressed into service.“I think he’s done a wonderful job of
laying out in an articulate manner the conservative position,” LaTurner says. “But
then also saying, hey listen, we know that we have one-half of the Congress and
we know we have to work with Hakeem Jeffries and Chuck Schumer. So, he has a
willingness to do that. We can’t compromise our principles, but we can absolutely
come together to get to work for the American people which is what they hired
us all to do, I think.”LaTurner says it’s important now for
the House to get back to business, especially with work on the budget.Johnson won election as Speaker of the
House with a 220-209 vote, with a
few absences.The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Congressman LaTurner impressed with Speaker Johnson

It might be a different
type of parade, but a parade it is.

The Girl Scouts of
Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri will hold a “Giving Parade” Saturday
morning from 10 until noon in the parking lot across the street from the Bode
Ice Arena, accepting
donations for <a href="https://www.shcfb.org/">Second Harvest</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ahunaho/">A Hand Up Not
a Hand Out</a>, and the<a href="https://petforu.com/"> St. Joseph Animal Shelter</a>.

Local
Girl Scout Marketing Officer, Gina Garvin, says the St. Joseph Girl Scout Troop
– Troop 5026 – suggested holding the event to assist three charities.

“These
girls really stepped up and said, you know what, we want to do one for St. Joe
and we want to take the lead on that and we want to work with three great nonprofits,”
Garvin tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, they are working with the (St. Joseph)
Animal Shelter, they’re working with an organization A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,
and they’re working with Second Harvest.”

Money will be accepted,
but the Girl Scout troop suggests in-kind donations, such as dog food and pet
supplies for the Animal Shelter, winter clothing and hygiene products for A
Hand Up, and non-perishable food for Second Harvest.

Garvin says it becomes a
parade when people drive by and donate.

“So, cars get in line and
then they do their drop offs,” Garvin says. “And those great nonprofits are
onsite, taking those donations. So, it’s like literally a parade of cars in a
parking lot space.”

Garvin says girls want donors
to enjoy it.

“So, it’s a lot of fun
that day to drop off all your donations in kind of that parade format.”

Again, the “Giving Parade”
will be held Saturday morning between 10am and noon in the parking lot across
the street from the Bode Ice Arena.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699020751611.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN and MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostIt might be a different
type of parade, but a parade it is.The Girl Scouts of
Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri will hold a “Giving Parade” Saturday
morning from 10 until noon in the parking lot across the street from the Bode
Ice Arena, accepting
donations for <a href="https://www.shcfb.org/">Second Harvest</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ahunaho/">A Hand Up Not
a Hand Out</a>, and the<a href="https://petforu.com/"> St. Joseph Animal Shelter</a>.Local
Girl Scout Marketing Officer, Gina Garvin, says the St. Joseph Girl Scout Troop
– Troop 5026 – suggested holding the event to assist three charities.“These
girls really stepped up and said, you know what, we want to do one for St. Joe
and we want to take the lead on that and we want to work with three great nonprofits,”
Garvin tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, they are working with the (St. Joseph)
Animal Shelter, they’re working with an organization A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out,
and they’re working with Second Harvest.”Money will be accepted,
but the Girl Scout troop suggests in-kind donations, such as dog food and pet
supplies for the Animal Shelter, winter clothing and hygiene products for A
Hand Up, and non-perishable food for Second Harvest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1699020793699.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Garvin says it becomes a
parade when people drive by and donate.“So, cars get in line and
then they do their drop offs,” Garvin says. “And those great nonprofits are
onsite, taking those donations. So, it’s like literally a parade of cars in a
parking lot space.”Garvin says girls want donors
to enjoy it.“So, it’s a lot of fun
that day to drop off all your donations in kind of that parade format.”Again, the “Giving Parade”
will be held Saturday morning between 10am and noon in the parking lot across
the street from the Bode Ice Arena.

St. Joseph Girl Scouts hold "Giving Parade" Saturday morning

DEKALB COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by a 17-year-old Clarksdale boy was making a left turn from northbound MO 31 onto SW Patton Road four and one half miles north of Clarksdale.

The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road then traveled off the south side of the road and overturned.

DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported three passengers including a 16-year-old Maysville boy and two 15-year-old girls to Mosaic Life Care. The driver was not injured. The driver and the girls were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The patrol did not report hometowns for the girls.

DEKALB COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just after 5:30p.m. Thursday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by a 17-year-old Clarksdale boy was making a left turn from northbound MO 31 onto SW Patton Road four and one half miles north of Clarksdale.The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road then traveled off the south side of the road and overturned.DeKalb-Clinton Ambulance transported three passengers including a 16-year-old Maysville boy and two 15-year-old girls to Mosaic Life Care. The driver was not injured. The driver and the girls were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The patrol did not report hometowns for the girls.

3 NW Missouri teens hospitalized after SUV overturns

GRUNDY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by 17-year-old Trenton boy was northbound on NW 22nd Avenue at NW Crane Lane.

The SUV skidded off the west side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top. Grundy County EMS transported the teen to Wright Memorial Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 5:30p.m. Thursday in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Ford Explorer driven by 17-year-old Trenton boy was northbound on NW 22nd Avenue at NW Crane Lane.The SUV skidded off the west side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top. Grundy County EMS transported the teen to Wright Memorial Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri teen injured after SUV rolls onto its top

St. Joseph
gets set for a busy basketball season and not just for the local schools.

Or, perhaps,
it would be better to state the city gets set for a busy indoor sports season.

Next Friday
and Saturday, the Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph hosts eight NCAA Division
II women’s basketball teams for the Women’s Basketball Central Regional
Crossover. One of the eight being Missouri Western State University.

St. Joseph
Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel points out more than
one of the teams coming to St. Joseph for this tournament hopes to return to
the Civic Arena when it hosts the Division II Elite Eight women’s tournament.

“I keep thinking
back to last season’s Chiefs, where you start in Arizona against the Cardinals
and you hope as a team that this isn’t your last time playing there this season,”
Mengel tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “I think every one of these
teams coming into this tournament know this location and what it means and that
this is not going to be their last time playing (there) if the season goes
well, that they’ll come back there. That’s their eventual goal.”

Mengel says
St. Joseph is gaining a solid reputation as a good basketball town. The St.
Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau has heard good things about that
championship tournament last season.

“We heard a
lot of positive feedback from, not just fans, but the players and teams
involved that said it was nice to see people in the stands that they didn’t recognize,
because sometimes when you get into the season, you’re playing game after game
after game, you start to recognize all your home fans and who they are, but when
you start recognizing a bunch of new faces, you’re like, oh these aren’t our normal
fans, this is the community that came out to watch teams that they might not
have a particular vested interest in,” Mengel says.

Missouri
Western and Fort Hays State from the MIAA will play in the Crossover along with
Minnesota State, Southern Nazarene, Minot State, Southeastern Oklahoma State,
Concordia-St. Paul, and Winona State.

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says a
few of these teams have big dreams coming into the season, including hopes to
return to the Civic Arena next Spring for the women’s D2 Elite Eight.

“So, there
are eight teams coming next week in which three of those teams, Missouri Western,
Fort Hays State, Minnesota State, they have been ranked very high in the
country in the last couple of years,” Esely tells Birr. “So, realistically, any
of those three could get here, not to mention any of the rest of the field. It
is exciting. Again, it’s going to be a high level of basketball here in just
under 10 days.”

The NCAA Division-Two Women’s Basketball Central Regional
Crossover will be held next Friday and Saturday. The next week, the Civic Arena
will be the site of the MIAA Volleyball Championship. On December 9th,
Missouri’s women’s team takes on Kansas State at the Civic Arena with the St.
Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame High School Holiday Hoops Classic set for
December 20th through the 22nd.

Click <a href="https://stjomo.com/event/ncaa-dii-womens-basketball-central-region-challenge/">HERE</a> for more details on the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Central Region Challenge.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1698954308939.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph
gets set for a busy basketball season and not just for the local schools.Or, perhaps,
it would be better to state the city gets set for a busy indoor sports season.Next Friday
and Saturday, the Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph hosts eight NCAA Division
II women’s basketball teams for the Women’s Basketball Central Regional
Crossover. One of the eight being Missouri Western State University.St. Joseph
Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Christian Mengel points out more than
one of the teams coming to St. Joseph for this tournament hopes to return to
the Civic Arena when it hosts the Division II Elite Eight women’s tournament.“I keep thinking
back to last season’s Chiefs, where you start in Arizona against the Cardinals
and you hope as a team that this isn’t your last time playing there this season,”
Mengel tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “I think every one of these
teams coming into this tournament know this location and what it means and that
this is not going to be their last time playing (there) if the season goes
well, that they’ll come back there. That’s their eventual goal.”Mengel says
St. Joseph is gaining a solid reputation as a good basketball town. The St.
Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau has heard good things about that
championship tournament last season.“We heard a
lot of positive feedback from, not just fans, but the players and teams
involved that said it was nice to see people in the stands that they didn’t recognize,
because sometimes when you get into the season, you’re playing game after game
after game, you start to recognize all your home fans and who they are, but when
you start recognizing a bunch of new faces, you’re like, oh these aren’t our normal
fans, this is the community that came out to watch teams that they might not
have a particular vested interest in,” Mengel says.Missouri
Western and Fort Hays State from the MIAA will play in the Crossover along with
Minnesota State, Southern Nazarene, Minot State, Southeastern Oklahoma State,
Concordia-St. Paul, and Winona State.St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says a
few of these teams have big dreams coming into the season, including hopes to
return to the Civic Arena next Spring for the women’s D2 Elite Eight.“So, there
are eight teams coming next week in which three of those teams, Missouri Western,
Fort Hays State, Minnesota State, they have been ranked very high in the
country in the last couple of years,” Esely tells Birr. “So, realistically, any
of those three could get here, not to mention any of the rest of the field. It
is exciting. Again, it’s going to be a high level of basketball here in just
under 10 days.”The NCAA Division-Two Women’s Basketball Central Regional
Crossover will be held next Friday and Saturday. The next week, the Civic Arena
will be the site of the MIAA Volleyball Championship. On December 9th,
Missouri’s women’s team takes on Kansas State at the Civic Arena with the St.
Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame High School Holiday Hoops Classic set for
December 20th through the 22nd.Click <a href="https://stjomo.com/event/ncaa-dii-womens-basketball-central-region-challenge/">HERE</a> for more details on the NCAA DII Women's Basketball Central Region Challenge.

St. Joseph's Civic Arena ready to host a host of great sports

A St.
Joseph man, arrested outside a St. Joseph hotel in 2021, has been sentenced to
10 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin.

Federal
prosecutors say 43-year-old Franklin “Frankie” Hicks, Junior had nearly 36
grams of heroin and $2,687 in cash on him when arrested on
January 22nd in 2021. He also had two handguns in his vehicle and
has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms as well.

Federal District
Judge Greg Kays sentenced Hicks Wednesday to 10 years and six months in federal prison
without parole.

Hicks
pleaded guilty in May of last year. He is the third and final defendant to be sentenced
in the case.

Co-defendant,
48-year-old Roderick Hughes, was sentenced last month to 17 years in federal
prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. The other co-defendant,
50-year-old Harvey Johnson of Kansas City, has been sentenced to 12 years in
federal prison after pleading guilty.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St.
Joseph man, arrested outside a St. Joseph hotel in 2021, has been sentenced to
10 years in federal prison for trafficking heroin.Federal
prosecutors say 43-year-old Franklin “Frankie” Hicks, Junior had nearly 36
grams of heroin and $2,687 in cash on him when arrested on
January 22nd in 2021. He also had two handguns in his vehicle and
has been sentenced for illegally possessing firearms as well.Federal District
Judge Greg Kays sentenced Hicks Wednesday to 10 years and six months in federal prison
without parole.Hicks
pleaded guilty in May of last year. He is the third and final defendant to be sentenced
in the case.Co-defendant,
48-year-old Roderick Hughes, was sentenced last month to 17 years in federal
prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking. The other co-defendant,
50-year-old Harvey Johnson of Kansas City, has been sentenced to 12 years in
federal prison after pleading guilty.

St. Joseph man sent to federal prison for dealing heroin

GOP lawmakers vow to take action when the General Assembly reconvenes in January to revise the highway commission’s power over the state road fund

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

The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/after-lengthy-delay-ruling-likely-soon-on-modot-authority-over-state-road-fund/">can give employees big raises</a>&nbsp;to cut job turnover and attract new workers, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday.

In a long-awaited decision, Circuit Judge Cotton Walker decided that the commission’s plan for a “market adjustment” is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=2957855">authorized by constitutional language</a>&nbsp;controlling the State Road Fund. In his ruling, Walker said the commission is not bound by the amounts listed in state appropriation bills when deciding how to spend the money collected from fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees.

Commissioner of Administration Ken Zellers must allow payments approved by the Highways and Transportation Commission, Walker wrote, “when the request is for a constitutionally authorized purpose and there is sufficient balance in the State Road Fund.”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/2021/dec/04/MoDOT-suing-state-over-ability-to-use-funds-for-em/">case began in late 2021</a>&nbsp;when Zellers refused to allow the highways commission to implement a pay raise plan that carried a price tag of $60 million. The highways commission wanted to stem turnover at MoDOT and attract new employees.

During fiscal 2021, budget documents show, the department lost an average of 34 employees a month to resignations and another 16 per month from retirements. In fiscal 2022, after the pay plan was rejected, turnover increased to 52 resignations and 20 retirements per month.

General state raises have added&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/11/gov-parson-proposes-raise-for-missouri-state-employees-extra-pay-for-night-work/">almost 17% to paychecks</a>&nbsp;in MoDOT and other agencies since the lawsuit was filed. Turnover fell in fiscal 2023 to 14% but remains above the rate seen in earlier years.

The commission’s goal for the pay plan was to raise pay levels so 65% of MoDOT employees are at or above the midpoint in the pay range for their job. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 89.4% were below the midpoint, according to state budget documents.

Jim Layton, an attorney who represented the highways commission, declined to comment on the ruling. He noted that the judgment is subject to appeal and therefore not final.

The attorney general’s office, which represented Zellers, has the ruling under review, spokeswoman Madeline Sieren wrote in an email.

The highways commission filed the lawsuit to test constitutional language that is unique to the road fund. The Missouri Constitution states that the money deposited in the fund shall “<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++30(b)&amp;bid=31847&amp;constit=y">stand appropriated without legislative action.</a>”

The case was argued in February 2022 but the decision was delayed while Walker waited for the Missouri Supreme Court to rule on a similar case involving the Conservation Commission. In that case, the court ruled lawmakers had authority to set spending levels from the state conservation fund&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/13/missouri-supreme-court-rules-lawmakers-had-no-power-to-limit-conservation-spending/">but could not limit</a>&nbsp;the Conservation Commission’s use of appropriated money for authorized purposes such as land acquisition.

In his ruling and in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/after-lengthy-delay-ruling-likely-soon-on-modot-authority-over-state-road-fund/">hearing in early October</a>, Walker said he delayed a ruling in the highways commission case while the conservation case was pending. The conservation case provided the answer for the highways case, he wrote.

In that case, he noted, the attorney general’s office argued that the “stands appropriated” language for the road fund means no appropriation is necessary for the highways commission to use the money. But in the highways case, he wrote, the attorney general’s office argued the opposite – that the “stands appropriated” provision is overridden by another section that means no state funds can be spent without a legislatively approved appropriation bill.

The requirement of the provision cited by the attorney general’s office, that no money can be spent except through an “<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++28&amp;bid=31844&amp;constit=y">appropriation made by law</a>” is satisfied by the “stands appropriated” language, Walker wrote.

“The Constitution is a ‘law’ sufficient to meet the requirements … that the commissioner has before him ‘an appropriation made by law,’” Walker wrote.

The lawsuit was filed two months after the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/10/02/motorists-give-mixed-reaction-to-refund-plan-for-missouri-fuel-tax-hike/">first state fuel tax increase</a>&nbsp;in 27 years took effect. State lawmakers approved the tax increase – 12.5 cents per gallon phased in over five years – without seeking a statewide vote.

So far, the tax increase has added 7.5 cents a gallon to the cost of fuel and when fully implemented on July 1, 2025, motorists will be paying a total of 29.9 cents per gallon in state fuel taxes.

The lawsuit enraged some lawmakers. State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, and five other Republican senators, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/03/missouri-transportation-chief-under-fire-for-bucking-lawmakers-on-pay-raise-plan/">February 2022 letter to the commission</a>, demanded that MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna either resign or be fired.

“Regardless of the legality of this move, it is a gross violation of the public’s trust and a setback that the department and the state’s road system cannot afford,” the letter stated.

McKenna is still in his job and lawmakers have continued to provide other money to supplement the road fund, including a massive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-transportation-officials-present-i-70-expansion-roadmap-to-lawmakers/">$2.8 billion plan to improve Interstate 70</a>&nbsp;that required $1.4 billion of general revenue.

O’Laughlin, who now serves as Senate Majority Leader, said she is still mad and still wants McKenna to be ousted.

“The public will see this as one more instance of a tax that was passed to help upgrade the roads and they are going to do something different with it,” O’Laugin said Wednesday.

Residents of north Missouri view MoDOT “very negatively,” she said. They feel their roads are neglected even with the additional tax.

“People don’t mind paying for what they know they will get but they do mind paying for something they are fairly certain they won’t get,” she said.

A House critic of the raises, state Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker, said Wednesday that in the upcoming legislative session he will file a bill to revise the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HJR37&amp;year=2023&amp;code=R">highway commission’s power over the road fund</a>.

Mayhew chairs the House Committee on Transportation Oversight and the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight.

“It falls out of the original intent of the constitution, the checks and balances that were built into the constitution since our founding,” Mayhew said.

He doesn’t disagree with the market adjustment plan, Mayhew said, but believes it should be subject to legislative approval. One area where the department has a chronic shortage is snow plow drivers to clear highways in winter.

KOMU-TV in Columbia&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.komu.com/news/state/modot-shortage-of-snow-plow-drivers-continues-for-fourth-straight-year/article_31774ffc-6ea7-11ee-9002-7f389b31ea3f.html#:~:text=KOMU%208%20News%20reported%20shortages,shortages%20for%20snow%20plow%20operators.">reported last month</a>&nbsp;that the department was hundreds of plow operators short of full staffing. A mild winter last year did not make the shortage of 900 drivers apparent to the public, the station reported.

MoDOT has to be competitive with the market to fill those jobs, Mayhew said.

“If truck drivers are costing $40 an hour and you are paying $26 an hour,” he said, “you are not going to get many truck drivers.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1698920037315.png" alt=" Construction workers haul limestone quarried from the river bluff to the construction site of a new Interstate 70 Missouri River bridge connecting Boone and Cooper counties (Don Shrubshell/photo courtesy Columbia Daily Tribune)." />
 <figcaption> Construction workers haul limestone quarried from the river bluff to the construction site of a new Interstate 70 Missouri River bridge connecting Boone and Cooper counties (Don Shrubshell/photo courtesy Columbia Daily Tribune).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>GOP lawmakers vow to take action when the General Assembly reconvenes in January to revise the highway commission’s power over the state road fund</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 Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/after-lengthy-delay-ruling-likely-soon-on-modot-authority-over-state-road-fund/">can give employees big raises</a>&nbsp;to cut job turnover and attract new workers, a Cole County judge ruled Tuesday.In a long-awaited decision, Circuit Judge Cotton Walker decided that the commission’s plan for a “market adjustment” is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=19&amp;di=2957855">authorized by constitutional language</a>&nbsp;controlling the State Road Fund. In his ruling, Walker said the commission is not bound by the amounts listed in state appropriation bills when deciding how to spend the money collected from fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees.Commissioner of Administration Ken Zellers must allow payments approved by the Highways and Transportation Commission, Walker wrote, “when the request is for a constitutionally authorized purpose and there is sufficient balance in the State Road Fund.”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/2021/dec/04/MoDOT-suing-state-over-ability-to-use-funds-for-em/">case began in late 2021</a>&nbsp;when Zellers refused to allow the highways commission to implement a pay raise plan that carried a price tag of $60 million. The highways commission wanted to stem turnover at MoDOT and attract new employees.During fiscal 2021, budget documents show, the department lost an average of 34 employees a month to resignations and another 16 per month from retirements. In fiscal 2022, after the pay plan was rejected, turnover increased to 52 resignations and 20 retirements per month.General state raises have added&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/11/gov-parson-proposes-raise-for-missouri-state-employees-extra-pay-for-night-work/">almost 17% to paychecks</a>&nbsp;in MoDOT and other agencies since the lawsuit was filed. Turnover fell in fiscal 2023 to 14% but remains above the rate seen in earlier years.The commission’s goal for the pay plan was to raise pay levels so 65% of MoDOT employees are at or above the midpoint in the pay range for their job. In the fiscal year that ended June 30, 89.4% were below the midpoint, according to state budget documents.Jim Layton, an attorney who represented the highways commission, declined to comment on the ruling. He noted that the judgment is subject to appeal and therefore not final.The attorney general’s office, which represented Zellers, has the ruling under review, spokeswoman Madeline Sieren wrote in an email.The highways commission filed the lawsuit to test constitutional language that is unique to the road fund. The Missouri Constitution states that the money deposited in the fund shall “<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++30(b)&amp;bid=31847&amp;constit=y">stand appropriated without legislative action.</a>”The case was argued in February 2022 but the decision was delayed while Walker waited for the Missouri Supreme Court to rule on a similar case involving the Conservation Commission. In that case, the court ruled lawmakers had authority to set spending levels from the state conservation fund&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/13/missouri-supreme-court-rules-lawmakers-had-no-power-to-limit-conservation-spending/">but could not limit</a>&nbsp;the Conservation Commission’s use of appropriated money for authorized purposes such as land acquisition.In his ruling and in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/after-lengthy-delay-ruling-likely-soon-on-modot-authority-over-state-road-fund/">hearing in early October</a>, Walker said he delayed a ruling in the highways commission case while the conservation case was pending. The conservation case provided the answer for the highways case, he wrote.In that case, he noted, the attorney general’s office argued that the “stands appropriated” language for the road fund means no appropriation is necessary for the highways commission to use the money. But in the highways case, he wrote, the attorney general’s office argued the opposite – that the “stands appropriated” provision is overridden by another section that means no state funds can be spent without a legislatively approved appropriation bill.The requirement of the provision cited by the attorney general’s office, that no money can be spent except through an “<a target="_blank" href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++28&amp;bid=31844&amp;constit=y">appropriation made by law</a>” is satisfied by the “stands appropriated” language, Walker wrote.“The Constitution is a ‘law’ sufficient to meet the requirements … that the commissioner has before him ‘an appropriation made by law,’” Walker wrote.The lawsuit was filed two months after the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/10/02/motorists-give-mixed-reaction-to-refund-plan-for-missouri-fuel-tax-hike/">first state fuel tax increase</a>&nbsp;in 27 years took effect. State lawmakers approved the tax increase – 12.5 cents per gallon phased in over five years – without seeking a statewide vote.So far, the tax increase has added 7.5 cents a gallon to the cost of fuel and when fully implemented on July 1, 2025, motorists will be paying a total of 29.9 cents per gallon in state fuel taxes.The lawsuit enraged some lawmakers. State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, and five other Republican senators, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/03/missouri-transportation-chief-under-fire-for-bucking-lawmakers-on-pay-raise-plan/">February 2022 letter to the commission</a>, demanded that MoDOT Director Patrick McKenna either resign or be fired.“Regardless of the legality of this move, it is a gross violation of the public’s trust and a setback that the department and the state’s road system cannot afford,” the letter stated.McKenna is still in his job and lawmakers have continued to provide other money to supplement the road fund, including a massive&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-transportation-officials-present-i-70-expansion-roadmap-to-lawmakers/">$2.8 billion plan to improve Interstate 70</a>&nbsp;that required $1.4 billion of general revenue.O’Laughlin, who now serves as Senate Majority Leader, said she is still mad and still wants McKenna to be ousted.“The public will see this as one more instance of a tax that was passed to help upgrade the roads and they are going to do something different with it,” O’Laugin said Wednesday.Residents of north Missouri view MoDOT “very negatively,” she said. They feel their roads are neglected even with the additional tax.“People don’t mind paying for what they know they will get but they do mind paying for something they are fairly certain they won’t get,” she said.A House critic of the raises, state Rep. Don Mayhew, R-Crocker, said Wednesday that in the upcoming legislative session he will file a bill to revise the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HJR37&amp;year=2023&amp;code=R">highway commission’s power over the road fund</a>.Mayhew chairs the House Committee on Transportation Oversight and the Joint Committee on Transportation Oversight.“It falls out of the original intent of the constitution, the checks and balances that were built into the constitution since our founding,” Mayhew said.He doesn’t disagree with the market adjustment plan, Mayhew said, but believes it should be subject to legislative approval. One area where the department has a chronic shortage is snow plow drivers to clear highways in winter.KOMU-TV in Columbia&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.komu.com/news/state/modot-shortage-of-snow-plow-drivers-continues-for-fourth-straight-year/article_31774ffc-6ea7-11ee-9002-7f389b31ea3f.html#:~:text=KOMU%208%20News%20reported%20shortages,shortages%20for%20snow%20plow%20operators.">reported last month</a>&nbsp;that the department was hundreds of plow operators short of full staffing. A mild winter last year did not make the shortage of 900 drivers apparent to the public, the station reported.MoDOT has to be competitive with the market to fill those jobs, Mayhew said.“If truck drivers are costing $40 an hour and you are paying $26 an hour,” he said, “you are not going to get many truck drivers.”