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

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

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

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

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

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

Thompson: Farm Bill extension likely

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"If we have a building where we have three sections of 15, maybe we can combine that to two sections if we need an Elementary teacher for instance," Kraus explains. "We look at master schedules and see if there's an enrollment of five or six in several classes, we look at do we need to offer those or can we shift it to a higher need." 

Kraus says there are a number of factors that go into the difficulty of recruiting teachers as districts all over are facing the same staffing problems.  

"Some of it is geography, some of it is pay, some of it is perceived working conditions, there's a lot of factors that go into determining where someone is going to want to land as far as a teaching spot," Kraus points out. "Weve been working as hard as we can to make our salary schedule competitive and then other factors that go along with that." 

The district did fill several teaching positions by hiring 140 new teachers, including some during a hiring fair earlier this summer.  

The first day of school for the St. Joseph School District is on Monday.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @KFEQMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp;

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

St. Joseph School District still in need of teachers with school just around the corner

LEBANON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a state law criminalizing parents whose children miss school,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=198519">ruling against</a>&nbsp;two mothers charged in their young children's tardiness.

Prosecutors charged two moms from Lebanon, Missouri, with misdemeanors and the mothers then went to the state Supreme Court to challenge the law’s constitutionality.

One mother was sentenced to a week in county jail for her first-grade daughter’s nine unexcused absences in the 2021 school year. Another was sentenced to two years of probation for her kindergartener’s seven unexcused absences that year.

Missouri law requires K-12 students to attend school “on a regular basis.” A public defender for the mothers argued the law is unconstitutionally vague.

Supreme Court judges disagreed, ruling that regular attendance means going to school when it is in session.

Judges wrote that school officials can excuse an absence for mental or physical illness and opt not to report parents to prosecutors. Prosecutors, judges wrote, can choose not to charge parents in cases of “minor noncompliance.”

The mothers' public defender did not immediately return an Associated Press phone call Tuesday.

LEBANON, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a state law criminalizing parents whose children miss school,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=198519">ruling against</a>&nbsp;two mothers charged in their young children's tardiness.Prosecutors charged two moms from Lebanon, Missouri, with misdemeanors and the mothers then went to the state Supreme Court to challenge the law’s constitutionality.One mother was sentenced to a week in county jail for her first-grade daughter’s nine unexcused absences in the 2021 school year. Another was sentenced to two years of probation for her kindergartener’s seven unexcused absences that year.Missouri law requires K-12 students to attend school “on a regular basis.” A public defender for the mothers argued the law is unconstitutionally vague.Supreme Court judges disagreed, ruling that regular attendance means going to school when it is in session.Judges wrote that school officials can excuse an absence for mental or physical illness and opt not to report parents to prosecutors. Prosecutors, judges wrote, can choose not to charge parents in cases of “minor noncompliance.”The mothers' public defender did not immediately return an Associated Press phone call Tuesday.

2 Mo. moms charged for children's school absences lose court battle

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Prius driven by Tristan C. Wald, 19, Smithville was eastbound on MO 6 near the intersection of Route NN one mile west of Jamesport.

The Toyota rear-ended a 2002 Saturn SL2 driven by Donna B. Graves, 70, Gallatin, who was turning east.

Daviess County ambulance transported a passenger in the Saturn June E. Williams, 63, Gallatin, to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Toyota Prius driven by Tristan C. Wald, 19, Smithville was eastbound on MO 6 near the intersection of Route NN one mile west of Jamesport.The Toyota rear-ended a 2002 Saturn SL2 driven by Donna B. Graves, 70, Gallatin, who was turning east.Daviess County ambulance transported a passenger in the Saturn June E. Williams, 63, Gallatin, to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The drivers were not injured. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after Daviess Co. rear-end crash

By JASON HANCOCK <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

The audit is not a routine, scheduled review. It was initiated by Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and began Aug. 2 with a meeting with officials at the Department of Health and Senior Services

Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has begun an investigation into the state’s marijuana program, vowing to assess whether regulators are operating “in a manner that is efficient, accountable and transparent.”

The audit is not a routine, scheduled review. It was initiated by Fitzpatrick after he<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/16/missouri-auditor-candidates-spar-over-independence-from-partisan-influence/">&nbsp;pledged last year during his campaign to look into how Missouri oversees legalized cannabis.</a>

It will cover both the medical and recreational programs, spanning back to when Missouri voters first signed off on medical cannabis in 2018. Auditors working for Fitzpatrick met with officials at the Department of Health and Senior Services for the first time on Aug. 2.&nbsp;

There was no formal announcement that the inquiry was being conducted, but the marijuana program was listed on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/AuditsInProgress">Fitzpatrick’s official website on a list of ongoing audits</a>.&nbsp;

Fitzpatrick, a first-term Republican from Shell Knob, said in an email to The Independent that the audit was inspired by the fact that cannabis is poised to be&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-marijuana-sales-top-350-million-during-first-three-months-of-legalization/">a $1 billion industry in Missouri&nbsp;</a>and the amendments that legalized it “represent some of the most substantial changes we’ve seen to our state constitution in recent memory.”

“These provisions now make up more than one-fifth of the language in our state constitution,” Fitzpatrick said.

He added: “The rules and regulations promulgated for these programs govern hundreds of marijuana facilities all across Missouri that cultivate and sell cannabis products to hundreds of thousands of Missourians each year.”

Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for DHSS, said the agency has been&nbsp;notified that it will be working with the state Auditor’s office as part of an audit of the marijuana program within the Division of Cannabis Regulation.

The auditor’s office will be just the latest to attempt to delve into the inner workings&nbsp;of&nbsp;a program that has drawn scrutiny from state lawmakers and federal law enforcement.&nbsp;

Medical marijuana instantly became big business in Missouri after voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing it in 2018. Competition for licenses to grow, sell and manufacture cannabis products became fierce when the state capped the number it would issue.

The Missouri House launched an investigation into the licensing process in early 2020, fueled by widespread reports of irregularities in how license applications were scored and allegations that conflicts of interest within DHSS and a private company hired to score applications may have tainted the process.

Legislators also criticized DHSS’s decision to deem license ownership records confidential, a move they argued caused problems in providing oversight of the marijuana program.

Last year, the House voted overwhelmingly to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/10/missouri-house-votes-to-require-disclosure-of-medical-marijuana-ownership-records/">require state regulators to disclose ownership information for businesses granted marijuana licenses</a>. But opposition from the industry sunk the plan in the Missouri Senate.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Missouri marijuana regulators received three federal grand jury subpoenas in 2019 and 2020, with each redacted before being turned over to the media at the request of the federal government to obfuscate the records being sought.

At the same time, the FBI interviewed&nbsp; lawmakers, local officials and advocates about marijuana licensing. A Kansas City-area businessman testified in a deposition that he was questioned by federal law enforcement in 2021 about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/01/18/marijuana-utility-contracts-records-shows-continued-fbi-interest-in-independence-deals/">marijuana licensing in Missouri and utility contracts in Independence</a>.

Several legislators were also interviewed by the FBI last year, including now-House Speaker Dean Plocher. The focus of the questions was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/25/missouri-dems-expect-boost-from-marijuana-campaign-but-split-on-whether-its-good-policy/">lobbying efforts related to a bill that would have legalized recreational cannabis use without license caps</a>.&nbsp;

The bill fizzled in the legislative session’s final weeks, and voters would go on to approve a recreational marijuana constitutional amendment months later.&nbsp;

While running for auditor last year, Fitzpatrick expressed opposition to the recreational marijuana amendment. He said at the time that his concern wasn’t legalization, but rather the fact that the initiative petition added so much regulation to the state constitution instead of state statute.&nbsp;

He also complained about the idea of the amendment bolstering a “government-mandated monopoly,” referring to provisions that automatically grant licenses to grow and sell recreational marijuana to businesses already serving the medical market.

State Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat and frequent critic of Missouri’s marijuana regulators, praised the auditor for launching the inquiry, saying he believes the marijuana industry “could use more transparency, especially with respect to the licensing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662126099012.jpg" alt="Medical marijuana instantly became big business in Missouri after voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing it in 2018. Competition for licenses to grow,&nbsp; sell and manufacture cannabis products became fierce when the state capped the number it would issue" />
 <figcaption>Medical marijuana instantly became big business in Missouri after voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing it in 2018. Competition for licenses to grow,&nbsp; sell and manufacture cannabis products became fierce when the state capped the number it would issue</figcaption>
 </figure>By JASON HANCOCK <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>The audit is not a routine, scheduled review. It was initiated by Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick and began Aug. 2 with a meeting with officials at the Department of Health and Senior Services</h2>Missouri Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick has begun an investigation into the state’s marijuana program, vowing to assess whether regulators are operating “in a manner that is efficient, accountable and transparent.”The audit is not a routine, scheduled review. It was initiated by Fitzpatrick after he<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/16/missouri-auditor-candidates-spar-over-independence-from-partisan-influence/">&nbsp;pledged last year during his campaign to look into how Missouri oversees legalized cannabis.</a>It will cover both the medical and recreational programs, spanning back to when Missouri voters first signed off on medical cannabis in 2018. Auditors working for Fitzpatrick met with officials at the Department of Health and Senior Services for the first time on Aug. 2.&nbsp;There was no formal announcement that the inquiry was being conducted, but the marijuana program was listed on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://auditor.mo.gov/AuditReport/AuditsInProgress">Fitzpatrick’s official website on a list of ongoing audits</a>.&nbsp;Fitzpatrick, a first-term Republican from Shell Knob, said in an email to The Independent that the audit was inspired by the fact that cannabis is poised to be&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/05/05/missouri-marijuana-sales-top-350-million-during-first-three-months-of-legalization/">a $1 billion industry in Missouri&nbsp;</a>and the amendments that legalized it “represent some of the most substantial changes we’ve seen to our state constitution in recent memory.”“These provisions now make up more than one-fifth of the language in our state constitution,” Fitzpatrick said.He added: “The rules and regulations promulgated for these programs govern hundreds of marijuana facilities all across Missouri that cultivate and sell cannabis products to hundreds of thousands of Missourians each year.”Lisa Cox, a spokeswoman for DHSS, said the agency has been&nbsp;notified that it will be working with the state Auditor’s office as part of an audit of the marijuana program within the Division of Cannabis Regulation.The auditor’s office will be just the latest to attempt to delve into the inner workings&nbsp;of&nbsp;a program that has drawn scrutiny from state lawmakers and federal law enforcement.&nbsp;Medical marijuana instantly became big business in Missouri after voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing it in 2018. Competition for licenses to grow, sell and manufacture cannabis products became fierce when the state capped the number it would issue.The Missouri House launched an investigation into the licensing process in early 2020, fueled by widespread reports of irregularities in how license applications were scored and allegations that conflicts of interest within DHSS and a private company hired to score applications may have tainted the process.Legislators also criticized DHSS’s decision to deem license ownership records confidential, a move they argued caused problems in providing oversight of the marijuana program.Last year, the House voted overwhelmingly to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/10/missouri-house-votes-to-require-disclosure-of-medical-marijuana-ownership-records/">require state regulators to disclose ownership information for businesses granted marijuana licenses</a>. But opposition from the industry sunk the plan in the Missouri Senate.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Missouri marijuana regulators received three federal grand jury subpoenas in 2019 and 2020, with each redacted before being turned over to the media at the request of the federal government to obfuscate the records being sought.At the same time, the FBI interviewed&nbsp; lawmakers, local officials and advocates about marijuana licensing. A Kansas City-area businessman testified in a deposition that he was questioned by federal law enforcement in 2021 about&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/01/18/marijuana-utility-contracts-records-shows-continued-fbi-interest-in-independence-deals/">marijuana licensing in Missouri and utility contracts in Independence</a>.Several legislators were also interviewed by the FBI last year, including now-House Speaker Dean Plocher. The focus of the questions was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/08/25/missouri-dems-expect-boost-from-marijuana-campaign-but-split-on-whether-its-good-policy/">lobbying efforts related to a bill that would have legalized recreational cannabis use without license caps</a>.&nbsp;The bill fizzled in the legislative session’s final weeks, and voters would go on to approve a recreational marijuana constitutional amendment months later.&nbsp;While running for auditor last year, Fitzpatrick expressed opposition to the recreational marijuana amendment. He said at the time that his concern wasn’t legalization, but rather the fact that the initiative petition added so much regulation to the state constitution instead of state statute.&nbsp;He also complained about the idea of the amendment bolstering a “government-mandated monopoly,” referring to provisions that automatically grant licenses to grow and sell recreational marijuana to businesses already serving the medical market.State Rep. Peter Merideth, a St. Louis Democrat and frequent critic of Missouri’s marijuana regulators, praised the auditor for launching the inquiry, saying he believes the marijuana industry “could use more transparency, especially with respect to the licensing.”

State auditor launches inquiry into Missouri marijuana program

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. 

Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing meat science and animal agriculture careers. 

Two $15,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. 

Scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry. Graduate students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant's graduate research and three letters of recommendation by September 22, 2023. 

The 2023 scholarship recipients will be recognized at CattleCon 2024. The scholarship honors the successful career of the late W.D. Farr, a third-generation Coloradan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker known for his extraordinary vision. For more information and to apply for the scholarship, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org/">www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org</a>.

The National Cattlemen’s Foundation is accepting applications for the annual W.D. Farr Scholarship program. Established in 2007, the scholarship recognizes outstanding graduate students pursuing meat science and animal agriculture careers. Two $15,000 grants are awarded to graduate students who demonstrate superior achievement in academics and leadership and are committed to the advancement of the beef industry. Scholarship recipients recognize that the program not only benefits their work but also the entire industry. Graduate students must apply online by submitting a cover letter, goals and experience, a short essay, statement of belief in the industry, as well as a review of the applicant's graduate research and three letters of recommendation by September 22, 2023. The 2023 scholarship recipients will be recognized at CattleCon 2024. The scholarship honors the successful career of the late W.D. Farr, a third-generation Coloradan, pioneer rancher, statesman and banker known for his extraordinary vision. For more information and to apply for the scholarship, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org/">www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org</a>.- NAFB

Graduate students encouraged to apply for Beef Industry Scholarships

U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.3 percent of their disposable personal income on food in 2022, a level not observed since the 1980s, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. 

Disposable personal income is the amount of money consumers have left to spend or save after paying taxes. 

Consumers spent 5.62 percent of their incomes on food at supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse club stores, supercenters, and other retailers in 2022 and 5.64 percent on food at restaurants, fast-food establishments, schools, and other places offering food away from home. 

In 2022, the share spent on total food had the sharpest annual increase, 12.7 percent. This followed an 8.2-percent decline, the sharpest annual drop in total food spending since 1967, during the first year of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. 

The recent volatility in spending was driven by consumers’ sudden drop in eating out at the beginning of the pandemic followed by a return to food-away-from-home purchases as pandemic-related restrictions and concerns eased.

U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.3 percent of their disposable personal income on food in 2022, a level not observed since the 1980s, according to USDA’s Economic Research Service. Disposable personal income is the amount of money consumers have left to spend or save after paying taxes. Consumers spent 5.62 percent of their incomes on food at supermarkets, convenience stores, warehouse club stores, supercenters, and other retailers in 2022 and 5.64 percent on food at restaurants, fast-food establishments, schools, and other places offering food away from home. In 2022, the share spent on total food had the sharpest annual increase, 12.7 percent. This followed an 8.2-percent decline, the sharpest annual drop in total food spending since 1967, during the first year of the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The recent volatility in spending was driven by consumers’ sudden drop in eating out at the beginning of the pandemic followed by a return to food-away-from-home purchases as pandemic-related restrictions and concerns eased.- NAFB

Income spent on food increased 13% in 2022

New Police Chief Paul Luster is working with his fellow officers to figure out their needs to help develop a better police force in St. Joseph.  

Luster says through conversations within the department a common theme he's heard officers need is better wellness practices and retention and staffing of officers.  

Luster says to figure out some solutions he's in the process of putting together what he calls the Chiefs Advisory Panel 

"That's going to consist of members of the department, all different ranks, sworn, our professional civilian staff as well from all the different divisions so I can get all those different perspectives, and my plan is to form the group based on topics," Luster tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Luster says the panel will meet regularly so he can hear his officers' thoughts on topics that will help improve the police force in St. Joseph 

"What do they think we should be doing, and I want to bring my experiences to the table as well, but I think any effort is doomed if it just comes down from Chief Lusters office that this is our new wellness initiative and they had no input in that, that's not going to work," Luster explains. "So, I want them to have that input and hear what they need, hear what they want, and then how can we relate that to maybe some national best practices." 

Luster says forming these practices will help with officers mental and physical well-being, which will also allow them to serve the community better. 

"When they're in a good place mentally, when they're in a good place physically, that allows for better service, that's the officers you want out there serving this community," Luster says. "So very important to me, very near and dear to my heart, this is a tough job to do so it's very near and dear to my heart that we're doing the best we can, department leadership is doing the best we can to provide these resources." 

Luster says he's very anxious to get initiatives off the ground and to meet with officers in each division to discuss how to improve and grow in those areas. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670337156703.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Police DepartmentI.jpg" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Police DepartmentI.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post New Police Chief Paul Luster is working with his fellow officers to figure out their needs to help develop a better police force in St. Joseph. Luster says through conversations within the department a common theme he's heard officers need is better wellness practices and retention and staffing of officers. Luster says to figure out some solutions he's in the process of putting together what he calls the Chiefs Advisory Panel "That's going to consist of members of the department, all different ranks, sworn, our professional civilian staff as well from all the different divisions so I can get all those different perspectives, and my plan is to form the group based on topics," Luster tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Luster says the panel will meet regularly so he can hear his officers' thoughts on topics that will help improve the police force in St. Joseph "What do they think we should be doing, and I want to bring my experiences to the table as well, but I think any effort is doomed if it just comes down from Chief Lusters office that this is our new wellness initiative and they had no input in that, that's not going to work," Luster explains. "So, I want them to have that input and hear what they need, hear what they want, and then how can we relate that to maybe some national best practices." Luster says forming these practices will help with officers mental and physical well-being, which will also allow them to serve the community better. "When they're in a good place mentally, when they're in a good place physically, that allows for better service, that's the officers you want out there serving this community," Luster says. "So very important to me, very near and dear to my heart, this is a tough job to do so it's very near and dear to my heart that we're doing the best we can, department leadership is doing the best we can to provide these resources." Luster says he's very anxious to get initiatives off the ground and to meet with officers in each division to discuss how to improve and grow in those areas.

New St. Joseph Police Chief hopes new panel will help with officers well being 

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —The Kansas suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting August 10, in Platte County, Missouri died Saturday, according to the Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens.

The shooting occurred just after 2a.m. at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department and domestic violence suspect 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Just before 1 a.m. Thursday, the Leavenworth Police Department responded to assist EMS and the Fire Department with an incident that occurred at a home in the 900 block of Columbia Street in Leavenworth.

After the preliminary investigation responding Officers issued an alert to locate a Heath-Taylor.&nbsp; The event was related to Domestic Violence.

The suspect was spotted in his vehicle in Leavenworth and Officers Attempted to stop the vehicle but Heath-Taylor fled.&nbsp; Officers chased the suspect into the state of Missouri where it ended on Spur 45.&nbsp; Heath-Taylor was shot as officers tried to take him into custody.&nbsp;

Heath-Taylor was treated at the scene by Officers and Leavenworth County EMS and transported to a Kansas City area hospital.&nbsp;No officers were injured in the shooting.

On Friday, police provided the initial case file to the county attorney and recommended criminal charges for Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Rape, Kidnapping and Aggravated Domestic Violence against Heath-Taylor, according to Kitchens.

The Platte County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation of the officer-shooting and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691671445584.png" alt="Police near the scene of the officer-shooting investigation-photo courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Police near the scene of the officer-shooting investigation-photo courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —The Kansas suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting August 10, in Platte County, Missouri died Saturday, according to the Leavenworth Police Chief Pat Kitchens.The shooting occurred just after 2a.m. at the end of a vehicle pursuit involving members of the Leavenworth, Kansas Police Department and domestic violence suspect 25-year-old Jonathan Heath-Taylor of Leavenworth, Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before 1 a.m. Thursday, the Leavenworth Police Department responded to assist EMS and the Fire Department with an incident that occurred at a home in the 900 block of Columbia Street in Leavenworth.After the preliminary investigation responding Officers issued an alert to locate a Heath-Taylor.&nbsp; The event was related to Domestic Violence.The suspect was spotted in his vehicle in Leavenworth and Officers Attempted to stop the vehicle but Heath-Taylor fled.&nbsp; Officers chased the suspect into the state of Missouri where it ended on Spur 45.&nbsp; Heath-Taylor was shot as officers tried to take him into custody.&nbsp;Heath-Taylor was treated at the scene by Officers and Leavenworth County EMS and transported to a Kansas City area hospital.&nbsp;No officers were injured in the shooting.On Friday, police provided the initial case file to the county attorney and recommended criminal charges for Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Rape, Kidnapping and Aggravated Domestic Violence against Heath-Taylor, according to Kitchens.The Platte County Sheriff’s Office continues their investigation of the officer-shooting and has the support of the Missouri Highway Patrol and the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department.&nbsp;

Kan. suspect wounded in officer-shooting in Platte Co. has died

DEKALB COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Kylee N. Sherman, 34, St. Joseph, entered the eastbound lanes of U.S. at Mcelwain Drive in Cameron.

The car struck the drivers side of an eastbound 2022 Nissan Sentra driven by Melody A. Dorton, 46, Cameron. After impact the Sentra traveled off the south side of the highway and struck a concrete island.

Cameron ambulance transported Sherman to Liberty Hospital. Dorton was treated at the scene for a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Kylee N. Sherman, 34, St. Joseph, entered the eastbound lanes of U.S. at Mcelwain Drive in Cameron.The car struck the drivers side of an eastbound 2022 Nissan Sentra driven by Melody A. Dorton, 46, Cameron. After impact the Sentra traveled off the south side of the highway and struck a concrete island.Cameron ambulance transported Sherman to Liberty Hospital. Dorton was treated at the scene for a minor injury. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

St. Joe woman hospitalized after 2-car crash

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on fraud allegations.

On Friday, police arrested 40-year-old Elizabeth A. Rose, Effingham, on a District Court warrant for alleged forgery and theft, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

She was also jailed on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692021000095.png" alt="Rose-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Rose-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on fraud allegations.On Friday, police arrested 40-year-old Elizabeth A. Rose, Effingham, on a District Court warrant for alleged forgery and theft, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.She was also jailed on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.

Kansas woman accused of forgery, theft

Chiefs camp is winding down and soon the dorms will be packed again with students flowing to Missouri Western State University for the fall semester.  

Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says Chiefs Training Camp typically signals the end of summer on the St. Joseph campus.  

"Because the Chiefs will be leaving on August 17th, and then six days after that our new students start moving in, and then five days after that we are in session for the fall," Kennedy tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "So, it's just go but we're excited for that, we have the move in day like I said for our new students is August 23rd." 

Kennedy says entering the fall semester there's a sense of hope, optimism, and excitement even though it's the end of summer. 

"Because there's new students and new classes and new opportunities and you just never know what's going to happen or how wonderful the semester will be, so there's a lot of excitement that surrounds that," Kennedy explains.  

Kennedy says about 700 students will live in the dorms this year which is up from last year.  

As the fall semester nears its beginning Missouri Western State University aims to get new students acclimated to St. Joseph and the campus.  

One way students will get acclimated is an event called Griff Up Downtown.  New students will decorate windows of 20 participating downtown businesses as part of the event.  

Kennedy says holding the event downtown is great for their new students 

"Have them learn about the downtown community and then they spread to other areas obviously, but have them learn more about St. Joseph, and get them acquainted with what this community has to offer, make new friends, just see what St. Joseph is all about," Kennedy says. 

Missouri Western will also hold a pep rally for students downtown just after the start of school and ahead of the first football game on August 31st.  

The fall semester will be underway for Missouri Western on August 28th. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671121689588.jpeg" alt="File Photo" />
 <figcaption>File Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Chiefs camp is winding down and soon the dorms will be packed again with students flowing to Missouri Western State University for the fall semester. Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says Chiefs Training Camp typically signals the end of summer on the St. Joseph campus. "Because the Chiefs will be leaving on August 17th, and then six days after that our new students start moving in, and then five days after that we are in session for the fall," Kennedy tells host of the KFEQ Hotline Barry Birr. "So, it's just go but we're excited for that, we have the move in day like I said for our new students is August 23rd." Kennedy says entering the fall semester there's a sense of hope, optimism, and excitement even though it's the end of summer. "Because there's new students and new classes and new opportunities and you just never know what's going to happen or how wonderful the semester will be, so there's a lot of excitement that surrounds that," Kennedy explains. Kennedy says about 700 students will live in the dorms this year which is up from last year. As the fall semester nears its beginning Missouri Western State University aims to get new students acclimated to St. Joseph and the campus. One way students will get acclimated is an event called Griff Up Downtown. New students will decorate windows of 20 participating downtown businesses as part of the event. Kennedy says holding the event downtown is great for their new students "Have them learn about the downtown community and then they spread to other areas obviously, but have them learn more about St. Joseph, and get them acquainted with what this community has to offer, make new friends, just see what St. Joseph is all about," Kennedy says. Missouri Western will also hold a pep rally for students downtown just after the start of school and ahead of the first football game on August 31st. The fall semester will be underway for Missouri Western on August 28th.

Missouri Western State University gearing up for fall semester

A new leader hopes to enhance the mission of the St. Joseph
School District Foundation to better serve the district and its classroom
teachers.

Julie Cobb is the new executive director, taking over after
stints as Major Gift Officer at William Jewell College in Liberty and Director
of Development with the American Red Cross.

Cobb says a major program the foundation funds is the
Appleseed program, which pays for enhanced programs in the classroom. Cobb just
wishes the foundation could fund more.

“Our teachers are great and they really do think outside the
box,” Cobb tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview. “So, it would be nice if
we could fund everything that they need and want for their classrooms.”

The Appleseed program awarded eight grants last year, totaling
$10,000.

Cobb says the foundation seeks to enrich the classroom, such
as funding programs that connect what students are learning with how they apply
to the work world.

“So, I think it excites them to see that they can learn and
apply what they’re doing to what’s going on every day out in the world.”

Cobb says the program encourages St. Joseph teachers to dream
a bit, even look at what other districts might be doing.

“This is a pretty common program. Some districts call it
classroom innovation grants. Some people call it small grants, mini grants.
There’s different verbiage for it,” according to Cobb. “But we’re really
encouraging teachers to think hard on what we can do to help them align
projects with their daily classroom curriculum.”

Cobb says while the foundation always wants to help the
teacher in the classroom, its mission goes beyond that.

“The district right now needs parent support,” Cobb says. “That’s
what they need more than anything, is parent support. We need kids in the
classrooms. We need parents that are ensuring that those students are in their
classroom seats in the morning and any way we can help do that we want to do
that.”

The St. Joseph School District Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that is funded through donations, even gifts from estates.

Click <a href="https://www.sjsdfoundation.com/">HERE</a> to learn more about the St. Joseph School District
Foundation.

You can follow Brent @GBrent, @680KFEQ, @StJosephPost.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA new leader hopes to enhance the mission of the St. Joseph
School District Foundation to better serve the district and its classroom
teachers.Julie Cobb is the new executive director, taking over after
stints as Major Gift Officer at William Jewell College in Liberty and Director
of Development with the American Red Cross.Cobb says a major program the foundation funds is the
Appleseed program, which pays for enhanced programs in the classroom. Cobb just
wishes the foundation could fund more.“Our teachers are great and they really do think outside the
box,” Cobb tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in an interview. “So, it would be nice if
we could fund everything that they need and want for their classrooms.”The Appleseed program awarded eight grants last year, totaling
$10,000.Cobb says the foundation seeks to enrich the classroom, such
as funding programs that connect what students are learning with how they apply
to the work world.“So, I think it excites them to see that they can learn and
apply what they’re doing to what’s going on every day out in the world.”Cobb says the program encourages St. Joseph teachers to dream
a bit, even look at what other districts might be doing.“This is a pretty common program. Some districts call it
classroom innovation grants. Some people call it small grants, mini grants.
There’s different verbiage for it,” according to Cobb. “But we’re really
encouraging teachers to think hard on what we can do to help them align
projects with their daily classroom curriculum.”Cobb says while the foundation always wants to help the
teacher in the classroom, its mission goes beyond that.“The district right now needs parent support,” Cobb says. “That’s
what they need more than anything, is parent support. We need kids in the
classrooms. We need parents that are ensuring that those students are in their
classroom seats in the morning and any way we can help do that we want to do
that.”The St. Joseph School District Foundation is a nonprofit
organization that is funded through donations, even gifts from estates.Click <a href="https://www.sjsdfoundation.com/">HERE</a> to learn more about the St. Joseph School District
Foundation.You can follow Brent @GBrent, @680KFEQ, @StJosephPost.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/New-foundation-designed-to-help-teachers-and-students-in-St--Joseph-School-District-e280pg3" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

New St. Joseph school foundation leader hopes to help teachers, students

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4a.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Ranger driven by Jules W. Gates, 18, Cameron, was westbound on Old U.S. Highway 36. The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, struck a mailbox and continued into a ravine.

Cameron EMS transported Gates to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was later air-lifted to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4a.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Ford Ranger driven by Jules W. Gates, 18, Cameron, was westbound on Old U.S. Highway 36. The pickup traveled off the right side of the road, struck a mailbox and continued into a ravine.Cameron EMS transported Gates to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was later air-lifted to Truman Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Cameron teen air-lifted to hospital after pickup crash

With libraries in the political cross hairs in Missouri for much of the last year, local voters headed to the polls this week in two counties to weigh increased funding

Ballot measures seeking to fund local libraries had mixed results Tuesday, with Cole County voters striking down a 15-cent tax increase and Taney County residents narrowly approving an 18-cent levy to create a public library.

The votes come at a precarious time for Missouri’s libraries, as they have increasingly been pulled into the political scrum over culture-war topics like drag shows and transgender youth as legislators attempt to pull “obscene” materials from library shelves.

State lawmakers attempted to remove state funding of libraries earlier this year, and Secretary of State John “Jay” Ashcroft established a new rule that restricts what books those under 18 can check out.

The Missouri Library Association, responding to Ashcroft’s rule,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MOlibraries/status/1673801475661746178">said in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that librarians follow ethical standards when selecting books.

“We don’t buy porn for kids. We buy some books — say — that feature same-sex parents,” the organization wrote. “That’s not porn. That’s real life for some people.”

In Taney County, home to Branson, backers of the tax levy tried to allay any potential concerns by stating flatly that there would not be “drag queen story hours” or “liberal book” purchases.

It squeaked out a win by a single percentage point.

In Cole County, where the library tax levy was defeated by over 26 percentage points, the culture war topics that have bedeviled libraries this year weren’t the focus of the opposition.

Critics didn’t go on the offensive about what was on library shelves, but rather panned the hit to taxpayer’s pocketbooks.

“The cost of living has gone way up, and a lot of people are struggling,” Tom Rackers, chairman of Concerned Citizens of Cole County, told The Independent. “It’s just not the time to have frivolous taxes.”

Rackers’ group sent mailers throughout Cole County and spread infographics on social media to oppose the tax levy. But he said the opposition had nothing to do with the library itself.

“We don’t have any problem with the library,” Rackers said. “I don’t think there’s anyone that doesn’t support the library.”

Rackers said Concerned Citizens of Cole County, composed largely of conservatives, had been meeting for two and a half years and “recruiting” city council candidates and school board members.&nbsp;

He said any advocacy for local candidates came in the form of personal donations, not from the PAC.

The group’s efforts were relatively low key until the library initiative, Rackers said, and it didn’t spend enough money to require registering as a political action committee until the days leading up to the vote.

A postcard, mailed to voters from the committee, warned voters of a “75% tax increase.”&nbsp;

“The library proposition will nearly double your taxes,” the mailer proclaims to voters.

The 75% increase would only apply to the library’s portion of property taxes, of which is small. Overall property taxes would increase by an average of 2.5%, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mrrl.org/blog-entry/proposition-library-frequently-asked-questions">estimates from the library</a>.

Claudia Young, director of the Missouri River Regional Library, believes the postcard and graphics on social media impacted voters’ decisions.

“They were purposely trying to confuse people into thinking that the overall property tax bill was going up 75%,” she said.

Nearly 17% of Cole County’s voters weighed in on the issue, and over 63% decided not to approve the levy. Young did not anticipate the outcome and said the library will have to consider new options to expand the building.

“The dream hasn’t died,” she said. “It’s just kind of on pause right now.”

Young doesn’t think questions about progressive literature impacted the vote.

“I think it has everything to do with the fact that our community is very tax intolerant,” she said.

The library unveiled its campaign 16 weeks ago, announcing plans staff had started in 2017. They worked with a financial analyst to propose the 15-cent increase and decided to not sunset the tax, as they anticipated needing long-term funding, Young said.

But the unending nature of the proposal worried Concerned Citizens of Cole County. Rackers said he didn’t like approving a tax in perpetuity and thought the scale of the renovations was too large.

His group emerged in the public eye in late July when Jefferson City Third Ward Councilman Scott Spencer posted a graphic from the group on social media website Nextdoor.

It said Rachel Reagan-Purschke, a lawyer outside of the county, was the group’s treasurer. She is the treasurer of four other political action committees, but is not registered as Concerned Citizens’ treasurer.

The group’s treasurer is Edith Vogel, a Jefferson City resident who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/settlement-reached-after-jefferson-city-sued-for-removing-confederate-related-stones/article_bcaedadc-c277-11ec-b7d2-3b1dc981ca79.html">sued the city last year</a>&nbsp;when it removed Confederate-related pavers from a city park.

Spencer said it was emailed to him from an unknown sender and that he posted it because he doesn’t believe it is the right time for a tax increase.

“I’m not for any increase in property taxes or sales taxes at this time,” he said.

He deleted the original graphic, later posting a similar picture that Concerned Citizens of Cole County shared on its Facebook page. Both Nextdoor posts garnered debate in the comments before Spencer deleted them.

“They’ve been up and there’s been plenty of discussion on it, so I just delete them,” he said. “I delete them after a few days like I always do with other issues that I post.”

Taney County will turn a local nonprofit library into a public resource with the tax approved by voters. The county does not have a public library — a rarity in Missouri.

The Taneyhills Library, in campaign literature, said it was heading toward closure at the end of the year unless it could access public funds.

The measure to fund Taneyhills Library with an 18-cent levy passed by 46 votes with 15% of Taney County voters heading to the polls. Other initiatives were on the ballot, like a local tax on marijuana sales.

The campaign’s frequently-asked-questions page sought to allay fears from conservative voters by stating flatly that the library will not hold “drag queen story hour,” and there will be no requirement to purchase “liberal books.”

Tuesday evening, as votes were being tallied, Branson’s Board of Aldermen finalized restrictions on drag performances that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/26/branson-places-adult-performance-restrictions-on-drag-shows/">will limit them to a small portion of the city</a>. Drag performances will have to obtain a special permit, treating them like adult entertainment.

“If any citizen has a concern about any book or other media, there is already a process in place to communicate and address those concerns at the Taneyhills Library,” the website says. “We expect that process to continue and improve with a public library operation.”

Most other questions addressed operational concerns and funding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685548468239.jpeg" alt="State lawmakers attempted to remove state funding of libraries earlier this year, and Secretary of State John "Jay" Ashcroft established a new rule that restricts what books those under 18 can check out -image pixaby" />
 <figcaption>State lawmakers attempted to remove state funding of libraries earlier this year, and Secretary of State John "Jay" Ashcroft established a new rule that restricts what books those under 18 can check out -image pixaby</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>With libraries in the political cross hairs in Missouri for much of the last year, local voters headed to the polls this week in two counties to weigh increased funding</h2>By ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/30/open-enrollment-missouri-school-choice/">Missouri Independent</a>Ballot measures seeking to fund local libraries had mixed results Tuesday, with Cole County voters striking down a 15-cent tax increase and Taney County residents narrowly approving an 18-cent levy to create a public library.The votes come at a precarious time for Missouri’s libraries, as they have increasingly been pulled into the political scrum over culture-war topics like drag shows and transgender youth as legislators attempt to pull “obscene” materials from library shelves.State lawmakers attempted to remove state funding of libraries earlier this year, and Secretary of State John “Jay” Ashcroft established a new rule that restricts what books those under 18 can check out.The Missouri Library Association, responding to Ashcroft’s rule,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/MOlibraries/status/1673801475661746178">said in a tweet</a>&nbsp;that librarians follow ethical standards when selecting books.“We don’t buy porn for kids. We buy some books — say — that feature same-sex parents,” the organization wrote. “That’s not porn. That’s real life for some people.”In Taney County, home to Branson, backers of the tax levy tried to allay any potential concerns by stating flatly that there would not be “drag queen story hours” or “liberal book” purchases.It squeaked out a win by a single percentage point.In Cole County, where the library tax levy was defeated by over 26 percentage points, the culture war topics that have bedeviled libraries this year weren’t the focus of the opposition.Critics didn’t go on the offensive about what was on library shelves, but rather panned the hit to taxpayer’s pocketbooks.“The cost of living has gone way up, and a lot of people are struggling,” Tom Rackers, chairman of Concerned Citizens of Cole County, told The Independent. “It’s just not the time to have frivolous taxes.”Rackers’ group sent mailers throughout Cole County and spread infographics on social media to oppose the tax levy. But he said the opposition had nothing to do with the library itself.“We don’t have any problem with the library,” Rackers said. “I don’t think there’s anyone that doesn’t support the library.”<h2>Cole County</h2>Rackers said Concerned Citizens of Cole County, composed largely of conservatives, had been meeting for two and a half years and “recruiting” city council candidates and school board members.&nbsp;He said any advocacy for local candidates came in the form of personal donations, not from the PAC.The group’s efforts were relatively low key until the library initiative, Rackers said, and it didn’t spend enough money to require registering as a political action committee until the days leading up to the vote.A postcard, mailed to voters from the committee, warned voters of a “75% tax increase.”&nbsp;“The library proposition will nearly double your taxes,” the mailer proclaims to voters.The 75% increase would only apply to the library’s portion of property taxes, of which is small. Overall property taxes would increase by an average of 2.5%, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mrrl.org/blog-entry/proposition-library-frequently-asked-questions">estimates from the library</a>.Claudia Young, director of the Missouri River Regional Library, believes the postcard and graphics on social media impacted voters’ decisions.“They were purposely trying to confuse people into thinking that the overall property tax bill was going up 75%,” she said.Nearly 17% of Cole County’s voters weighed in on the issue, and over 63% decided not to approve the levy. Young did not anticipate the outcome and said the library will have to consider new options to expand the building.“The dream hasn’t died,” she said. “It’s just kind of on pause right now.”Young doesn’t think questions about progressive literature impacted the vote.“I think it has everything to do with the fact that our community is very tax intolerant,” she said.The library unveiled its campaign 16 weeks ago, announcing plans staff had started in 2017. They worked with a financial analyst to propose the 15-cent increase and decided to not sunset the tax, as they anticipated needing long-term funding, Young said.But the unending nature of the proposal worried Concerned Citizens of Cole County. Rackers said he didn’t like approving a tax in perpetuity and thought the scale of the renovations was too large.His group emerged in the public eye in late July when Jefferson City Third Ward Councilman Scott Spencer posted a graphic from the group on social media website Nextdoor.It said Rachel Reagan-Purschke, a lawyer outside of the county, was the group’s treasurer. She is the treasurer of four other political action committees, but is not registered as Concerned Citizens’ treasurer.The group’s treasurer is Edith Vogel, a Jefferson City resident who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/settlement-reached-after-jefferson-city-sued-for-removing-confederate-related-stones/article_bcaedadc-c277-11ec-b7d2-3b1dc981ca79.html">sued the city last year</a>&nbsp;when it removed Confederate-related pavers from a city park.Spencer said it was emailed to him from an unknown sender and that he posted it because he doesn’t believe it is the right time for a tax increase.“I’m not for any increase in property taxes or sales taxes at this time,” he said.He deleted the original graphic, later posting a similar picture that Concerned Citizens of Cole County shared on its Facebook page. Both Nextdoor posts garnered debate in the comments before Spencer deleted them.“They’ve been up and there’s been plenty of discussion on it, so I just delete them,” he said. “I delete them after a few days like I always do with other issues that I post.”<h2>Taney County</h2>Taney County will turn a local nonprofit library into a public resource with the tax approved by voters. The county does not have a public library — a rarity in Missouri.The Taneyhills Library, in campaign literature, said it was heading toward closure at the end of the year unless it could access public funds.The measure to fund Taneyhills Library with an 18-cent levy passed by 46 votes with 15% of Taney County voters heading to the polls. Other initiatives were on the ballot, like a local tax on marijuana sales.The campaign’s frequently-asked-questions page sought to allay fears from conservative voters by stating flatly that the library will not hold “drag queen story hour,” and there will be no requirement to purchase “liberal books.”Tuesday evening, as votes were being tallied, Branson’s Board of Aldermen finalized restrictions on drag performances that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/26/branson-places-adult-performance-restrictions-on-drag-shows/">will limit them to a small portion of the city</a>. Drag performances will have to obtain a special permit, treating them like adult entertainment.“If any citizen has a concern about any book or other media, there is already a process in place to communicate and address those concerns at the Taneyhills Library,” the website says. “We expect that process to continue and improve with a public library operation.”Most other questions addressed operational concerns and funding.<h2>State lawmakers</h2>The legislative session that adjourned in May renewed tension between librarians and lawmakers that began in 2022 when the General Assembly passed a bill that would charge school librarians for providing “explicit sexual material” to students.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aclu-mo.org/en/news/aclu-missouri-professional-library-organizations-challenge-government-censorship-and-book#:~:text=Kansas%20City%20%E2%80%93%20The%20Missouri%20ACLU,of%20hundreds%20of%20titles%20from">In February, the ACLU of Missouri sued on behalf of librarians</a>, saying the law caused schools to remove “hundreds of titles from library shelves.”In retaliation, the Missouri’s House budget committee&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/22/house-committee-takes-aim-at-i-70-child-care-funding-in-missouri-governors-budget/">proposed a cut to state funding of public libraries</a>&nbsp;this year. The Senate Appropriations Committee&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/19/senate-committee-rejects-anti-dei-language-restores-library-funds-in-missouri-budget/">restored libraries’ $4.5 million state funding</a>.Bills filed this legislative session included proposals in the House and Senate to cut state funding for libraries that provide age-inappropriate material to minors. The bills were referred to committee but not heard, possibly because they mirrored a rule by the Secretary of State&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/default.aspx?PageId=10247#">proposed in October.</a>The rule, now in effect, requires parental permission for children and teens to check out books. Ashcroft, who is running for governor, said in a press release the rule is intended to protect children.The Missouri Library Association said in a statement that the rule has created “mass confusion.”“Many Missouri libraries and library employees have reached out asking for guidance, looking for templates, and wondering what materials may need to be censored, but there has been no clarification by the Secretary of State, or his office,” it says. “There is no information on what material, display, or program may ‘cross the line,’ or if the line will simply be drawn by the most vocal and restrictive community members.”The organization said many libraries are considering suspending the cards for members under 18 in order to require parents to “reaffirm their child’s right to have a library card.”

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