Former Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s public attacks on school districts led to ‘even greater confusion than the pandemic had already caused’

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

Former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2216-CV01110%20State%20of%20Missouri%20v%20LSR7%20School%20District%20Order%20and%20Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=22341527">lacked any legal authority to order school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures</a>, a Jackson County judge ruled Friday.&nbsp;

In his 18-page decision, Judge Marco Roldan concluded that the attorney general’s office did not follow Missouri law when it demanded last year that Lee’s Summit R-7 School District rescind the measures put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Schmitt sued Lee’s Summit, along with 46 other school districts, then amplified his attacks on social media, “encouraging parents and students to defy the authority granted to the board of education by Missouri law,” Roldan wrote.&nbsp;

That led to “even greater confusion than the pandemic had already caused.”

“The attorney general lacked any legal authority to insert himself into the school district’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic,” Roldan wrote.

Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate last year, and his lawsuits challenging mask mandates were a major part of his campaign messaging. A spokeswoman for his successor, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, did not respond to a request for comment on Friday’s ruling.&nbsp;

The mask mandate lawsuits were filed in early 2022. Eventually, all were dropped by the attorney general’s office or dismissed by the courts.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/12/lees-summit-countersuit/">Only the Lee’s Summit case survived</a>, as the school district refused to let Schmitt dismiss the case and instead filed its own counterclaim demanding Roldan establish the extent of the attorney general’s authority over local school districts.

In his Friday ruling, Roldan concluded that Schmitt wrongly assumed he had any authority over school districts by relying on a 2021 ruling in Cole County Court that deemed health orders designed to<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/23/missouri-judge-local-covid-orders/#:~:text=By%3A%20Jason%20Hancock%20%2D%20November%2023%2C%202021%203%3A00%20pm&amp;text=Cole%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Judge,departments%20violated%20the%20Missouri%20Constitution.">&nbsp;stop the spread of COVID-19 that were issued by local health departments violated the Missouri Constitution.</a>

Roldan noted that no school districts were involved in the 2021 case and the court’s ruling said nothing about the authority of local boards of education under Missouri law.

After ordering school districts to end COVID mitigation measures, Schmitt publicly invited parents across the state to report to him school districts who were in violation of the 2021 court order.

This caused unnecessary confusion, Roldan wrote, by wronging convincing students and parents that their school districts were violating the law.&nbsp;

Local school boards should have been able to exercise their authority “free from unlawful interference by the attorney general.”

“There exists no Missouri law allowing the attorney general to involve himself in a school district’s efforts to manage COVID-19 or other disease within its schools,” Roldan wrote. “He had no authority even to issue an opinion on those matters to the school district. In neither of his orders nor in his social media communications did he identify a valid legal basis for asserting that the school district was acting contrary to Missouri law.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652892746445.png" alt="Former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt who was elected to the U.S. Senate in August 2022,&nbsp; (photo courtesy of the Attorney General's office)" />
 <figcaption>Former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt who was elected to the U.S. Senate in August 2022,&nbsp; (photo courtesy of the Attorney General's office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Former Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s public attacks on school districts led to ‘even greater confusion than the pandemic had already caused’</h2>By JASON HANCOCK <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/2216-CV01110%20State%20of%20Missouri%20v%20LSR7%20School%20District%20Order%20and%20Judgment_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=16&amp;di=22341527">lacked any legal authority to order school districts to end COVID-19 mitigation measures</a>, a Jackson County judge ruled Friday.&nbsp;In his 18-page decision, Judge Marco Roldan concluded that the attorney general’s office did not follow Missouri law when it demanded last year that Lee’s Summit R-7 School District rescind the measures put in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.Schmitt sued Lee’s Summit, along with 46 other school districts, then amplified his attacks on social media, “encouraging parents and students to defy the authority granted to the board of education by Missouri law,” Roldan wrote.&nbsp;That led to “even greater confusion than the pandemic had already caused.”“The attorney general lacked any legal authority to insert himself into the school district’s efforts to manage the COVID-19 pandemic,” Roldan wrote.Schmitt was elected to the U.S. Senate last year, and his lawsuits challenging mask mandates were a major part of his campaign messaging. A spokeswoman for his successor, Attorney General Andrew Bailey, did not respond to a request for comment on Friday’s ruling.&nbsp;The mask mandate lawsuits were filed in early 2022. Eventually, all were dropped by the attorney general’s office or dismissed by the courts.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/12/lees-summit-countersuit/">Only the Lee’s Summit case survived</a>, as the school district refused to let Schmitt dismiss the case and instead filed its own counterclaim demanding Roldan establish the extent of the attorney general’s authority over local school districts.In his Friday ruling, Roldan concluded that Schmitt wrongly assumed he had any authority over school districts by relying on a 2021 ruling in Cole County Court that deemed health orders designed to<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/11/23/missouri-judge-local-covid-orders/#:~:text=By%3A%20Jason%20Hancock%20%2D%20November%2023%2C%202021%203%3A00%20pm&amp;text=Cole%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Judge,departments%20violated%20the%20Missouri%20Constitution.">&nbsp;stop the spread of COVID-19 that were issued by local health departments violated the Missouri Constitution.</a>Roldan noted that no school districts were involved in the 2021 case and the court’s ruling said nothing about the authority of local boards of education under Missouri law.After ordering school districts to end COVID mitigation measures, Schmitt publicly invited parents across the state to report to him school districts who were in violation of the 2021 court order.This caused unnecessary confusion, Roldan wrote, by wronging convincing students and parents that their school districts were violating the law.&nbsp;They were not.&nbsp;Local school boards should have been able to exercise their authority “free from unlawful interference by the attorney general.”“There exists no Missouri law allowing the attorney general to involve himself in a school district’s efforts to manage COVID-19 or other disease within its schools,” Roldan wrote. “He had no authority even to issue an opinion on those matters to the school district. In neither of his orders nor in his social media communications did he identify a valid legal basis for asserting that the school district was acting contrary to Missouri law.”

Judge: Missouri AG had no authority to order end of school mask mandates

The St. Joseph Mustangs are set to play ball again in 2023, taking the field as the hottest team in the MINK League.

St. Joseph made history last summer, becoming the first franchise in league history to win three consecutive titles. The Mustangs capped it off with an <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e3280f33-7af4-4c42-8074-3f65558017bf">11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws</a> back on July 30th.

The Mustangs have now won eight MINK League championships since their inception in 2009. Team owner and general manager Ky Turner says the championships are a blast and that remains the goal each year, but to him, a successful summer comes down to more than that.

"All of these guys are excited to play for St. Joseph," Turner told KFEQ Radio. "It means a lot nationally - the St. Joe Mustangs. When you come here, you start to feel it again."

"Once you get here, you meet the people you're playing for, the community, you see the support in the crowd. It's just something that excites everyone. To get it going again this year, you get a little extra pep in your step and Opening Day is like a holiday around here."

The Mustangs open their 14th season of play at historic Phil Welch Stadium Wednesday when they welcome in the Baldwin City Blues - a Kansas team from the Mid-Plains League. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.

It's the first of 49 regular season games for the Mustangs - 26 of those are at home. St. Joseph has ranked in the top 12 nationally in&nbsp;collegiate summer baseball attendance for nine years in a row.

Turner says that's no coincidence, and it takes a literal army to make the home game experience fun, friendly and memorable.

"That's why it's really hard when someone calls me and says, 'I want to do what you're doing in St. Joseph,'" Turner said. "And I just say, 'Good luck!' St. Joseph is a special place and it takes a lot of different people to make that happen."

This marks Turner's second season as team owner and his eighth as GM. He's been with the team in some capacity since the inaugural 2009 season.

While his creativity and passion have helped the entire organization grow and evolve through the years, Turner says there's one area in particular he loves to focus on as the man in charge.

"I never want to get too far away from the fun family side," Turner said. "Because, that's truly my baby and I want to make sure we stay true to who we are."

As for the team itself, the roster features 17 players who are back from the 2022 squad.&nbsp;Local high schools like Benton, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, Platte County, Kearney and Savannah all have alums playing for the Mustangs this summer.

One of those locals is a first-time Mustang - pitcher and Lafayette graduate Jayden Little, who has spent the last two years at nearby Highland Community College.

An all-state pitcher for the Irish in 2021, Little has been sidelined for about the last year-and-a-half with Tommy John surgery. But this summer, Little says he's feeling like his old self and is ready to show it.

"It's been a long time," he said. "It's nice to come back and play in front of the home fans for sure. I always came here as a kid, and needed the autographs from the players. Definitely willing to do that for the little kids now."

Another Lafayette alum on the team is utility player Ike Book, who spent this past season at Washburn after two years at Lincoln Trail Community College in Illinois.

Book was named second-team all-MIAA this past spring after batting .394 - the fourth best average in the league. This after dealing with a whole slew of injuries these last few years.

"Both my quads, I had a PCL and last fall, I had a fractured patella," said Book, a third-year Mustang who was limited last summer with injury. "I've definitely been through the ringer with those injuries. But, luckily, this spring, I didn't have anything crazy. Hopefully, we can stay healthy and stay on that track."

Like any other local baseball fanatic, Book has his own childhood memories of coming to Phil Welch. Now a veteran player for the Mustangs, he hopes to spend another summer giving back to a fanbase that's always cheered him on.

"Getting to watch the Mustangs and some of the other local teams growing up, this is kind of something you dream about," Book said. "You kind of think about how the kids here are now, and you can put yourself in their shoes. It's definitely a dream, and we're lucky enough to be playing."

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/851b943b-ae84-4f45-a92e-e82d598dd132">FULL ROSTER HERE.</a>

<a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/92b1121d-bb5f-418e-8b29-8237b54a32e9">FULL SCHEDULE HERE.</a>

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1659242393958.jpeg" alt="The Mustangs after winning the 2022 MINK League title last July with team owner and general manager Ky Turner addressing the fans. Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>The Mustangs after winning the 2022 MINK League title last July with team owner and general manager Ky Turner addressing the fans. Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostThe St. Joseph Mustangs are set to play ball again in 2023, taking the field as the hottest team in the MINK League.St. Joseph made history last summer, becoming the first franchise in league history to win three consecutive titles. The Mustangs capped it off with an <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/e3280f33-7af4-4c42-8074-3f65558017bf">11-1 victory over the Joplin Outlaws</a> back on July 30th.The Mustangs have now won eight MINK League championships since their inception in 2009. Team owner and general manager Ky Turner says the championships are a blast and that remains the goal each year, but to him, a successful summer comes down to more than that."All of these guys are excited to play for St. Joseph," Turner told KFEQ Radio. "It means a lot nationally - the St. Joe Mustangs. When you come here, you start to feel it again.""Once you get here, you meet the people you're playing for, the community, you see the support in the crowd. It's just something that excites everyone. To get it going again this year, you get a little extra pep in your step and Opening Day is like a holiday around here."The Mustangs open their 14th season of play at historic Phil Welch Stadium Wednesday when they welcome in the Baldwin City Blues - a Kansas team from the Mid-Plains League. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.It's the first of 49 regular season games for the Mustangs - 26 of those are at home. St. Joseph has ranked in the top 12 nationally in&nbsp;collegiate summer baseball attendance for nine years in a row.Turner says that's no coincidence, and it takes a literal army to make the home game experience fun, friendly and memorable."That's why it's really hard when someone calls me and says, 'I want to do what you're doing in St. Joseph,'" Turner said. "And I just say, 'Good luck!' St. Joseph is a special place and it takes a lot of different people to make that happen."This marks Turner's second season as team owner and his eighth as GM. He's been with the team in some capacity since the inaugural 2009 season.While his creativity and passion have helped the entire organization grow and evolve through the years, Turner says there's one area in particular he loves to focus on as the man in charge."I never want to get too far away from the fun family side," Turner said. "Because, that's truly my baby and I want to make sure we stay true to who we are."As for the team itself, the roster features 17 players who are back from the 2022 squad.&nbsp;Local high schools like Benton, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, Platte County, Kearney and Savannah all have alums playing for the Mustangs this summer.One of those locals is a first-time Mustang - pitcher and Lafayette graduate Jayden Little, who has spent the last two years at nearby Highland Community College.An all-state pitcher for the Irish in 2021, Little has been sidelined for about the last year-and-a-half with Tommy John surgery. But this summer, Little says he's feeling like his old self and is ready to show it."It's been a long time," he said. "It's nice to come back and play in front of the home fans for sure. I always came here as a kid, and needed the autographs from the players. Definitely willing to do that for the little kids now."Another Lafayette alum on the team is utility player Ike Book, who spent this past season at Washburn after two years at Lincoln Trail Community College in Illinois.Book was named second-team all-MIAA this past spring after batting .394 - the fourth best average in the league. This after dealing with a whole slew of injuries these last few years."Both my quads, I had a PCL and last fall, I had a fractured patella," said Book, a third-year Mustang who was limited last summer with injury. "I've definitely been through the ringer with those injuries. But, luckily, this spring, I didn't have anything crazy. Hopefully, we can stay healthy and stay on that track."Like any other local baseball fanatic, Book has his own childhood memories of coming to Phil Welch. Now a veteran player for the Mustangs, he hopes to spend another summer giving back to a fanbase that's always cheered him on."Getting to watch the Mustangs and some of the other local teams growing up, this is kind of something you dream about," Book said. "You kind of think about how the kids here are now, and you can put yourself in their shoes. It's definitely a dream, and we're lucky enough to be playing."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685496903572.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685496932035.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685496946042.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/851b943b-ae84-4f45-a92e-e82d598dd132">FULL ROSTER HERE.</a><a href="https://stjosephpost.com/posts/92b1121d-bb5f-418e-8b29-8237b54a32e9">FULL SCHEDULE HERE.</a>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Mustangs set sights on family fun and another MINK League title as 2023 season begins

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and additional allegations.

Just before 11a.m. May 28, an officer observed 35-year-old Anthony Lunsford walking in the 1100 Block of Santa Fe in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The officer took Lunsford&nbsp;into custody on Atchison and Brown County District Court warrants. During that arrest Lunsford was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

In June of 2022, police arrested Lunsford on a District Court warrant for violation of a protective order, theft, domestic battery, and intimidation of a witness.

In May of 2022, Lunsford was jailed on requested charges of domestic battery and criminal damage to property in connection with an incident that occurred on April 19.&nbsp;Lunsford has spent time in custody numerous times over the past five years and was convicted of theft, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685489706315.png" alt="Lunsford-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Lunsford-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug and additional allegations.Just before 11a.m. May 28, an officer observed 35-year-old Anthony Lunsford walking in the 1100 Block of Santa Fe in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The officer took Lunsford&nbsp;into custody on Atchison and Brown County District Court warrants. During that arrest Lunsford was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.In June of 2022, police arrested Lunsford on a District Court warrant for violation of a protective order, theft, domestic battery, and intimidation of a witness.In May of 2022, Lunsford was jailed on requested charges of domestic battery and criminal damage to property in connection with an incident that occurred on April 19.&nbsp;Lunsford has spent time in custody numerous times over the past five years and was convicted of theft, according to online jail records.

Kan. man with a history of violent crime is back in jail

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before&nbsp; 9a.m. Tuesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Malibu driven by Rebecca J. Gile, 50, Conception Junction, was eastbound on Highway M one mile east of Guilford.

The driver slowed, made an abrupt right turn and the car skidded on a gravel driveway and struck an embankment.

Nodaway County ambulance transported Gile to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before&nbsp; 9a.m. Tuesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Chevy Malibu driven by Rebecca J. Gile, 50, Conception Junction, was eastbound on Highway M one mile east of Guilford.The driver slowed, made an abrupt right turn and the car skidded on a gravel driveway and struck an embankment.Nodaway County ambulance transported Gile to Mosaic in Maryville. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman injured after car strikes embankment

There's less than a month until he officially takes the seat of Police Chief, but Paul Luster is prepared to tackle the challenges that come with the position. &nbsp;

Luster says one of his biggest challenges will be building relationships, not only with his fellow officers, but with the community. &nbsp;

"Getting out, getting to know the community, getting to know all the peers I'll be working with, the department members, and just having the ability to build those relationships," Luster tells reporters following his introduction last week.&nbsp;

Luster says he believes there's a great foundation already built at the St. Joseph Police Department&nbsp;

"You know just bringing some maybe modern policing, some 21st century policing, that will continue to just get better and better," Luster says. &nbsp;

Luster says there's a mix of challenges in his new position, that range from nationwide problems to ones that are unique to St. Joseph. &nbsp;

"I know right now that staffing and retention is an issue, that's a national attention right now so I don't think that's unique to St. Joseph something that we've all been dealing with," Luster explains. "As far as that, as I get to know the community, get to listen to the community, I may identify some of those challenges that could be very unique to St. Joe, but anxious to work on them either way."&nbsp;

Luster was named Chief of Police after a six-month search that began when former Chief Chris Connally retired in September. &nbsp;

Luster hopes to bring some changes to the St. Joseph Police Department, and to do that he'll rely on everyone's help. &nbsp;

Luster says he hopes to hold some listening sessions once he begins his leadership of the department. &nbsp;

Luster says these sessions will be with everyone, all the way from internally at the police department, to externally talking to people in the community.&nbsp;

"I can come in with, and I have, with kind of an overarching vision for the police department that we're going to strive for organizational excellence, and that we're going to strive for high levels of community engagement, and we're going to strive to really utilize database policing, precision policing," Luster says. "But the rest of those goals come from this community and from this police department."&nbsp;

Luster, a 25-plus year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department, will take over the position of Chief on June 26th.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685473969561.jpeg" alt="New St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster speaks with Deputy Mayor Randy Schultz after being introduced as the new Chief of Police in St. Joseph last week/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>New St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster speaks with Deputy Mayor Randy Schultz after being introduced as the new Chief of Police in St. Joseph last week/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;There's less than a month until he officially takes the seat of Police Chief, but Paul Luster is prepared to tackle the challenges that come with the position. &nbsp;Luster says one of his biggest challenges will be building relationships, not only with his fellow officers, but with the community. &nbsp;"Getting out, getting to know the community, getting to know all the peers I'll be working with, the department members, and just having the ability to build those relationships," Luster tells reporters following his introduction last week.&nbsp;Luster says he believes there's a great foundation already built at the St. Joseph Police Department&nbsp;"You know just bringing some maybe modern policing, some 21st century policing, that will continue to just get better and better," Luster says. &nbsp;Luster says there's a mix of challenges in his new position, that range from nationwide problems to ones that are unique to St. Joseph. &nbsp;"I know right now that staffing and retention is an issue, that's a national attention right now so I don't think that's unique to St. Joseph something that we've all been dealing with," Luster explains. "As far as that, as I get to know the community, get to listen to the community, I may identify some of those challenges that could be very unique to St. Joe, but anxious to work on them either way."&nbsp;Luster was named Chief of Police after a six-month search that began when former Chief Chris Connally retired in September. &nbsp;Luster hopes to bring some changes to the St. Joseph Police Department, and to do that he'll rely on everyone's help. &nbsp;Luster says he hopes to hold some listening sessions once he begins his leadership of the department. &nbsp;Luster says these sessions will be with everyone, all the way from internally at the police department, to externally talking to people in the community.&nbsp;"I can come in with, and I have, with kind of an overarching vision for the police department that we're going to strive for organizational excellence, and that we're going to strive for high levels of community engagement, and we're going to strive to really utilize database policing, precision policing," Luster says. "But the rest of those goals come from this community and from this police department."&nbsp;Luster, a 25-plus year veteran of the Kansas City Police Department, will take over the position of Chief on June 26th.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/New-St--Joseph-Police-Chief-ready-to-face-new-challenges-e2509ag" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

New St. Joseph Police Chief strives to build relationships with the community

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Honda VTX 1800 driven by Logan M. Patterson, 30, Cameron, was southbound on Route EE four miles north of Cameron.&nbsp;&nbsp;

EMS transported Patterson to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 5:30a.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Honda VTX 1800 driven by Logan M. Patterson, 30, Cameron, was southbound on Route EE four miles north of Cameron.&nbsp;&nbsp;The motorcycle struck a deer in the roadEMS transported Patterson to Cameron Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man hospitalized after motorcycle strikes a deer

No one was hurt in a Memorial Day shooting in St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police report at least four shots were fired into
an occupied residence near 27th and Mary Streets around 8:30 Monday night. Police report several people were in the house, including children. None
of the shots hit any of those inside.

Little is known about the motive of the shooting at this time.
No suspect or suspects are in custody. The investigation continues.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNo one was hurt in a Memorial Day shooting in St. Joseph.St. Joseph police report at least four shots were fired into
an occupied residence near 27th and Mary Streets around 8:30 Monday night. Police report several people were in the house, including children. None
of the shots hit any of those inside.Little is known about the motive of the shooting at this time.
No suspect or suspects are in custody. The investigation continues.

St. Joseph police report no one hurt in Memorial Day shooting

GOWER, Missouri (AP) —Hundreds of people flocked to a small town in Missouri this week and last to see a Black nun whose body has barely decomposed since 2019. Some say it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others say the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think.

Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster was exhumed in April, according to a statement from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, in Gower, Missouri.

The nuns had been preparing for the addition of a St. Joseph shrine, and that involved “the reinterment of the remains of our beloved foundress, Sister Wilhelmina,” the statement said.

When they exhumed Lancaster, they were told to expect only bones, since she had been buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming four years ago.

Instead, they discovered an intact body and “a perfectly preserved religious habit," the statement said. The nuns hadn't meant to publicize the discovery, but someone posted a private email publicly and “the news began to spread like wildfire.”

Volunteers and local law enforcement have helped to manage the crowds in the town of roughly 1,800 people, as people have visited from all over the country to see and touch Lancaster's body.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Samuel Dawson, who is Catholic and visited from Kansas City with his son last week. “It was very peaceful. Just very reverent.”

Dawson said there were a few hundred people when he visited and that he saw many out-of-state cars.

Visitors were allowed to touch her, Dawson said, adding that the nuns “wanted to make her accessible to the public ... because in real life, she was always accessible to people.”

The monastery said in a statement that Lancaster's body will be placed in a glass shrine in their church on Monday. Visitors will still be able to see her body and take dirt from her grave, but they won't be able to touch her.

The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph also released a statement.

“The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions," the diocese said. “At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.”

“Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but that has not been initiated in this case yet,” the diocese added.

The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, also said that Lancaster has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death for the sainthood process to begin.

Rebecca George, an anthropology instructor at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, said the body's lack of decomposition might not be as rare as people are expecting.

George said the “mummification” of un-embalmed bodies is common at the university's facility and the bodies could stay preserved for many years, if allowed to.

Coffins and clothing also help to preserve bodies, she said.

“Typically, when we bury people, we don’t exhume them. We don’t get to look at them a couple years out,” George said. “With 100 years, there might be nothing left. But when you’ve got just a few years out, this is not unexpected.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685443513872.png" alt="People wait to view the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28, 2023, near Gower, Mo.Hundreds of people visited the small town in Missouri this week to see the nun's body that has barely decomposed since 2019 — some are saying it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others are saying the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>People wait to view the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28, 2023, near Gower, Mo.Hundreds of people visited the small town in Missouri this week to see the nun's body that has barely decomposed since 2019 — some are saying it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others are saying the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>GOWER, Missouri (AP) —Hundreds of people flocked to a small town in Missouri this week and last to see a Black nun whose body has barely decomposed since 2019. Some say it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others say the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think.Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster was exhumed in April, according to a statement from the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, in Gower, Missouri.The nuns had been preparing for the addition of a St. Joseph shrine, and that involved “the reinterment of the remains of our beloved foundress, Sister Wilhelmina,” the statement said.When they exhumed Lancaster, they were told to expect only bones, since she had been buried in a simple wooden coffin without any embalming four years ago.Instead, they discovered an intact body and “a perfectly preserved religious habit," the statement said. The nuns hadn't meant to publicize the discovery, but someone posted a private email publicly and “the news began to spread like wildfire.”Volunteers and local law enforcement have helped to manage the crowds in the town of roughly 1,800 people, as people have visited from all over the country to see and touch Lancaster's body.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685443722078.png" alt="People pray over the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28, 2023, near Gower, Mo. Hundreds of people visited the small town in Missouri this week to see the nun's body that has barely decomposed since 2019 — some are saying it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others are saying the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)" />
 <figcaption>People pray over the body of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster at the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles abbey Sunday, May 28, 2023, near Gower, Mo. Hundreds of people visited the small town in Missouri this week to see the nun's body that has barely decomposed since 2019 — some are saying it's a sign of holiness in Catholicism, while others are saying the lack of decomposition may not be as rare as people think. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)</figcaption>
 </figure>“It was pretty amazing,” said Samuel Dawson, who is Catholic and visited from Kansas City with his son last week. “It was very peaceful. Just very reverent.”Dawson said there were a few hundred people when he visited and that he saw many out-of-state cars.Visitors were allowed to touch her, Dawson said, adding that the nuns “wanted to make her accessible to the public ... because in real life, she was always accessible to people.”The monastery said in a statement that Lancaster's body will be placed in a glass shrine in their church on Monday. Visitors will still be able to see her body and take dirt from her grave, but they won't be able to touch her.The Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph also released a statement.“The condition of the remains of Sister Wilhelmina Lancaster has understandably generated widespread interest and raised important questions," the diocese said. “At the same time, it is important to protect the integrity of the mortal remains of Sister Wilhelmina to allow for a thorough investigation.”“Incorruptibility has been verified in the past, but it is very rare. There is a well-established process to pursue the cause for sainthood, but that has not been initiated in this case yet,” the diocese added.The Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles, also said that Lancaster has not yet reached the required minimum of five years since death for the sainthood process to begin.Rebecca George, an anthropology instructor at Western Carolina University in North Carolina, said the body's lack of decomposition might not be as rare as people are expecting.George said the “mummification” of un-embalmed bodies is common at the university's facility and the bodies could stay preserved for many years, if allowed to.Coffins and clothing also help to preserve bodies, she said.“Typically, when we bury people, we don’t exhume them. We don’t get to look at them a couple years out,” George said. “With 100 years, there might be nothing left. But when you’ve got just a few years out, this is not unexpected.”

Nun whose body shows little decay since 2019 death draws hundreds to Gower

ANDREW COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Todd K. Nelson, 42, Amazonia, was northbound on Route T one half mile north of Amazonia.

The car traveled off the right side of the road, struck a tree stump and overturned.

Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Heaton-Bowman Smith Funeral Home. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —A Missouri man died in an accident just after 2:30a.m. Monday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Todd K. Nelson, 42, Amazonia, was northbound on Route T one half mile north of Amazonia.The car traveled off the right side of the road, struck a tree stump and overturned.Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Heaton-Bowman Smith Funeral Home. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Andrew Co. man dies after car strikes tree stump, overturns

A summertime tradition returns starting this week at Regal Theatres in St. Joseph.&nbsp; &nbsp;

For an outstanding 20th year, old films will be brought back to theaters to help benefit Second Harvest during the KJO 105.5 Canned Film Festival at Regal. &nbsp;

Second Harvest Chief Development Officer Michelle Fagerstone says while this isn't the largest food drive for Second Harvest, it is one of the most popular.&nbsp;

"It's one of those that it's a true event versus just a food drive, families get to spend time together and at the same time they get to help families that are food insecure," Fagerstone tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "It is a great food drive, and we look forward to doing it every year."&nbsp;

Fagerstone says every year the event draws in several people. &nbsp;

"We have busloads of kids from daycares, preschools, that show up during the summertime," Fagerstone says. "It's a nice avenue for people to get out of the heat and come enjoy a movie at a very affordable cost, they can donate a can of food, and it seems like the kids all enjoy the movies that are selected."&nbsp;

Moviegoers can also donate two dollars to Second Harvest if they don't have a can of food.&nbsp; Fagerstone says about 6,500 pounds of food a year have been collected through the program. &nbsp;

Fagerstone says the food drive is not just Second Harvest and Regal Theaters, it's a real community effort.&nbsp;

"We've had Mosaic on board, we've had K-Jo, since the beginning K-Jo has been a partner in this," Fagerstone says. &nbsp;

Fagerstone says they've also had several other local businesses step in and sponsor the drive throughout the 20 years.&nbsp;

"It definitely is a community event and without everybody coming together there's no way we could pull this off," Fagerstone points out.&nbsp;

The Canned Film Festival begins tomorrow, showing Croods: A New Age, at 1pm at Regal.&nbsp; Movies will be shown on Tuesday's and Wednesday's until August 16th. &nbsp;

Times of the movies can be seen on the Second Harvest Facebook page, or by listening to K JO 105.5.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685129152463.jpeg" alt="K-Jo 105.5 has been the sponsor during the entirety of the Canned Film Festival benefiting Second Harvest which begins tomorrow/ Photo courtesy of Matt Stooks" />
 <figcaption>K-Jo 105.5 has been the sponsor during the entirety of the Canned Film Festival benefiting Second Harvest which begins tomorrow/ Photo courtesy of Matt Stooks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;A summertime tradition returns starting this week at Regal Theatres in St. Joseph.&nbsp; &nbsp;For an outstanding 20th year, old films will be brought back to theaters to help benefit Second Harvest during the KJO 105.5 Canned Film Festival at Regal. &nbsp;Second Harvest Chief Development Officer Michelle Fagerstone says while this isn't the largest food drive for Second Harvest, it is one of the most popular.&nbsp;"It's one of those that it's a true event versus just a food drive, families get to spend time together and at the same time they get to help families that are food insecure," Fagerstone tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "It is a great food drive, and we look forward to doing it every year."&nbsp;Fagerstone says every year the event draws in several people. &nbsp;"We have busloads of kids from daycares, preschools, that show up during the summertime," Fagerstone says. "It's a nice avenue for people to get out of the heat and come enjoy a movie at a very affordable cost, they can donate a can of food, and it seems like the kids all enjoy the movies that are selected."&nbsp;Moviegoers can also donate two dollars to Second Harvest if they don't have a can of food.&nbsp; Fagerstone says about 6,500 pounds of food a year have been collected through the program. &nbsp;Fagerstone says the food drive is not just Second Harvest and Regal Theaters, it's a real community effort.&nbsp;"We've had Mosaic on board, we've had K-Jo, since the beginning K-Jo has been a partner in this," Fagerstone says. &nbsp;Fagerstone says they've also had several other local businesses step in and sponsor the drive throughout the 20 years.&nbsp;"It definitely is a community event and without everybody coming together there's no way we could pull this off," Fagerstone points out.&nbsp;The Canned Film Festival begins tomorrow, showing Croods: A New Age, at 1pm at Regal.&nbsp; Movies will be shown on Tuesday's and Wednesday's until August 16th. &nbsp;Times of the movies can be seen on the Second Harvest Facebook page, or by listening to K JO 105.5.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685129208038.jpeg" alt="Canned Film Festival Schedule/ courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Canned Film Festival Schedule/ courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Get out of the summer heat and see a movie while also helping families in need

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Coleman Sport Go Kart driven by a 13-year-old Maryville boy was northbound on Hope Street.

The boy lost control of the vehicle. It traveled off the left side of the road, struck a drainage ditch, overturned and the boy was ejected.

Nodaway County EMS transported the boy to Mosaic in St. Joseph.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9:30p.m. Sunday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2021 Coleman Sport Go Kart driven by a 13-year-old Maryville boy was northbound on Hope Street.The boy lost control of the vehicle. It traveled off the left side of the road, struck a drainage ditch, overturned and the boy was ejected.Nodaway County EMS transported the boy to Mosaic in St. Joseph.

13-year-old Maryville boy injured in go-kart accident

By CLARA BATES&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">Missouri Independen</a>

Missouri’s social services department is increasingly using a more-efficient method to process Medicaid renewal applications, officials said Thursday during a quarterly meeting of the health care program’s oversight board.

Preliminary data shared Thursday shows the state used a streamlined renewal process which doesn’t require enrollee action in 47% of all Medicaid renewal cases it evaluated in April.&nbsp;

Missouri had long struggled to increase the number of applications processed in that streamlined way.&nbsp;

That was up from “about 10%” of cases being evaluated that way pre-COVID, said Kim Evans, director of Family Support Division.&nbsp;

Missouri has historically used this process, referred to as an ex-parte renewal, at a low rate,&nbsp;which many argued was contributing to procedural issues with participants losing coverage in years past.&nbsp;In January 2020, Missouri was one of seven states that processed<a target="_blank" href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Table-10-Medicaid-and-CHIP-Eligibility-as-of-Jan-2020.pdf">&nbsp;fewer than 25% of renewals&nbsp;</a>on an ex-parte basis.

Ex-parte renewals&nbsp;use existing data the state has, such as income information from other social services programs, rather than requiring enrollees complete forms or documentation themselves, which can introduce bureaucratic issues.

“I have been doing a happy dance around this,” Evans said, adding that it will “cut down on the churn” that occurs when participants lose coverage due to paperwork reasons and then must reapply.

“We’re very excited to see these preliminary numbers.”

The update comes as Missouri and every state nationwide begins checking the eligibility of every Medicaid enrollee on their caseload, after a three year pandemic pause on verification checks. Officials have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/02/200000-missourians-estimated-to-lose-medicaid-as-eligibility-renewals-resume/">estimated</a>&nbsp;200,000 Missourians could eventually lose coverage as the pandemic policy ends.

Missouri is reevaluating every Medicaid participant over a 12-month period, and is initiating the disenrollments&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker/">later</a>&nbsp;than many other states which have already begun.

Participants’ renewal date will generally be the anniversary month of when they originally enrolled in Medicaid.&nbsp;

The earliest group is the June renewal group. In April, the state attempted to renew them using existing data.&nbsp;

Then this month, the department mailed decision letters to that group, either rendering a decision or requesting more information with a form.&nbsp;

States are required to send out forms to those they deem ineligible through the streamlined data process, or those from whom they need more information to make a decision.

Evans said the department sent out 37,000 forms in May, out of 71,048 households total. That suggests that just under half, roughly 34,000 households, retained Medicaid without needing to take any action on their part.

Those who received forms have until June 30 to return the required information or will lose Medicaid. Evans did not provide data on how many of those participants the state found ineligible through ex-parte, versus how many it could not determine.

If someone with a June renewal date does not return the form by June 30, they will lose coverage&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/29/missouri-to-begin-medicaid-renewals-vowing-as-seamless-a-process-as-possible/">July 1.</a>

They will then have 90 days to reopen their case, Evans said. After that, they would have to reapply.

Evans said the department has been working closely with managed care organizations for months to help inform patients about the renewal process and encourage them to return their paperwork, along with other forms of outreach.

The state has not posted any data publicly, but Evans said they will.&nbsp;

“The plan is for us to make these public numbers.” she said. “For the first couple of months we just need to make sure we’re pulling our reports correctly.”

Once the state submits data to the federal government in July about how the first batch of renewals went, advocates will particularly be looking for how many of the denials were based in procedural issues — meaning, for the most part, that the participant did not return the required information — versus those found ineligible.

Elsewhere in the country, where states have already begun removing people from the Medicaid rolls, the number of procedural removals has varied widely. Among those that have garnered concern among advocates include Arkansas and Florida: In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JoanAlker1/status/1655695271299366916?s=20">Arkansas</a>&nbsp;in April, 85% of denials were procedural, and in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/05/16/how-many-children-just-lost-coverage-in-florida/">Florida</a>, 82% of denials were.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685114373589.png" alt=" Todd Richardson, Director of MO HealthNet, Kim Evans, Director of Family Support Division, and Robert Knodell, acting director of Department of Social Services, present to the media in Jefferson City on March 28 about upcoming Medicaid renewals. (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> Todd Richardson, Director of MO HealthNet, Kim Evans, Director of Family Support Division, and Robert Knodell, acting director of Department of Social Services, present to the media in Jefferson City on March 28 about upcoming Medicaid renewals. (Clara Bates/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>By CLARA BATES&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">Missouri Independen</a>Missouri’s social services department is increasingly using a more-efficient method to process Medicaid renewal applications, officials said Thursday during a quarterly meeting of the health care program’s oversight board.Preliminary data shared Thursday shows the state used a streamlined renewal process which doesn’t require enrollee action in 47% of all Medicaid renewal cases it evaluated in April.&nbsp;Missouri had long struggled to increase the number of applications processed in that streamlined way.&nbsp;That was up from “about 10%” of cases being evaluated that way pre-COVID, said Kim Evans, director of Family Support Division.&nbsp;Missouri has historically used this process, referred to as an ex-parte renewal, at a low rate,&nbsp;which many argued was contributing to procedural issues with participants losing coverage in years past.&nbsp;In January 2020, Missouri was one of seven states that processed<a target="_blank" href="https://files.kff.org/attachment/Table-10-Medicaid-and-CHIP-Eligibility-as-of-Jan-2020.pdf">&nbsp;fewer than 25% of renewals&nbsp;</a>on an ex-parte basis.Ex-parte renewals&nbsp;use existing data the state has, such as income information from other social services programs, rather than requiring enrollees complete forms or documentation themselves, which can introduce bureaucratic issues.“I have been doing a happy dance around this,” Evans said, adding that it will “cut down on the churn” that occurs when participants lose coverage due to paperwork reasons and then must reapply.“We’re very excited to see these preliminary numbers.”The update comes as Missouri and every state nationwide begins checking the eligibility of every Medicaid enrollee on their caseload, after a three year pandemic pause on verification checks. Officials have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/02/200000-missourians-estimated-to-lose-medicaid-as-eligibility-renewals-resume/">estimated</a>&nbsp;200,000 Missourians could eventually lose coverage as the pandemic policy ends.Missouri is reevaluating every Medicaid participant over a 12-month period, and is initiating the disenrollments&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-enrollment-and-unwinding-tracker/">later</a>&nbsp;than many other states which have already begun.Participants’ renewal date will generally be the anniversary month of when they originally enrolled in Medicaid.&nbsp;The earliest group is the June renewal group. In April, the state attempted to renew them using existing data.&nbsp;Then this month, the department mailed decision letters to that group, either rendering a decision or requesting more information with a form.&nbsp;States are required to send out forms to those they deem ineligible through the streamlined data process, or those from whom they need more information to make a decision.Evans said the department sent out 37,000 forms in May, out of 71,048 households total. That suggests that just under half, roughly 34,000 households, retained Medicaid without needing to take any action on their part.Those who received forms have until June 30 to return the required information or will lose Medicaid. Evans did not provide data on how many of those participants the state found ineligible through ex-parte, versus how many it could not determine.If someone with a June renewal date does not return the form by June 30, they will lose coverage&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/03/29/missouri-to-begin-medicaid-renewals-vowing-as-seamless-a-process-as-possible/">July 1.</a>They will then have 90 days to reopen their case, Evans said. After that, they would have to reapply.Evans said the department has been working closely with managed care organizations for months to help inform patients about the renewal process and encourage them to return their paperwork, along with other forms of outreach.The state has not posted any data publicly, but Evans said they will.&nbsp;“The plan is for us to make these public numbers.” she said. “For the first couple of months we just need to make sure we’re pulling our reports correctly.”Once the state submits data to the federal government in July about how the first batch of renewals went, advocates will particularly be looking for how many of the denials were based in procedural issues — meaning, for the most part, that the participant did not return the required information — versus those found ineligible.Elsewhere in the country, where states have already begun removing people from the Medicaid rolls, the number of procedural removals has varied widely. Among those that have garnered concern among advocates include Arkansas and Florida: In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JoanAlker1/status/1655695271299366916?s=20">Arkansas</a>&nbsp;in April, 85% of denials were procedural, and in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2023/05/16/how-many-children-just-lost-coverage-in-florida/">Florida</a>, 82% of denials were.

Mo. agency says it’s increasingly utilizing more efficient Medicaid renewal process

Families are still owed benefits designed to cover groceries for food nearly one year ago

By CLARA BATES&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri families who were promised emergency pandemic grocery funds last summer are still waiting — even as another summer is beginning.&nbsp;

For&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">more than six months</a>, families have been raising alarm about the delayed benefits owed to around&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/MO_DESE_State_Plan_Summer_2022_with_child_care_children_10-12-22.pdf">600,000 kids</a>.

There is, in Missouri, no clear end in sight.

Pandemic EBT is a federal program administered by states. Last summer, it was designed to provide a one-time deposit of $391 per eligible child in grocery benefits to assist low-income families. The benefits, like the regular federal food stamps program, could be used like a debit card, called electronic benefit transfer, to purchase eligible food.&nbsp;

The extra benefits could easily double the amount a low-income family receives in standard food assistance. The average amount of benefits per Missouri household on food stamps, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was just under $<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/fsd-mohealthnet-report-0323.pdf">400</a>&nbsp;in March.&nbsp;

A family with three eligible kids is waiting for over $1,000 in grocery aid from the state.

One mother has been checking her children’s accounts every morning for months to see whether the money has arrived.

The education department has told The Independent benefits are on the horizon, or that there is no timeline, for months.&nbsp;

In October the education department said it expected the benefits to be distributed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">by the end of 2022</a>.

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">February</a>,&nbsp;a spokeswoman for the department said “we don’t have a set timeline” but expected benefits to be doled out “in the coming weeks.”

“We continue working with [the Department of Social Services] to get the summer benefits processed but we do not have an exact date at this time,” an official with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which administers the benefit, wrote this week in an email to one mother who provided the correspondence to The Independent.&nbsp;

This week, the department issued a statement to The Independent saying&nbsp;“Teams are in the final stages of testing data files so that [the Department of Social Services’] system can administer the summer benefits.”

Children who qualified for subsidized school lunches in the 2021-2022 academic year are eligible, along with children under 6 who qualify for the federal food assistance program SNAP.&nbsp;

The state&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/MO_DESE_State_Plan_Summer_2022_with_child_care_children_10-12-22.pdf">estimated</a>&nbsp;454,000 schoolchildren and nearly 158,000 children under age 6 qualify for the benefit.

Many states had trouble getting the benefits out in time for last summer — due in part to the challenges of operating an emergency program with shifting federal guidelines each year, that requires interagency collaboration between social services departments and education departments.

But Missouri appears to be among few (if any other) states with approved summer 2022 P-EBT plans that have not yet begun dispersing benefits.&nbsp;

In each of the eight states bordering Missouri, benefits were already distributed for summer Pandemic EBT by earlier this year. Oklahoma began issuing the benefits last July.&nbsp;

Missouri’s plan for distributing the aid was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19/missouri#snap">approved</a>&nbsp;by the federal government in late October, after all but five other states had been approved, and many states had finished issuing benefits.

Oregon and Georgia had their plans approved in late October, like Missouri. But unlike Missouri, Georgia began dispersing the benefits in December; Oregon began in March.&nbsp;

Two states: South Dakota and Alaska, did&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-guidance-coronavirus-pandemic-ebt-pebt">not</a>&nbsp;have approved plans at all.&nbsp;

One of the main hurdles to getting the benefits out sooner, officials have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">said</a>, was that the state needed a new data collection portal to track students’ COVID-related absences, for the school-year benefits.

Pandemic EBT includes a more narrowly-targeted benefit for school year 2021-2022 for children who had COVID-related absences — which the state said it needed to administer before the summer benefits and involves more complicated data collection on the part of schools.

Mallory McGowin, a spokesperson from the education department said they had begun issuing the school year benefits beginning in February, and “now that school year benefits have mostly been administered (there is some data clean-up still taking place), teams at DESE and DSS have moved on to the summer benefit program.” McGowin said they believe they will work with year-round school staff to “address any potential challenges” with data.

One mother still waiting on the benefits is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">Jennifer Sheils</a>, whose desperation has grown as the months of waiting ticked by.

“Where are the funds that were made available? It is almost the Summer of 2023,” she wrote in a recent email to the state.&nbsp;“What is going on??”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685114143831.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Families are still owed benefits designed to cover groceries for food nearly one year ago</h2>By CLARA BATES&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri families who were promised emergency pandemic grocery funds last summer are still waiting — even as another summer is beginning.&nbsp;For&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">more than six months</a>, families have been raising alarm about the delayed benefits owed to around&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/MO_DESE_State_Plan_Summer_2022_with_child_care_children_10-12-22.pdf">600,000 kids</a>.There is, in Missouri, no clear end in sight.Pandemic EBT is a federal program administered by states. Last summer, it was designed to provide a one-time deposit of $391 per eligible child in grocery benefits to assist low-income families. The benefits, like the regular federal food stamps program, could be used like a debit card, called electronic benefit transfer, to purchase eligible food.&nbsp;The extra benefits could easily double the amount a low-income family receives in standard food assistance. The average amount of benefits per Missouri household on food stamps, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, was just under $<a target="_blank" href="https://dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/fsd_mhdmr/fsd-mohealthnet-report-0323.pdf">400</a>&nbsp;in March.&nbsp;A family with three eligible kids is waiting for over $1,000 in grocery aid from the state.One mother has been checking her children’s accounts every morning for months to see whether the money has arrived.The education department has told The Independent benefits are on the horizon, or that there is no timeline, for months.&nbsp;In October the education department said it expected the benefits to be distributed&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">by the end of 2022</a>.In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/06/still-no-timeline-for-missouri-families-awaiting-summer-2022-food-assistance/">February</a>,&nbsp;a spokeswoman for the department said “we don’t have a set timeline” but expected benefits to be doled out “in the coming weeks.”“We continue working with [the Department of Social Services] to get the summer benefits processed but we do not have an exact date at this time,” an official with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, which administers the benefit, wrote this week in an email to one mother who provided the correspondence to The Independent.&nbsp;This week, the department issued a statement to The Independent saying&nbsp;“Teams are in the final stages of testing data files so that [the Department of Social Services’] system can administer the summer benefits.”The agency did not provide a timeline.Children who qualified for subsidized school lunches in the 2021-2022 academic year are eligible, along with children under 6 who qualify for the federal food assistance program SNAP.&nbsp;The state&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/MO_DESE_State_Plan_Summer_2022_with_child_care_children_10-12-22.pdf">estimated</a>&nbsp;454,000 schoolchildren and nearly 158,000 children under age 6 qualify for the benefit.Many states had trouble getting the benefits out in time for last summer — due in part to the challenges of operating an emergency program with shifting federal guidelines each year, that requires interagency collaboration between social services departments and education departments.But Missouri appears to be among few (if any other) states with approved summer 2022 P-EBT plans that have not yet begun dispersing benefits.&nbsp;In each of the eight states bordering Missouri, benefits were already distributed for summer Pandemic EBT by earlier this year. Oklahoma began issuing the benefits last July.&nbsp;Missouri’s plan for distributing the aid was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/disaster/pandemic/covid-19/missouri#snap">approved</a>&nbsp;by the federal government in late October, after all but five other states had been approved, and many states had finished issuing benefits.Oregon and Georgia had their plans approved in late October, like Missouri. But unlike Missouri, Georgia began dispersing the benefits in December; Oregon began in March.&nbsp;Two states: South Dakota and Alaska, did&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-guidance-coronavirus-pandemic-ebt-pebt">not</a>&nbsp;have approved plans at all.&nbsp;One of the main hurdles to getting the benefits out sooner, officials have&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">said</a>, was that the state needed a new data collection portal to track students’ COVID-related absences, for the school-year benefits.Pandemic EBT includes a more narrowly-targeted benefit for school year 2021-2022 for children who had COVID-related absences — which the state said it needed to administer before the summer benefits and involves more complicated data collection on the part of schools.Mallory McGowin, a spokesperson from the education department said they had begun issuing the school year benefits beginning in February, and “now that school year benefits have mostly been administered (there is some data clean-up still taking place), teams at DESE and DSS have moved on to the summer benefit program.” McGowin said they believe they will work with year-round school staff to “address any potential challenges” with data.One mother still waiting on the benefits is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/10/17/missouri-families-still-waiting-for-summer-food-benefits-for-low-income-children/">Jennifer Sheils</a>, whose desperation has grown as the months of waiting ticked by.“Where are the funds that were made available? It is almost the Summer of 2023,” she wrote in a recent email to the state.&nbsp;“What is going on??”

600,000 Missouri kids still waiting for summer 2022 grocery benefits

DEKALB COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Friday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Corolla driven by James A. Graeff, 48, Clarksdale, was southbound on MO 33 at Florence Street in Maysville.

The car rear-ended a 2002 Toyota Sienna driven by Lori A. Croley, 55, Trenton, who was waiting to make a left turn.

DeKalb County-Clinton EMS transported Croley to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Graeff refused treatment. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

DEKALB COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Friday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota Corolla driven by James A. Graeff, 48, Clarksdale, was southbound on MO 33 at Florence Street in Maysville.The car rear-ended a 2002 Toyota Sienna driven by Lori A. Croley, 55, Trenton, who was waiting to make a left turn.DeKalb County-Clinton EMS transported Croley to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Graeff refused treatment. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman hospitalized after rear-end crash

Officials with the City of St. Joseph have named the next Chief of Police.  

Paul Luster. who spent 25 plus years with the Kansas City Police Department, will take over leadership of the St. Joseph Police Department next month. 

Luster says he was drawn to St. Joseph after participating in a training session in the city two years ago. 

"Thought to myself then this is a really neat city, so when I saw the opportunity for the police chief opening didn't have to really think about it much," Luster tells reporters following his introduction as police chief. "Talked to my family and away we went." 

The search for the next Police Chief began back in September after Chris Connally retired.  Commander Dave Hart served as the Chief of Police in the interim. 

Luster says that the community involvement in the search for the next police chief really solidified his decision to want to be here. 

"The level of engagement was incredible, I was impressed with the amount of community that showed up, we had the panel interviews and then the community meet and greet, I was just impressed with the community," Luster says. "I was impressed with how much they care about this community and how much they care about who their police chief was going to be, and so I want them heavily involved in everything that I'm doing, how can we do better to effectively police this community." 

Luster will take over as Police Chief on June 26th. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685120190874.jpeg" alt="Paul Luster (at podium) will become the next Chief of the St. Joseph Police Department.&nbsp; Luster will take over the position on June 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Paul Luster (at podium) will become the next Chief of the St. Joseph Police Department.&nbsp; Luster will take over the position on June 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Officials with the City of St. Joseph have named the next Chief of Police. Paul Luster. who spent 25 plus years with the Kansas City Police Department, will take over leadership of the St. Joseph Police Department next month. Luster says he was drawn to St. Joseph after participating in a training session in the city two years ago. "Thought to myself then this is a really neat city, so when I saw the opportunity for the police chief opening didn't have to really think about it much," Luster tells reporters following his introduction as police chief. "Talked to my family and away we went." The search for the next Police Chief began back in September after Chris Connally retired. Commander Dave Hart served as the Chief of Police in the interim. Luster says that the community involvement in the search for the next police chief really solidified his decision to want to be here. "The level of engagement was incredible, I was impressed with the amount of community that showed up, we had the panel interviews and then the community meet and greet, I was just impressed with the community," Luster says. "I was impressed with how much they care about this community and how much they care about who their police chief was going to be, and so I want them heavily involved in everything that I'm doing, how can we do better to effectively police this community." Luster will take over as Police Chief on June 26th.

City of St. Joseph names Paul Luster as next Chief of Police

The Supreme Court Thursday ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in the case Sackett vs. EPA regarding the Biden administration's Waters of the U.S. rule. 

The Supreme Court Thursday ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in the case Sackett vs. EPA regarding the Biden administration's Waters of the U.S. rule. The court stated that wetlands under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act must have a continuous surface connection to bodies of water, making it difficult to determine where the water ends, and the wetland begins. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall responded, "The justices respect private property rights. It's now time for the Biden administration to do the same and rewrite the Waters of the United States Rule." Representative Dan Newhouse, a Washington state Republican and Congressional Western Caucus Chairman, says, “This landmark decision from the Supreme Court is a clear demonstration of our nation’s commitment to upholding the principles of individual property rights.” Agricultural Retailers Association President and CEO Daren Coppock added, “The decision finally restores common sense back into WOTUS regulation.”- NAFB