DAVIESS COUNTY—Six. people were injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Friday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 GMC Sierra driven by a 45-year-old Gallatin man was stopped at the stop sign on Route CC at MO 6 two miles west of Gallatin. The driver pulled the pickup into the path of an eastbound 2014 Ford Fusion driven by a 24-year-old Kansas City, Mo. man. The car struck the drivers side of the pickup.

Life Flight transported the pickup driver to Truman Medical Center and one woman and in the pickup and one in the car to Liberty Hospital.

Davies County EMS transported a 21-year-old female passenger in the pickup and two 1-year-old children from the car to Liberty Hospital. The driver of the car was not injured.&nbsp; All were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY—Six. people were injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Friday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 GMC Sierra driven by a 45-year-old Gallatin man was stopped at the stop sign on Route CC at MO 6 two miles west of Gallatin. The driver pulled the pickup into the path of an eastbound 2014 Ford Fusion driven by a 24-year-old Kansas City, Mo. man. The car struck the drivers side of the pickup.Life Flight transported the pickup driver to Truman Medical Center and one woman and in the pickup and one in the car to Liberty Hospital.Davies County EMS transported a 21-year-old female passenger in the pickup and two 1-year-old children from the car to Liberty Hospital. The driver of the car was not injured.&nbsp; All were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

4 adults and 2 children injured in car, pickup crash

CLINTON COUNTY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announce the arrest of Robert C. Cox, 55, of Lathrop, Missouri, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, according to a media release. 

Cox’s arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of DDCC’s Narcotics/Vice Unit. The Patrol was assisted by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Missouri Drug Taskforce.

On September 10, 2025 Troopers and Deputies executed a search warrant at Cox’s home, in Lathrop. Once inside the residence, officers searched the premises and located evidence related to drug activity, including a white powdery substance and a loaded handgun. 

A presumptive test of the powdery substances was conducted, identifying the drugs as methamphetamine. Cox was arrested prior to executing the search warrant and placed on an investigative hold.

On September 11, 2025, the Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Cox with one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. 

He is being held at the Clinton County Jail without bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757715338078.png" alt="Cox photo Clinton County" />
 <figcaption>Cox photo Clinton County</figcaption>
 </figure>CLINTON COUNTY —The Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control (DDCC) announce the arrest of Robert C. Cox, 55, of Lathrop, Missouri, for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, according to a media release. Cox’s arrest was the result of a narcotics investigation conducted by members of DDCC’s Narcotics/Vice Unit. The Patrol was assisted by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Missouri Drug Taskforce.On September 10, 2025 Troopers and Deputies executed a search warrant at Cox’s home, in Lathrop. Once inside the residence, officers searched the premises and located evidence related to drug activity, including a white powdery substance and a loaded handgun. A presumptive test of the powdery substances was conducted, identifying the drugs as methamphetamine. Cox was arrested prior to executing the search warrant and placed on an investigative hold.On September 11, 2025, the Clinton County Prosecuting Attorney formally charged Cox with one count of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance and one count of Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. He is being held at the Clinton County Jail without bond.

Suspect jailed after drug bust at Missouri home

Saturday will be a chance for the dogs to get into the pool in Savannah, all benefitting a new aquatics facility.&nbsp;

The Andrew County Aquatics Initiative is partnering with Fantastic Fido to host Dog Day at the Pool tomorrow from 10AM until Noon at the Savannah Aquatic Center.&nbsp; Following the success of their Splash Bash last weekend, this second fundraiser for ACAI will give dogs s a chance for a dip in the pool before the permanent closure of the facility at the end of this summer.

Each dog must be accompanied by at least one handler. This is a dog-only swim, no people will be allowed in the pool. Thirty-minute sessions are available and space is limited to 15 dogs per session. A minimum donation of $10 per dog is requested. 

The public is invited to the event. All donations are in support of building a new pool in Andrew County with a mission to preserve and reimagine a vital aquatic amenity for future generations.

You can register for the event by visiting the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

By MATT PIKESaturday will be a chance for the dogs to get into the pool in Savannah, all benefitting a new aquatics facility.&nbsp;The Andrew County Aquatics Initiative is partnering with Fantastic Fido to host Dog Day at the Pool tomorrow from 10AM until Noon at the Savannah Aquatic Center.&nbsp; Following the success of their Splash Bash last weekend, this second fundraiser for ACAI will give dogs s a chance for a dip in the pool before the permanent closure of the facility at the end of this summer.Each dog must be accompanied by at least one handler. This is a dog-only swim, no people will be allowed in the pool. Thirty-minute sessions are available and space is limited to 15 dogs per session. A minimum donation of $10 per dog is requested. The public is invited to the event. All donations are in support of building a new pool in Andrew County with a mission to preserve and reimagine a vital aquatic amenity for future generations.You can register for the event by visiting the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative Facebook page.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Dog day at the Savannah pool benefits new Andrew County aquatics facility 

Mizzou Tiger Football is in action against UMASS Saturday September 27th in Columbia, MO. Enter to win a pair of tickets to the game before Wednesday September 24th at 11:59 pm. If you are planning on sports betting in Missouri soon. Check out the special offer – Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now to grab $300 in bonus bets with just a five dollar bet when it goes live December 1st.  Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred GAMBLER. Twenty one plus. Physically present in Missouri. Eligibility restrictions apply. Bonus bets expire seven days after issuance. Excludes customers who redeem prelaunch sign-up offer. Terms at sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos.

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Missouri Western
State University hosts its Family Day this weekend, culminating with the
Griffon football game at Spratt Stadium against Missouri S&amp;T Saturday
night.

Missouri Western
President, Elizabeth Kennedy, says the Center for Service will lead a charity
project Saturday as its Griffs Give Back Day of Service.

“We are teaming up
with the group, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, as part of their Bunks Across America
campaign,” Kennedy tells KFEQmmunity. “We did this last year.” 

Students will be
using the new Houlne Center for Convergent Technology to build beds.

“We’re going to
have students in the Houlne Center building bunk beds; two different shifts,”
Kennedy says. “They’re going to be building these beds and delivering them to
families in St. Joseph that need them. It’s a wonderful project.”

Missouri Western
will hold an open house at its newly renovated library. Kennedy says the
university was able to finance an overhaul with money authorized for the Houlne
Center, but not needed.

“I approached the
state and said, I have a library that hasn’t been renovated since 1988. How about
if we create spaces for students so that have study places, they have
collaboration places? There’s even a model classroom and there’s a 24/7 room
that’s open that students have access to,” Kennedy says.

Several activities
are planned on the St. Joseph campus Saturday, beginning a 10am with check in
at the Blum Union. There will be a Family Legacy Coffee, tours of the renovated
library, a walking tour of the St. Joseph campus, and an open house of Scanlon
Hall where the Chiefs stay during training camp.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Western
State University hosts its Family Day this weekend, culminating with the
Griffon football game at Spratt Stadium against Missouri S&amp;T Saturday
night.Missouri Western
President, Elizabeth Kennedy, says the Center for Service will lead a charity
project Saturday as its Griffs Give Back Day of Service.“We are teaming up
with the group, Sleep in Heavenly Peace, as part of their Bunks Across America
campaign,” Kennedy tells KFEQmmunity. “We did this last year.” Students will be
using the new Houlne Center for Convergent Technology to build beds.“We’re going to
have students in the Houlne Center building bunk beds; two different shifts,”
Kennedy says. “They’re going to be building these beds and delivering them to
families in St. Joseph that need them. It’s a wonderful project.”Missouri Western
will hold an open house at its newly renovated library. Kennedy says the
university was able to finance an overhaul with money authorized for the Houlne
Center, but not needed.“I approached the
state and said, I have a library that hasn’t been renovated since 1988. How about
if we create spaces for students so that have study places, they have
collaboration places? There’s even a model classroom and there’s a 24/7 room
that’s open that students have access to,” Kennedy says.Several activities
are planned on the St. Joseph campus Saturday, beginning a 10am with check in
at the Blum Union. There will be a Family Legacy Coffee, tours of the renovated
library, a walking tour of the St. Joseph campus, and an open house of Scanlon
Hall where the Chiefs stay during training camp.

Missouri Western hosts Family Day Saturday

The Democratic congressman from Kanas City skipped votes in Washington to testify, but the panel advanced the proposed new map a few hours later

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

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver warned Missouri lawmakers Thursday that the effort to redraw the 5th District seat to favor Republicans will be long remembered by voters who resent being swapped by politicians seeking to increase their power.

Speaking to the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee, Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, noted that Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/" target="_blank">has already revised district lines</a>&nbsp;this year to favor Republicans and California will vote later this year on a&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-vote/" target="_blank">plan that favors Democrats</a>.

President Donald Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">demanding the changes</a>&nbsp;to help Republicans keep their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democrats are fighting back in the states they control.

“If we fight fire with fire long enough,” Cleaver said, “all we’ll have left is ashes.”

Cleaver’s warning went unheeded and the committee, on a 6-2 party-line vote a few hours later, sent the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1&amp;year=2025&amp;code=S2" target="_blank">redistricting plan</a>, which has already&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">passed the Missouri House</a>, to the Senate for debate. By the same vote, the committee also approved a proposal altering how majorities are calculated for constitutional amendments&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">proposed by initiative petition</a>.

Both pieces of legislation will be debated Friday, with Republicans apparently ready to shut down debate as they did to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/10/after-hearing-from-trump-missouri-gop-muscle-gerrymandered-map-forward-in-state-senate/">push through rules changes</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.

During the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, said he expects little or no debate on Friday.

“They’re going to shut us down,” Beck said. “They’re not going to let us speak on this, because it’s inconvenient.”

There was some grumbling about the process from one Republican, state Sen. Joe Nicola of Grain Valley, who said he has been told he can speak on the floor about the legislation but that no amendments will be accepted.

“When I don’t have my voice, the 185,000 people I represent also lose their voice, and that’s extremely irritating to me,” Nicola said. “I’ve seen many processes here, and even recently, the rules being broken. And it’s just a shame. It’s a real shame for this institution.”

Nicola voted for both pieces of legislation in the committee.

Missouri has eight congressional districts, with six currently represented by Republicans. Cleaver represents the 5th DIstrict, which includes most of Kansas City and Jackson County. The other Democrat, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, represents the 1st District in St. Louis.

Cleaver said he skipped votes in Washington to make the rare appearance for a member of Congress before a state legislative committee.&nbsp;

“I chose to miss (Wednesday) votes, and I chose to miss the ones today, because I thought this was extremely important,” Cleaver said.

The 5th District, which he has represented since 2005, would be carved up, with portions attached to the 4th and 6th Districts while heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County, would be added to the remaining Kansas City portions.

Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Cleaver said he is saddened by the bill and the need to explain how he works to represent all points of view and work with Missouri Republicans in Congress on the state’s behalf.

Polling, Cleaver said, shows voters oppose the redistricting plan.&nbsp;

“This is immensely unpopular, so I was not just here representing myself,” Cleaver said. “I’m representing the people of this district.”

And, he said, he intends to seek re-election.

“A lot goes into making another decision,” Cleaver said. “But right now, I’m running.”

No one from the public spoke in favor of the bill. While state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel who sponsored the bill, was testifying, he was challenged by state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, on the origin of the new map.

Deaton said it was drawn in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office before the special session was called.&nbsp;

“I think it is a lot of BS what you guys keep doing, that you’re saying that this map was drawn in the state of Missouri,” Nurrenbern said. “We all know the truth, representative. We all know that this came straight from D.C.”

Deaton said he accepted Kehoe’s word that the bill was drafted in his office.&nbsp;

“People in Washington, D.C., as I’ve observed them, are not shy,” Deaton said. “If they had a map, I assume they would have been willing to put it out there and say, ‘we think this is a wonderful map. We hope Missouri would adopt it.’”

Final passage on Friday won’t automatically put the maps into place for next year’s election. The bill will take effect 90 days after the special session ends, but plans are being made by labor unions and others to seek a referendum, which would delay implementation until a statewide vote.

And opponents promised the bill will be challenged in court. The Missouri Constitution directs lawmakers to draw new congressional district lines after every decennial census. The current map was passed in 2022 and the next census is in 2030.

Denise Lieberman of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said she believes the constitution does not allow a new map to be imposed now.

“This map is also subject to a challenge under the Voting Rights Act for the dilution of African-American votes,” Lieberman said.&nbsp;

Cleaver is Black and the line chosen for part of the district boundary, Troost Avenue, was the line separating Black and white sections of Kansas City when housing segregation was legal, Lieberman said.

“This is an unprecedented power grab here in Missouri,” she said.

The hearing on the changes to the initiative process brought some testy exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.

Currently, any proposal placed on a statewide ballot needs only a majority of votes to pass. That is the standard for constitutional amendments, statutory changes and proposals subject to a referendum.

The proposed changes, which would be on a ballot and subject to the current standard for passage, would only apply to constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions. Along with a statewide majority, those constitutional amendments would also need a majority vote in their favor in all eight congressional districts.

If one district opposed a ballot measure while the other seven passed it, as few as 5.3% of voters could control the outcome for the whole state.

“The main purpose is to protect the Constitution from changes that the majority of all the voters in Missouri, in every area of the state, don’t agree with,” said state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, as he presented the bill to the Senate committee.

As the committee was voting, Beck tried to make it subject to the same majority requirements it would impose on citizen initiative petitions.

“If this is such a great idea and we are going to change the constitution, and this is the best way to do it, why don’t we use that same standard for the legislature changing it as the initiative process,” Beck said.

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, said Beck was being “too clever” and joined other Republicans in voting down the proposal.

“The whole point of this is to set those standards and to change those standards,” Brattin said, “but it has to be adopted by the current standard.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757695774249.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, testifies Thursday against a redistricting plan that would gerrymander his district in favor of Republicans (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, testifies Thursday against a redistricting plan that would gerrymander his district in favor of Republicans (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Democratic congressman from Kanas City skipped votes in Washington to testify, but the panel advanced the proposed new map a few hours later</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver warned Missouri lawmakers Thursday that the effort to redraw the 5th District seat to favor Republicans will be long remembered by voters who resent being swapped by politicians seeking to increase their power.Speaking to the Senate Local Government, Elections and Pensions Committee, Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, noted that Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/" target="_blank">has already revised district lines</a>&nbsp;this year to favor Republicans and California will vote later this year on a&nbsp;<a href="https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/08/california-redistricting-vote/" target="_blank">plan that favors Democrats</a>.President Donald Trump is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">demanding the changes</a>&nbsp;to help Republicans keep their slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, and Democrats are fighting back in the states they control.“If we fight fire with fire long enough,” Cleaver said, “all we’ll have left is ashes.”Cleaver’s warning went unheeded and the committee, on a 6-2 party-line vote a few hours later, sent the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1&amp;year=2025&amp;code=S2" target="_blank">redistricting plan</a>, which has already&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">passed the Missouri House</a>, to the Senate for debate. By the same vote, the committee also approved a proposal altering how majorities are calculated for constitutional amendments&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">proposed by initiative petition</a>.Both pieces of legislation will be debated Friday, with Republicans apparently ready to shut down debate as they did to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/10/after-hearing-from-trump-missouri-gop-muscle-gerrymandered-map-forward-in-state-senate/">push through rules changes</a>&nbsp;on Wednesday.During the hearing, Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, said he expects little or no debate on Friday.“They’re going to shut us down,” Beck said. “They’re not going to let us speak on this, because it’s inconvenient.”There was some grumbling about the process from one Republican, state Sen. Joe Nicola of Grain Valley, who said he has been told he can speak on the floor about the legislation but that no amendments will be accepted.“When I don’t have my voice, the 185,000 people I represent also lose their voice, and that’s extremely irritating to me,” Nicola said. “I’ve seen many processes here, and even recently, the rules being broken. And it’s just a shame. It’s a real shame for this institution.”Nicola voted for both pieces of legislation in the committee.Missouri has eight congressional districts, with six currently represented by Republicans. Cleaver represents the 5th DIstrict, which includes most of Kansas City and Jackson County. The other Democrat, U.S. Rep. Wesley Bell, represents the 1st District in St. Louis.Cleaver said he skipped votes in Washington to make the rare appearance for a member of Congress before a state legislative committee.&nbsp;“I chose to miss (Wednesday) votes, and I chose to miss the ones today, because I thought this was extremely important,” Cleaver said.The 5th District, which he has represented since 2005, would be carved up, with portions attached to the 4th and 6th Districts while heavily Republican areas stretching along the Missouri River to Boone County, would be added to the remaining Kansas City portions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757695727180.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, speaks to reporters Thursday after testifying against a redistricting plan that would gerrymander his district in favor of Republicans (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Kansas City, speaks to reporters Thursday after testifying against a redistricting plan that would gerrymander his district in favor of Republicans (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Cleaver said he is saddened by the bill and the need to explain how he works to represent all points of view and work with Missouri Republicans in Congress on the state’s behalf.Polling, Cleaver said, shows voters oppose the redistricting plan.&nbsp;“This is immensely unpopular, so I was not just here representing myself,” Cleaver said. “I’m representing the people of this district.”And, he said, he intends to seek re-election.“A lot goes into making another decision,” Cleaver said. “But right now, I’m running.”No one from the public spoke in favor of the bill. While state Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel who sponsored the bill, was testifying, he was challenged by state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, on the origin of the new map.Deaton said it was drawn in Gov. Mike Kehoe’s office before the special session was called.&nbsp;Nurrenbern said she did not believe it.“I think it is a lot of BS what you guys keep doing, that you’re saying that this map was drawn in the state of Missouri,” Nurrenbern said. “We all know the truth, representative. We all know that this came straight from D.C.”Deaton said he accepted Kehoe’s word that the bill was drafted in his office.&nbsp;“People in Washington, D.C., as I’ve observed them, are not shy,” Deaton said. “If they had a map, I assume they would have been willing to put it out there and say, ‘we think this is a wonderful map. We hope Missouri would adopt it.’”Final passage on Friday won’t automatically put the maps into place for next year’s election. The bill will take effect 90 days after the special session ends, but plans are being made by labor unions and others to seek a referendum, which would delay implementation until a statewide vote.And opponents promised the bill will be challenged in court. The Missouri Constitution directs lawmakers to draw new congressional district lines after every decennial census. The current map was passed in 2022 and the next census is in 2030.Denise Lieberman of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition said she believes the constitution does not allow a new map to be imposed now.“This map is also subject to a challenge under the Voting Rights Act for the dilution of African-American votes,” Lieberman said.&nbsp;Cleaver is Black and the line chosen for part of the district boundary, Troost Avenue, was the line separating Black and white sections of Kansas City when housing segregation was legal, Lieberman said.“This is an unprecedented power grab here in Missouri,” she said.<h2>Initiative petition changes</h2>The hearing on the changes to the initiative process brought some testy exchanges between Democrats and Republicans.Currently, any proposal placed on a statewide ballot needs only a majority of votes to pass. That is the standard for constitutional amendments, statutory changes and proposals subject to a referendum.The proposed changes, which would be on a ballot and subject to the current standard for passage, would only apply to constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petitions. Along with a statewide majority, those constitutional amendments would also need a majority vote in their favor in all eight congressional districts.If one district opposed a ballot measure while the other seven passed it, as few as 5.3% of voters could control the outcome for the whole state.“The main purpose is to protect the Constitution from changes that the majority of all the voters in Missouri, in every area of the state, don’t agree with,” said state Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly, as he presented the bill to the Senate committee.As the committee was voting, Beck tried to make it subject to the same majority requirements it would impose on citizen initiative petitions.“If this is such a great idea and we are going to change the constitution, and this is the best way to do it, why don’t we use that same standard for the legislature changing it as the initiative process,” Beck said.State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Republican from Harrisonville, said Beck was being “too clever” and joined other Republicans in voting down the proposal.“The whole point of this is to set those standards and to change those standards,” Brattin said, “but it has to be adopted by the current standard.”

Emanuel Cleaver testifies against redistricting plan before Missouri Senate committee

Local law
enforcement is paying attention to the investigation unfolding in Utah after
the shooting and killing of conservative, Charlie Kirk, while he spoke with
students on a Utah university campus.

Captain Shawn
Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says no longer can area
residents dismiss such incidents and think they could never happen here.

“The violence
across the country is something that has, obviously I think, become a grave
concern for a lot of citizens and for law enforcement in general,” Collie says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.

Collie says the
Kirk shooting adds to a list of gruesome violent acts throughout the country.
He says local law enforcement must redouble its effort to keep crowds safe at
events and citizens must prepare before attending such events in order to stay
safe.

A gunman shot and
killed Kirk as he spoke to students on the Utah Valley University campus. Kirk
was 31. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.

Collie says many
questions arise in wake of such violence.

“As you look at
this and whether you look at the political side, which a lot of times we try to
take that out of, obviously that’s something that’s just there, but you look at
the mental health and the drug abuse,” Collie says. “What is causing the crimes
of violence we’re seeing throughout the country?”

Collie says local
law enforcement work hard to keep crowds safe at gatherings. He says outdoor
settings pose more security risks than indoor events, because it is harder to
secure a large area outdoors.

Collie says law
enforcement takes steps to ensure the safety of crowds, but he urges families
to make plans prior to attending such events.

“Keep your eyes
open. Don’t just try to focus on one thing, but know your surroundings,” Collie
advises. “Think about if something does happen, where am I going to go? Where
am I going to take my family to? If we get separated, where are we going to meet
at? And just try to have the overall planning of the what if?”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostLocal law
enforcement is paying attention to the investigation unfolding in Utah after
the shooting and killing of conservative, Charlie Kirk, while he spoke with
students on a Utah university campus.Captain Shawn
Collie with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office says no longer can area
residents dismiss such incidents and think they could never happen here.“The violence
across the country is something that has, obviously I think, become a grave
concern for a lot of citizens and for law enforcement in general,” Collie says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.Collie says the
Kirk shooting adds to a list of gruesome violent acts throughout the country.
He says local law enforcement must redouble its effort to keep crowds safe at
events and citizens must prepare before attending such events in order to stay
safe.A gunman shot and
killed Kirk as he spoke to students on the Utah Valley University campus. Kirk
was 31. He leaves behind a wife and two young children.Collie says many
questions arise in wake of such violence.“As you look at
this and whether you look at the political side, which a lot of times we try to
take that out of, obviously that’s something that’s just there, but you look at
the mental health and the drug abuse,” Collie says. “What is causing the crimes
of violence we’re seeing throughout the country?”Collie says local
law enforcement work hard to keep crowds safe at gatherings. He says outdoor
settings pose more security risks than indoor events, because it is harder to
secure a large area outdoors.Collie says law
enforcement takes steps to ensure the safety of crowds, but he urges families
to make plans prior to attending such events.“Keep your eyes
open. Don’t just try to focus on one thing, but know your surroundings,” Collie
advises. “Think about if something does happen, where am I going to go? Where
am I going to take my family to? If we get separated, where are we going to meet
at? And just try to have the overall planning of the what if?”<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/31FyV6YCJIiWE5mpwRTHrX?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Local law enforcement reviews security in wake of Kirk killing

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0xMPaQjk8uPaXpm3y4JKEt?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2XJB0QUVWI037X47ZRXcpE?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Honda Shadow driven by a 36-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, woman was northbound on Interstate 35 six miles south of Cameron. The motorcycle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLINTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Honda Shadow driven by a 36-year-old Kansas City, Kansas, woman was northbound on Interstate 35 six miles south of Cameron. The motorcycle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.A private vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. She was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas woman hospitalized after motorcyce accident

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a&nbsp; suspect for an alleged violent domestic incident.

Just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance in the 700 block S Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; It was determined the disturbance had occurred between two mn who were known to each other and both had been at a residence there. 

One of the men, a 30-year-old victim, had left the scene and had been taken to Amberwell Hospital by a family member to be treated for injuries sustained during the altercation. The victim had sustained head and facial injuries from being struck with fists and kicked. 

Following an investigation, police took 40-year-old Ryan White into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757618795848.png" alt="White photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>White photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a&nbsp; suspect for an alleged violent domestic incident.Just after 8:30p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;responded to a disturbance in the 700 block S Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; It was determined the disturbance had occurred between two mn who were known to each other and both had been at a residence there. One of the men, a 30-year-old victim, had left the scene and had been taken to Amberwell Hospital by a family member to be treated for injuries sustained during the altercation. The victim had sustained head and facial injuries from being struck with fists and kicked. Following an investigation, police took 40-year-old Ryan White into custody on requested charges of aggravated battery.

Police: Kan. man's violent attack sent victim to a hospital

St. Joseph Police report that two individuals are in critical condition after a serious vehicle crash early Thursday morning. 

St. Joseph Police report that around 5:30 on Thursday morning officers responded to a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Messanie Street and Meadow Lane.  Officers say a preliminary investigation reveals that a vehicle that contained four individuals, one a juvenile, was traveling westbound on Messanie when it collided into a car being driven by a single driver that was turning east onto Meadow Lane.  

All involved in the crash were transported to Mosaic Life Care with moderate to severe injuries.  Two remain at Mosaic in critical condition St. Joseph Police report.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Police report that two individuals are in critical condition after a serious vehicle crash early Thursday morning. St. Joseph Police report that around 5:30 on Thursday morning officers responded to a serious motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Messanie Street and Meadow Lane. Officers say a preliminary investigation reveals that a vehicle that contained four individuals, one a juvenile, was traveling westbound on Messanie when it collided into a car being driven by a single driver that was turning east onto Meadow Lane. All involved in the crash were transported to Mosaic Life Care with moderate to severe injuries. Two remain at Mosaic in critical condition St. Joseph Police report.The crash remains under investigation.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Two in critical condition after early morning St. Joseph crash

A group raising money in hopes of building a new pool facility in Andrew County saw success during its first fundraiser over the weekend.  

The group Andrew County Aquatics Initiative set out to raise $50,000 during the Splash Bash fundraiser, but by the end of Saturday, raised nearly $60,000.  

Chairperson Diane Gould says the goal of $50,000 was a sort of litmus test from the group, making sure they were doing the right thing 

"Are we representing a loud voice in our community?  We thought that if we could hit that $50,000 mark at our first kickoff event, we know that we are heading in the right direction and we’re doing the right thing,” Gould tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

The group was formed in response to the Savannah Parks and Recreation department announcing this would be the final summer for the pool which has been open for more than 60 years.  

Gould says the goal of the initiative is to build a new facility, which would serve not only Savannah, but all of Andrew County, as well as the surrounding area. 

Gould says though, in the quest to build a new pool facility, while that money helps clear the first hurdle it's not nearly enough for what they need. 

"We feel like we’re getting ready to eat an elephant but we’re going to eat it one bite at a time,” Gould explains.  “So, we are in the process of applying for a grant for $500,000, if we can raise $500,000 it would be matched dollar for dollar by the Land and Water Conservation fund, and that’s actually the same grant that built our pool initially back in 1964.” 

Gould says if they hope to build something comparable to what is currently in Savannah, the cost of the project could be around $4.5 million. 

Gould says the ultimate goal with the new facility would be to continue offering those much-needed outdoor pool spaces that are limited in the area. 

"Family, fun, music playing, kids socializing type of venue,” Gould says.  “It’s the only amenity in our area where kids can come and spend their whole day and be supervised and mentored and work on their swimming skills as well as their life skills.” 

Gould also sees the new facility as a complementary piece to the new indoor facility coming to the YMCA in St. Joseph in the future.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757608600436.jpeg" alt="Several participated in the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative's Splash Bash this past Saturday, raising money in the quest to build a new pool facility in Andrew County/ Photo courtesy of Andrew County Aquatics Initiative" />
 <figcaption>Several participated in the Andrew County Aquatics Initiative's Splash Bash this past Saturday, raising money in the quest to build a new pool facility in Andrew County/ Photo courtesy of Andrew County Aquatics Initiative</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEA group raising money in hopes of building a new pool facility in Andrew County saw success during its first fundraiser over the weekend. The group Andrew County Aquatics Initiative set out to raise $50,000 during the Splash Bash fundraiser, but by the end of Saturday, raised nearly $60,000. Chairperson Diane Gould says the goal of $50,000 was a sort of litmus test from the group, making sure they were doing the right thing "Are we representing a loud voice in our community? We thought that if we could hit that $50,000 mark at our first kickoff event, we know that we are heading in the right direction and we’re doing the right thing,” Gould tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. The group was formed in response to the Savannah Parks and Recreation department announcing this would be the final summer for the pool which has been open for more than 60 years. Gould says the goal of the initiative is to build a new facility, which would serve not only Savannah, but all of Andrew County, as well as the surrounding area. Gould says though, in the quest to build a new pool facility, while that money helps clear the first hurdle it's not nearly enough for what they need. "We feel like we’re getting ready to eat an elephant but we’re going to eat it one bite at a time,” Gould explains. “So, we are in the process of applying for a grant for $500,000, if we can raise $500,000 it would be matched dollar for dollar by the Land and Water Conservation fund, and that’s actually the same grant that built our pool initially back in 1964.” Gould says if they hope to build something comparable to what is currently in Savannah, the cost of the project could be around $4.5 million. Gould says the ultimate goal with the new facility would be to continue offering those much-needed outdoor pool spaces that are limited in the area. "Family, fun, music playing, kids socializing type of venue,” Gould says. “It’s the only amenity in our area where kids can come and spend their whole day and be supervised and mentored and work on their swimming skills as well as their life skills.” Gould also sees the new facility as a complementary piece to the new indoor facility coming to the YMCA in St. Joseph in the future.FULL INTERVIEW WITH DIANE GOULD<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7dLq0O6EWRHKbQeurUplUQ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Successful fundraiser helps clear first hurdle towards new pool in Andrew County

Before his talk tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church at the Patriot Day Tribute, Captain Guy Gruters visited the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans. 

Base commander Colonel Barrett Golden says it means a lot to have someone with Gruters experience come onto the base and give young airmen motivation as they train 

"And you do that through providing history,” Golden tells reporters.  “And we always talk about you want to do lessons learned and not lessons observed, well if you can provide some of those lessons learned that he provided, it gives airmen some inspiration to continue to do their job and be prideful of how they serve their country.” 

Gruters says it meant a lot to him as well to get to speak to so many young people preparing to serve the country 

"I love service people, I just really do, they put their life on the line for the country and for each other and I think the world of them,” Gruters says. 

Gruters is a retired Air Force Captain who was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War and is the subject of the book Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested.   

The name of the book is also the name of Gruters talk tonight and Gruters hopes people take two things away from the talk. 

"If you trust in God everything will turn out ok, but you have to pray to have that happen,” Gruters explains.  “Another wards the basic thing is, whether it’s macro or micro, as a country or as an individual, you have to pray and do the right thing and then just trust God for the outcome because it’ll be good.” 

Golden says he hopes hearing the stories of how Gruters unit never quit, despite the hardships, motivates those young servicemen who attended 

"So, I think it inspires some of our airmen to absolutely never quite in the most dire of circumstances,” Golden says. 

During his visit to the 139th Gruters got a mission brief on the operations at the air guard base.  

Golden says it's special to be able to advocate for the base to an American hero like Gruters 

"Not only would he potentially take that forward and then maybe perhaps when he’s at the national level can go you know I just saw an amazing place like the 139th Airlift Wing and they have this thing called the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, sure that’s like a one off opportunity for him to advocate for us,” Golden says. 

But what Golden is more prideful to have shown off to Gruters is the history of the base, and how far they've come with the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center 

"From four years ago to know in the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, and to see the smile on his face that we’re still getting after things, we’re still the best United States Air Force, the best Air National Guard in the entire world,” Golden explains. 

Gruters, and others, will speak tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church beginning at 6pm during the Patriot Day Tribute.  Doors open at 5pm. 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757606510597.jpeg" alt="Captain Guy Gruters (left) speaks at the 139th Airlift Wing/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Captain Guy Gruters (left) speaks at the 139th Airlift Wing/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEBefore his talk tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church at the Patriot Day Tribute, Captain Guy Gruters visited the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans. Base commander Colonel Barrett Golden says it means a lot to have someone with Gruters experience come onto the base and give young airmen motivation as they train "And you do that through providing history,” Golden tells reporters. “And we always talk about you want to do lessons learned and not lessons observed, well if you can provide some of those lessons learned that he provided, it gives airmen some inspiration to continue to do their job and be prideful of how they serve their country.” Gruters says it meant a lot to him as well to get to speak to so many young people preparing to serve the country "I love service people, I just really do, they put their life on the line for the country and for each other and I think the world of them,” Gruters says. Gruters is a retired Air Force Captain who was taken prisoner during the Vietnam War and is the subject of the book Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested. The name of the book is also the name of Gruters talk tonight and Gruters hopes people take two things away from the talk. "If you trust in God everything will turn out ok, but you have to pray to have that happen,” Gruters explains. “Another wards the basic thing is, whether it’s macro or micro, as a country or as an individual, you have to pray and do the right thing and then just trust God for the outcome because it’ll be good.” Golden says he hopes hearing the stories of how Gruters unit never quit, despite the hardships, motivates those young servicemen who attended "So, I think it inspires some of our airmen to absolutely never quite in the most dire of circumstances,” Golden says. During his visit to the 139th Gruters got a mission brief on the operations at the air guard base. Golden says it's special to be able to advocate for the base to an American hero like Gruters "Not only would he potentially take that forward and then maybe perhaps when he’s at the national level can go you know I just saw an amazing place like the 139th Airlift Wing and they have this thing called the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, sure that’s like a one off opportunity for him to advocate for us,” Golden says. But what Golden is more prideful to have shown off to Gruters is the history of the base, and how far they've come with the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center "From four years ago to know in the Advanced Airlifts Tactics Training Center, and to see the smile on his face that we’re still getting after things, we’re still the best United States Air Force, the best Air National Guard in the entire world,” Golden explains. Gruters, and others, will speak tonight at Wyatt Park Baptist Church beginning at 6pm during the Patriot Day Tribute. Doors open at 5pm. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757606579949.jpeg" alt="Mayor John Josendale reads a proclamation during Captain Guy Gruters visit to the 139th Airlift Wing/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Mayor John Josendale reads a proclamation during Captain Guy Gruters visit to the 139th Airlift Wing/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Former POW, speaking in St. Joseph tonight, inspires 139th

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Wednesday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Nissan Rogue driven by a 26-year-old Lee's Summit woman was northbound on Interstate 29 five miles east of Oregon. The rear-ended a MODOT dump truckd driven by a 52-year-old Forest City man that was stopped in the left lane.

Atchison-Holt EMS transported the Nissan driver to Mosaic Life Care. The drump truck driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Wednesday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Nissan Rogue driven by a 26-year-old Lee's Summit woman was northbound on Interstate 29 five miles east of Oregon. The rear-ended a MODOT dump truckd driven by a 52-year-old Forest City man that was stopped in the left lane.Atchison-Holt EMS transported the Nissan driver to Mosaic Life Care. The drump truck driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman injured after SUV rear-ends a MODOT dump truck

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0bnToNWDP3jMhFf4NYH4hA?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0nY4OGJhVF3rcVzrmTWngJ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Free speech advocates and internet companies assailed the rule as an attack on First Amendment rights. Bailey, now co-deputy director of the FBI, withdrew the rule but claimed it did not infringe free speech

One of former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s headline-grabbing actions — a rule that would have required social media companies to provide third-party content moderators — was quietly dropped just before he resigned.

Bailey became co-<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/18/andrew-bailey-stepping-down-as-missouri-attorney-general-for-job-in-trump-administration/">deputy director of the FBI</a>&nbsp;on Monday and was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">replaced as attorney general by Catherine Hanaway</a>. The rule for social media companies was announced in May and hailed by Bailey as a protection for individual free speech on popular platforms.

“This rule marks the beginning of a sustained effort to dismantle the ‘Big Brother’ speech-control machinery of corporate America,” Bailey said in a May 6 news release.

The proposed rules were published in the Missouri Register on June 16. Comments closed on July 16, opening a 59-day window for the next step, filing the proposal with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.&nbsp;

The rule was filed with the committee but withdrawn on Friday. Bailey’s office did not put out a news release about the decision to withdraw the rule.

The proposal sought to use the attorney general’s authority under Missouri’s consumer protection laws to impose the requirements. Any user would be allowed to select a content moderator of their choosing — either the system provided by the social media platform or a third party — when they created an account and every six months it is active.

Free speech advocates and lobbying groups for the communications industry filed comments arguing Bailey had overstepped his authority, was imposing unworkable requirements and violated the free speech rights of the social media providers.

“This rule is economically inefficient, technically unworkable and legally vulnerable, representing a regulatory solution that is demonstrably worse than the problems it purports to address,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://laweconcenter.org/resources/icle-comments-to-missouri-attorney-general-on-moderator-choice-rule/" target="_blank">International Center for Law &amp; Economics</a>, a Portland, Oregon,-based think tank, said in its comments.

The rule, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ccianet.org/news/2025/07/ccia-opposes-missouri-rules-that-would-undermine-content-moderation-and-threaten-online-safety/" target="_blank">Computer &amp; Communications Industry Association</a>&nbsp;said in its comments, would force platforms to allow outside entities to manage content without oversight or privacy protections.&nbsp;

“This approach would make it harder to remove scams, harassment, and other illegal or dangerous content, while violating websites’ First Amendment right to decide what speech they host,” said the association, which is the lobbying arm of the computer industry.

And NetChoice, a trade association of online businesses that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-277" target="_blank">successfully sued</a>&nbsp;to block laws in Florida and Texas that had similar objective, said in its comments that Bailey had misunderstood the U.S. Supreme Court decision in its favor.

In that ruling, the court said the Florida and Texas laws violate the First Amendment rights social media companies enjoy as publishers of content.&nbsp;

NetChoice wrote in its comments that “rather than respecting regulated websites’ First Amendment rights recognized in (the court decision), the rule would trample over those protections.”

In the withdrawal notice, the attorney general’s office said it agreed with the concerns from commenters about the feasibility of implementing the rule as drafted and that more work would be required.

“The attorney general’s decision to withdraw this rulemaking,” the notice stated, “is not due to comments suggesting he lacks legal authority to issue the rule.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732796525522.png" alt="Former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, shown in a 2024 photo, withdrew his proposal to require social media platforms to allow third-party content moderators&nbsp; just before resigning to become co-deputy director of the FBI. (Photo provided by Andrew Bailey's 2024 campaign)." />
 <figcaption>Former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, shown in a 2024 photo, withdrew his proposal to require social media platforms to allow third-party content moderators&nbsp; just before resigning to become co-deputy director of the FBI. (Photo provided by Andrew Bailey's 2024 campaign).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Free speech advocates and internet companies assailed the rule as an attack on First Amendment rights. Bailey, now co-deputy director of the FBI, withdrew the rule but claimed it did not infringe free speech</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>One of former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey’s headline-grabbing actions — a rule that would have required social media companies to provide third-party content moderators — was quietly dropped just before he resigned.Bailey became co-<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/08/18/andrew-bailey-stepping-down-as-missouri-attorney-general-for-job-in-trump-administration/">deputy director of the FBI</a>&nbsp;on Monday and was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/catherine-hanaway-missouri-attorney-general-andrew-bailey/">replaced as attorney general by Catherine Hanaway</a>. The rule for social media companies was announced in May and hailed by Bailey as a protection for individual free speech on popular platforms.“This rule marks the beginning of a sustained effort to dismantle the ‘Big Brother’ speech-control machinery of corporate America,” Bailey said in a May 6 news release.The proposed rules were published in the Missouri Register on June 16. Comments closed on July 16, opening a 59-day window for the next step, filing the proposal with the legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules.&nbsp;The rule was filed with the committee but withdrawn on Friday. Bailey’s office did not put out a news release about the decision to withdraw the rule.The proposal sought to use the attorney general’s authority under Missouri’s consumer protection laws to impose the requirements. Any user would be allowed to select a content moderator of their choosing — either the system provided by the social media platform or a third party — when they created an account and every six months it is active.Free speech advocates and lobbying groups for the communications industry filed comments arguing Bailey had overstepped his authority, was imposing unworkable requirements and violated the free speech rights of the social media providers.“This rule is economically inefficient, technically unworkable and legally vulnerable, representing a regulatory solution that is demonstrably worse than the problems it purports to address,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://laweconcenter.org/resources/icle-comments-to-missouri-attorney-general-on-moderator-choice-rule/" target="_blank">International Center for Law &amp; Economics</a>, a Portland, Oregon,-based think tank, said in its comments.The rule, the&nbsp;<a href="https://ccianet.org/news/2025/07/ccia-opposes-missouri-rules-that-would-undermine-content-moderation-and-threaten-online-safety/" target="_blank">Computer &amp; Communications Industry Association</a>&nbsp;said in its comments, would force platforms to allow outside entities to manage content without oversight or privacy protections.&nbsp;“This approach would make it harder to remove scams, harassment, and other illegal or dangerous content, while violating websites’ First Amendment right to decide what speech they host,” said the association, which is the lobbying arm of the computer industry.And NetChoice, a trade association of online businesses that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.oyez.org/cases/2023/22-277" target="_blank">successfully sued</a>&nbsp;to block laws in Florida and Texas that had similar objective, said in its comments that Bailey had misunderstood the U.S. Supreme Court decision in its favor.In that ruling, the court said the Florida and Texas laws violate the First Amendment rights social media companies enjoy as publishers of content.&nbsp;NetChoice wrote in its comments that “rather than respecting regulated websites’ First Amendment rights recognized in (the court decision), the rule would trample over those protections.”In the withdrawal notice, the attorney general’s office said it agreed with the concerns from commenters about the feasibility of implementing the rule as drafted and that more work would be required.“The attorney general’s decision to withdraw this rulemaking,” the notice stated, “is not due to comments suggesting he lacks legal authority to issue the rule.”

Former Missouri AG shelves rule on social media moderation as he leaves office

President Donald Trump spoke to GOP state senators during a caucus meeting and later in the day they moved to shut down debate over new rules intended to make it easier to pass a new congressional map

Just hours after hearing from President Donald Trump during a caucus meeting, Republicans in the Missouri Senate showed they are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">ready to please him</a>&nbsp;by shoving a new congressional district map to passage over opposition from Democrats.

The General Assembly is meeting in special session to revise the state’s eight congressional districts so Republicans are likely to win seven instead of the six they currently hold. The Missouri House has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">already approved the map</a>&nbsp;sought by Trump, who on Tuesday demanded on social media that the Senate do the same.

“The Missouri Senate must pass this Map now, AS IS, to deliver a gigantic Victory for Republicans in the ‘Show Me State,’ and across the Country,” Trump wrote.

To push the bill to final passage by Friday, Republicans had to get the two bills passed in the House into position for committee hearings on Thursday. But before that could take place, the chamber had to vote on rules for the session and Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin rolled out revisions intended to make House bills the Senate’s top priority.

And to get those revisions passed, they voted to shut off debate — using a once-rare motion known as the previous question. This year saw a major break from tradition, when Republicans used the motion to slam through partisan priorities at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">end of the regular session</a>&nbsp;in May.

It was the first time since 2017 when the previous question was used during a regular session.

The proposed rule changes triggered a Democratic-led debate that consumed two hours before Republicans forced a vote.

For about two hours, Democrats accused the Republicans of cheating by substituting the new rules instead of using the rules used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/webPDFs/RuleBook.pdf" target="_blank">during this year’s regular session</a>&nbsp;— and for the veto session that took place just minutes before the chamber convened for the special session.

“For those of you that are going to be here for a few years, why would you give away your power just to make today a little bit easier?” said state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia. “That doesn’t make any sense, and it really saddens me, because I don’t know where it stops.”

The new rules were not distributed before the session convened and many Republicans were not informed in advance the changes were coming.

State Sen. Joe Nicola, a Republican from Independence, said he was given the new rules and the bill on congressional maps&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">approved in the Missouri House</a>&nbsp;with the expectation he would be an automatic vote in favor of both. But Webber’s point was valid, he said, and he’s not ready to go along.

“I’m nobody’s puppet. I will never be anybody’s puppet,” Nicola said. “I’m not going to come down here and be expected to rubber stamp anything. That is not what I was elected to do.”

But when the chamber voted on the previous question, Nicola went along.

The previous question motion is used commonly in the Missouri House, but until this year it was considered a last resort in the Senate. When the votes were held, Democrats started calling the presiding officer of the Senate “Speaker” instead of “President.”

“There are no speakers in the Missouri Senate,” said state Sen. Jason Bean of Holcomb, who was presiding at the time.

Following the vote, the House bills were read and the Senate will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to move them to committees for hearings later in the day.

The Republicans’ target is the 5th Congressional District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City, a Democrat who has been in office since 2005. The map being considered would split the district into pieces, putting portions in the 4th and 6th districts and adding enough Republican votes to what remains to flip the district to the GOP.

Gov. Mike Kehoe also wants lawmakers to pass a state constitutional amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/08/missouri-house-advances-bill-to-make-it-harder-for-voters-to-amend-state-constitution/">raising the majority requirement</a>&nbsp;for passing constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition.&nbsp;

Instead of a statewide majority deciding the questions, initiative proposals would have to win majorities statewide and in every congressional district. That would allow&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">as few as 5% of voters</a>&nbsp;to decide the question.

But it is Trump’s insistence on a new congressional map to shore up the GOP’s shaky majority in the U.S. House that is the main focus of the special session.

During a caucus of the Republican senators Wednesday, Trump called Kehoe and spoke to the members through the governor’s phone.

State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, insisted in an interview that the special session was not called just because Trump wanted it. The proposed new map puts all of Schroer’s county into the 3rd Congressional District — it is now split between the 3rd and the 2nd districts — and he said that will keep a community together in the same district.

But when asked whether Kansas City, which is almost entirely in the 5th District but would have its population split among three in the proposed map, deserved the same consideration, Schroer said it did not.

“Donald Trump is encouraging Republicans to grow a spine, and stop bending the knee to the Democrats to avoid filibusters like we did in 2022,” Schroer said. “It’s really helped and it’s binding the Republican Party back together.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757550296708.png" alt=" Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks against proposed Senate rule changes Wednesday during the special session for redistricting (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-Affton, speaks against proposed Senate rule changes Wednesday during the special session for redistricting (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>President Donald Trump spoke to GOP state senators during a caucus meeting and later in the day they moved to shut down debate over new rules intended to make it easier to pass a new congressional map</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Just hours after hearing from President Donald Trump during a caucus meeting, Republicans in the Missouri Senate showed they are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/07/25/trump-white-house-pressing-missouri-republicans-to-redraw-congressional-map/">ready to please him</a>&nbsp;by shoving a new congressional district map to passage over opposition from Democrats.The General Assembly is meeting in special session to revise the state’s eight congressional districts so Republicans are likely to win seven instead of the six they currently hold. The Missouri House has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">already approved the map</a>&nbsp;sought by Trump, who on Tuesday demanded on social media that the Senate do the same.“The Missouri Senate must pass this Map now, AS IS, to deliver a gigantic Victory for Republicans in the ‘Show Me State,’ and across the Country,” Trump wrote.To push the bill to final passage by Friday, Republicans had to get the two bills passed in the House into position for committee hearings on Thursday. But before that could take place, the chamber had to vote on rules for the session and Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin rolled out revisions intended to make House bills the Senate’s top priority.And to get those revisions passed, they voted to shut off debate — using a once-rare motion known as the previous question. This year saw a major break from tradition, when Republicans used the motion to slam through partisan priorities at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">end of the regular session</a>&nbsp;in May.It was the first time since 2017 when the previous question was used during a regular session.The proposed rule changes triggered a Democratic-led debate that consumed two hours before Republicans forced a vote.For about two hours, Democrats accused the Republicans of cheating by substituting the new rules instead of using the rules used&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/webPDFs/RuleBook.pdf" target="_blank">during this year’s regular session</a>&nbsp;— and for the veto session that took place just minutes before the chamber convened for the special session.“For those of you that are going to be here for a few years, why would you give away your power just to make today a little bit easier?” said state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia. “That doesn’t make any sense, and it really saddens me, because I don’t know where it stops.”The new rules were not distributed before the session convened and many Republicans were not informed in advance the changes were coming.State Sen. Joe Nicola, a Republican from Independence, said he was given the new rules and the bill on congressional maps&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/09/missouri-house-passes-gerrymandered-congressional-map-limits-on-initiative-petitions/">approved in the Missouri House</a>&nbsp;with the expectation he would be an automatic vote in favor of both. But Webber’s point was valid, he said, and he’s not ready to go along.“I’m nobody’s puppet. I will never be anybody’s puppet,” Nicola said. “I’m not going to come down here and be expected to rubber stamp anything. That is not what I was elected to do.”But when the chamber voted on the previous question, Nicola went along.The previous question motion is used commonly in the Missouri House, but until this year it was considered a last resort in the Senate. When the votes were held, Democrats started calling the presiding officer of the Senate “Speaker” instead of “President.”“There are no speakers in the Missouri Senate,” said state Sen. Jason Bean of Holcomb, who was presiding at the time.Following the vote, the House bills were read and the Senate will meet at 9 a.m. Thursday to move them to committees for hearings later in the day.<h2>Flipping the 5th District</h2>The Republicans’ target is the 5th Congressional District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City, a Democrat who has been in office since 2005. The map being considered would split the district into pieces, putting portions in the 4th and 6th districts and adding enough Republican votes to what remains to flip the district to the GOP.Gov. Mike Kehoe also wants lawmakers to pass a state constitutional amendment&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/08/missouri-house-advances-bill-to-make-it-harder-for-voters-to-amend-state-constitution/">raising the majority requirement</a>&nbsp;for passing constitutional amendments proposed by initiative petition.&nbsp;Instead of a statewide majority deciding the questions, initiative proposals would have to win majorities statewide and in every congressional district. That would allow&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/09/04/as-few-as-5-of-voters-could-defeat-initiative-petitions-under-missouri-gop-legislation/">as few as 5% of voters</a>&nbsp;to decide the question.But it is Trump’s insistence on a new congressional map to shore up the GOP’s shaky majority in the U.S. House that is the main focus of the special session.During a caucus of the Republican senators Wednesday, Trump called Kehoe and spoke to the members through the governor’s phone.State Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance, insisted in an interview that the special session was not called just because Trump wanted it. The proposed new map puts all of Schroer’s county into the 3rd Congressional District — it is now split between the 3rd and the 2nd districts — and he said that will keep a community together in the same district.But when asked whether Kansas City, which is almost entirely in the 5th District but would have its population split among three in the proposed map, deserved the same consideration, Schroer said it did not.“Donald Trump is encouraging Republicans to grow a spine, and stop bending the knee to the Democrats to avoid filibusters like we did in 2022,” Schroer said. “It’s really helped and it’s binding the Republican Party back together.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757550223525.png" alt="State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, compares the State Senate to the House, remarking about the lack of debate allowed (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, compares the State Senate to the House, remarking about the lack of debate allowed (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>

After hearing from Trump, Missouri GOP muscle redistricting map forward in state Senate

Tomorrow Northwest Missouri State University will honor lives lost in the tragic events of 9/11  

The university will host a stair climb at Bearcat Stadium, to give students and community members the opportunity to honor the lives lost on that day.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756904178117.jpeg" alt="Northwest community members participate in the 9/11 stair climb last year at Bearcat Stadium. (Photo by Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University)" />
 <figcaption>Northwest community members participate in the 9/11 stair climb last year at Bearcat Stadium. (Photo by Maria Nino-Elliott/Northwest Missouri State University)</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE Tomorrow Northwest Missouri State University will honor lives lost in the tragic events of 9/11 The university will host a stair climb at Bearcat Stadium, to give students and community members the opportunity to honor the lives lost on that day. Coordinator for the Disaster and Emergency Management program at Northwest Travis Surprise says events like this are important to not only remember, but to help teach younger students "This is what happened and this is a really bad day inside of our lives that we lived through and then faced the consequences, not with just losing the firefighters and the first responders, but just also the chaos that ensued afterwards with 20 years of the global war on terrorism and all the other stuff that came along with it and the changes to our policy,” Surprise tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Basically, everything that’s happened now and in your life is somehow affected by what happened on that tragic day in 2001.” Additionally, Missouri Western State University is doing a stair climb at Spratt Stadium tomorrow as well, challenging participants to climb the equivalent of the 110 flights of stairs found in the World Trade Centers, to honor the 3,000 lives lost on that tragic day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757519496643.jpeg" alt="MoWest students and St. Joseph community members participate in the annual stair climb event honoring the attacks in New York on September 11th, 2001 at Spratt Stadium/ Photo courtesy of MoWest" />
 <figcaption>MoWest students and St. Joseph community members participate in the annual stair climb event honoring the attacks in New York on September 11th, 2001 at Spratt Stadium/ Photo courtesy of MoWest</figcaption>
 </figure>Angie Osborn with the MoWest Military and Veteran's Office says it’s not only important to remember the event for its history, but also for the way Americans responded by coming together "There’s a lot of emotion that went into planning this event and trying to make sure that we’re honoring obviously all of the victims, but also all of the heroes that were there that day and continue to work on that site for months to come,” Osborn explains. During the stair climb, both universities will do special thing to pay tribute to the lives lost during the attacks on September 11th, 2001. Surprise says as students walk, the news ceremony from the day of the attack will play on the scoreboard at Bearcat Stadium. "And it’s really sombering to watch some of these kids who have never seen this before, and even some adults who have forgot, to watch and be like oh man those feelings I felt were real and I remember exactly what I was doing and how I felt that day,” Surprise says. Additionally, bells will toll from the center of campus at the four times planes crashed on that day. Osborn says climbers at Spratt Stadium will carry a picture of one of the people lost in the attacks "There’s a photo and it tells a little bit, a little clip about that person, and their age when they passed away,” Osborn says. “And then we play some music as they climb.” Osborn says they will also pause at the time of each significant moment to talk about how America was feeling. MoWest's stair climb will begin with check in at 8am, the climb starting at 8:46 when the first plane struck. Northwest's will go from 6 to 8pm. Both are free to attend. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;