Representatives Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota and Adrian Smith of Nebraska led 62 colleagues in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai regarding Mexico. 

The House members are calling on Ambassador Tai to fully utilize the tools available under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments. 

They’re asking Tai to proceed with a formal USMCA dispute to address Mexico’s discriminatory policies banning U.S. biotech corn. 

“Now that the thirty-day period for consultations has lapsed without Mexico making any changes, we urge you to take swift enforcement action by initiating a USMCA dispute,” the letter says. 

“Two months have passed since you made strong comments on Mexico during Congressional testimony, and we strongly believe it’s time to take additional steps in the matter.” 

The letter also points out that a lack of action would create a dangerous precedent that promises made under USMCA can be ignored without consequence.

Representatives Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota and Adrian Smith of Nebraska led 62 colleagues in a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai regarding Mexico. The House members are calling on Ambassador Tai to fully utilize the tools available under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement to hold Mexico accountable for its commitments. They’re asking Tai to proceed with a formal USMCA dispute to address Mexico’s discriminatory policies banning U.S. biotech corn. “Now that the thirty-day period for consultations has lapsed without Mexico making any changes, we urge you to take swift enforcement action by initiating a USMCA dispute,” the letter says. “Two months have passed since you made strong comments on Mexico during Congressional testimony, and we strongly believe it’s time to take additional steps in the matter.” The letter also points out that a lack of action would create a dangerous precedent that promises made under USMCA can be ignored without consequence.- NAFB

Reps push USTR for actions on Mexico under the USMCA

A new report from CoBank says grain merchandisers have endured rising costs of storing or carrying grain and oilseed inventories during the past year because of rising interest rates. 

Higher crop prices and rising operating costs like transportation, insurance, fuel, electricity, and labor are also squeezing grain elevators. 

CoBank forecasts the financial cost of carry will reach record highs in the upcoming 2023-2024 crop year for corn, wheat, and soybeans. 

Grain elevators are required to buy and market members’ crops, regardless of whether the economics are favorable. The one thing elevators do control is their local bids. Inverted futures markets further penalize elevators for having to store grains and oilseeds. 

If interest rates stay at their current high level and futures markets remain inverted into the new crop year, then many grain cooperatives are expected to lower their bids and widen their basis to cover the high cost of storing commodities.

A new report from CoBank says grain merchandisers have endured rising costs of storing or carrying grain and oilseed inventories during the past year because of rising interest rates. Higher crop prices and rising operating costs like transportation, insurance, fuel, electricity, and labor are also squeezing grain elevators. CoBank forecasts the financial cost of carry will reach record highs in the upcoming 2023-2024 crop year for corn, wheat, and soybeans. Grain elevators are required to buy and market members’ crops, regardless of whether the economics are favorable. The one thing elevators do control is their local bids. Inverted futures markets further penalize elevators for having to store grains and oilseeds. If interest rates stay at their current high level and futures markets remain inverted into the new crop year, then many grain cooperatives are expected to lower their bids and widen their basis to cover the high cost of storing commodities.- NAFB

Rising cost of carry is hitting grain elevators’ bottom lines

🎤 Forward Ever: State Library of Kansas director of reference Cindy Roupe

Congressman&nbsp;Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin reintroduced the Guaranteeing Robust Agricultural Independence and Nutrition for America (GRAIN) Act. 

It would place a one-year moratorium on the enrollment of farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to leave land uncultivated. 

After the one-year moratorium, the bill would prevent prime farmland from getting enrolled in the CRP. 

“Food security is national security, and America needs to be taking the necessary steps to shore up our food supply,” Tiffany says. “We can only have a prosperous future if we allow our nation’s farmers to unleash their full production potential.” 

He also says the bill came about because the administration expanded the CRP in a “green fantasy” attempting to achieve net-zero emissions. 

Tiffany’s GRAIN for America Act would not impact farmland that is already a part of the CRP. Additionally, farmers who already have land in the CRP can re-enroll during the moratorium.

Congressman&nbsp;Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin reintroduced the Guaranteeing Robust Agricultural Independence and Nutrition for America (GRAIN) Act. It would place a one-year moratorium on the enrollment of farmland in the Conservation Reserve Program, which pays farmers to leave land uncultivated. After the one-year moratorium, the bill would prevent prime farmland from getting enrolled in the CRP. “Food security is national security, and America needs to be taking the necessary steps to shore up our food supply,” Tiffany says. “We can only have a prosperous future if we allow our nation’s farmers to unleash their full production potential.” He also says the bill came about because the administration expanded the CRP in a “green fantasy” attempting to achieve net-zero emissions. Tiffany’s GRAIN for America Act would not impact farmland that is already a part of the CRP. Additionally, farmers who already have land in the CRP can re-enroll during the moratorium.- NAFB

Legislation will strengthen America’s food supply

It’s been a banner year for Bishop LeBlond athletics, and it’s not quite over yet.

The Golden Eagles’ girls’ soccer team looks to put their name in lights as they compete in the Class 1 Final Four this Friday and Saturday in Fenton.

"We're stoked up about going out and proving ourselves," LeBlond head soccer coach Chad Thompson said. "There's been a lot of talk and everything over the past couple of years. I'm hoping we prove ourselves right."

 This is the fourth LeBlond team in this academic year alone to compete for a state championship, joining football, girls’ basketball and boys’ golf.

Thompson says these teams all have something in common.

"Everyone has a really, really good work ethic and they enjoy it," he said. "They're not doing it, because their friend is. Or, because Mom told them to or Dad told them they have to do something. They're out here, because they love the game."

LeBlond girls’ soccer (14-5) comes into this Final Four on a seven-match winning streak, most recently knocking off Barstow 2-1 in a state quarterfinal thriller this past Saturday.&nbsp;

Freshman Katie Sego scored what ended up being the go-ahead goal with 29:33 left in that match.

"Everyone has stepped up when they needed to on the field," Sego said. "It helped us all to grow with our connections, with our passing and talking. It really just helps a lot."

Sego is one of six freshmen on this year's varsity roster that was thrust into a bigger role this season with injuries popping up. Senior defender and Culver-Stockton soccer signee Emma Raines has been out all season due to an injury sustained in basketball season.

Defenders Charley Elliott and Maddie Angold have also had to miss significant time this spring.

Despite some hardships, outgoing senior and midfielder Emersyn McChristy has noticed just how hard the underclassmen have worked to fill the gaps.

"They've been doing good, learning quickly on how to fill those roles that we've lost people in," McChristy said. "They've grown together with us and have stepped up a lot."

Those adjustments and that growth have led LeBlond to their first Final Four appearance in program history. The Golden Eagles will first face Father Tolton (16-8-1) in state semifinals on Friday at noon at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park.

Villa Duchesne (9-11) and Saxony Lutheran (12-8) is the other semifinal matchup. LeBlond will play on Saturday - either for third place at 10 a.m. or for the grand prize at 11 a.m.

Whatever happens, whoever they play, Thompson says the goal this weekend is relatively simple.

"We're going down to have fun and play the best soccer we can play," he stated. "If we play the best soccer we can play, everything will be fine."

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685668267465.jpeg" alt="Photo by Tommy Rezac." />
 <figcaption>Photo by Tommy Rezac.</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOMMY REZACSt. Joseph PostIt’s been a banner year for Bishop LeBlond athletics, and it’s not quite over yet.The Golden Eagles’ girls’ soccer team looks to put their name in lights as they compete in the Class 1 Final Four this Friday and Saturday in Fenton."We're stoked up about going out and proving ourselves," LeBlond head soccer coach Chad Thompson said. "There's been a lot of talk and everything over the past couple of years. I'm hoping we prove ourselves right." This is the fourth LeBlond team in this academic year alone to compete for a state championship, joining football, girls’ basketball and boys’ golf.Thompson says these teams all have something in common."Everyone has a really, really good work ethic and they enjoy it," he said. "They're not doing it, because their friend is. Or, because Mom told them to or Dad told them they have to do something. They're out here, because they love the game."LeBlond girls’ soccer (14-5) comes into this Final Four on a seven-match winning streak, most recently knocking off Barstow 2-1 in a state quarterfinal thriller this past Saturday.&nbsp;Freshman Katie Sego scored what ended up being the go-ahead goal with 29:33 left in that match."Everyone has stepped up when they needed to on the field," Sego said. "It helped us all to grow with our connections, with our passing and talking. It really just helps a lot."Sego is one of six freshmen on this year's varsity roster that was thrust into a bigger role this season with injuries popping up. Senior defender and Culver-Stockton soccer signee Emma Raines has been out all season due to an injury sustained in basketball season.Defenders Charley Elliott and Maddie Angold have also had to miss significant time this spring.Despite some hardships, outgoing senior and midfielder Emersyn McChristy has noticed just how hard the underclassmen have worked to fill the gaps."They've been doing good, learning quickly on how to fill those roles that we've lost people in," McChristy said. "They've grown together with us and have stepped up a lot."Those adjustments and that growth have led LeBlond to their first Final Four appearance in program history. The Golden Eagles will first face Father Tolton (16-8-1) in state semifinals on Friday at noon at the World Wide Technology Soccer Park.Villa Duchesne (9-11) and Saxony Lutheran (12-8) is the other semifinal matchup. LeBlond will play on Saturday - either for third place at 10 a.m. or for the grand prize at 11 a.m.Whatever happens, whoever they play, Thompson says the goal this weekend is relatively simple."We're going down to have fun and play the best soccer we can play," he stated. "If we play the best soccer we can play, everything will be fine."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685668783677.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684466862919.jpeg" alt="Emerson McChristy (5)." />
 <figcaption>Emerson McChristy (5).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683075997333.jpeg" alt="Maddie Sego." />
 <figcaption>Maddie Sego.</figcaption>
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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684466907735.jpeg" alt="Tatum Studer (14)." />
 <figcaption>Tatum Studer (14).</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683074702140.jpeg" alt="Kendall Cathcart (32) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal." />
 <figcaption>Kendall Cathcart (32) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684467055807.jpeg" alt="Emersyn Lenz kicks the ball away." />
 <figcaption>Emersyn Lenz kicks the ball away.</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Tommy on Twitter @TommyKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

LeBlond girls' soccer set to compete in Final Four, caps historic year for Eagle athletics

BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a 100mph chase.

Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's deputies heard Nemaha County radio traffic of a possible stolen a red Dodge TRX pickup out of Seneca, eastbound on U.S. 36 HWY at a high rate of speed, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.

&nbsp; A Brown County deputy was on U.S. 75 at the time and located the suspect vehicle and started a pursuit&nbsp; east out of Fairview on U.S. 36.

It was reported that the male driver, later identified at 19-year-old Adrian Richardson was wearing a mask while the pursuit was taking place. &nbsp;As the vehicle was nearing Hiawatha, law enforcement vehicles downgraded their efforts for the safety of the public and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle.&nbsp; A short time later, a Hiawatha police officer located the vehicle and assisted in following&nbsp; the suspect vehicle as it headed south on U.S. 73

&nbsp;As the vehicle headed towards Horton, it was reported that it intentionally tried running&nbsp; motorists off of the roadway numerous times at speeds of over 100mph, according to Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; In Horton, the vehicle turned east and continued towards Atchison on U.S. 73 where the pursuit was terminated several miles west of the Atchison city limits.

Within a few minutes of entering Atchison, the suspect vehicle was located near Mound Street at Washington.&nbsp; Deputies arrested Richardson close to&nbsp; the Benedictine College ball field, without incident.

Richardson, who claims to be homeless, is being held in the Brown County jail on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Reckless Driving, Flee or Attempt to Elude Law Enforcement, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference of Law Enforcement Officers, No Drug Tax Stamp and Felony Theft. He may face additional charges, according to Merchant as the investigation continues through the Brown County Sheriff's Office.

Richardson also had 2 active warrants, Johnson County including a&nbsp; $5000&nbsp; Felony Failure to Appear Theft, and Jackson County Missouri for Felony Damage to Property.

The vehicle was towed to the Brown County Sheriff's office as evidence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685636926215.png" alt="Vehicle involved in the 100mph chase-photo Brown Co. Sheriff" />
 <figcaption>Vehicle involved in the 100mph chase-photo Brown Co. Sheriff</figcaption>
 </figure>BROWN COUNTY—Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a 100mph chase.Just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday, sheriff's deputies heard Nemaha County radio traffic of a possible stolen a red Dodge TRX pickup out of Seneca, eastbound on U.S. 36 HWY at a high rate of speed, according to Brown County Sheriff John Merchant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1685636890483.png" alt="Richardson-photo Brown Co." />
 <figcaption>Richardson-photo Brown Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp; A Brown County deputy was on U.S. 75 at the time and located the suspect vehicle and started a pursuit&nbsp; east out of Fairview on U.S. 36.It was reported that the male driver, later identified at 19-year-old Adrian Richardson was wearing a mask while the pursuit was taking place. &nbsp;As the vehicle was nearing Hiawatha, law enforcement vehicles downgraded their efforts for the safety of the public and temporarily lost sight of the vehicle.&nbsp; A short time later, a Hiawatha police officer located the vehicle and assisted in following&nbsp; the suspect vehicle as it headed south on U.S. 73 &nbsp;As the vehicle headed towards Horton, it was reported that it intentionally tried running&nbsp; motorists off of the roadway numerous times at speeds of over 100mph, according to Merchant.&nbsp; &nbsp; In Horton, the vehicle turned east and continued towards Atchison on U.S. 73 where the pursuit was terminated several miles west of the Atchison city limits. Within a few minutes of entering Atchison, the suspect vehicle was located near Mound Street at Washington.&nbsp; Deputies arrested Richardson close to&nbsp; the Benedictine College ball field, without incident. Richardson, who claims to be homeless, is being held in the Brown County jail on requested charges of Aggravated Assault, Reckless Driving, Flee or Attempt to Elude Law Enforcement, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference of Law Enforcement Officers, No Drug Tax Stamp and Felony Theft. He may face additional charges, according to Merchant as the investigation continues through the Brown County Sheriff's Office. Richardson also had 2 active warrants, Johnson County including a&nbsp; $5000&nbsp; Felony Failure to Appear Theft, and Jackson County Missouri for Felony Damage to Property. The vehicle was towed to the Brown County Sheriff's office as evidence.

Suspect jailed after 100mph chase in stolen pickup 

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Thursday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Highlander driven by Emerald E. Stuttle, 28, Omaha, Nebraska, was westbound on U.S. 36 at Wheeling.

The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, across Route B, overturned and struck a storage building.

Chillicothe ambulance transported Stuttle to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Thursday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Toyota Highlander driven by Emerald E. Stuttle, 28, Omaha, Nebraska, was westbound on U.S. 36 at Wheeling.The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, across Route B, overturned and struck a storage building.Chillicothe ambulance transported Stuttle to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Woman hospitalized after SUV strikes storage building

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A federal appeals court has put on hold an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing air pollution in Missouri, drawing criticism from environmentalists but praise from the state's attorney general who called the proposal “unconstitutional overreach.”

Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Wednesday that the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week granted his request for a stay, preventing the EPA from imposing the regulation until the appeals process plays out. It was not immediately clear if the EPA would appeal. A message left Thursday with a spokesperson was not immediately returned.

At issue is a “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act which requires states to submit a plan detailing how they will address air pollution from sources like power plants and industrial facilities that can drift to neighboring states. The EPA deemed Missouri's proposal inadequate and in March finalized its plan for the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.

“The court has thankfully put on hold the attempt by Biden’s EPA to unlawfully expand the federal government’s authority, displace Missouri’s ability to set our own energy policy, and force Missouri consumers to pay higher prices,” Bailey said in a news release. “We will always stand in the gap to protect Missourians against the federal government’s unconstitutional overreach.”

Jenn DeRose, Missouri campaign representative for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, noted that St. Louis is in the midst of several straight days with dangerously high ozone levels. Meanwhile, DeRose said, Bailey “took to Twitter to celebrate this disastrous decision as the children in our community had to start their summer with a higher risk of coughing, asthma attacks, and chest pain."

The appeals court issued its ruling without comment.

KANSAS CITY (AP) —A federal appeals court has put on hold an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing air pollution in Missouri, drawing criticism from environmentalists but praise from the state's attorney general who called the proposal “unconstitutional overreach.”Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced Wednesday that the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week granted his request for a stay, preventing the EPA from imposing the regulation until the appeals process plays out. It was not immediately clear if the EPA would appeal. A message left Thursday with a spokesperson was not immediately returned.At issue is a “good neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act which requires states to submit a plan detailing how they will address air pollution from sources like power plants and industrial facilities that can drift to neighboring states. The EPA deemed Missouri's proposal inadequate and in March finalized its plan for the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard.“The court has thankfully put on hold the attempt by Biden’s EPA to unlawfully expand the federal government’s authority, displace Missouri’s ability to set our own energy policy, and force Missouri consumers to pay higher prices,” Bailey said in a news release. “We will always stand in the gap to protect Missourians against the federal government’s unconstitutional overreach.”Jenn DeRose, Missouri campaign representative for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign, noted that St. Louis is in the midst of several straight days with dangerously high ozone levels. Meanwhile, DeRose said, Bailey “took to Twitter to celebrate this disastrous decision as the children in our community had to start their summer with a higher risk of coughing, asthma attacks, and chest pain."The appeals court issued its ruling without comment.

Appeals court halts EPA effort to impose air pollution plan in Missouri

New boaters will have an opportunity to earn their certification to hit the waters during this summer’s boating season. &nbsp;

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says In Missouri, anyone born after 1984 get a boating safety card to operate a boat.&nbsp;

"That includes personal watercrafts, like jet skis, so Troop H is going to offer that course free of charge, it's going to be from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon on June 10th and it will be held here at Troop H headquarters," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;

Hux says the course will teach people the rules of the water, so they don't operate their boats in a careless manner. &nbsp;

"Distance away, how far you have to stay away from a buoy, wake zones they talk about the safety of wake zones because if someone does not adhere to those rules that can cause damage to other boats, it can cause damage to private docks, and things like that," Hux explains. &nbsp;

While attendance to the course is free, it will cost $15 to order your boat safety card.&nbsp;

Hux says even if you can't make it to the course at Troop H headquarters, there are still ways to earn your boater safety card. &nbsp;

"We offer this course throughout the year, and they can always contact Troop H headquarters at (816) 387-2345 and speak with one of our Marine Troopers," Hux says.&nbsp;

You can find Matt on Twitter at @KfeqMatt or you can follow St Joseph Post at @StJosephPost

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;New boaters will have an opportunity to earn their certification to hit the waters during this summer’s boating season. &nbsp;Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H in St. Joseph says In Missouri, anyone born after 1984 get a boating safety card to operate a boat.&nbsp;"That includes personal watercrafts, like jet skis, so Troop H is going to offer that course free of charge, it's going to be from eight in the morning until four in the afternoon on June 10th and it will be held here at Troop H headquarters," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.&nbsp;Hux says the course will teach people the rules of the water, so they don't operate their boats in a careless manner. &nbsp;"Distance away, how far you have to stay away from a buoy, wake zones they talk about the safety of wake zones because if someone does not adhere to those rules that can cause damage to other boats, it can cause damage to private docks, and things like that," Hux explains. &nbsp;While attendance to the course is free, it will cost $15 to order your boat safety card.&nbsp;Hux says even if you can't make it to the course at Troop H headquarters, there are still ways to earn your boater safety card. &nbsp;"We offer this course throughout the year, and they can always contact Troop H headquarters at (816) 387-2345 and speak with one of our Marine Troopers," Hux says.&nbsp;You can find Matt on Twitter at @KfeqMatt or you can follow St Joseph Post at @StJosephPost

Boating season is here and safety should be at the top of mind

The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act is designed to help with slowdowns and other issues at U.S. ports. 

The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act follows the Ocean Shipping Reform Act passed a year ago. 

The first bill gave the Federal Maritime Commission the power to address the actions of foreign carriers leaving U.S. ports empty and not carrying American goods back home. 

The new Reform Implementation Act clarifies the FMC role and focuses attention on shipping exchanges. The goals are to streamline port logistics, reduce disruption, and address the influence of Chinese companies on shippers’ operations. U.S. ports are also prohibited from using Chinese state-sponsored software. 

The FMC can now investigate foreign shipping exchanges like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to prevent improper business practices. 

A report from Supply Management says the sponsoring legislators point out it gives the FMC the authority to protect U.S. ports, shippers, and manufacturers from Chinese influence. &nbsp;

The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act is designed to help with slowdowns and other issues at U.S. ports. The Ocean Shipping Reform Implementation Act follows the Ocean Shipping Reform Act passed a year ago. The first bill gave the Federal Maritime Commission the power to address the actions of foreign carriers leaving U.S. ports empty and not carrying American goods back home. The new Reform Implementation Act clarifies the FMC role and focuses attention on shipping exchanges. The goals are to streamline port logistics, reduce disruption, and address the influence of Chinese companies on shippers’ operations. U.S. ports are also prohibited from using Chinese state-sponsored software. The FMC can now investigate foreign shipping exchanges like the Shanghai Shipping Exchange to prevent improper business practices. A report from Supply Management says the sponsoring legislators point out it gives the FMC the authority to protect U.S. ports, shippers, and manufacturers from Chinese influence. &nbsp;- NAFB

Groups pushing for passage of Shipping Reform Implementation Act

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Kawasaki 750 ATV driven by David A. Schmitz, 60, Ravenwood, was backing eastbound in a field along 220 Street three miles southwest of Parnell. The ATV struck a rut and overturned on top of him.

Nodaway County EMS transported Schmitz to Mosaic Life Care.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Kawasaki 750 ATV driven by David A. Schmitz, 60, Ravenwood, was backing eastbound in a field along 220 Street three miles southwest of Parnell. The ATV struck a rut and overturned on top of him.Nodaway County EMS transported Schmitz to Mosaic Life Care.

Nodaway Co. man injured after ATV overturns on top of him

JEFFERSON CITY&nbsp;— On Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson signed&nbsp;Executive Order 23-05 declaring a Drought&nbsp;Alert in the State of Missouri in accordance with the Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, according to a media release from his office.

"With the summer months fast approaching, we want to be proactive to help mitigate the impacts of drought&nbsp;conditions we are experiencing,"&nbsp;Governor Parson&nbsp;said. "Missouri farmers and ranchers often bear the brunt of the consequences of drought, and we are already starting to see early effects on crops and livestock. While we cannot control the weather, we are committed to&nbsp;doing&nbsp;everything we can to alleviate the strain drought causes for our agricultural&nbsp;families and protect our food supply chains."

A Drought Alert, part of&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-drought-mitigation-response-plan-2023">Missouri’s Drought Plan</a>, is the first step for the Governor to direct state agencies to work together to provide as many resources and as much assistance as possible.&nbsp;

The Executive Order directs the Director of the Missouri Department&nbsp;of Natural Resources (DNR), Dru Buntin, to activate Missouri's Drought Assessment Committee and requests&nbsp;that all Missouri and federal agencies&nbsp;participate&nbsp;as needed. The Committee's first meeting will be held next Wednesday, June 7 at 2 p.m. DNR will coordinate additional&nbsp;meeting details.

Missouri agencies participating on the Drought Assessment Committee include the Department of Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Economic Development, Department of Health and Senior&nbsp;Services, and Department of Public Safety.

The Committee will further&nbsp;assess drought&nbsp;conditions and make preliminary recommendations&nbsp;to Governor Parson by Friday, June 9. Recommendations could include actions similar to those taken in the past, including a&nbsp;hay lottery program, opening public waters for livestock, easing hay hauling restrictions, etc.

Currently, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that all or portions of 60 Missouri counties are experiencing moderate, severe, or extreme drought conditions. The Executive&nbsp;Order declares a Drought Alert in these Missouri counties and any other county that begins experiencing&nbsp;drought conditions.&nbsp;

In a fast-moving drought, local condition reports are crucial to understanding impacts to provide timely and appropriate assistance. Citizens can submit information about local drought conditions at&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!QggtdEXVN-PQpqT1sFMWjn-honwIIsokHVUnzcFv10kf-aRU8iqm4TTKdmQtE6Eutj-lRpCxJOf4Jn8%24" target="_blank">Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR)</a>.

A variety of helpful resources are online at&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state-water/drought">www.dnr.mo.gov/drought</a>. The Department of Natural Resources is adding information on drought mitigation and assistance opportunities daily as it becomes available. The one-stop drought website features a link to&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!QggtdEXVN-PQpqT1sFMWjn-honwIIsokHVUnzcFv10kf-aRU8iqm4TTKdmQtE6Eutj-lRpCxJOf4Jn8%24" target="_blank">CMOR</a>, current drought-related news, the current United States and Missouri drought maps, the Missouri Drought Plan, and other resources, including information on previous droughts.

The Missouri Department of Conservation also warns of the increased risk for wildfires that drought conditions can cause. For more information on how best to prevent wildfires, visit MDC's wildfire&nbsp;prevention&nbsp;website:&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/wildfire-prevention">www.mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/wildfire-prevention</a>.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685580214260.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>JEFFERSON CITY&nbsp;— On Wednesday, Governor Mike Parson signed&nbsp;Executive Order 23-05 declaring a Drought&nbsp;Alert in the State of Missouri in accordance with the Missouri Drought Mitigation and Response Plan, according to a media release from his office."With the summer months fast approaching, we want to be proactive to help mitigate the impacts of drought&nbsp;conditions we are experiencing,"&nbsp;Governor Parson&nbsp;said. "Missouri farmers and ranchers often bear the brunt of the consequences of drought, and we are already starting to see early effects on crops and livestock. While we cannot control the weather, we are committed to&nbsp;doing&nbsp;everything we can to alleviate the strain drought causes for our agricultural&nbsp;families and protect our food supply chains."A Drought Alert, part of&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/document-search/missouri-drought-mitigation-response-plan-2023">Missouri’s Drought Plan</a>, is the first step for the Governor to direct state agencies to work together to provide as many resources and as much assistance as possible.&nbsp;The Executive Order directs the Director of the Missouri Department&nbsp;of Natural Resources (DNR), Dru Buntin, to activate Missouri's Drought Assessment Committee and requests&nbsp;that all Missouri and federal agencies&nbsp;participate&nbsp;as needed. The Committee's first meeting will be held next Wednesday, June 7 at 2 p.m. DNR will coordinate additional&nbsp;meeting details.Missouri agencies participating on the Drought Assessment Committee include the Department of Conservation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Transportation, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Economic Development, Department of Health and Senior&nbsp;Services, and Department of Public Safety.The Committee will further&nbsp;assess drought&nbsp;conditions and make preliminary recommendations&nbsp;to Governor Parson by Friday, June 9. Recommendations could include actions similar to those taken in the past, including a&nbsp;hay lottery program, opening public waters for livestock, easing hay hauling restrictions, etc.Currently, the U.S. Drought Monitor indicates that all or portions of 60 Missouri counties are experiencing moderate, severe, or extreme drought conditions. The Executive&nbsp;Order declares a Drought Alert in these Missouri counties and any other county that begins experiencing&nbsp;drought conditions.&nbsp;In a fast-moving drought, local condition reports are crucial to understanding impacts to provide timely and appropriate assistance. Citizens can submit information about local drought conditions at&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!QggtdEXVN-PQpqT1sFMWjn-honwIIsokHVUnzcFv10kf-aRU8iqm4TTKdmQtE6Eutj-lRpCxJOf4Jn8%24" target="_blank">Condition Monitoring Observer Reports (CMOR)</a>.A variety of helpful resources are online at&nbsp;<a href="https://dnr.mo.gov/water/hows-water/state-water/drought">www.dnr.mo.gov/drought</a>. The Department of Natural Resources is adding information on drought mitigation and assistance opportunities daily as it becomes available. The one-stop drought website features a link to&nbsp;<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx__;!!EErPFA7f--AJOw!QggtdEXVN-PQpqT1sFMWjn-honwIIsokHVUnzcFv10kf-aRU8iqm4TTKdmQtE6Eutj-lRpCxJOf4Jn8%24" target="_blank">CMOR</a>, current drought-related news, the current United States and Missouri drought maps, the Missouri Drought Plan, and other resources, including information on previous droughts.The Missouri Department of Conservation also warns of the increased risk for wildfires that drought conditions can cause. For more information on how best to prevent wildfires, visit MDC's wildfire&nbsp;prevention&nbsp;website:&nbsp;<a href="https://mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/wildfire-prevention">www.mdc.mo.gov/your-property/fire-management/wildfire-prevention</a>.

Gov. signs executive order declaring drought alert in Missouri 

An adult male suffered minor gunshot wounds in an early
morning shooting Wednesday in St. Joseph’s southend.

The investigation is active currently with police searching
for a suspect and sifting through the details, which are sketchy at present.

St. Joseph police only describe the victim as an adult male
who suffered a minor wound.

The shooting took place around three o’clock this morning in
the area of Pine and Collins Street.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn adult male suffered minor gunshot wounds in an early
morning shooting Wednesday in St. Joseph’s southend.The investigation is active currently with police searching
for a suspect and sifting through the details, which are sketchy at present.St. Joseph police only describe the victim as an adult male
who suffered a minor wound.The shooting took place around three o’clock this morning in
the area of Pine and Collins Street.

One wounded in early morning shooting in St. Joseph's southend

A disappointing last two weeks left a bad taste in the mouth
of area legislators looking back on the Missouri legislative session which
ended earlier this month.

State Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe served in the Senate for
the first time this year after serving three terms in the Missouri House and
was pleased, for the most part.

“I enjoyed the opportunity to work in the Senate, especially
enjoyed it until the last two weeks,” Black told an audience gathered at the
Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Monday for the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce Public Affairs Coffee.

Those last two weeks bogged down due to filibusters mounted by
senators unhappy that their legislation failed to move forward. Those
filibusters killed several measures, including a bill by Rep. Brenda Shields of
St. Joseph that would have provided tax credits to increase child care in
Missouri.

“That’s, I think, the biggest disappointed for me is that we’re
going to go another year without being able to establish how we’re going to
help businesses and families address the child care issue in our state,”
Shields said in answer to a question from moderator Barry Birr, the host of the
KFEQ Hotline.

Shields said surveys indicate a lack of child care is keeping
Missouri women out of the workforce and preventing businesses from filling
positions. Shields had proposed a series of tax credits to encourage businesses
to offset the cost of child care for employees as well as to encourage child
care centers to keep open and expand.

Shields could only watch at the end of the legislative session
in Jefferson City as her proposed child care tax credits languished in the
Senate while senators mounted filibusters because their issues had not been
addressed.

“We passed them in the House overwhelmingly. They went to the
Senate committee. They passed out of the committee without a single ‘No’ vote,”
Shields said. “But because of, and I’ll just say it, the Senate’s dysfunction,
they couldn’t get that across the finish line.”

Shields had a good session. Her bill allowing Missourians to seek
physical therapy directly without needing a referral from a doctor has already
been signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson. She also succeeded in pushing through
a measure that would require insurance companies cover diagnostic testing when
a mammogram indicates a problem as well as a measure increasing the penalty for
tampering with the transportation of livestock.

St. Joseph legislators pointed to success in the record state
budget, with millions slated to finance upgrades at Rosecrans Memorial Airport,
to expand offerings at Hillyard Technical Center, to build the new Convergent
Technology Alliance Center to be operated jointly by Missouri Western State
University and North Central Missouri College, and to create the Children’s
Discovery Center downtown.

All of the legislators lamented the failure of a top
Republican priority:&nbsp; changing the voter
threshold needed to amend the Missouri Constitution. At present, an initiative
petition to change the state constitution needs to pass by only a simple
majority, such as the ballot issue that legalized recreational marijuana.

St. Joseph State Rep. Bill Falkner has pushed the last couple
of sessions to raise that threshold. He blamed the Senate filibusters the last
two weeks of session for the death of a proposal to increase the voter
threshold to 57%. The House had approved increasing the threshold to 60%. The Senate
lowered it slightly.

“I thought that was a really good compromise on things,”
Falkner said. “It’s a shame we didn’t get that passed. So, I would have to say
that’s my biggest disappointment.”

While not completely defending filibusters, state Sen. Black did
say they can serve a purpose.

“As a former House member, we all heard that, your foot is on
the accelerator when you are on that side of the building,” Black said, making
reference to his time in the House. “And on the other side, your foot is
supposed to be on the brake.”

Black promised to never engage in a filibuster that used
rhetoric irrelevant to the subject being debated. Black also suggested term
limits caused some of the problem with some lawmakers taking up time on the floor
making, in effect, campaign speeches for higher office.

Rep. Dean Van Schoiack of Savannah joined with others who
expressed disappointment in the failure of changes to the initiative petition process.

“We sent a really good bill over to the Senate. They sent a
good bill back to us,” according to Van Schoiack. “We sent 60% to amend the
constitution. They sent back 57. We amended that and sent it back and it died
in the Senate in the last couple of days. So, we’ll bring it back up again this
next year.”

Van Schoiack saw his legislation to regulate the use of drones
over private property clear the House only to stall in the Senate.

You can follow Brent @GBrentKFEQ&nbsp;and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685554651952.jpeg" alt="KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr, center, moderates the legislative forum sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Legislators (from left to right) are Sen. Rusty Black, Rep. Bill Falkner, Rep. Brenda Shields, and Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/Photo by Liby Waltemath" />
 <figcaption>KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr, center, moderates the legislative forum sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce. Legislators (from left to right) are Sen. Rusty Black, Rep. Bill Falkner, Rep. Brenda Shields, and Rep. Dean Van Schoiack/Photo by Liby Waltemath</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA disappointing last two weeks left a bad taste in the mouth
of area legislators looking back on the Missouri legislative session which
ended earlier this month.State Sen. Rusty Black of Chillicothe served in the Senate for
the first time this year after serving three terms in the Missouri House and
was pleased, for the most part.“I enjoyed the opportunity to work in the Senate, especially
enjoyed it until the last two weeks,” Black told an audience gathered at the
Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center Monday for the St. Joseph Chamber of
Commerce Public Affairs Coffee.Those last two weeks bogged down due to filibusters mounted by
senators unhappy that their legislation failed to move forward. Those
filibusters killed several measures, including a bill by Rep. Brenda Shields of
St. Joseph that would have provided tax credits to increase child care in
Missouri.“That’s, I think, the biggest disappointed for me is that we’re
going to go another year without being able to establish how we’re going to
help businesses and families address the child care issue in our state,”
Shields said in answer to a question from moderator Barry Birr, the host of the
KFEQ Hotline.Shields said surveys indicate a lack of child care is keeping
Missouri women out of the workforce and preventing businesses from filling
positions. Shields had proposed a series of tax credits to encourage businesses
to offset the cost of child care for employees as well as to encourage child
care centers to keep open and expand.Shields could only watch at the end of the legislative session
in Jefferson City as her proposed child care tax credits languished in the
Senate while senators mounted filibusters because their issues had not been
addressed.“We passed them in the House overwhelmingly. They went to the
Senate committee. They passed out of the committee without a single ‘No’ vote,”
Shields said. “But because of, and I’ll just say it, the Senate’s dysfunction,
they couldn’t get that across the finish line.”Shields had a good session. Her bill allowing Missourians to seek
physical therapy directly without needing a referral from a doctor has already
been signed into law by Gov. Mike Parson. She also succeeded in pushing through
a measure that would require insurance companies cover diagnostic testing when
a mammogram indicates a problem as well as a measure increasing the penalty for
tampering with the transportation of livestock.St. Joseph legislators pointed to success in the record state
budget, with millions slated to finance upgrades at Rosecrans Memorial Airport,
to expand offerings at Hillyard Technical Center, to build the new Convergent
Technology Alliance Center to be operated jointly by Missouri Western State
University and North Central Missouri College, and to create the Children’s
Discovery Center downtown.All of the legislators lamented the failure of a top
Republican priority:&nbsp; changing the voter
threshold needed to amend the Missouri Constitution. At present, an initiative
petition to change the state constitution needs to pass by only a simple
majority, such as the ballot issue that legalized recreational marijuana.St. Joseph State Rep. Bill Falkner has pushed the last couple
of sessions to raise that threshold. He blamed the Senate filibusters the last
two weeks of session for the death of a proposal to increase the voter
threshold to 57%. The House had approved increasing the threshold to 60%. The Senate
lowered it slightly.“I thought that was a really good compromise on things,”
Falkner said. “It’s a shame we didn’t get that passed. So, I would have to say
that’s my biggest disappointment.”While not completely defending filibusters, state Sen. Black did
say they can serve a purpose.“As a former House member, we all heard that, your foot is on
the accelerator when you are on that side of the building,” Black said, making
reference to his time in the House. “And on the other side, your foot is
supposed to be on the brake.”Black promised to never engage in a filibuster that used
rhetoric irrelevant to the subject being debated. Black also suggested term
limits caused some of the problem with some lawmakers taking up time on the floor
making, in effect, campaign speeches for higher office.Rep. Dean Van Schoiack of Savannah joined with others who
expressed disappointment in the failure of changes to the initiative petition process.“We sent a really good bill over to the Senate. They sent a
good bill back to us,” according to Van Schoiack. “We sent 60% to amend the
constitution. They sent back 57. We amended that and sent it back and it died
in the Senate in the last couple of days. So, we’ll bring it back up again this
next year.”Van Schoiack saw his legislation to regulate the use of drones
over private property clear the House only to stall in the Senate.You can follow Brent @GBrentKFEQ&nbsp;and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Legislators-frustrated-with-end-of-legislative-session-e2509g8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

Ending spoils otherwise good Missouri legislative session

Scammers are once again attempting to exploit Buchanan County residents by pretending to call from the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department. &nbsp;

Sheriff Bill Puett says his office has been receiving complaints from citizens about calls coming from the number (816) 320 4426.&nbsp;

"Right now, it appears that we have people who are trying to victimize our citizens again by posing as member of the Sheriff's office and using the Sheriff's office to try to influence them in some way to provide their information and financial access to their accounts," Puett tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. &nbsp;

Puett says the con artists tells residents they missed federal jury duty.&nbsp; Puett says that's a call his office would never make.&nbsp;

Puett says scare tactics like this are common when it comes to scams. &nbsp;

"They use the authority of the Sheriff's office to try to scare citizens by threatening them with warrants, arrests, and all those things," Puett explains. &nbsp;

Puett says his office has already received several calls about this scam, and he wanted to be sure to spread awareness.&nbsp;

"To make sure everybody knows, because again the threat of the government coming and arresting you is very powerful and that's what these scammers rely on," Puett says.&nbsp;

Puett says if you receive a call like this claiming to be the Sheriff's Department, the best thing to do is just terminate the call &nbsp;

"There's nothing wrong with terminating that call because it is not from an official government agency," Puett points out. "So just terminate the call and don't continue to engage, it's not worth possibly exposing yourself to victimization."&nbsp;

Puett says if you have fallen victim to one of these calls, you should call the Communications Center.&nbsp;

By MATT PIKE&nbsp;St. Joseph Post&nbsp;Scammers are once again attempting to exploit Buchanan County residents by pretending to call from the Buchanan County Sheriff's Department. &nbsp;Sheriff Bill Puett says his office has been receiving complaints from citizens about calls coming from the number (816) 320 4426.&nbsp;"Right now, it appears that we have people who are trying to victimize our citizens again by posing as member of the Sheriff's office and using the Sheriff's office to try to influence them in some way to provide their information and financial access to their accounts," Puett tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. &nbsp;Puett says the con artists tells residents they missed federal jury duty.&nbsp; Puett says that's a call his office would never make.&nbsp;Puett says scare tactics like this are common when it comes to scams. &nbsp;"They use the authority of the Sheriff's office to try to scare citizens by threatening them with warrants, arrests, and all those things," Puett explains. &nbsp;Puett says his office has already received several calls about this scam, and he wanted to be sure to spread awareness.&nbsp;"To make sure everybody knows, because again the threat of the government coming and arresting you is very powerful and that's what these scammers rely on," Puett says.&nbsp;Puett says if you receive a call like this claiming to be the Sheriff's Department, the best thing to do is just terminate the call &nbsp;"There's nothing wrong with terminating that call because it is not from an official government agency," Puett points out. "So just terminate the call and don't continue to engage, it's not worth possibly exposing yourself to victimization."&nbsp;Puett says if you have fallen victim to one of these calls, you should call the Communications Center.&nbsp;

Sheriff Puett warns against new scam

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3a.m. Wednesday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Shelley L. Davis, 59, Mound City, was westbound on Route F two miles south of Mound City.

The car began to skid past the intersection at Route E, traveled off the west side of the road and struck a utility pole.

Atchison-Holt EMS transported Davis to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 3a.m. Wednesday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Shelley L. Davis, 59, Mound City, was westbound on Route F two miles south of Mound City.The car began to skid past the intersection at Route E, traveled off the west side of the road and struck a utility pole.Atchison-Holt EMS transported Davis to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri woman hospitalized after car strikes utility pole

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>

<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>
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 </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.

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 <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.