The state Senate approved the financing plan to renovate Arrowhead Stadium and build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium in the early morning hours Thursday.

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>

Gov. Mike Kehoe expanded the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">agenda of the special session</a>&nbsp;Wednesday enough to win Missouri Senate passage of bills with money for disaster recovery in St. Louis, changes to property taxes policies and tax incentives to finance new or improved stadiums in Kansas City.&nbsp;

Initially scheduled to go in at 10 a.m., the Senate finally convened about seven hours later. Talks over what sweeteners Kehoe needed to get his key objective — tax incentives to finance&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/13/new-stadium-funding-plan-for-chiefs-royals-clears-missouri-house/">new or renovated stadiums</a>&nbsp;for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals —- culminated in his revised agenda.

“After productive conversations with members of the Missouri General Assembly this week, we are amending our special session call to allow for additional legislation in the areas of disaster relief, tax policy, and budget investments,” Kehoe said in a news release. “We appreciate legislators working together to use this as an opportunity to show up for our communities by acting swiftly to help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.”

Under the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++9&amp;bid=31821&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional limits</a>&nbsp;on a special session, the governor must “state specifically each matter on which action is deemed necessary.” Any attempt to address an issue not listed in the call for the session can be ruled out of order.

The special session began Monday and can continue for up to 60 days. Kehoe is seeking quick action because both teams have offers from Kansas to relocate.

The spending bill passed 23-10 in the early morning on Thursday, winning with a coalition of Democrats and Republicans with only Republicans opposed. The bill to finance the stadiums went to the House on a 19-13 vote, with three Democrats joining 10 Republicans in opposition.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For several hours the chamber stalled on the stadium bill, working late into the night. The bill includes all the tax provisions necessary to finance the stadiums, plus disaster relief provisions and an expansion of a tax credit program supporting amateur sporting events.

Shortly before 1 a.m., the impasse cleared and bill sponsored by state Sen. Kurtis Gregory was given initial approval. Within a few hours, the final votes were held and the Senate adjourned until June 16.

For several hours, debate focused on a proposal from state Sen. Joe Nicola, a Republican from Independence, to freeze the maximum increase in annual property tax bills at 5% in some counties.

Then state Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Olivette, said she had heard enough.

“This discussion that we’ve had the last several hours is just an effort for the governor to try to get a couple of votes out of the Freedom Caucus for the stadium funding scheme,” McCreery said.

She said Kehoe agreed to Nicola’s amendment and added it to the call to wear down opposition. Then she blamed Kehoe and Republicans for using a procedural move&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">to shut down debate</a>&nbsp;during the regular session on an abortion ban and repeal of the sick leave law approved by voters in November.

Kehoe could have had the stadium plan passed if the procedural move was not used, McCreery said.&nbsp;

“Here we are tonight, masquerading that we care about people and the amount of money that they’re paying for things,” McCreery said.&nbsp;

Democrats don’t trust Republicans, she said, and the Senate should not trust the House. Until the appropriation bill, which totals $361 million including $175 million in general revenue, passes the House.

The House refused to pass a bill with $235 million of the same projects and $282 million of additional spending during the session. House Republican leaders waited for the Senate to adjourn on the last day for passing appropriations before revealing that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/09/missouri-house-republicans-surprise-senate-by-killing-500-million-construction-bill/">the bill would be spiked</a>.&nbsp;

“We should not be doing anything until (the spending bill is passed) and over the House, and then the House has to have it on its way to the governor before we should be taking any action on anything else,” McCreery said.

The stadium funding plan would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties.

The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.

State Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Republican from Marshall and sponsor of the stadium bill, said the public support for keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri was both a good economic investment and a good investment in the state’s image.

“What’s at stake if those teams go across the state line is over $2 billion of economic activity inside of the state of Missouri, over 13,000 jobs, and we just let the state of Kansas poach the pride and joy of the western side of the state,” Gregory said.

The teams must give Kansas an answer by June 30 on an offer to pay 70% of the cost of new stadiums. Missouri’s offer is to cover about half the cost.

Some senators have grumbled that the teams should make a commitment to stay in Missouri if the bill is passed. Gregory said their desire to stay should be apparent.

“I also contend that the teams want to stay in Missouri, because if they wanted to go to Kansas, I believe they would have already signed on the dotted line to move those teams,” Gregory said.

The spending bill was increased because of demands from St. Louis Democrats that Kehoe address the uncertainty over&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/04/st-louis-waits-for-aid-as-fema-response-to-missouri-disasters-is-slowest-in-15-years/">when or whether</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump will declare a federal disaster for the May 16 St. Louis tornado.

That brought a new $100 million appropriation for storm victims in the city of St. Louis. Previously, the disaster provisions in the call — $25 million for the Missouri Housing Trust Fund to be distributed by the Missouri Housing Development Commission and a tax credit for amounts paid as insurance deductibles — were all applied equally to counties included in disaster requests. Kehoe has submitted four storm events this spring, with damage in 37 counties, to Trump for disaster requests. Two have been granted.

The magnitude of the St. Louis tornado — a 22-mile path of destruction that cost five Missouri lives and damaged an estimated $1.6 billion in property damage — surpasses all other damage so far in the state.

Damage to public property in the two disasters that have been declared is estimated at $52 million.

The other new money added to the spending bill settled an issue for state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia. A state contribution to the new research reactor at the University of Missouri, which Kehoe cut from $50 million to $25 million to find money for disaster aid, was returned to $50 million.

The only opposition to the spending bill on the floor came from state Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, who said the university should tap its $1.4 billion endowment to pay for the reactor.&nbsp;

And Moon said he didn’t like the disaster relief funds.

“The money that is going to be received by those who were hurt is nowhere near the amount that’s going to cause them to be compensated and fully restored,” Moon said.

If the state starts paying to repair property after storms, he said, people will not buy insurance.

“I don’t think some of this is the proper function of government,” Moon said. “Compassion, certainly. But unless people take personal responsibility and do the things they should be doing so that we don’t have to, when is this going to end?”

The tax change Nicola is trying to enact would cap increases in real property tax bills at 5% every two years, corresponding to the reassessment cycle. Officials in 34 counties would have the option of putting the cap in place through a ballot measure.

The proposal is a response to rapid increases in property values and the resulting increase in tax bills. There was no estimate available of the potential cost to local governments. Nicola said there were enough protections to make sure all current revenue is maintained and new voter-approved levies are paid.

“Our property tax system in this state, in my opinion, is a disaster,” Nicola said.

The amendment is the price of his vote, he told the Senate.

“I am a hard no on the stadium tax bill unless we get some solid property tax relief for my people in Jackson County,” Nicola said. “I told the governor of this on Monday I can count on one hand how many of my constituents want me to vote for the stadium.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749125517497.png" alt=" State Sen. Kurtis Gregory of Marshall is sponsoring the bill to set aside state tax money to finance new and renovated stadiums for Kansas City sports teams (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Kurtis Gregory of Marshall is sponsoring the bill to set aside state tax money to finance new and renovated stadiums for Kansas City sports teams (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The state Senate approved the financing plan to renovate Arrowhead Stadium and build a replacement for Kauffman Stadium in the early morning hours Thursday.</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>Gov. Mike Kehoe expanded the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">agenda of the special session</a>&nbsp;Wednesday enough to win Missouri Senate passage of bills with money for disaster recovery in St. Louis, changes to property taxes policies and tax incentives to finance new or improved stadiums in Kansas City.&nbsp;Initially scheduled to go in at 10 a.m., the Senate finally convened about seven hours later. Talks over what sweeteners Kehoe needed to get his key objective — tax incentives to finance&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/13/new-stadium-funding-plan-for-chiefs-royals-clears-missouri-house/">new or renovated stadiums</a>&nbsp;for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals —- culminated in his revised agenda.“After productive conversations with members of the Missouri General Assembly this week, we are amending our special session call to allow for additional legislation in the areas of disaster relief, tax policy, and budget investments,” Kehoe said in a news release. “We appreciate legislators working together to use this as an opportunity to show up for our communities by acting swiftly to help those in crisis, while also making smart decisions that secure opportunity for the future.”Under the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=IV++++9&amp;bid=31821&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">constitutional limits</a>&nbsp;on a special session, the governor must “state specifically each matter on which action is deemed necessary.” Any attempt to address an issue not listed in the call for the session can be ruled out of order.The special session began Monday and can continue for up to 60 days. Kehoe is seeking quick action because both teams have offers from Kansas to relocate.The spending bill passed 23-10 in the early morning on Thursday, winning with a coalition of Democrats and Republicans with only Republicans opposed. The bill to finance the stadiums went to the House on a 19-13 vote, with three Democrats joining 10 Republicans in opposition.&nbsp;&nbsp;For several hours the chamber stalled on the stadium bill, working late into the night. The bill includes all the tax provisions necessary to finance the stadiums, plus disaster relief provisions and an expansion of a tax credit program supporting amateur sporting events.Shortly before 1 a.m., the impasse cleared and bill sponsored by state Sen. Kurtis Gregory was given initial approval. Within a few hours, the final votes were held and the Senate adjourned until June 16.For several hours, debate focused on a proposal from state Sen. Joe Nicola, a Republican from Independence, to freeze the maximum increase in annual property tax bills at 5% in some counties.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749125482079.png" alt=" State Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Olivette, took a vocal stand Wednesday night opposing state funding for stadiums in Kansas City and St. Louis. She is show during the May 14 session when Republicans used a procedural move to shut down debate on a constitutional amendment to ban abortion (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Olivette, took a vocal stand Wednesday night opposing state funding for stadiums in Kansas City and St. Louis. She is show during the May 14 session when Republicans used a procedural move to shut down debate on a constitutional amendment to ban abortion (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Then state Sen. Tracy McCreery, a Democrat from Olivette, said she had heard enough.“This discussion that we’ve had the last several hours is just an effort for the governor to try to get a couple of votes out of the Freedom Caucus for the stadium funding scheme,” McCreery said.She said Kehoe agreed to Nicola’s amendment and added it to the call to wear down opposition. Then she blamed Kehoe and Republicans for using a procedural move&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/missouri-republicans-shut-down-senate-debate-to-pass-abortion-ban-repeal-sick-leave-law/">to shut down debate</a>&nbsp;during the regular session on an abortion ban and repeal of the sick leave law approved by voters in November.Kehoe could have had the stadium plan passed if the procedural move was not used, McCreery said.&nbsp;“Here we are tonight, masquerading that we care about people and the amount of money that they’re paying for things,” McCreery said.&nbsp;Democrats don’t trust Republicans, she said, and the Senate should not trust the House. Until the appropriation bill, which totals $361 million including $175 million in general revenue, passes the House.The House refused to pass a bill with $235 million of the same projects and $282 million of additional spending during the session. House Republican leaders waited for the Senate to adjourn on the last day for passing appropriations before revealing that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/09/missouri-house-republicans-surprise-senate-by-killing-500-million-construction-bill/">the bill would be spiked</a>.&nbsp;“We should not be doing anything until (the spending bill is passed) and over the House, and then the House has to have it on its way to the governor before we should be taking any action on anything else,” McCreery said.The stadium funding plan would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties.The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.State Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Republican from Marshall and sponsor of the stadium bill, said the public support for keeping the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri was both a good economic investment and a good investment in the state’s image.“What’s at stake if those teams go across the state line is over $2 billion of economic activity inside of the state of Missouri, over 13,000 jobs, and we just let the state of Kansas poach the pride and joy of the western side of the state,” Gregory said.The teams must give Kansas an answer by June 30 on an offer to pay 70% of the cost of new stadiums. Missouri’s offer is to cover about half the cost.Some senators have grumbled that the teams should make a commitment to stay in Missouri if the bill is passed. Gregory said their desire to stay should be apparent.“I also contend that the teams want to stay in Missouri, because if they wanted to go to Kansas, I believe they would have already signed on the dotted line to move those teams,” Gregory said.The spending bill was increased because of demands from St. Louis Democrats that Kehoe address the uncertainty over&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/04/st-louis-waits-for-aid-as-fema-response-to-missouri-disasters-is-slowest-in-15-years/">when or whether</a>&nbsp;President Donald Trump will declare a federal disaster for the May 16 St. Louis tornado.That brought a new $100 million appropriation for storm victims in the city of St. Louis. Previously, the disaster provisions in the call — $25 million for the Missouri Housing Trust Fund to be distributed by the Missouri Housing Development Commission and a tax credit for amounts paid as insurance deductibles — were all applied equally to counties included in disaster requests. Kehoe has submitted four storm events this spring, with damage in 37 counties, to Trump for disaster requests. Two have been granted.The magnitude of the St. Louis tornado — a 22-mile path of destruction that cost five Missouri lives and damaged an estimated $1.6 billion in property damage — surpasses all other damage so far in the state.Damage to public property in the two disasters that have been declared is estimated at $52 million.The other new money added to the spending bill settled an issue for state Sen. Stephen Webber, a Democrat from Columbia. A state contribution to the new research reactor at the University of Missouri, which Kehoe cut from $50 million to $25 million to find money for disaster aid, was returned to $50 million.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749125436963.png" alt=" Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, speaks in defense of Freedom Caucus members during a May 14, 2024, debate. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Sen. Mike Moon, R-Ash Grove, speaks in defense of Freedom Caucus members during a May 14, 2024, debate. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>The only opposition to the spending bill on the floor came from state Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, who said the university should tap its $1.4 billion endowment to pay for the reactor.&nbsp;And Moon said he didn’t like the disaster relief funds.“The money that is going to be received by those who were hurt is nowhere near the amount that’s going to cause them to be compensated and fully restored,” Moon said.If the state starts paying to repair property after storms, he said, people will not buy insurance.“I don’t think some of this is the proper function of government,” Moon said. “Compassion, certainly. But unless people take personal responsibility and do the things they should be doing so that we don’t have to, when is this going to end?”The tax change Nicola is trying to enact would cap increases in real property tax bills at 5% every two years, corresponding to the reassessment cycle. Officials in 34 counties would have the option of putting the cap in place through a ballot measure.The proposal is a response to rapid increases in property values and the resulting increase in tax bills. There was no estimate available of the potential cost to local governments. Nicola said there were enough protections to make sure all current revenue is maintained and new voter-approved levies are paid.“Our property tax system in this state, in my opinion, is a disaster,” Nicola said.The amendment is the price of his vote, he told the Senate.“I am a hard no on the stadium tax bill unless we get some solid property tax relief for my people in Jackson County,” Nicola said. “I told the governor of this on Monday I can count on one hand how many of my constituents want me to vote for the stadium.”

Missouri governor allows more spending, property tax cap as he pursues stadium deal

CALDWELL COUNTY—A teen driver was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford Focus driven by a 19-year-old Cameron woman was eastbound on Route BB at Tri-County line Road one mile east of Cameron. The Ford and a westbound 2018 Lincoln MKX driven by a 55-year-old Cameron woman were negotiating a curve in the road.

The 19-year-old driver dropped a mobile device causing the Ford to cross the center line and strike the Lincoln head-on.

The 19-year-old driver was transported to an area hospital. The other driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The&nbsp; Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY—A teen driver was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford Focus driven by a 19-year-old Cameron woman was eastbound on Route BB at Tri-County line Road one mile east of Cameron. The Ford and a westbound 2018 Lincoln MKX driven by a 55-year-old Cameron woman were negotiating a curve in the road.The 19-year-old driver dropped a mobile device causing the Ford to cross the center line and strike the Lincoln head-on.The 19-year-old driver was transported to an area hospital. The other driver was not injured. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The&nbsp; Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Teen driver hospitalized after head-on crash

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2008 Dodge Magnum driven by a 28-year-old Elmo man was southbound on Route KK at 135th Street one mile north of Elmo. The driver fell asleep. The vehicle crossed the center line and struck the rear drivers side of a northbound 2008 Chevy 1500 driven by a 65-year-old Clarinda, Iowa man.

Nodaway County EMS transported the 28-year-old to the hospital in Clarinda, Iowa. The pickup driver was not injured. The injured driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 4p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported 2008 Dodge Magnum driven by a 28-year-old Elmo man was southbound on Route KK at 135th Street one mile north of Elmo. The driver fell asleep. The vehicle crossed the center line and struck the rear drivers side of a northbound 2008 Chevy 1500 driven by a 65-year-old Clarinda, Iowa man.Nodaway County EMS transported the 28-year-old to the hospital in Clarinda, Iowa. The pickup driver was not injured. The injured driver was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. driver fell asleep just before 2-vehicle crash

GRUNDY COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. in Grundy County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Toyota Corolla driven by 49-year-old Princeton man was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile northeast of Tindall. The car reportedly crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2023 Ford Maverick driven by a 54-year-old Trenton man.

EMS transported a 10-year-old male passenger in the car to Children's Mercy. EMS transported the driver of the Toyota and a 73-year-old female passenger in the car to Wright Memorial Hospital. The driver of the pickup was not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

GRUNDY COUNTY —Three people were injured in an accident just before 1:30p.m. in Grundy County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Toyota Corolla driven by 49-year-old Princeton man was southbound on U.S. 65 one mile northeast of Tindall. The car reportedly crossed the center line and collided with a northbound 2023 Ford Maverick driven by a 54-year-old Trenton man.EMS transported a 10-year-old male passenger in the car to Children's Mercy. EMS transported the driver of the Toyota and a 73-year-old female passenger in the car to Wright Memorial Hospital. The driver of the pickup was not injured. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 adults, 10-year-old injured in car, pickup crash

The Dance Arts Center celebrates 40 years of teaching dance to students this weekend at the historic Missouri Theatre.  

During its annual dance recital, on Friday and Saturday, the studio will celebrate its 40th season, welcoming back several alumni during the final performances of the weekend.  

Owner Marla Heeler, whose owned the studio for 21 years, says it's amazing it's been 40 years and adds that even now things feel like they did when she was a student 

"When we go to the Missouri Theatre, Frank Pollock is still there, and Frank Pollock was there when I was a kid and I love him so much, and I love the theatre so much," Heeler says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "And there are smells people talk about, and when you walk in the theatre in the spring, you know it's recital, and I still have that same excitement of going in the theatre and getting it ready and watching the kids come in." 

Heeler took over the studio in 2004, from founder Lynn Fankhauser, who opened the studio in 1984.   

Heeler says she believes the legacy of the studio is teaching students to be good humans, more than good dancers 

"Being involved in the community, trying to make a difference, trying to teach kids that it's ok to have hard conversations," Heeler explains. 

Heeler says it's also the value of teaching students the value of hard work, and persistence, with students practicing nine months before ever performing 

"Not many things in life do you still have to wait that long for it seems like in this instant gratification world, and I'm so proud of instilling that discipline in them and being a part of their life and all that," Heeler says. 

A free performance will be held on Friday at the Missouri Theatre at 6:30, featuring Dance Arts high school seniors among others.  

On Saturday, three performances will be held at the theatre, at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm.   

Several alumni will perform during the final performance of the weekend, kicking off the show with the performance 'Legacy in Motion: 40 years of Dance'  

Heeler, an alumnus herself who will perform, says she was blown away by how many former students signed up to come back 

"I believe that as of right now, like 60 to 70 have responded that they will be coming back, which I think is amazing, and I'm so excited," Heeler says.  "We'll have a rehearsal after the 10'o clock show actually at the theatre on Saturday, and I hope we actually get time to rehearse because I'm just so excited to get to see them all." 

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online or at the doors of the Missouri Theatre. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Dance Arts Center celebrates 40 years of teaching dance to students this weekend at the historic Missouri Theatre. During its annual dance recital, on Friday and Saturday, the studio will celebrate its 40th season, welcoming back several alumni during the final performances of the weekend. Owner Marla Heeler, whose owned the studio for 21 years, says it's amazing it's been 40 years and adds that even now things feel like they did when she was a student "When we go to the Missouri Theatre, Frank Pollock is still there, and Frank Pollock was there when I was a kid and I love him so much, and I love the theatre so much," Heeler says on the KFEQmunnity show. "And there are smells people talk about, and when you walk in the theatre in the spring, you know it's recital, and I still have that same excitement of going in the theatre and getting it ready and watching the kids come in." Heeler took over the studio in 2004, from founder Lynn Fankhauser, who opened the studio in 1984. Heeler says she believes the legacy of the studio is teaching students to be good humans, more than good dancers "Being involved in the community, trying to make a difference, trying to teach kids that it's ok to have hard conversations," Heeler explains. Heeler says it's also the value of teaching students the value of hard work, and persistence, with students practicing nine months before ever performing "Not many things in life do you still have to wait that long for it seems like in this instant gratification world, and I'm so proud of instilling that discipline in them and being a part of their life and all that," Heeler says. A free performance will be held on Friday at the Missouri Theatre at 6:30, featuring Dance Arts high school seniors among others. On Saturday, three performances will be held at the theatre, at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm. Several alumni will perform during the final performance of the weekend, kicking off the show with the performance 'Legacy in Motion: 40 years of Dance' Heeler, an alumnus herself who will perform, says she was blown away by how many former students signed up to come back "I believe that as of right now, like 60 to 70 have responded that they will be coming back, which I think is amazing, and I'm so excited," Heeler says. "We'll have a rehearsal after the 10'o clock show actually at the theatre on Saturday, and I hope we actually get time to rehearse because I'm just so excited to get to see them all." Tickets are still available and can be purchased online or at the doors of the Missouri Theatre. <div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5fPr4gNmoPptzHMUHc87y0?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 and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Dance Arts Center celebrating 40 years in St. Joseph

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/17Kv8bmAFgLttAsGB3xVTd?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 style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7sgp5uXx65sNCQhf0OjRZP?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

The three bills ready for action in the special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe face a fractured Senate. The test comes Wednesday with leaders needing to quiet GOP factions and Democratic distrust

The first two days of the special legislative session&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">called by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>&nbsp;to allocate state money for Kansas City sports stadiums, disaster recovery and unfinished spending bills have gone as well as could be expected.

The Missouri Senate is poised for Wednesday debates on all the legislation Kehoe wants passed. And that’s when the legislation will move from friendly committees to a chamber compromised by clear Republican factional lines and simmering Democratic anger.

Some of the potential problems could be solved by which bills go first. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267450" target="_blank">simplest bill</a>&nbsp;would alter the rules governing the&nbsp;<a href="https://mhdc.com/programs/community-programs/missouri-housing-trust-fund-mhtf/" target="_blank">Missouri Housing Trust Fund</a>&nbsp;so it could use $25 million included in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/pdf-bill/E1/intro/SB1.pdf" target="_blank">an appropriations bill</a>&nbsp;to fund home repairs and other assistance in areas hit by natural disasters this year.

The biggest gripes about that plan is that the money is too little and spread too thin — federal disaster declarations have been sought for 37 counties so far this year — to do a lot of good. The biggest disaster of the year, and one that has yet to receive a presidential directive allowing federal aid, is a May 16 tornado that carved a 22-mile path across the St. Louis region, damaging or destroying 16,000 structures including hundreds of old brick homes in North St. Louis.

People are sleeping in cars to protect their damaged property while they work to rebuild and wait for help, said state Sen. Brian Wililams, a University City Democrat.

“I’m having a severe challenge with even entertaining this, because I don’t know how anyone would be able to go back home and look at their neighbors,” Williams said.

The bill with the biggest obstacles would use tax money collected from the economic activity at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City to finance renovated or new stadiums. The bill is estimated to divert almost $1.5 billion from state revenues over 30 years.

State Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Marshall Republican and a former NFL player, is sponsoring the bill. The damage it will do to Missouri’s national image to lose one or both teams, especially the Chiefs, is as important as the transfer of the economic value to Kansas, Gregory said during a hearing of the Senate Fiscal Review Committee.

Kansas is offering to pay 70% of the cost for new stadiums, an offer that is “very viable,” Gregory said, and must be answered by the end of the month.

“I firmly believe these are Missouri’s teams, and if Missouri doesn’t have an offer on the table for the teams to even consider, that will speak for itself and how we view then what they bring to our state and our economy,” Gregory said.

Lobbyists for the teams would not commit to staying in Missouri if the legislation is passed. That, said state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, is hard to take for residents of eastern Missouri who remember that Chiefs owner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/chiefs-plan-to-market-team-in-st-louis-following-rams-move" target="_blank">Clark Hunt supported</a>&nbsp;moving the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

“There was a real begrudgement about whether we were going to root for the Chiefs after the ownership team voted to remove the Rams from this from our side of the state,” said Coleman, a Republican from Arnold.

Along with the stadium financing, Gregory’s bill includes expanded tax credits for major amateur sporting events and a tax credit of up $5,000 for insurance deductibles paid as a result of disaster damage.

The bill where Kehoe’s plan could make its biggest political gains is the spending bill. It is mirrored on a construction spending package that the Missouri House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/09/missouri-house-republicans-surprise-senate-by-killing-500-million-construction-bill/">refused to consider</a>&nbsp;for a final vote during the regular session.&nbsp;

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved two versions Tuesday. One, based on Kehoe’s requests, has all the non-general revenue items but only $50 million of the more than $300 million in general revenue spending.

Kehoe said he left out the general revenue items because he is concerned about the trend of little growth in state revenues. He cut in half a line item to support a new research reactor at the University of Missouri, leaving $25 million and using the other half for the disaster relief funding.

Some lawmakers have called the cut a broken promise to the university. University President Mun Choi, who attended the hearing on the spending bill, said he is happy with the $25 million and the remaining funds will be welcome next year as the multi-year project progresses.

“I am not upset at all,” Choi said. “I am grateful that the governor and the legislature are considering supporting this very important project here today. There are many other competing interests, especially with the disaster relief in St. Louis, and I really feel for the St. Louisians that are affected.”

The other version of the bill is exactly the same as the bill the House spiked. It includes more than&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/20/missouri-special-session-may-provide-new-life-for-500-million-budget-bill/">60 projects added by lawmakers,</a>&nbsp;with money to rebuild a sheltered workshop that burned in December and provided needed upgrades at eight hospitals around the state.

While many members worried about disaster recovery or the earmarked projects have said they are ready to consider the stadium legislation after those bills are finished, the members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus who have signaled they oppose stadium funding are against it as a government subsidy to wealthy owners.

During testimony against the bill, Patrick Tuohey, a senior fellow at the Show Me Institute, summed up why conservatives oppose the bill.

“What’s happening here is that the teams want to use Kansas, and want to use fear of losing the teams, to vacuum up as much state subsidies as they can,” said Touhey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/before-doling-out-subsidies-missouri-should-insist-john-sherman-and-clark-hunt-testify/">wrote an op-ed</a>&nbsp;about the issue published by The Independent earlier this week. “And then they are going to come to Jackson County and Clay County and do exactly the same thing, pit them against each other, and try to vacuum up as much public subsidies from taxpayers as possible,”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749032402794.png" alt="Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, center, prepares with Sens. Rusty Black, left, and Karla May for a Tuesday hearing on two special session spending bills. (Rudi Keller/Misssouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Lincoln Hough, center, prepares with Sens. Rusty Black, left, and Karla May for a Tuesday hearing on two special session spending bills. (Rudi Keller/Misssouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>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><h2>The three bills ready for action in the special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe face a fractured Senate. The test comes Wednesday with leaders needing to quiet GOP factions and Democratic distrust</h2>The first two days of the special legislative session&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">called by Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe</a>&nbsp;to allocate state money for Kansas City sports stadiums, disaster recovery and unfinished spending bills have gone as well as could be expected.The Missouri Senate is poised for Wednesday debates on all the legislation Kehoe wants passed. And that’s when the legislation will move from friendly committees to a chamber compromised by clear Republican factional lines and simmering Democratic anger.Some of the potential problems could be solved by which bills go first. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267450" target="_blank">simplest bill</a>&nbsp;would alter the rules governing the&nbsp;<a href="https://mhdc.com/programs/community-programs/missouri-housing-trust-fund-mhtf/" target="_blank">Missouri Housing Trust Fund</a>&nbsp;so it could use $25 million included in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/pdf-bill/E1/intro/SB1.pdf" target="_blank">an appropriations bill</a>&nbsp;to fund home repairs and other assistance in areas hit by natural disasters this year.The biggest gripes about that plan is that the money is too little and spread too thin — federal disaster declarations have been sought for 37 counties so far this year — to do a lot of good. The biggest disaster of the year, and one that has yet to receive a presidential directive allowing federal aid, is a May 16 tornado that carved a 22-mile path across the St. Louis region, damaging or destroying 16,000 structures including hundreds of old brick homes in North St. Louis.People are sleeping in cars to protect their damaged property while they work to rebuild and wait for help, said state Sen. Brian Wililams, a University City Democrat.“I’m having a severe challenge with even entertaining this, because I don’t know how anyone would be able to go back home and look at their neighbors,” Williams said.The bill with the biggest obstacles would use tax money collected from the economic activity at Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City to finance renovated or new stadiums. The bill is estimated to divert almost $1.5 billion from state revenues over 30 years.State Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Marshall Republican and a former NFL player, is sponsoring the bill. The damage it will do to Missouri’s national image to lose one or both teams, especially the Chiefs, is as important as the transfer of the economic value to Kansas, Gregory said during a hearing of the Senate Fiscal Review Committee.Kansas is offering to pay 70% of the cost for new stadiums, an offer that is “very viable,” Gregory said, and must be answered by the end of the month.“I firmly believe these are Missouri’s teams, and if Missouri doesn’t have an offer on the table for the teams to even consider, that will speak for itself and how we view then what they bring to our state and our economy,” Gregory said.Lobbyists for the teams would not commit to staying in Missouri if the legislation is passed. That, said state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, is hard to take for residents of eastern Missouri who remember that Chiefs owner&nbsp;<a href="https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/chiefs-plan-to-market-team-in-st-louis-following-rams-move" target="_blank">Clark Hunt supported</a>&nbsp;moving the Rams from St. Louis to Los Angeles.“There was a real begrudgement about whether we were going to root for the Chiefs after the ownership team voted to remove the Rams from this from our side of the state,” said Coleman, a Republican from Arnold.Along with the stadium financing, Gregory’s bill includes expanded tax credits for major amateur sporting events and a tax credit of up $5,000 for insurance deductibles paid as a result of disaster damage.The bill where Kehoe’s plan could make its biggest political gains is the spending bill. It is mirrored on a construction spending package that the Missouri House&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/09/missouri-house-republicans-surprise-senate-by-killing-500-million-construction-bill/">refused to consider</a>&nbsp;for a final vote during the regular session.&nbsp;The Senate Appropriations Committee approved two versions Tuesday. One, based on Kehoe’s requests, has all the non-general revenue items but only $50 million of the more than $300 million in general revenue spending.Kehoe said he left out the general revenue items because he is concerned about the trend of little growth in state revenues. He cut in half a line item to support a new research reactor at the University of Missouri, leaving $25 million and using the other half for the disaster relief funding.Some lawmakers have called the cut a broken promise to the university. University President Mun Choi, who attended the hearing on the spending bill, said he is happy with the $25 million and the remaining funds will be welcome next year as the multi-year project progresses.“I am not upset at all,” Choi said. “I am grateful that the governor and the legislature are considering supporting this very important project here today. There are many other competing interests, especially with the disaster relief in St. Louis, and I really feel for the St. Louisians that are affected.”The other version of the bill is exactly the same as the bill the House spiked. It includes more than&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/20/missouri-special-session-may-provide-new-life-for-500-million-budget-bill/">60 projects added by lawmakers,</a>&nbsp;with money to rebuild a sheltered workshop that burned in December and provided needed upgrades at eight hospitals around the state.While many members worried about disaster recovery or the earmarked projects have said they are ready to consider the stadium legislation after those bills are finished, the members of the Missouri Freedom Caucus who have signaled they oppose stadium funding are against it as a government subsidy to wealthy owners.During testimony against the bill, Patrick Tuohey, a senior fellow at the Show Me Institute, summed up why conservatives oppose the bill.“What’s happening here is that the teams want to use Kansas, and want to use fear of losing the teams, to vacuum up as much state subsidies as they can,” said Touhey, who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/before-doling-out-subsidies-missouri-should-insist-john-sherman-and-clark-hunt-testify/">wrote an op-ed</a>&nbsp;about the issue published by The Independent earlier this week. “And then they are going to come to Jackson County and Clay County and do exactly the same thing, pit them against each other, and try to vacuum up as much public subsidies from taxpayers as possible,”

Stadium funding, disaster aid set to be debated by divided Missouri Senate

A new class for the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame is ready to be enshrined.   

Nine individuals, one team, and one Special Olympics athlete of the year make up the 2025 class for the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame. 

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says every year when the class is brought to him, all he can say is wow 

"Every year our class has great depth, meaning it touches all areas of sport," Esely tells a crowd gathered at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau.  "And this year we induct our first men's tennis player, we induct our first power lifter, we have two NFL football players in this class, we have a legendary coach in this class, we touch sports broadcasting in this class." 

Esely says while a lot of boxes were checked this year, there are still some areas that can be covered in the hall.  He points out the nominations cover a broad range, because it's not just about the athletes. 

"You have coaches, you have administrators, you have contributors, you have members of the media, you have sports medicine personnel, you have other categories," Esely explains.  "So, we have never received a nomination that didn't fit a category, and so we've checked a lot of boxes, there's still a number of boxes to check and we look forward to doing that." 

Esely says each class has its own personality, and each is made up of elite athletes on the court, but also excelled outside their sport, helping and mentoring people 

"I think that's indicative of a lot of our classes, a lot of people in our classes, but when I look at this class especially, not only knowing some of these folks historically, but just knowing a little bit about them, that's what this class says to me," Esely says.  "Is elite in what they did, but elite off the course, court, ring, in what they did as well." 

The class features NFL players, sports broadcasters, coaches, and a men's softball star among the nine individuals that were chosen.  One area team will also be enshrined, as well as a Special Olympics Athlete of the Year. The 2025 Hall of Fame class includes:  

Bob Boyles – Seven Time AAU Powerlifting Champion/Personal Trainer 

Mike Habermehl – PGA Club Professional/Instructor/MWSU Golf Coach 

Elijah Lee – Kansas State Football/National Football League 

Chris Miljavac – Men’s Fastpitch Softball Star 

Bob Orf – Radio Broadcasting Personality/Voice of Missouri Western Athletics 

Justin Thornton – Multisport Central High School Star/University of Kansas Football 

Adam Selkirk – Three-time Missouri State High School Tennis Champion 

Don Tabor – Bishop LeBlond/Benton High School Football Coaching Legend 

1977 Bishop LeBlond Boys Basketball State Champions 

Chris Ringot – Special Olympics Area Athlete of the Year

The Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will be held August 24th at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center.   

A limited number of tickets for the event will go on sale later this month for $25 per person and may be purchased at <a href="http://stjomosports.com">stjomosports.com</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748990667669.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely announces the 2025 class in the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame during a press conference at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor Bureau/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely announces the 2025 class in the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame during a press conference at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor Bureau/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A new class for the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame is ready to be enshrined. Nine individuals, one team, and one Special Olympics athlete of the year make up the 2025 class for the St. Joseph Sports Hall of Fame. St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says every year when the class is brought to him, all he can say is wow "Every year our class has great depth, meaning it touches all areas of sport," Esely tells a crowd gathered at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau. "And this year we induct our first men's tennis player, we induct our first power lifter, we have two NFL football players in this class, we have a legendary coach in this class, we touch sports broadcasting in this class." Esely says while a lot of boxes were checked this year, there are still some areas that can be covered in the hall. He points out the nominations cover a broad range, because it's not just about the athletes. "You have coaches, you have administrators, you have contributors, you have members of the media, you have sports medicine personnel, you have other categories," Esely explains. "So, we have never received a nomination that didn't fit a category, and so we've checked a lot of boxes, there's still a number of boxes to check and we look forward to doing that." Esely says each class has its own personality, and each is made up of elite athletes on the court, but also excelled outside their sport, helping and mentoring people "I think that's indicative of a lot of our classes, a lot of people in our classes, but when I look at this class especially, not only knowing some of these folks historically, but just knowing a little bit about them, that's what this class says to me," Esely says. "Is elite in what they did, but elite off the course, court, ring, in what they did as well." The class features NFL players, sports broadcasters, coaches, and a men's softball star among the nine individuals that were chosen. One area team will also be enshrined, as well as a Special Olympics Athlete of the Year. The 2025 Hall of Fame class includes: Bob Boyles – Seven Time AAU Powerlifting Champion/Personal Trainer Rob Calloway – Local Boxing Legend Mike Habermehl – PGA Club Professional/Instructor/MWSU Golf Coach Elijah Lee – Kansas State Football/National Football League Chris Miljavac – Men’s Fastpitch Softball Star Bob Orf – Radio Broadcasting Personality/Voice of Missouri Western Athletics Justin Thornton – Multisport Central High School Star/University of Kansas Football Adam Selkirk – Three-time Missouri State High School Tennis Champion Don Tabor – Bishop LeBlond/Benton High School Football Coaching Legend 1977 Bishop LeBlond Boys Basketball State Champions Chris Ringot – Special Olympics Area Athlete of the YearThe Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony will be held August 24th at Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center. A limited number of tickets for the event will go on sale later this month for $25 per person and may be purchased at <a href="http://stjomosports.com">stjomosports.com</a>. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748990604791.jpeg" alt="The 2025 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame class/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>The 2025 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame class/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

2025 St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame Class announced

A veteran
legislative reporter says a decision at the end of the Missouri legislature’s
regular session could cast a long shadow on the special session that is underway
in Jefferson City.

Missourinet News
Director, Alisa Nelson, says the decision by House Budget Committee chair, Dirk
Deaton of Seneca, to kill House Bill 19, the $513 million capital improvement
bill, set a sour tone that just might carry over.

“I mean the session
was going so well until that point,” Nelson tells KFEQmmunity. “I mean in terms
of the personalities and the dynamics and things and all the different
lawmakers working together in a pretty bipartisan fashion to some degree. It
was going so well until then and then it just really went downhill after that.”

Nelson says
tension built in the Missouri Senate even further when the House approved a tax
incentive package for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals just after killing the
capital improvement bill. Several senators questioned why House leadership
could kill a bill funding capital improvements throughout the state, claiming
the state needed to be careful about spending, then turn around and approve tax
breaks for the two professional sports teams.

Then, Senate
Republicans picked up a rarely used parliamentary procedure to cut off debate
and force a vote on two controversial issues – sending the abortion issue back
to voters and removing paid sick leave provisions from the voter-approved
minimum wage law. The move further angered Senate Democrats.

The Senate
adjourned two days early. The House adjourned a day early.

Nelson points to
the decision by Deaton to bypass HB 19 and not bring it to a vote as the
turning point. She says Deaton’s decision to kill the capital improvement
package took nearly everyone by surprise and angered many.

“So, there was definitely
some bad blood that occurred because of the timing of all of this and I think
that bad blood and that friction and all of that will spill over into this
special session.”

Nelson says Gov. Mike
Kehoe must find a way to cut through that tension and bring the legislature
back together if he is to steer the Chiefs/Royals incentives through the
General Assembly.

The special
session will also consider a much scaled down version of HB 19 along with tax breaks
for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered property damage during recent severe
storms.

By BRENT MARTINA veteran
legislative reporter says a decision at the end of the Missouri legislature’s
regular session could cast a long shadow on the special session that is underway
in Jefferson City.Missourinet News
Director, Alisa Nelson, says the decision by House Budget Committee chair, Dirk
Deaton of Seneca, to kill House Bill 19, the $513 million capital improvement
bill, set a sour tone that just might carry over.“I mean the session
was going so well until that point,” Nelson tells KFEQmmunity. “I mean in terms
of the personalities and the dynamics and things and all the different
lawmakers working together in a pretty bipartisan fashion to some degree. It
was going so well until then and then it just really went downhill after that.”Nelson says
tension built in the Missouri Senate even further when the House approved a tax
incentive package for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals just after killing the
capital improvement bill. Several senators questioned why House leadership
could kill a bill funding capital improvements throughout the state, claiming
the state needed to be careful about spending, then turn around and approve tax
breaks for the two professional sports teams.Then, Senate
Republicans picked up a rarely used parliamentary procedure to cut off debate
and force a vote on two controversial issues – sending the abortion issue back
to voters and removing paid sick leave provisions from the voter-approved
minimum wage law. The move further angered Senate Democrats.The Senate
adjourned two days early. The House adjourned a day early.Nelson points to
the decision by Deaton to bypass HB 19 and not bring it to a vote as the
turning point. She says Deaton’s decision to kill the capital improvement
package took nearly everyone by surprise and angered many.“So, there was definitely
some bad blood that occurred because of the timing of all of this and I think
that bad blood and that friction and all of that will spill over into this
special session.”Nelson says Gov. Mike
Kehoe must find a way to cut through that tension and bring the legislature
back together if he is to steer the Chiefs/Royals incentives through the
General Assembly.The special
session will also consider a much scaled down version of HB 19 along with tax breaks
for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered property damage during recent severe
storms.

One decision sent the Missouri legislative session into tailspin

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5NZ4jZC1PA9YGMqOj4207F?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 style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5WLYWr6jrqHXlIEepoF9WZ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s policy director said a new formula for funding public schools should align with levels $300 million behind the legislature’s recommendations

&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

A group of state officials and business leaders tasked by Gov. Mike Kehoe with creating a new formula to fund Missouri’s public schools gathered for the first time on Monday under an expectation that funding should be below what lawmakers approved earlier this year.

Halle Herbert, the governor’s incoming policy director, told the group that Kehoe seeks funding “consistent with what is provided in the state fiscal year 2025 budget.”

Last month, lawmakers signed off on public education funding that was $300 million higher than what the governor recommended.&nbsp;

“A lot of times when you ask a school superintendent, ‘where are the problems?….’ They ask for more money,” Kehoe told the group Monday. “That is not a great answer to me… That can’t always be the answer to every problem.”

Between fiscal year 2025 and 2026, a multiplier in the formula called the “state adequacy target” increased. This number is the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s estimate of proper per-pupil funding and is calculated by looking at top-performing schools in the state’s annual performance reports.

The change was driven by a new iteration of the state’s accountability system, called the Missouri School Improvement Program, which was introduced in 2022 and became more “rigorous” for districts to score high and produced a smaller number of districts that could be deemed top performers.

The program is required by law to be phased in, making fiscal year 2026 the first year with the updated state adequacy target. This change requires an additional $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula.

Kehoe’s proposed budget this January did not include the $300 million increase, and his comments in Monday’s meeting show an intention to tamp down the rising costs of public education.

Kari Monsees, deputy commissioner of financial and administrative services, said part of Kehoe’s intention with calling for a change to the formula comes from the “unpredictability” of the state adequacy target.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly and former educator, pointed out that there was a 12% increase in the multiplier this year — but before now, it had only increased 4% in 16 years.

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/29/missouri-school-boards-request-commission-to-adjust-school-funding-formula-for-inflation/">Superintendents have been asking for a formula that responds to inflation</a>&nbsp;for years, arguing lawmakers “manipulated” the formula to keep funding flat.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-school-funding-march-2023" target="_blank">study commissioned by the department</a>&nbsp;and released in 2023 concluded that the current formula hurts districts with more low-income students. Multipliers for serving sensitive student groups were “not based on any empirical analysis,” the study determined.

The study recommends looking at other states and the cost associated with desired performance outcomes to determine whether the per-pupil funding is enough.

But Kehoe is seeking financial incentives for high performance.

Monsees said there aren’t many states with performance in school funding formulas and alluded to a lack of information on that model.

The group that met Monday was created by an executive order Kehoe shortly after taking office. He appointed members representing public schools, agriculture, business and charter schools.

One member is to represent “a non-profit organization that works on expanding school choice in Missouri,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo14" target="_blank">according to the order</a>. Kehoe chose Chris Vas, a senior director with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/10/nonprofit-near-kansas-city-seeks-to-become-epicenter-of-the-school-choice-movement/">the Herzog Foundation</a>. The foundation “advances K-12 Christian education primarily,” Vas said Monday.

There was some discussion that the formula, which was previously intended to fund public districts, should also be responsible for funding charter schools and vouchers for private education.

Committee member Michael Podgursky, an economics professor at the University of Missouri–Columbia, said there “was an active discussion of interdisciplinary school choice.”

“How do you design a funding mechanism with school choice, which really means thinking about tying it more to kids,” he said.

Podgursky has served as a fellow with various conservative research groups, such as the Fordham Institute and the George W. Bush institute and is a director at the conservative think tank the Show-Me Institute.

The group must come up with recommendations to deliver to the governor by Dec. 1, 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748946701960.png" alt=" State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, chairs the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, chairs the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe’s policy director said a new formula for funding public schools should align with levels $300 million behind the legislature’s recommendations</h2>&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A group of state officials and business leaders tasked by Gov. Mike Kehoe with creating a new formula to fund Missouri’s public schools gathered for the first time on Monday under an expectation that funding should be below what lawmakers approved earlier this year.Halle Herbert, the governor’s incoming policy director, told the group that Kehoe seeks funding “consistent with what is provided in the state fiscal year 2025 budget.”Last month, lawmakers signed off on public education funding that was $300 million higher than what the governor recommended.&nbsp;“A lot of times when you ask a school superintendent, ‘where are the problems?….’ They ask for more money,” Kehoe told the group Monday. “That is not a great answer to me… That can’t always be the answer to every problem.”Between fiscal year 2025 and 2026, a multiplier in the formula called the “state adequacy target” increased. This number is the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s estimate of proper per-pupil funding and is calculated by looking at top-performing schools in the state’s annual performance reports.The change was driven by a new iteration of the state’s accountability system, called the Missouri School Improvement Program, which was introduced in 2022 and became more “rigorous” for districts to score high and produced a smaller number of districts that could be deemed top performers.The program is required by law to be phased in, making fiscal year 2026 the first year with the updated state adequacy target. This change requires an additional $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula.Kehoe’s proposed budget this January did not include the $300 million increase, and his comments in Monday’s meeting show an intention to tamp down the rising costs of public education.Kari Monsees, deputy commissioner of financial and administrative services, said part of Kehoe’s intention with calling for a change to the formula comes from the “unpredictability” of the state adequacy target.State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly and former educator, pointed out that there was a 12% increase in the multiplier this year — but before now, it had only increased 4% in 16 years.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/29/missouri-school-boards-request-commission-to-adjust-school-funding-formula-for-inflation/">Superintendents have been asking for a formula that responds to inflation</a>&nbsp;for years, arguing lawmakers “manipulated” the formula to keep funding flat.A&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-school-funding-march-2023" target="_blank">study commissioned by the department</a>&nbsp;and released in 2023 concluded that the current formula hurts districts with more low-income students. Multipliers for serving sensitive student groups were “not based on any empirical analysis,” the study determined.The study recommends looking at other states and the cost associated with desired performance outcomes to determine whether the per-pupil funding is enough.But Kehoe is seeking financial incentives for high performance.Monsees said there aren’t many states with performance in school funding formulas and alluded to a lack of information on that model.The group that met Monday was created by an executive order Kehoe shortly after taking office. He appointed members representing public schools, agriculture, business and charter schools.One member is to represent “a non-profit organization that works on expanding school choice in Missouri,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo14" target="_blank">according to the order</a>. Kehoe chose Chris Vas, a senior director with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/10/nonprofit-near-kansas-city-seeks-to-become-epicenter-of-the-school-choice-movement/">the Herzog Foundation</a>. The foundation “advances K-12 Christian education primarily,” Vas said Monday.There was some discussion that the formula, which was previously intended to fund public districts, should also be responsible for funding charter schools and vouchers for private education.Committee member Michael Podgursky, an economics professor at the University of Missouri–Columbia, said there “was an active discussion of interdisciplinary school choice.”“How do you design a funding mechanism with school choice, which really means thinking about tying it more to kids,” he said.Podgursky has served as a fellow with various conservative research groups, such as the Fordham Institute and the George W. Bush institute and is a director at the conservative think tank the Show-Me Institute.The group must come up with recommendations to deliver to the governor by Dec. 1, 2026.

Missouri governor calls for task force to keep state education funding flat

Gov. Mike Kehoe wants a quick session to approve stadium financing, disaster relief and state spending that failed in the regular session. How he satisfies lawmakers demanding more could decide success or failure for the new governor

The opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">legislative special session Monday</a>&nbsp;put partisan and intraparty fights in the Missouri Senate on display as Democrats called for expanded storm relief and Freedom Caucus members called for tax cuts as the price for supporting stadium subsidies.

Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers together just two weeks after they finished work in the regular session to consider a package of tax incentives intended to convince the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri.&nbsp;

Kehoe is also asking lawmakers for a $235 million spending bill with $25 million for disaster relief as well as a special tax deduction for the cost of meeting insurance deductibles after a disaster.&nbsp;

The brief opening session didn’t feature any sharp exchanges, but the bills filed — and the statements made about them — show where the battle lines are being drawn.

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters that members of his caucus aren’t willing to talk about stadium funding until an appropriations bill and other disaster relief measures are on Kehoe’s desk.

“When that happens and it’s through the House and on the governor’s desk, then we can talk about it,” Beck said.

Members of the Freedom Caucus said they are holding out for a tax cut that benefits all Missourians before considering a stadium plan, said state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.

Schroer filed a bill to cut the top income tax rate to 4% — it is currently 4.7% — and make the tax flat across all incomes.

“​​The members of the Freedom Caucus, plus the other conservative members that are not necessarily in the caucus, they’ve all expressed that whether it’s income tax, personal property tax or real property tax, for us to sit at the table, and allow tax credits for billionaires to move forward, the little guy needs to get something in return,” Schroer said.

The regular session ended in acrimony when Republicans twice invoked a rarely used procedural move to shut off debate. Democrats had blocked a proposed ballot measure to restore Missouri’s ban on most abortions and a bill repealing the paid sick leave law passed by voters in November.

Democrats vowed that the move ended their cooperation with Republicans and gave a taste of what that meant last week when they&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">stalled the final paperwork</a>&nbsp;of the regular session.

Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session and Kehoe has said he won’t try to impose an artificial deadline. Because of the uncertainty of action in the Senate, the Missouri House won’t convene until next week and will only remain in session if the Senate has passed a bill for it to consider.

But the Chiefs and Royals have only until the end of the month to answer an offer from Kansas to fund new stadiums. Kehoe hopes to have his plan for tax incentives worth about 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums to be passed by then.

The plan for the Chiefs and Royals would take tax money already generated from activities at the stadiums — $28.8 million annually as estimated by the Chiefs and $15 million annually by an estimate from the Royals — and commit it to bond payments for 30 years for the new or upgraded facilities.

The economic activity associated with the Chiefs supports 4,500 jobs, Kehoe contends, and a new stadium for the Royals would generate about 8,400 jobs.&nbsp;

The spending bill Kehoe wants passed would use $25 million of general revenue to support a new research reactor on the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus, plus funding for a new livestock display barn at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia and about $50 million to help with construction of a new mental hospital in Kansas City.

The funding for the reactor is $25 million less than Kehoe proposed. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, introduced an appropriations bill with $75 million for the reactor, plus all the other general revenue projects that died when Missouri House Republicans refused to bring the construction spending bill up for a vote.

“If there is going to be a $25 million variance on agreements made in this chamber, we ought to go $25 million in the other direction,” Webber said.

Webber also introduced a bill imposing a 1% income tax surcharge on incomes greater than $1 million, which he said would bring in about $400 million over three years to support disaster relief.

“There is obviously a belief, among some, that billionaires should be given a sweetheart deal. I would disagree with that,” Webber said. “There is also some concern about whether we can fund disaster relief for some communities in our state that were desperately hit. So what I’ve tried to do is build a bridge between those two issues.”

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican who chairs the Freedom Caucus, introduced a bill to finance the stadiums entirely from donations. He called it the “No Taxation, All Donation Act” and included incentives for giving.

“So if somebody gives over $10,000 to this stadium, then they are able to obtain free parking to be able to get into that stadium,” Brattin said.

The next step will be to send the bills to committees for hearings. That will happen tomorrow and the first hearings will occur soon afterward.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, seemed happy to have gotten past the first day without a filibuster.

“Today went smoothly,” Luetkemeyer said. “And then we’ll just take it day by day and see where we go from here.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe wants a quick session to approve stadium financing, disaster relief and state spending that failed in the regular session. How he satisfies lawmakers demanding more could decide success or failure for the new governor</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>The opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">legislative special session Monday</a>&nbsp;put partisan and intraparty fights in the Missouri Senate on display as Democrats called for expanded storm relief and Freedom Caucus members called for tax cuts as the price for supporting stadium subsidies.Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers together just two weeks after they finished work in the regular session to consider a package of tax incentives intended to convince the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri.&nbsp;Kehoe is also asking lawmakers for a $235 million spending bill with $25 million for disaster relief as well as a special tax deduction for the cost of meeting insurance deductibles after a disaster.&nbsp;The brief opening session didn’t feature any sharp exchanges, but the bills filed — and the statements made about them — show where the battle lines are being drawn.Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters that members of his caucus aren’t willing to talk about stadium funding until an appropriations bill and other disaster relief measures are on Kehoe’s desk.“When that happens and it’s through the House and on the governor’s desk, then we can talk about it,” Beck said.Members of the Freedom Caucus said they are holding out for a tax cut that benefits all Missourians before considering a stadium plan, said state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.Schroer filed a bill to cut the top income tax rate to 4% — it is currently 4.7% — and make the tax flat across all incomes.“​​The members of the Freedom Caucus, plus the other conservative members that are not necessarily in the caucus, they’ve all expressed that whether it’s income tax, personal property tax or real property tax, for us to sit at the table, and allow tax credits for billionaires to move forward, the little guy needs to get something in return,” Schroer said.The regular session ended in acrimony when Republicans twice invoked a rarely used procedural move to shut off debate. Democrats had blocked a proposed ballot measure to restore Missouri’s ban on most abortions and a bill repealing the paid sick leave law passed by voters in November.Democrats vowed that the move ended their cooperation with Republicans and gave a taste of what that meant last week when they&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">stalled the final paperwork</a>&nbsp;of the regular session.Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session and Kehoe has said he won’t try to impose an artificial deadline. Because of the uncertainty of action in the Senate, the Missouri House won’t convene until next week and will only remain in session if the Senate has passed a bill for it to consider.But the Chiefs and Royals have only until the end of the month to answer an offer from Kansas to fund new stadiums. Kehoe hopes to have his plan for tax incentives worth about 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums to be passed by then.The plan for the Chiefs and Royals would take tax money already generated from activities at the stadiums — $28.8 million annually as estimated by the Chiefs and $15 million annually by an estimate from the Royals — and commit it to bond payments for 30 years for the new or upgraded facilities.The economic activity associated with the Chiefs supports 4,500 jobs, Kehoe contends, and a new stadium for the Royals would generate about 8,400 jobs.&nbsp;The spending bill Kehoe wants passed would use $25 million of general revenue to support a new research reactor on the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus, plus funding for a new livestock display barn at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia and about $50 million to help with construction of a new mental hospital in Kansas City.The funding for the reactor is $25 million less than Kehoe proposed. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, introduced an appropriations bill with $75 million for the reactor, plus all the other general revenue projects that died when Missouri House Republicans refused to bring the construction spending bill up for a vote.“If there is going to be a $25 million variance on agreements made in this chamber, we ought to go $25 million in the other direction,” Webber said.Webber also introduced a bill imposing a 1% income tax surcharge on incomes greater than $1 million, which he said would bring in about $400 million over three years to support disaster relief.“There is obviously a belief, among some, that billionaires should be given a sweetheart deal. I would disagree with that,” Webber said. “There is also some concern about whether we can fund disaster relief for some communities in our state that were desperately hit. So what I’ve tried to do is build a bridge between those two issues.”State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican who chairs the Freedom Caucus, introduced a bill to finance the stadiums entirely from donations. He called it the “No Taxation, All Donation Act” and included incentives for giving.“So if somebody gives over $10,000 to this stadium, then they are able to obtain free parking to be able to get into that stadium,” Brattin said.The next step will be to send the bills to committees for hearings. That will happen tomorrow and the first hearings will occur soon afterward.Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, seemed happy to have gotten past the first day without a filibuster.“Today went smoothly,” Luetkemeyer said. “And then we’ll just take it day by day and see where we go from here.”

Missouri special session begins with lawmakers split on stadium funding plan

A community member has stepped up and given the generous gift of free tickets to the St. Joseph Mustangs game on Saturday. 

Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says in 2022 an anonymous donor gifted tickets to games, and wanted to do it again this year, donating 500 tickets to the Mustangs. 

Turner says the whole intent behind this is to do something nice, and hopefully have the domino effect, influencing others to go do something nice as well 

By MATT PIKE A community member has stepped up and given the generous gift of free tickets to the St. Joseph Mustangs game on Saturday. Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says in 2022 an anonymous donor gifted tickets to games, and wanted to do it again this year, donating 500 tickets to the Mustangs. Turner says the whole intent behind this is to do something nice, and hopefully have the domino effect, influencing others to go do something nice as well "We're very appreciative of the people involved in making this possible, but then we're also very appreciative the people who take the challenge," Turner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We heard so many great stories, whether it's just holding the door open for somebody, I think one person said they went to a garage sale and they bought some items for some people who couldn't afford an item and so they did something nice and purchased it for them." Turner says when the offer went up on social media, fans were very receptive "We surpassed that 500 in under the first hour, and so I actually made a phone call and I haven't made this edit online yet, I just went to the person who made that donation and I said hey this went quicker than what we thought, so they've actually upped their donation of how many tickets they're going to provide," Turner explains. "So, we're kind of reserving that number back so I can just tell them once we get there, and they say ok that's enough." Turner says it feels good to be able to use Mustangs baseball as a platform for this. "We're so appreciative of the team effort, whether it's the team on the field and playing the game but then the team off the field in our community and just doing nice things there," Turner says. "It's really neat to use Mustangs baseball as that platform and just the domino effect it can have in our community, and St. Joe is just a wonderful community, it's full of a lot of great people, and I don't think sometimes we realize how awesome St. Joe is and can be." You can visit the Mustangs Facebook page to find a link to reserve tickets while they are still available. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;