ATCHISON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred after a hostage incident Friday night and Saturday morning in Atchison, Kansas.

At around 5:45 p.m., the Atchison Police Department responded to a call about a person with a gun and a second call of a subject breaking into an apartment. As officers arrived at 508 N 9th&nbsp;St. in Atchison, an officer exited his vehicle and shots were fired at him, striking his police vehicle multiple times. The officer was not struck. The man,&nbsp;identified as Bryson McCray, 36, of St. Joseph, Mo., then fled back into a&nbsp;residence. Additional officers from the Atchison PD were called to the scene.

Officers learned that a woman known to McCray was being held inside of the residence. Atchison PD requested Kansas Highway Patrol’s (KHP) Special Response Team’s assistance. They also requested assistance from the&nbsp;KBI High Risk Warrant Team. Law enforcement attempted to peacefully negotiate throughout the night with McCray insisting he release the woman inside the residence. The subject did not cooperate with the negotiations and fired multiple shots at law enforcement officials throughout the incident.&nbsp;

Preliminary information indicates&nbsp;that at around 2:30 a.m., an attempt was made to rescue the female hostage. During the rescue attempt, McCray and the hostage were separated momentarily, and a KHP trooper fired at McCray striking him. At that time, the hostage was safely rescued. Life-saving measures were made on McCray at the scene and at an area hospital. McCray was subsequently transported to a Kansas City hospital and remains in critical condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the rescue attempt or during the interactions with McCray.

KBI Agent Investigators and the KBI Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate the incident.

The KBI will be offering victim support services to the rescued hostage.

This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.

When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Atchison County Attorney.

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating after a standoff and gunfight in Atchison that sent a suspect to the hospital.

Just before 6 p.m. on Friday police responded to 508 North 9th Street in Atchison at what was first reported as a person with a gun and a second call reporting a person breaking into an apartment, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The first police officer arrived on the scene and as he exited his patrol vehicle, shots were fired at him, striking his vehicle multiple times. The officer was not struck. The person who fired those shots immediately went into an apartment at that location. 

Additional officers arrived and secured a perimeter. As officers gathered information, it was determined that another person, known to the suspect, was being held hostage inside the residence where the suspect had fled. 

Special Response Teams from Atchison Police, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene. 

Efforts continued throughout the evening to communicate with the suspect inside the apartment as the female hostage remained inside the residence with the suspect.

 At 2:30a.m. the standoff came to an end when officers were able to get the female hostage safely out of the residence. The 36-year-old suspect, who was shot during the confrontation with officers, was taken to Amberwell Hospital and later transported to a Kansas City hospital. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666119705831.png" alt="McCray from an earlier arrest in Buchanan County" />
 <figcaption>McCray from an earlier arrest in Buchanan County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred after a hostage incident Friday night and Saturday morning in Atchison, Kansas.At around 5:45 p.m., the Atchison Police Department responded to a call about a person with a gun and a second call of a subject breaking into an apartment. As officers arrived at 508 N 9th&nbsp;St. in Atchison, an officer exited his vehicle and shots were fired at him, striking his police vehicle multiple times. The officer was not struck. The man,&nbsp;identified as Bryson McCray, 36, of St. Joseph, Mo., then fled back into a&nbsp;residence. Additional officers from the Atchison PD were called to the scene.Officers learned that a woman known to McCray was being held inside of the residence. Atchison PD requested Kansas Highway Patrol’s (KHP) Special Response Team’s assistance. They also requested assistance from the&nbsp;KBI High Risk Warrant Team. Law enforcement attempted to peacefully negotiate throughout the night with McCray insisting he release the woman inside the residence. The subject did not cooperate with the negotiations and fired multiple shots at law enforcement officials throughout the incident.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates&nbsp;that at around 2:30 a.m., an attempt was made to rescue the female hostage. During the rescue attempt, McCray and the hostage were separated momentarily, and a KHP trooper fired at McCray striking him. At that time, the hostage was safely rescued. Life-saving measures were made on McCray at the scene and at an area hospital. McCray was subsequently transported to a Kansas City hospital and remains in critical condition. No law enforcement officers were injured during the rescue attempt or during the interactions with McCray.KBI Agent Investigators and the KBI Crime Scene Response Team responded to investigate the incident.The KBI will be offering victim support services to the rescued hostage.This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Atchison County Attorney.----------ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement are investigating after a standoff and gunfight in Atchison that sent a suspect to the hospital.Just before 6 p.m. on Friday police responded to 508 North 9th Street in Atchison at what was first reported as a person with a gun and a second call reporting a person breaking into an apartment, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The first police officer arrived on the scene and as he exited his patrol vehicle, shots were fired at him, striking his vehicle multiple times. The officer was not struck. The person who fired those shots immediately went into an apartment at that location. Additional officers arrived and secured a perimeter. As officers gathered information, it was determined that another person, known to the suspect, was being held hostage inside the residence where the suspect had fled. Special Response Teams from Atchison Police, the Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation responded to the scene. Efforts continued throughout the evening to communicate with the suspect inside the apartment as the female hostage remained inside the residence with the suspect. At 2:30a.m. the standoff came to an end when officers were able to get the female hostage safely out of the residence. The 36-year-old suspect, who was shot during the confrontation with officers, was taken to Amberwell Hospital and later transported to a Kansas City hospital. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is handling the investigation.

Police ID man from St. Joe injured in gunfight, standoff with Kansas officers

The St. Joseph Symphony's series of chamber concerts, titled "Symphony Minis" returns this weekend, led by principal flute player Lory Lacy.  

Lacy says a chamber concert is a smaller and more intimate concert, this one being a quartet that leans modern, but not too modern.  

"We start out with a high classical piece and then everything after that is pretty much 20th and 21st century with some romantic stuff involved," Lacy tells guest host of the KFEQ hotline Barry Birr. "So, it's lush in its orchestration and it's just got a really beautiful flow to it, in my opinion." 

Lacy will be joined by other members of the St. Joseph Symphony, Rob Patterson on the violin, Dana Woolard on cello, and JiWon Choi on piano.  

Lacy says one piece the quartet will perform is a piece that was given to her by another flute player during a trip she took to Russia with the Peabody Institute, called Two Flutes 

"We're playing it with flute and violin, but that was in 1987, and it was one of those things where you felt like all the barriers were dropped between the countries, because the politics didn't matter it was about making music," Lacy explains.  "And she wrote an inscription on there in Russian and English saying that she hoped someday we would be able to play it together, and that hasn't happened yet, but it doesn't mean it couldn't." 

Another one of the pieces was written by Lacy.  Lacy says she wrote the piece in honor of a former cello player with the symphony, who died last year.  

"She died to early, I started the piece for my cellist friend Dana, whose playing in the concert, and I finished it for my friend Amy Wiegand-Harris, so I'm dedicating it to her," Lacy says.  "I have just started writing chamber music in the last couple years and I enjoy it so much because I get to write for people I know personally." 

The concert will happen on Sunday at Ashland United Methodist Church.  Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on the symphony website. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737744262393.jpeg" alt="Principal flutist for the St. Joseph Symphony Lory Lacy will lead a quartet during a chamber concert Sunday at Ashland United Methodist/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Symphony" />
 <figcaption>Principal flutist for the St. Joseph Symphony Lory Lacy will lead a quartet during a chamber concert Sunday at Ashland United Methodist/ Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Symphony</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph Symphony's series of chamber concerts, titled "Symphony Minis" returns this weekend, led by principal flute player Lory Lacy. Lacy says a chamber concert is a smaller and more intimate concert, this one being a quartet that leans modern, but not too modern. "We start out with a high classical piece and then everything after that is pretty much 20th and 21st century with some romantic stuff involved," Lacy tells guest host of the KFEQ hotline Barry Birr. "So, it's lush in its orchestration and it's just got a really beautiful flow to it, in my opinion." Lacy will be joined by other members of the St. Joseph Symphony, Rob Patterson on the violin, Dana Woolard on cello, and JiWon Choi on piano. Lacy says one piece the quartet will perform is a piece that was given to her by another flute player during a trip she took to Russia with the Peabody Institute, called Two Flutes "We're playing it with flute and violin, but that was in 1987, and it was one of those things where you felt like all the barriers were dropped between the countries, because the politics didn't matter it was about making music," Lacy explains. "And she wrote an inscription on there in Russian and English saying that she hoped someday we would be able to play it together, and that hasn't happened yet, but it doesn't mean it couldn't." Another one of the pieces was written by Lacy. Lacy says she wrote the piece in honor of a former cello player with the symphony, who died last year. "She died to early, I started the piece for my cellist friend Dana, whose playing in the concert, and I finished it for my friend Amy Wiegand-Harris, so I'm dedicating it to her," Lacy says. "I have just started writing chamber music in the last couple years and I enjoy it so much because I get to write for people I know personally." The concert will happen on Sunday at Ashland United Methodist Church. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased on the symphony website. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

St. Joseph Symphony Minis return Sunday featuring flutist Lory Lacy

A young St. Joseph
man is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Buchanan County Courthouse
next week, charged in a September shooting that left another man with multiple
gunshot wounds.

Bond at first was
denied 20-year-old Dakota Ballentine, but later was set at $50,000 with the
stipulation that he have no contact with the victim, not possess firearms, and
submit to GPS monitoring.

Ballentine has
been charged with assault and unlawful use of a weapon.

In the Probable
Cause Statement, a St. Joseph police detective states officers responded to a
residence in the 1200 block of South 18th Street shortly before 11pm
September 18th after shots had been fired. Ballentine allegedly shot
40-year-old Timothy Myers several times while Myers stood outside his vehicle. Emergency
crews found the victim unconscious and rushed him to the hospital. Myers recovered from his wounds.

You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737733979404.jpeg" alt="Dakota Ballentine/Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept. photo" />
 <figcaption>Dakota Ballentine/Buchanan County Sheriff's Dept. photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA young St. Joseph
man is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at the Buchanan County Courthouse
next week, charged in a September shooting that left another man with multiple
gunshot wounds.Bond at first was
denied 20-year-old Dakota Ballentine, but later was set at $50,000 with the
stipulation that he have no contact with the victim, not possess firearms, and
submit to GPS monitoring.Ballentine has
been charged with assault and unlawful use of a weapon.In the Probable
Cause Statement, a St. Joseph police detective states officers responded to a
residence in the 1200 block of South 18th Street shortly before 11pm
September 18th after shots had been fired. Ballentine allegedly shot
40-year-old Timothy Myers several times while Myers stood outside his vehicle. Emergency
crews found the victim unconscious and rushed him to the hospital. Myers recovered from his wounds.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Young St. Joseph man faces hearing on September shooting

A
change of command takes place this weekend as Col. John Cluck hands over
command of the 139th Airlift Wing to Col. Barrett Golden, the wing’s
Deputy Commander at a special ceremony at the St. Joseph base.

Cluck
is a bit worried about being overcome with emotion Saturday afternoon.

“I
hope I can hold it together and not turn into a blubbering idiot,” Cluck jokes
during an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s been a long time. I’ve
been in the wing command for four years and I was a deputy commander for three-and-a-half
before that. So, I think I’ll be pretty emotional to be honest with you.”

Afterall,
Cluck has spent his entire career at the Air Guard base located at Rosecrans
Memorial Airport.

“I’ve
been at the 139th since I was 17-years-old; 39 years.”

Cluck
grew up on a farm near Wathena, just across the Missouri River in northeast
Kansas. He enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard in April of 1986 as an
Air Cargo Specialist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Milling
Science and Management from Kansas State University.

Cluck
says joining the Air Guard changed his life.

“Was
sort of a poor farm kid; didn’t have a lot when I grew up,” Cluck says. “The
best decision I’ve ever made in my life was going down there at 17 years old,
raising my hand, and becoming part of that family; not only financially, but
emotionally, and spiritually, and everything else. The way we support our
members is really tremendous and I know that we can keep that going.”

Cluck
first served as a C-130 pilot for the 180th Airlift Squadron in St.
Joseph and quickly moved through the ranks. Cluck is a Command Pilot who has
clocked 5,000 flight hours, including 750 combat hours. He served in Desert
Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, among others.

Cluck
became Vice Commander of the 139th in July of 2017 and Commander in
March of 2021. Cluck
officially retires this summer and says he hopes to continue serving, either
with the Air Guard or as a civilian.

Cluck
has confidence in the leadership ability of his Deputy Commander, Col. Golden.

“I
know that the 139th is in good hands,” Cluck says. “I know he’s going
to do a great job. I’m excited about the future; a little sad it’s not going to
be me anymore, but everybody needs turnover and that’s a healthy thing. I’m
looking forward to where he takes the wing.”

A
Change of Command Ceremony will be held at 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the
139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph which
has a dual federal and state mission. The 139th employs roughly
1,000 Guard men and women, flying C-130 cargo planes. The 139th also
operates the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center which trains pilot from
across the country and around the world in warfighting effectiveness and
survivability.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737732261058.jpeg" alt="Commander of the 139th Airlift Wing, Col. John Cluck/file photo " />
 <figcaption>Commander of the 139th Airlift Wing, Col. John Cluck/file photo </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA
change of command takes place this weekend as Col. John Cluck hands over
command of the 139th Airlift Wing to Col. Barrett Golden, the wing’s
Deputy Commander at a special ceremony at the St. Joseph base.Cluck
is a bit worried about being overcome with emotion Saturday afternoon.“I
hope I can hold it together and not turn into a blubbering idiot,” Cluck jokes
during an interview with KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s been a long time. I’ve
been in the wing command for four years and I was a deputy commander for three-and-a-half
before that. So, I think I’ll be pretty emotional to be honest with you.”Afterall,
Cluck has spent his entire career at the Air Guard base located at Rosecrans
Memorial Airport.“I’ve
been at the 139th since I was 17-years-old; 39 years.”Cluck
grew up on a farm near Wathena, just across the Missouri River in northeast
Kansas. He enlisted in the Missouri Air National Guard in April of 1986 as an
Air Cargo Specialist. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Milling
Science and Management from Kansas State University.Cluck
says joining the Air Guard changed his life.“Was
sort of a poor farm kid; didn’t have a lot when I grew up,” Cluck says. “The
best decision I’ve ever made in my life was going down there at 17 years old,
raising my hand, and becoming part of that family; not only financially, but
emotionally, and spiritually, and everything else. The way we support our
members is really tremendous and I know that we can keep that going.”Cluck
first served as a C-130 pilot for the 180th Airlift Squadron in St.
Joseph and quickly moved through the ranks. Cluck is a Command Pilot who has
clocked 5,000 flight hours, including 750 combat hours. He served in Desert
Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom, among others.Cluck
became Vice Commander of the 139th in July of 2017 and Commander in
March of 2021. Cluck
officially retires this summer and says he hopes to continue serving, either
with the Air Guard or as a civilian.Cluck
has confidence in the leadership ability of his Deputy Commander, Col. Golden.“I
know that the 139th is in good hands,” Cluck says. “I know he’s going
to do a great job. I’m excited about the future; a little sad it’s not going to
be me anymore, but everybody needs turnover and that’s a healthy thing. I’m
looking forward to where he takes the wing.”A
Change of Command Ceremony will be held at 3 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the
139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph which
has a dual federal and state mission. The 139th employs roughly
1,000 Guard men and women, flying C-130 cargo planes. The 139th also
operates the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center which trains pilot from
across the country and around the world in warfighting effectiveness and
survivability.<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Journal-Col--Cluck-hands-off-command-of-139th-e2tucib/a-abobo68" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Command of the 139th changes this weekend at Rosecrans Air Guard base

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/skyler-rossi">SKYLER ROSSI</a> Harvest Public Media

Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.

You can blame bird flu for high egg prices at the grocery store.

A dozen large, Grade A eggs cost an average of $4.15 in the U.S. last month – a nearly 37% increase from the year before – according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. That’s a much larger jump than the 2.5% increase of overall food prices.

The last time that average price was above $4 was&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, when the cost for a dozen eggs spiked to a record $4.82.

The egg industry has been impacted by a surge of bird flu cases in recent weeks. More than 13 million egg-laying hens died in December due to the virus – the most of any month last year –&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/g445cd121/6395z2696/sj13bz31x/LDP-M-367.pdf" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. And another 3.3 million died in early January.

The losses are a big factor in higher egg prices, said Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas who researches how diseases impact markets.

“One of the hard parts is there's this regional concentration of production,” Thompson said. “And so when a disease is going through and hitting farms in that area, it's gonna affect multiple farms, and that's gonna affect the supply of eggs – and that supply then will affect our prices.”

There are also other factors that impact prices, such as the typical uptick in demand for eggs during the holiday season and costs for inputs like feed and labor, Thompson said.

“All of those things are going to be coupled together, and then you add this very strong reduction of egg supply, and it's going to drive prices up and down,” she said.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">more than 130 million birds</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since it first emerged in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Bird flu appeared in dairy cattle for the first time last year, and has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html" target="_blank">more than 900 cows</a>&nbsp;since last spring. More than 60 humans have also contracted the virus, mostly from working directly with sick animals on poultry or dairy farms. Most of the symptoms have been mild, and the health risk for humans is currently low,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.

The virus is spreading to flocks as migratory birds fly south for the winter, said Yuko Sato, a poultry extension veterinarian at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. But the new strain in cows makes the situation different from previous years.

“Instead of just migratory birds being a potential source of the infection, now we also have to worry about potential interactions with infected dairy herds that could potentially transmit the virus to domestic poultry,” she said.

The virus has an extremely high fatality rate in birds, Sato said. Many birds die within a day or two — so when bird flu is confirmed on a farm, it affects the entire flock.

“Essentially, all of the birds that's on that site will be depopulated, meaning they'll all be put down, in order to control the virus and to make sure it's contained in one area to not spread to other premises,” Sato said.

Outbreaks are particularly hitting the middle of the U.S. hard, because there are a lot of large egg producers, Thompson said. Iowa, Ohio and Indiana produce the highest volume of eggs in the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Poultry/eggmap.php" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.

“The disease specifically has stuck around in the Midwest,” Thompson said. “And part of that is a bit of climate, a bit where wild bird migratory patterns have gone through. And so they've been disproportionately affected.”

Producers will be hatching more chicks to make up for the losses, Thompson said. But it’s difficult to know for sure how bad the disease will be, and it’s expensive to keep too many birds.

“Everybody's trying to find the best solution to mitigate disease impacts and maintain profitability,” Thompson said. “Because if egg prices are high, we don't buy as many eggs ... they still need to sell their egg, so this is an issue for both producers and consumers.”

Thompson expects egg prices will fall again as there are fewer bird flu cases and the egg supply recovers. But more outbreaks of the virus could push prices back up.

“We'll have to keep an eye on how many outbreaks there are and where those are happening,” she said.

This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737565489017.png" alt="A HyVee grocery store in Columbia, Missouri, is sharing information with shoppers about the impacts of recent bird flu cases on the egg supply. Egg prices across the country have soared in recent weeks because of losses caused by the virus. Photo by&nbsp; Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public Media&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>A HyVee grocery store in Columbia, Missouri, is sharing information with shoppers about the impacts of recent bird flu cases on the egg supply. Egg prices across the country have soared in recent weeks because of losses caused by the virus. Photo by&nbsp; Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public Media&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/skyler-rossi">SKYLER ROSSI</a> Harvest Public Media<h2>Bird flu has killed millions of hens in recent weeks, shrinking the supply of eggs and hiking up prices at grocery stores.</h2>You can blame bird flu for high egg prices at the grocery store.A dozen large, Grade A eggs cost an average of $4.15 in the U.S. last month – a nearly 37% increase from the year before – according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf" target="_blank">data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>. That’s a much larger jump than the 2.5% increase of overall food prices.The last time that average price was above $4 was&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/APU0000708111" target="_blank">two years ago</a>, when the cost for a dozen eggs spiked to a record $4.82.The egg industry has been impacted by a surge of bird flu cases in recent weeks. More than 13 million egg-laying hens died in December due to the virus – the most of any month last year –&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/g445cd121/6395z2696/sj13bz31x/LDP-M-367.pdf" target="_blank">according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture</a>. And another 3.3 million died in early January.The losses are a big factor in higher egg prices, said Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas who researches how diseases impact markets.“One of the hard parts is there's this regional concentration of production,” Thompson said. “And so when a disease is going through and hitting farms in that area, it's gonna affect multiple farms, and that's gonna affect the supply of eggs – and that supply then will affect our prices.”There are also other factors that impact prices, such as the typical uptick in demand for eggs during the holiday season and costs for inputs like feed and labor, Thompson said.“All of those things are going to be coupled together, and then you add this very strong reduction of egg supply, and it's going to drive prices up and down,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737565779992.png" alt="&nbsp; Chart:&nbsp;Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public MediaSource:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://data.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/APU0200708111;jsessionid=885E1E8D976CC87DAEF37097559DF675">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>Created with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/cI5I6" target="_blank">Datawrapper</a>" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp; Chart:&nbsp;Skyler Rossi/Harvest Public MediaSource:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://data.bls.gov/dataViewer/view/timeseries/APU0200708111;jsessionid=885E1E8D976CC87DAEF37097559DF675">U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>Created with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.datawrapper.de/_/cI5I6" target="_blank">Datawrapper</a></figcaption>
 </figure>Highly pathogenic avian influenza has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/data-map-commercial.html" target="_blank">more than 130 million birds</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. since it first emerged in 2022, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.Bird flu appeared in dairy cattle for the first time last year, and has infected&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html" target="_blank">more than 900 cows</a>&nbsp;since last spring. More than 60 humans have also contracted the virus, mostly from working directly with sick animals on poultry or dairy farms. Most of the symptoms have been mild, and the health risk for humans is currently low,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html" target="_blank">according to the CDC</a>.The virus is spreading to flocks as migratory birds fly south for the winter, said Yuko Sato, a poultry extension veterinarian at the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. But the new strain in cows makes the situation different from previous years.“Instead of just migratory birds being a potential source of the infection, now we also have to worry about potential interactions with infected dairy herds that could potentially transmit the virus to domestic poultry,” she said.The virus has an extremely high fatality rate in birds, Sato said. Many birds die within a day or two — so when bird flu is confirmed on a farm, it affects the entire flock.“Essentially, all of the birds that's on that site will be depopulated, meaning they'll all be put down, in order to control the virus and to make sure it's contained in one area to not spread to other premises,” Sato said.Outbreaks are particularly hitting the middle of the U.S. hard, because there are a lot of large egg producers, Thompson said. Iowa, Ohio and Indiana produce the highest volume of eggs in the country,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nass.usda.gov/Charts_and_Maps/Poultry/eggmap.php" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.“The disease specifically has stuck around in the Midwest,” Thompson said. “And part of that is a bit of climate, a bit where wild bird migratory patterns have gone through. And so they've been disproportionately affected.”Producers will be hatching more chicks to make up for the losses, Thompson said. But it’s difficult to know for sure how bad the disease will be, and it’s expensive to keep too many birds.“Everybody's trying to find the best solution to mitigate disease impacts and maintain profitability,” Thompson said. “Because if egg prices are high, we don't buy as many eggs ... they still need to sell their egg, so this is an issue for both producers and consumers.”Thompson expects egg prices will fall again as there are fewer bird flu cases and the egg supply recovers. But more outbreaks of the virus could push prices back up.“We'll have to keep an eye on how many outbreaks there are and where those are happening,” she said.This story was produced in partnership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/harvestpublicmedia" target="_blank">Harvest Public Media,</a>&nbsp;a collaboration of public media newsrooms in the Midwest. It reports on food systems, agriculture and rural issues.&nbsp;

Egg prices soaring again; here’s why, what to expect

A carve-out for hemp beverages in proposed regulations falls flat for Missouri Hemp Trade Association

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Arguably the biggest opponent of unregulated intoxicating hemp products said it’s willing to concede to allowing hemp-THC drinks to continue to be sold in grocery and liquor stores.

“We are working through and very excited about the possibility of developing a carve out for low-THC hemp drinks,” said Tom Robbins, a lobbyist for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association during a Senate committee hearing Wednesday.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/16/missouri-lawmakers-file-bills-enacting-new-regulations-on-intoxicating-hemp-products/">legislative battle</a>&nbsp;to regulate intoxicating hemp products kicked off Wednesday with a hearing on Republican state Sen. Nick Schroer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/BillText.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=292" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;to treat hemp-derived THC edibles, vapes and beverages the same as marijuana — meaning under the Division of Cannabis Regulation’s rules and exclusively sold in dispensaries.&nbsp;

Robbins announced MoCann’s proposed amendment to cap the amount of THC at five milligrams per can and exclude drinks made with “synthetic” THC, or THC that has been converted from CBD using a chemical process.

Schroer confirmed a plan is in the works to include this language in a committee substitute that may come up to vote within the next few weeks.&nbsp;

“We will more than likely have some sort of compromise language to use that existing framework within the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control on some of these low-dose products,” Schroer said.&nbsp;

However, Brooklyn Hill, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said MoCann’s carve out is “not a solution to the problem.”

“This bill will still, even with the hemp beverage carve out, shut down hundreds of Missouri businesses and cost hundreds of Missourians their jobs,” Hill said.

Schroer’s legislation is among several to regulate products made with hemp-derived THC.

Currently, Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because the intoxicating ingredient is derived from hemp, not marijuana.

Hemp is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">federally legal</a>.

There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;

“What the products contain really we do not know because it’s not regulated,” Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center, told the Senate committee “and that’s where we’ve come into some very serious exposures where children have ended up unresponsive and on ventilators.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

All proposed bills include age restrictions.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=860121" target="_blank">proposal backed by the hemp association</a>&nbsp;would limit beverages and edibles to 100 mg of THC per serving, saying that some people who use the products medicinally require a higher dose.&nbsp;It directs the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to regulate hemp licensees.

Among the other proposals is the beer wholesalers’&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/0718H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">legislation</a>, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater, which lays out regulations only for hemp beverages. It would also establish the same three-tier distribution system that the alcohol industry has long abided by.

The Missouri Hemp Trade Association believes vehemently opposes establishing the three-tier system, saying it would create a monopoly on behalf of the distributors.

On Wednesday, Hill spoke about her father’s business, Dave’s Doobies, in Bunker, a town of about 300 people. His manufacturing and distributing company produces vapes and gummies, among other products.

“It’s incredible to see my dad, hero of my childhood, build a legacy from the ground up,” she said, “one in a small town that can help employ what’s normally poverty.”

Hill said Schroer’s bill would devastate her father’s business, as long with hundreds of others.&nbsp;

Rick McGavock, owner of Popcorn Dispensary in Hermann, said it would destroy his business as well — and he has nothing to do with the cannabis industry.&nbsp;

A line in Schroer’s bill states that “no person or entity” other than licensed marijuana facilities can conduct business under a name that contains the word “dispensary” or any word similar.

McGavock and his partner, Nicole Woods, just opened in June, after settling on the name and finding a location.

“We poured our blood, sweat and literal tears into building this business,” McGavock said. “Our name has become an integral part of our brand. This bill puts our business and the livelihoods of our 10 employees at risk. These are real people with families so rebranding is not an option.”

McGavock was scheduled to meet with Schroer after the hearing.

The hearing room was packed with people waiting to testify on the bill, most of whom did not get to speak when the hearing was limited to one hour.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737631269367.png" alt=" Julie Weber, right, director of the Missouri Poison Center, testifying Wednesday about the increase in children ingesting THC-laced products alongside state Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance. Schroer wants to restrict the sale of hemp-derived THC products (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Julie Weber, right, director of the Missouri Poison Center, testifying Wednesday about the increase in children ingesting THC-laced products alongside state Sen. Nick Schroer, R-Defiance. Schroer wants to restrict the sale of hemp-derived THC products (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A carve-out for hemp beverages in proposed regulations falls flat for Missouri Hemp Trade Association</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Arguably the biggest opponent of unregulated intoxicating hemp products said it’s willing to concede to allowing hemp-THC drinks to continue to be sold in grocery and liquor stores.“We are working through and very excited about the possibility of developing a carve out for low-THC hemp drinks,” said Tom Robbins, a lobbyist for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association during a Senate committee hearing Wednesday.The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/16/missouri-lawmakers-file-bills-enacting-new-regulations-on-intoxicating-hemp-products/">legislative battle</a>&nbsp;to regulate intoxicating hemp products kicked off Wednesday with a hearing on Republican state Sen. Nick Schroer’s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/BillText.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=292" target="_blank">bill</a>&nbsp;to treat hemp-derived THC edibles, vapes and beverages the same as marijuana — meaning under the Division of Cannabis Regulation’s rules and exclusively sold in dispensaries.&nbsp;Robbins announced MoCann’s proposed amendment to cap the amount of THC at five milligrams per can and exclude drinks made with “synthetic” THC, or THC that has been converted from CBD using a chemical process.Schroer confirmed a plan is in the works to include this language in a committee substitute that may come up to vote within the next few weeks.&nbsp;“We will more than likely have some sort of compromise language to use that existing framework within the Missouri Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control on some of these low-dose products,” Schroer said.&nbsp;However, Brooklyn Hill, president of the Missouri Hemp Trade Association, said MoCann’s carve out is “not a solution to the problem.”“This bill will still, even with the hemp beverage carve out, shut down hundreds of Missouri businesses and cost hundreds of Missourians their jobs,” Hill said.Schroer’s legislation is among several to regulate products made with hemp-derived THC.Currently, Delta-8 THC products — including a large variety of drinks that are popular at bars and available at gas stations throughout the state — can be sold in Missouri stores because the intoxicating ingredient is derived from hemp, not marijuana.Hemp is&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/10/11/farm-bill-debate-includes-hemp-regulation-as-issue-takes-center-stage-in-missouri-recall/">federally legal</a>.There’s no state or federal law saying teenagers or children can’t buy them or stores can’t sell them to minors — though some stores and vendors have taken it upon themselves to impose age restrictions of 21 and up.&nbsp;“What the products contain really we do not know because it’s not regulated,” Julie Weber, director of the Missouri Poison Center, told the Senate committee “and that’s where we’ve come into some very serious exposures where children have ended up unresponsive and on ventilators.”&nbsp;&nbsp;All proposed bills include age restrictions.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=860121" target="_blank">proposal backed by the hemp association</a>&nbsp;would limit beverages and edibles to 100 mg of THC per serving, saying that some people who use the products medicinally require a higher dose.&nbsp;It directs the Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Control to regulate hemp licensees.Among the other proposals is the beer wholesalers’&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/0718H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">legislation</a>, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Barry Hovis of Whitewater, which lays out regulations only for hemp beverages. It would also establish the same three-tier distribution system that the alcohol industry has long abided by.The Missouri Hemp Trade Association believes vehemently opposes establishing the three-tier system, saying it would create a monopoly on behalf of the distributors.On Wednesday, Hill spoke about her father’s business, Dave’s Doobies, in Bunker, a town of about 300 people. His manufacturing and distributing company produces vapes and gummies, among other products.“It’s incredible to see my dad, hero of my childhood, build a legacy from the ground up,” she said, “one in a small town that can help employ what’s normally poverty.”Hill said Schroer’s bill would devastate her father’s business, as long with hundreds of others.&nbsp;Rick McGavock, owner of Popcorn Dispensary in Hermann, said it would destroy his business as well — and he has nothing to do with the cannabis industry.&nbsp;A line in Schroer’s bill states that “no person or entity” other than licensed marijuana facilities can conduct business under a name that contains the word “dispensary” or any word similar.McGavock and his partner, Nicole Woods, just opened in June, after settling on the name and finding a location.“We poured our blood, sweat and literal tears into building this business,” McGavock said. “Our name has become an integral part of our brand. This bill puts our business and the livelihoods of our 10 employees at risk. These are real people with families so rebranding is not an option.”McGavock was scheduled to meet with Schroer after the hearing.The hearing room was packed with people waiting to testify on the bill, most of whom did not get to speak when the hearing was limited to one hour.

Missouri cannabis trade group offers compromise in fight over regulating intoxicating hemp

St. Joseph Restaurant Week is coming up next month.  

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Kristi Bailey says the annual event is a time for residents to get out and support local restaurants 

"It's a time for the restaurants to try out some new recipes, some new menu items, and it's just really a time that's slow for restaurants, so it's a time for residents to come out and show them some support in a time that can be kind of slow for them," Bailey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

Bailey says last year 30 area restaurants participated in the event, and she expects around the same amount this year.  

St. Joseph Restaurant Week will run February 17th through the 23rd.  Bailey says during a month when it's cold and with events like the Super Bowl and Valentines Day can keep people in, Restaurant Week encourages residents to get out 

"Because it's something fun, there might be something new to try, maybe it's a restaurant you've never been to before," Bailey explains.  "So, the Chamber and Joe Town Fun, we've been doing this for a few years now, and it's a way for us to encourage people to get out and have some fun themselves but also support our local restaurants." 

Bailey says participating restaurants also see a number of new residents coming in during the program 

"Every year people talk about oh my gosh I've never been to this restaurant before, or I didn't know this place existed, or oh I went there last night it was so good," Bailey says.  "So, part of the program really is just encouraging people to try new places but then after they've been there to share the word, talk about their experiences." 

A list of participating restaurants will be available on <a href="https://www.stjrestaurantweek.com/">STJRestaurantWeek.com</a> sometime next month.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650644341636.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph Restaurant Week is coming up next month. St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce spokeswoman Kristi Bailey says the annual event is a time for residents to get out and support local restaurants "It's a time for the restaurants to try out some new recipes, some new menu items, and it's just really a time that's slow for restaurants, so it's a time for residents to come out and show them some support in a time that can be kind of slow for them," Bailey tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Bailey says last year 30 area restaurants participated in the event, and she expects around the same amount this year. St. Joseph Restaurant Week will run February 17th through the 23rd. Bailey says during a month when it's cold and with events like the Super Bowl and Valentines Day can keep people in, Restaurant Week encourages residents to get out "Because it's something fun, there might be something new to try, maybe it's a restaurant you've never been to before," Bailey explains. "So, the Chamber and Joe Town Fun, we've been doing this for a few years now, and it's a way for us to encourage people to get out and have some fun themselves but also support our local restaurants." Bailey says participating restaurants also see a number of new residents coming in during the program "Every year people talk about oh my gosh I've never been to this restaurant before, or I didn't know this place existed, or oh I went there last night it was so good," Bailey says. "So, part of the program really is just encouraging people to try new places but then after they've been there to share the word, talk about their experiences." A list of participating restaurants will be available on <a href="https://www.stjrestaurantweek.com/">STJRestaurantWeek.com</a> sometime next month. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Restaurant Week invites residents to get out in February

Many of St.
Joseph’s homeless sought shelter from the extreme cold the past few days at the
cold weather shelter operated by Community Missions.

Buchanan County Presiding
Commissioner Scott Nelson says there is talk of expanding the shelter and the
programs it offers.

“Try to come up
with a plan to keep that shelter open 24/7, not just during the cold,” Nelson
tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And if you are to do that, what are
you going to do with those who participate in that, cold weather shelter
obviously, but as a shelter?”

The cold weather
shelter, which is called My Brother’s House, is located in downtown St. Joseph.
Community Missions operates the cold weather shelter from January through
March. Nelson says the county, the City of St. Joseph, and Mosaic Life-Care have
been talking with those at Community Missions about possibly keeping the
shelter open beyond March.

“What if we were
able to provide some services there, whether it’s through caseworkers or
whether it’s mental health, drug addiction, and things like that?” Nelson says.
“Can we offer services within the Community Missions building to aid those folks,
to bring them up, so that hopefully they can become productive members of
society?”

Such an
undertaking would demand many more resources and people to supervise the
homeless who would use the shelter, let alone the resources needed to offer
services to the homeless.

Nelson says the
community needs to reach out to those living on the streets.

“I don’t know that
many people choose that. It just happens,” Nelson says. “Life just happens to
some and if we can help, I think we’re called to do that if we have the means.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737567339788.jpeg" alt="Community Missions' cold weather shelter, My Brother's House/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Community Missions' cold weather shelter, My Brother's House/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMany of St.
Joseph’s homeless sought shelter from the extreme cold the past few days at the
cold weather shelter operated by Community Missions.Buchanan County Presiding
Commissioner Scott Nelson says there is talk of expanding the shelter and the
programs it offers.“Try to come up
with a plan to keep that shelter open 24/7, not just during the cold,” Nelson
tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline. “And if you are to do that, what are
you going to do with those who participate in that, cold weather shelter
obviously, but as a shelter?”The cold weather
shelter, which is called My Brother’s House, is located in downtown St. Joseph.
Community Missions operates the cold weather shelter from January through
March. Nelson says the county, the City of St. Joseph, and Mosaic Life-Care have
been talking with those at Community Missions about possibly keeping the
shelter open beyond March.Talks are in the
early stages.“What if we were
able to provide some services there, whether it’s through caseworkers or
whether it’s mental health, drug addiction, and things like that?” Nelson says.
“Can we offer services within the Community Missions building to aid those folks,
to bring them up, so that hopefully they can become productive members of
society?”Such an
undertaking would demand many more resources and people to supervise the
homeless who would use the shelter, let alone the resources needed to offer
services to the homeless.Nelson says the
community needs to reach out to those living on the streets.“I don’t know that
many people choose that. It just happens,” Nelson says. “Life just happens to
some and if we can help, I think we’re called to do that if we have the means.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Talks begin about permanent shelter for St. Joseph's homeless

ATCHISON COUNTY —Wreckage from the Monday train derailment has been removed from the main tracks and trains are moving again in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

At 10p.m. Tuesday, the 4th Street crossing in Atchison was reopened.&nbsp;

The cause that derailed approximately seven Union Pacific rail cars and one locomotive is still under investigation. The train crew was taken to local emergency services for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; according to Union Pacific.&nbsp;

There was no fire and no other hazards, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737470837622.png" alt="Photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Wreckage from the Monday train derailment has been removed from the main tracks and trains are moving again in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.At 10p.m. Tuesday, the 4th Street crossing in Atchison was reopened.&nbsp;The cause that derailed approximately seven Union Pacific rail cars and one locomotive is still under investigation. The train crew was taken to local emergency services for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.&nbsp; according to Union Pacific.&nbsp;There was no fire and no other hazards, according to Wilson.

Wreckage from train derailment in Atchison cleaned up

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster is
pleased new Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has focused on public safety to begin his
tenure.

Kehoe, a Republican, signed six executive
orders on his first day in office, all dealing with public safety.

Luster says the action shouldn’t come as
a surprise.

“For anybody that followed the campaign
that Gov. Kehoe had or followed the election, I think he said pretty much since
day one that he was going to take steps to support law enforcement and to fight
crime in Missouri,” Kehoe says. “If I heard it right, I think he did that within
about an hour of taking office.”

Kehoe signed six executive orders after
taking the oath of office as Missouri’s 58th governor.

The first executive order establishes “Operation
Relentless Pursuit,” a regional anti-crime effort that emphasizes intelligence-led
policing to chase down dangerous fugitives.

Luster says he is pleased the executive
order hinges on the use of intelligence-led policing.

“We do that a lot here in St. Joe,”
Luster says. “We look at who our problem people are, where our problem areas are, and that’s where we direct resources to. And that way we’re not just randomly
out there hoping to get lucky, catching somebody doing a crime. That happens
sometimes, but we can be a lot more efficient with our resources. He kind of just
put that into a statewide, cross-jurisdictional, collaborative effort.”

A second executive order creates the Blue
Shield Program to recognize local governments for their dedication “to
effective law enforcement and community safety.”

Another executive order targets immigration enforcement, a key priority of the Trump administration in
Washington. It allows state and local law enforcement to work with the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce immigration law.

“So, I think he wants to make sure that the
training’s available and that people know the resources; not trying to put that
in local government’s hands. There’s a federal agency that deals with that. We’re
not just trying to shift that to the local level,” according to Luster. “But to know that
if there (are) criminal offenders out there that we want them brought to
justice regardless of immigration status.”

A companion executive order directs the
Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to
collect the immigration status of those within the statewide uniform crime data
reporting system.

A working group will examine the state
parole system under another executive order. An executive order issued by Kehoe modifies
the Missouri State Highway Patrol salary schedule to allow troopers to reach
the top salary tier in 12 years rather than 15.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster is
pleased new Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has focused on public safety to begin his
tenure.Kehoe, a Republican, signed six executive
orders on his first day in office, all dealing with public safety.Luster says the action shouldn’t come as
a surprise.“For anybody that followed the campaign
that Gov. Kehoe had or followed the election, I think he said pretty much since
day one that he was going to take steps to support law enforcement and to fight
crime in Missouri,” Kehoe says. “If I heard it right, I think he did that within
about an hour of taking office.”Kehoe signed six executive orders after
taking the oath of office as Missouri’s 58th governor.The first executive order establishes “Operation
Relentless Pursuit,” a regional anti-crime effort that emphasizes intelligence-led
policing to chase down dangerous fugitives.Luster says he is pleased the executive
order hinges on the use of intelligence-led policing.“We do that a lot here in St. Joe,”
Luster says. “We look at who our problem people are, where our problem areas are, and that’s where we direct resources to. And that way we’re not just randomly
out there hoping to get lucky, catching somebody doing a crime. That happens
sometimes, but we can be a lot more efficient with our resources. He kind of just
put that into a statewide, cross-jurisdictional, collaborative effort.”A second executive order creates the Blue
Shield Program to recognize local governments for their dedication “to
effective law enforcement and community safety.”Another executive order targets immigration enforcement, a key priority of the Trump administration in
Washington. It allows state and local law enforcement to work with the U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enforce immigration law.“So, I think he wants to make sure that the
training’s available and that people know the resources; not trying to put that
in local government’s hands. There’s a federal agency that deals with that. We’re
not just trying to shift that to the local level,” according to Luster. “But to know that
if there (are) criminal offenders out there that we want them brought to
justice regardless of immigration status.”A companion executive order directs the
Missouri Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol to
collect the immigration status of those within the statewide uniform crime data
reporting system.A working group will examine the state
parole system under another executive order. An executive order issued by Kehoe modifies
the Missouri State Highway Patrol salary schedule to allow troopers to reach
the top salary tier in 12 years rather than 15.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Chief Luster happy with Gov. Kehoe emphasis on public safety

The bill debated Tuesday in the Senate General Laws Committee is the first of several tax cut proposals expected to receive attention during this year’s session

BY:&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>

Missouri Republicans took their first legislative steps toward a promised tax cut on Tuesday, with a Senate committee debating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=149" target="_blank">a $300 million exemption</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp; profits from the sale of a farm, business or assets like cryptocurrency.

The proposal to exempt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/capital_gains_tax.asp#:~:text=Capital%20gains%20taxes%20are%20levied,is%20subject%20to%20different%20rates." target="_blank">long-term capital gains</a>&nbsp;from Missouri income tax would help bring investment and jobs to the state, said state Sen. Curtis Trent.

“The capital gains tax is a tax that punishes investment,” said Trent, a Republican from Springfield. “It makes it more difficult to attract dollars, and with the jobs and business growth into the state of Missouri, it disincentivizes savings and investment by individuals.”

Trent presented the bill to the Senate General Laws Committee, which he chairs. No vote was held.

The bill is the first of many&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/11/flat-tax-proposals-aim-to-put-missouri-on-path-to-eliminate-income-tax/">ideas for cutting taxes</a>&nbsp;expected to get traction this session. Gov. Mike Kehoe campaigned for office on a promise to reduce, and eventually eliminate the state income tax.

Kehoe has not discussed the details of his plan publicly, but is expected to include his ideas when he presents his budget and policy message on Jan. 28 to the General Assembly.

On Wednesday, the Missouri House will hold its first hearing on tax proposals, with bills to eliminate all tax brackets to&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB798&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">create a flat tax</a>, to repeal the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB425&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">corporate income tax</a>&nbsp;and to create a fund to&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR35&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">finance future tax cuts</a>&nbsp;before the Special Committee on Tax Reform.

Missouri has healthy fund balances in the treasury — $4.1 billion in just the general revenue fund as of Dec. 31 — but tax receipts are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-revenue-estimate-predicts-70-million-drop-in-state-tax-receipts-through-june/">expected to fall slightly</a>&nbsp;or remain flat for at least the coming 18 months.

The capital gains tax cut would reduce general revenue — about $13.4 billion in the year that ended June 30 — by about $300 million annually,&nbsp;<a href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2025-1/0131S.01I.COR.pdf" target="_blank">the fiscal note</a>&nbsp;for Trent’s bill states.

Repealing the corporate income tax would reduce revenue by&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/1414H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">about $900 million annually</a>.&nbsp;

No fiscal note has been prepared for the proposal to eliminate tax brackets and charge all taxpayers the current top rate, 4.7%, for all taxable income. The major impact of that change would be to increase, by about $70, the tax each individual pays on portions of taxable income below $9,000.

Trent’s bill heard Tuesday would eliminate the state income tax on capital gains by allowing taxpayers to deduct the portion of their income reported as long-term capital gains on their federal returns. For someone with about $50,000 in capital gains income, the savings would be more than $1,500, which is what someone who only had wage income of that amount would pay in state income tax.

Income from long-term capital gains is easily identifiable from federal returns because it is treated differently than income from wages. Under federal tax law, profits on assets held for more than a year are taxed at lower rates than wages or the gains from assets sold after a short period.

“It unfairly taxes inflation, and we have been in a high inflation environment for the last several years,” Trent said. “The increase in the value of an asset is not necessarily because of true gains in that asset’s value, but just in the devaluation of the currency.”

Only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theentrustgroup.com/blog/state-capital-gains-tax" target="_blank">eight states</a>, including Tennessee, exempt all capital gains from income taxes. Two states that border on Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, have special treatment for some capital gains. For example, Oklahoma exempts capital gains on the sale of Oklahoma property owned for at least five consecutive years, or the sale of stock in an Oklahoma company or partnership held for at least two consecutive years.

Business and farm groups testified that eliminating the tax on capital gains would promote the transfer of agricultural land from retiring farmers to new owners, encourage small business owners to expand and preserve family fortunes.

“This would be very helpful for small businesses that have had a rough few years,” said Brad Jones, lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Businesses.

The main opposition to major tax cuts this year is likely to come from groups concerned about possible future spending cuts.

Brian Colby, a lobbyist for the liberal Missouri Budget Project, testified in opposition, citing the “large fiscal note and no offset on revenue losses.”&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737549258629.png" alt=" Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, is the sponsor of a bill to eliminate the Missouri income tax on long-term capital gains (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Sen. Curtis Trent, a Republican from Springfield, is the sponsor of a bill to eliminate the Missouri income tax on long-term capital gains (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The bill debated Tuesday in the Senate General Laws Committee is the first of several tax cut proposals expected to receive attention during this year’s session</h2>BY:&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>Missouri Republicans took their first legislative steps toward a promised tax cut on Tuesday, with a Senate committee debating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=149" target="_blank">a $300 million exemption</a>&nbsp;for&nbsp; profits from the sale of a farm, business or assets like cryptocurrency.The proposal to exempt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/capital_gains_tax.asp#:~:text=Capital%20gains%20taxes%20are%20levied,is%20subject%20to%20different%20rates." target="_blank">long-term capital gains</a>&nbsp;from Missouri income tax would help bring investment and jobs to the state, said state Sen. Curtis Trent.“The capital gains tax is a tax that punishes investment,” said Trent, a Republican from Springfield. “It makes it more difficult to attract dollars, and with the jobs and business growth into the state of Missouri, it disincentivizes savings and investment by individuals.”Trent presented the bill to the Senate General Laws Committee, which he chairs. No vote was held.The bill is the first of many&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/11/flat-tax-proposals-aim-to-put-missouri-on-path-to-eliminate-income-tax/">ideas for cutting taxes</a>&nbsp;expected to get traction this session. Gov. Mike Kehoe campaigned for office on a promise to reduce, and eventually eliminate the state income tax.Kehoe has not discussed the details of his plan publicly, but is expected to include his ideas when he presents his budget and policy message on Jan. 28 to the General Assembly.On Wednesday, the Missouri House will hold its first hearing on tax proposals, with bills to eliminate all tax brackets to&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB798&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">create a flat tax</a>, to repeal the&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB425&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">corporate income tax</a>&nbsp;and to create a fund to&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR35&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">finance future tax cuts</a>&nbsp;before the Special Committee on Tax Reform.Missouri has healthy fund balances in the treasury — $4.1 billion in just the general revenue fund as of Dec. 31 — but tax receipts are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-revenue-estimate-predicts-70-million-drop-in-state-tax-receipts-through-june/">expected to fall slightly</a>&nbsp;or remain flat for at least the coming 18 months.The capital gains tax cut would reduce general revenue — about $13.4 billion in the year that ended June 30 — by about $300 million annually,&nbsp;<a href="https://senate.mo.gov/FiscalNotes/2025-1/0131S.01I.COR.pdf" target="_blank">the fiscal note</a>&nbsp;for Trent’s bill states.Repealing the corporate income tax would reduce revenue by&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/fiscal/fispdf/1414H.01I.ORG.pdf" target="_blank">about $900 million annually</a>.&nbsp;No fiscal note has been prepared for the proposal to eliminate tax brackets and charge all taxpayers the current top rate, 4.7%, for all taxable income. The major impact of that change would be to increase, by about $70, the tax each individual pays on portions of taxable income below $9,000.Trent’s bill heard Tuesday would eliminate the state income tax on capital gains by allowing taxpayers to deduct the portion of their income reported as long-term capital gains on their federal returns. For someone with about $50,000 in capital gains income, the savings would be more than $1,500, which is what someone who only had wage income of that amount would pay in state income tax.Income from long-term capital gains is easily identifiable from federal returns because it is treated differently than income from wages. Under federal tax law, profits on assets held for more than a year are taxed at lower rates than wages or the gains from assets sold after a short period.“It unfairly taxes inflation, and we have been in a high inflation environment for the last several years,” Trent said. “The increase in the value of an asset is not necessarily because of true gains in that asset’s value, but just in the devaluation of the currency.”Only&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theentrustgroup.com/blog/state-capital-gains-tax" target="_blank">eight states</a>, including Tennessee, exempt all capital gains from income taxes. Two states that border on Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma, have special treatment for some capital gains. For example, Oklahoma exempts capital gains on the sale of Oklahoma property owned for at least five consecutive years, or the sale of stock in an Oklahoma company or partnership held for at least two consecutive years.Business and farm groups testified that eliminating the tax on capital gains would promote the transfer of agricultural land from retiring farmers to new owners, encourage small business owners to expand and preserve family fortunes.“This would be very helpful for small businesses that have had a rough few years,” said Brad Jones, lobbyist for the National Federation of Independent Businesses.The main opposition to major tax cuts this year is likely to come from groups concerned about possible future spending cuts.Brian Colby, a lobbyist for the liberal Missouri Budget Project, testified in opposition, citing the “large fiscal note and no offset on revenue losses.”&nbsp;

Tax cut push by Missouri Republicans begins with $300M capital gains legislation

Bitter cold temperatures have forced the cancelation of classes for both the St. Joseph School District and the Savannah R3 School District.

All public elementary, middle, and high schools in the St. Joseph School District have been canceled for Tuesday. Keatley's Adult Education classes and the Early Learning Centers have been canceled as well.

Some after-school activities might be held. The St. Joseph School District advises to contact the activity sponsor or coach to find out if the event is being held.

This will be an Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) day. All students will have remote learning. Expectations for AMI days have been communicated to students by their schools. 

District employees should refer to the district’s inclement weather policy, Scenario A, regarding their work schedule.&nbsp;

Savannah school officials state that due to the extreme temperatures and wind chills expected Tuesday morning, all Savannah R3 Schools will be utilizing an AMI (Distance Learning) Day.

 All Savannah preschool and elementary students should finish snow day packet #1. Savannah middle and high school students should access their assignments via Canvas.

The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the Midland Empire from six o'clock Monday evening until noon on Tuesday. NWS reports very cold wind chills could dip to -25. Such extreme cold can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, according to NWS.

The forecast for this evening calls for clear skies with a low of -11. North, northwest winds of 5 to 13 with guests as high as 18 are expected this evening.

It will be sunny on Tuesday with a high of only 17. NWS expects wind chills of between -10 to -20 tomorrow.

This cold snap is expected to end Wednesday when the forecast calls for a slight chance of snow with a high of 35.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBitter cold temperatures have forced the cancelation of classes for both the St. Joseph School District and the Savannah R3 School District.All public elementary, middle, and high schools in the St. Joseph School District have been canceled for Tuesday. Keatley's Adult Education classes and the Early Learning Centers have been canceled as well.Some after-school activities might be held. The St. Joseph School District advises to contact the activity sponsor or coach to find out if the event is being held.This will be an Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) day. All students will have remote learning. Expectations for AMI days have been communicated to students by their schools. District employees should refer to the district’s inclement weather policy, Scenario A, regarding their work schedule.&nbsp;Savannah school officials state that due to the extreme temperatures and wind chills expected Tuesday morning, all Savannah R3 Schools will be utilizing an AMI (Distance Learning) Day. All Savannah preschool and elementary students should finish snow day packet #1. Savannah middle and high school students should access their assignments via Canvas.The National Weather Service has issued a Cold Weather Advisory for the Midland Empire from six o'clock Monday evening until noon on Tuesday. NWS reports very cold wind chills could dip to -25. Such extreme cold can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes, according to NWS.The forecast for this evening calls for clear skies with a low of -11. North, northwest winds of 5 to 13 with guests as high as 18 are expected this evening.It will be sunny on Tuesday with a high of only 17. NWS expects wind chills of between -10 to -20 tomorrow.This cold snap is expected to end Wednesday when the forecast calls for a slight chance of snow with a high of 35.

St. Joseph, Savannah schools canceled Tuesday due to bitter cold

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for today's cancelations.

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for today's cancelations.

Winter weather closings for Tuesday

ATCHISON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a train derailment in Atchison.

Just after 6:30p.m.  on Monday police officers were on the scene of a derailment that involved empty coal rail cars in Atchison. The derailment extended between 4th Street and 5th Street in the rail yards, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

According to Union Pacific, approximately seven Union Pacific rail cars and one locomotive derailed. The train crew was taken to local emergency services for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The 4th Street railroad crossing will remain closed for an extended period of time. There were no injuries, no fire, no hazards, and no damage other than to the rail cars.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737470837622.png" alt="Photos Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photos Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Authorities are investigating the cause of a train derailment in Atchison.Just after 6:30p.m. on Monday police officers were on the scene of a derailment that involved empty coal rail cars in Atchison. The derailment extended between 4th Street and 5th Street in the rail yards, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737470777673.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>According to Union Pacific, approximately seven Union Pacific rail cars and one locomotive derailed. The train crew was taken to local emergency services for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.The 4th Street railroad crossing will remain closed for an extended period of time. There were no injuries, no fire, no hazards, and no damage other than to the rail cars.

Cause of train derailment in Atchison under investigation

Northern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves returns as chair of the House Transportation Committee
in the new Congress.

Graves had to get
a waiver from the Republican Caucus to continue as chair, because he has served
the number of terms allowed by Caucus rule. Graves says the committee has much
to do over the next two years, looking at what Graves calls “real”
infrastructure.

“That is laying
asphalt, pouring concrete, building bridges,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “We’re not going to be looking at green spaces and things like art for
Amtrak stations and bike paths. We’re going to be building real infrastructure
and that’s roads and bridges.”

Graves served for
four years as the ranking member of the committee, the longest serving member
from the minority party, until being appointed chairman two years ago. House Republican
Caucus rules limit committee members to six years in leadership, which includes
years as ranking member. The Caucus granted Graves’ request for a waiver of the
rule so he could continue as chair.

“Very proud of
that,” Graves says. “Very proud of the fact that they have enough confidence in
me to give me another term as chairman and I’m looking forward to getting the
work done; getting organized and getting our work done.”

That work includes
a new highway bill, Coast Guard reauthorization, a pipeline safety bill, and a
water resources bill.

Graves says there
is a hefty agenda awaiting the committee.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737402814942.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves returns as chair of the House Transportation Committee
in the new Congress.Graves had to get
a waiver from the Republican Caucus to continue as chair, because he has served
the number of terms allowed by Caucus rule. Graves says the committee has much
to do over the next two years, looking at what Graves calls “real”
infrastructure.“That is laying
asphalt, pouring concrete, building bridges,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post. “We’re not going to be looking at green spaces and things like art for
Amtrak stations and bike paths. We’re going to be building real infrastructure
and that’s roads and bridges.”Graves served for
four years as the ranking member of the committee, the longest serving member
from the minority party, until being appointed chairman two years ago. House Republican
Caucus rules limit committee members to six years in leadership, which includes
years as ranking member. The Caucus granted Graves’ request for a waiver of the
rule so he could continue as chair.“Very proud of
that,” Graves says. “Very proud of the fact that they have enough confidence in
me to give me another term as chairman and I’m looking forward to getting the
work done; getting organized and getting our work done.”That work includes
a new highway bill, Coast Guard reauthorization, a pipeline safety bill, and a
water resources bill.Graves says there
is a hefty agenda awaiting the committee.“And there always
is,” Graves says. “We are an authorizing committee, which means we have to
reauthorize all of these programs within the silo of dollars that comes from
the user fees from these various modes of transportation. I like to tell folks that
we’re a work committee. We’re not a show committee. We have a lot of work to
get done and a lot of authorizations. And we did that in the last Congress
under my chairmanship and we’re going to do it this Congress as well.”The new Congress
has been sworn in, ahead of the inauguration of Donald Trump.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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