Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
new Congress has work to do.

Graves, a Republican, says reforming the
country’s immigration policy needs to top the list of priorities for this
Congress.

“That’s going to be one of the very top priorities,
getting the border secure and we still have really no good idea of how many
individuals have been let into this country that are dangerous to citizens and
to the public,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Graves says while immigration reform might top
the list of priorities for the incoming Congress, the federal debt cannot be
far behind. Graves says Congress must slow down what he calls runaway spending
and the start needs to be reforming the process used to create a federal
budget.

“The way budgeting is done in Washington, and
this is completely contrary to everybody else’s, you know, their business’,
their home’s budgets, whatever the case may be, but in Washington, even if
there is an increase in what an agency got the year before, if there’s a decrease
in the increase then it’s considered a cut,” according to Graves. “And that just
simply isn’t the case. If you got more than you got last year before, then your
budget has gone up.”

And Graves says budgets must shrink. He says
Congress should begin by putting an end to mandatory spending.

“So, we’re going to have to take a good, hard
look at the way budgeting is done and take a good, hard look at how we can get
into some of this mandatory spending that gets plugged in, again, no matter
what.”

The Treasury Department reports the federal
deficit in the latest federal fiscal year topped $624 billion. The United
States has a national debt of more than $36 trillion.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736193499890.jpeg" alt="Congressman Sam Graves/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Congressman Sam Graves/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves says the
new Congress has work to do.Graves, a Republican, says reforming the
country’s immigration policy needs to top the list of priorities for this
Congress.“That’s going to be one of the very top priorities,
getting the border secure and we still have really no good idea of how many
individuals have been let into this country that are dangerous to citizens and
to the public,” Graves tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Graves says while immigration reform might top
the list of priorities for the incoming Congress, the federal debt cannot be
far behind. Graves says Congress must slow down what he calls runaway spending
and the start needs to be reforming the process used to create a federal
budget.“The way budgeting is done in Washington, and
this is completely contrary to everybody else’s, you know, their business’,
their home’s budgets, whatever the case may be, but in Washington, even if
there is an increase in what an agency got the year before, if there’s a decrease
in the increase then it’s considered a cut,” according to Graves. “And that just
simply isn’t the case. If you got more than you got last year before, then your
budget has gone up.”And Graves says budgets must shrink. He says
Congress should begin by putting an end to mandatory spending.“So, we’re going to have to take a good, hard
look at the way budgeting is done and take a good, hard look at how we can get
into some of this mandatory spending that gets plugged in, again, no matter
what.”The Treasury Department reports the federal
deficit in the latest federal fiscal year topped $624 billion. The United
States has a national debt of more than $36 trillion.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves:  Congress must tackle border security, budget

Newly elected lawmakers seek exemptions for some businesses as challenge to ballot measure awaits action at the Missouri Supreme Court

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>

BOONVILLE — In 2022, Heather Overstreet moved her growing&nbsp;<a href="https://topdogtrainingmo.com/" target="_blank">dog grooming</a>, training and boarding business into a converted garage.

It was a milestone for a business she started at age 16 by training dogs for friends of her mother. She innovated on the furnishings, refurbishing a bathtub left behind by the previous owner to use for dog washing. She built indoor kennels with room for 12 dogs and fenced 10,000 square feet outdoors to exercise dogs in daycare and overnight boarding.

But future expansion is on hold, Overstreet said, until she understands the impact of voter-approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, which increases the state minimum wage, on her payroll and customers.

“It not only throws off my math, but it just is an entirely new challenge,” Overstreet said.

Under the provisions of Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage rose to&nbsp; $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, up from $12.30 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation.

Along with increasing the minimum wage, Proposition A requires some employers to provide paid sick and family leave starting May 1. Businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more must provide one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.

Overstreet, who is also a member of the City Council in Boonville, with a population of about 8,000, admits she didn’t pay close attention to the details of Proposition A. She expected a more modest increase and had hoped to hold prices steady in 2025. Instead, she will notify customers of a rate hike, she said.

She needs three employees to cover the hours she is open.

Overstreet hires young people, often for their first job, to care for boarded dogs, and starts them at minimum wage. Over the course of a year, the increase will add $3,247 to employer payroll costs for every full-time minimum wage employee — $3,016 for additional wages and $231 for additional Social Security and Medicare taxes

“With minimum wage rising, that’s at least one extra dog that I need per day, which I guess you could say, is no big deal,” Ovestreet said. “But this is a small town, and I’ve only had that shop for two years.”

Proposition A, placed on the ballot via initiative petition,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed in November</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote with support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, and a coalition of more than 500 business owners.

There was no large-scale opposition campaign prior to the election. But a court challenge filed in early December by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">major business advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. And legislation filed in advance of this year’s session seeks to exempt 96% of private employers from the higher minimum wage.

Randy Vines, co-owner&nbsp; of a St. Louis business that also began as a home-based operation and a backer of Proposition A, said he’s sympathetic to Overstreet’s dilemma but argues that more money in the hands of workers helps the economy.

Other costs can squeeze profits as well, said Vines, who founded STL-Style, which makes merchandise themed to St. Louis for retail and wholesale markets, with his brother..

If the price of T-shirts goes up, for example, that has to be part of his pricing, he said.

“We’re kind of at the mercy of what the markets are doing and what the industry is doing in general,” Vines said. “So when costs go up for manufacturers, we have to, you know, pass that on.”

For most of the time since a federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">established in 1938</a>, there was no Missouri law mandating a separate state rate. In 1990, lawmakers extended the minimum wage to all businesses, including those exempt under federal law.

The first ballot measure setting the Missouri rate above the federal requirement passed in 2006. It boosted the state wage&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ipMinimumWage-38" target="_blank">to $6.50 an hour</a>&nbsp;and required future adjustments based on inflation. The federal rate at the time was $5.15 an hour and had not been changed since 1997.

In 2018, when adjustments had increased Missouri’s wage to $7.85 an hour, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2018-204.pdf" target="_blank">passed a proposal</a>&nbsp;boosting the rate in yearly increments until it reached $12 an hour at the start of 2023.

An inflation adjustment set it at $12.30 an hour for 2024. If Proposition A had failed, the inflation-adjusted wage for 2025 would have been $12.65 an hour, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated in a news release.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a rate that has been unchanged since 2009. The highest inflation-adjusted minimum wage was the Feb. 1, 1968, increase to $1.60 an hour, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm" target="_blank">equal to $14.76 an hour</a>.

Prior to November, opponents argued that increasing the minimum wage would&nbsp;<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/minimum-wage/the-moral-high-ground-and-the-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">cause inflation</a>, job losses and slow the state’s economy. Supporters point to research that calls those&nbsp;<a href="https://mobudget.org/raising-missouris-minimum-wage-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/" target="_blank">assumptions into question</a>, noting that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen faster since the start of 2019 than adjoining states that did not boost their minimum wage.

“Working families are the drivers of the economy,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a news release issued Dec. 30. “We are proud to take another step forward in building an economy that works for all.”&nbsp;

As he is leaving office, Gov. Mike Parson made job gains and low unemployment the top two bullet points in a news release listing the accomplishments of his administration, which began in June 2018.

Missouri added nearly 190,000 new jobs, saw more than $17 billion in new business investment and enjoyed unemployment that was as low as 2.1%, the lowest ever recorded, the release stated.

The impact of the increase will be significant for the economy,&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1411" target="_blank">proponents estimated</a>&nbsp;in filings used by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to write the fiscal summary of the proposal. Based on 2022 data, backers said 330,000 Missourians making minimum wage will get a pay raise, and almost 200,000 earning more than the minimum would likely receive raises because their pay is tied to the minimum. Wage costs in 2026 will be about $850 million more than 2022.

Business groups opposed to Proposition A didn’t mount a campaign to defeat it at the polls. Instead, they are asking the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the election invalid, alleging the ballot language was misleading and incomplete.&nbsp;

And instead of ordering a second vote, the challenge seeks to have the initiative proposal tossed completely for combining the minimum wage increase with the requirement for businesses to provide paid sick and family time.

The court refused to hear the case before the increase took effect. Instead, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC100876%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=205121" target="_blank">appointed Cole County Circuit Judge Josh Devine</a>&nbsp;as a commissioner to take evidence in the election challenge and report his findings by Feb. 10.

That could make it possible for the court to rule by the time the sick and family leave provision takes effect May 1.

By that time, there should be clear signals from lawmakers on whether they intend to step in.

A bill filed by State Rep.-elect Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton, would exempt businesses employing almost half of all Missouri workers from the higher minimum wage.

The bill would exempt seasonal businesses or those&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1326H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">employing 50 or fewer workers</a>. The bill would freeze the minimum wage for those businesses at $12.30 an hour.

Vernetti represents the tourist regions around the Lake of the Ozarks, where he owns a small Italian grocery and is a partner in a baseball/softball complex that hosts tournaments and other events.&nbsp;

Under his bill, the grocery would qualify for an exemption as a small business and the ballpark business would be exempt as a seasonal operation.

“I want to pay employees the most that they can possibly make,” Vernetti said. “I just think the market should dictate it.”

According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm#type=16&amp;year=2024&amp;st=29&amp;hlind=10&amp;supp=0" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, Missouri had 231,753 private businesses in the first quarter of 2024. Of that number, 96% had fewer than 50 workers, employing 46% of the private workforce.

The state minimum wage law does not apply to government jobs. But it would have no effect on state government if it did — in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/24/4-6b-spending-bill-heads-to-governor-house-approves-bill-targeting-medicaid-expansion/">agreed to set $15 an hour</a>&nbsp;as the base wage for all state government jobs.&nbsp;

As a freshman, Vernetti said he knows he will have difficulty getting action on his bill. But he said he’s encouraged by the reaction from other new lawmakers he met on the freshman tour and hopes to get a committee seat that will allow him to push for it.

Proposition A passed overwhelmingly in high-population counties and failed in 79 of 94 counties where fewer than 25,000 votes were cast. That highlights the cultural and economic differences between urban and rural areas, Vernetti said.

“You couldn’t get a person in, say, St Louis city, to look for a job that’s even close to the minimum wage,” Vernetti said. “But in a lot of rural Missouri, those are important jobs. If it continues to increase, businesses are going to have no choice but to cut lower paying jobs altogether.”

A bill with a smaller impact, filed by State Rep.-elect Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would rollback the minimum for&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1457H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">workers younger than 20</a>. The minimum for those workers would be $12.30 per hour.

No bills changing the provisions of Proposition A have been filed in the state Senate.

Attempting to rollback the increase is short-sighted, Vines said. His business pays above minimum wage and has low job turnover even though most workers are part-time employees.

“If you’re at the point where you either have to pay everyone minimum wage and survive barely, or go under paying a little more than minimum wage, your business probably isn’t on stable footing anyway,” he said.

Overstreet, however, said she’s worried that customers will look for other options if she raises prices.

“Dogs are a luxury. They’re not a necessity,” Overstreet said. “I’ve had people leave already because they think I’m expensive.”

Boarding a dog overnight with Overstreet at Top Dog Training costs $40. Daycare costs $30. In much larger Columbia, about 25 miles east of Boonville, overnight boarding can be found starting at $55 and doggy daycare starts at about $40 per day.

“It’s good for them, the people receiving the minimum wage increase,” she said. “But like everything else you do, the rest of us are going to have to raise our prices on services or goods, essential or non-essential, luxury or not.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249314371.jpeg" alt=" Heather Overstreet, owner of Top Dog Training in Boonville, explains the impact of a higher minimum wage on her small business. Her business includes a 10,000 square foot outdoor area to exercise dogs. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> Heather Overstreet, owner of Top Dog Training in Boonville, explains the impact of a higher minimum wage on her small business. Her business includes a 10,000 square foot outdoor area to exercise dogs. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Newly elected lawmakers seek exemptions for some businesses as challenge to ballot measure awaits action at the Missouri Supreme Court</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>BOONVILLE — In 2022, Heather Overstreet moved her growing&nbsp;<a href="https://topdogtrainingmo.com/" target="_blank">dog grooming</a>, training and boarding business into a converted garage.It was a milestone for a business she started at age 16 by training dogs for friends of her mother. She innovated on the furnishings, refurbishing a bathtub left behind by the previous owner to use for dog washing. She built indoor kennels with room for 12 dogs and fenced 10,000 square feet outdoors to exercise dogs in daycare and overnight boarding.But future expansion is on hold, Overstreet said, until she understands the impact of voter-approved&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2024-038.pdf" target="_blank">Proposition A</a>, which increases the state minimum wage, on her payroll and customers.“It not only throws off my math, but it just is an entirely new challenge,” Overstreet said.Under the provisions of Proposition A, Missouri’s minimum wage rose to&nbsp; $13.75 an hour on Jan. 1, up from $12.30 an hour. It will increase again to $15 an hour on Jan. 1, 2026, with future adjustments tied to inflation.Along with increasing the minimum wage, Proposition A requires some employers to provide paid sick and family leave starting May 1. Businesses with revenue of $500,000 or more must provide one hour for every 30 hours worked, up to five days per year for businesses with fewer than 15 employees and seven days per year for larger businesses.Overstreet, who is also a member of the City Council in Boonville, with a population of about 8,000, admits she didn’t pay close attention to the details of Proposition A. She expected a more modest increase and had hoped to hold prices steady in 2025. Instead, she will notify customers of a rate hike, she said.She needs three employees to cover the hours she is open.Overstreet hires young people, often for their first job, to care for boarded dogs, and starts them at minimum wage. Over the course of a year, the increase will add $3,247 to employer payroll costs for every full-time minimum wage employee — $3,016 for additional wages and $231 for additional Social Security and Medicare taxes“With minimum wage rising, that’s at least one extra dog that I need per day, which I guess you could say, is no big deal,” Ovestreet said. “But this is a small town, and I’ve only had that shop for two years.”Proposition A, placed on the ballot via initiative petition,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed in November</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote with support from unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, and a coalition of more than 500 business owners.There was no large-scale opposition campaign prior to the election. But a court challenge filed in early December by&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">major business advocacy groups</a>&nbsp;asks the Missouri Supreme Court to invalidate the vote. And legislation filed in advance of this year’s session seeks to exempt 96% of private employers from the higher minimum wage.Randy Vines, co-owner&nbsp; of a St. Louis business that also began as a home-based operation and a backer of Proposition A, said he’s sympathetic to Overstreet’s dilemma but argues that more money in the hands of workers helps the economy.Other costs can squeeze profits as well, said Vines, who founded STL-Style, which makes merchandise themed to St. Louis for retail and wholesale markets, with his brother..If the price of T-shirts goes up, for example, that has to be part of his pricing, he said.“We’re kind of at the mercy of what the markets are doing and what the industry is doing in general,” Vines said. “So when costs go up for manufacturers, we have to, you know, pass that on.”<h2>Minimum wage history</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249258784.png" alt=" Jeff Vines, left. and Randy Vines in their STL-Style store on Cherokee Street in St. Louis. The Vines see the minimum wage increase as a boost for their business (Submitted photo)." />
 <figcaption> Jeff Vines, left. and Randy Vines in their STL-Style store on Cherokee Street in St. Louis. The Vines see the minimum wage increase as a boost for their business (Submitted photo).</figcaption>
 </figure>For most of the time since a federal minimum wage of 25 cents an hour was&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/history/chart" target="_blank">established in 1938</a>, there was no Missouri law mandating a separate state rate. In 1990, lawmakers extended the minimum wage to all businesses, including those exempt under federal law.The first ballot measure setting the Missouri rate above the federal requirement passed in 2006. It boosted the state wage&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/elections/2006petitions/ipMinimumWage-38" target="_blank">to $6.50 an hour</a>&nbsp;and required future adjustments based on inflation. The federal rate at the time was $5.15 an hour and had not been changed since 1997.In 2018, when adjustments had increased Missouri’s wage to $7.85 an hour, voters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/Elections/Petitions/2018-204.pdf" target="_blank">passed a proposal</a>&nbsp;boosting the rate in yearly increments until it reached $12 an hour at the start of 2023.An inflation adjustment set it at $12.30 an hour for 2024. If Proposition A had failed, the inflation-adjusted wage for 2025 would have been $12.65 an hour, the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations stated in a news release.The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, a rate that has been unchanged since 2009. The highest inflation-adjusted minimum wage was the Feb. 1, 1968, increase to $1.60 an hour, which is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm" target="_blank">equal to $14.76 an hour</a>.Prior to November, opponents argued that increasing the minimum wage would&nbsp;<a href="https://showmeinstitute.org/blog/minimum-wage/the-moral-high-ground-and-the-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">cause inflation</a>, job losses and slow the state’s economy. Supporters point to research that calls those&nbsp;<a href="https://mobudget.org/raising-missouris-minimum-wage-is-good-for-workers-and-the-economy/" target="_blank">assumptions into question</a>, noting that the state’s unemployment rate has fallen faster since the start of 2019 than adjoining states that did not boost their minimum wage.“Working families are the drivers of the economy,” Caitlyn Adams, executive director of Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, said in a news release issued Dec. 30. “We are proud to take another step forward in building an economy that works for all.”&nbsp;As he is leaving office, Gov. Mike Parson made job gains and low unemployment the top two bullet points in a news release listing the accomplishments of his administration, which began in June 2018.Missouri added nearly 190,000 new jobs, saw more than $17 billion in new business investment and enjoyed unemployment that was as low as 2.1%, the lowest ever recorded, the release stated.The impact of the increase will be significant for the economy,&nbsp;<a href="https://auditor.mo.gov/FiscalNote/ViewFiscalNoteFile/1411" target="_blank">proponents estimated</a>&nbsp;in filings used by State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick to write the fiscal summary of the proposal. Based on 2022 data, backers said 330,000 Missourians making minimum wage will get a pay raise, and almost 200,000 earning more than the minimum would likely receive raises because their pay is tied to the minimum. Wage costs in 2026 will be about $850 million more than 2022.<h2>Rollback efforts</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249217936.png" alt="Heather Overstreet stands next to the tub she refurbished for washing dogs at Top Dog Training in Boonville. She is worried about the impact of the minimum wage increase on her dog boarding business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Heather Overstreet stands next to the tub she refurbished for washing dogs at Top Dog Training in Boonville. She is worried about the impact of the minimum wage increase on her dog boarding business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Business groups opposed to Proposition A didn’t mount a campaign to defeat it at the polls. Instead, they are asking the Missouri Supreme Court to declare the election invalid, alleging the ballot language was misleading and incomplete.&nbsp;And instead of ordering a second vote, the challenge seeks to have the initiative proposal tossed completely for combining the minimum wage increase with the requirement for businesses to provide paid sick and family time.The court refused to hear the case before the increase took effect. Instead, the court&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/SC100876%20ORDER_FINAL.pdf?courtCode=SC&amp;di=205121" target="_blank">appointed Cole County Circuit Judge Josh Devine</a>&nbsp;as a commissioner to take evidence in the election challenge and report his findings by Feb. 10.That could make it possible for the court to rule by the time the sick and family leave provision takes effect May 1.By that time, there should be clear signals from lawmakers on whether they intend to step in.A bill filed by State Rep.-elect Jeff Vernetti, a Republican from Camdenton, would exempt businesses employing almost half of all Missouri workers from the higher minimum wage.The bill would exempt seasonal businesses or those&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1326H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">employing 50 or fewer workers</a>. The bill would freeze the minimum wage for those businesses at $12.30 an hour.Vernetti represents the tourist regions around the Lake of the Ozarks, where he owns a small Italian grocery and is a partner in a baseball/softball complex that hosts tournaments and other events.&nbsp;Under his bill, the grocery would qualify for an exemption as a small business and the ballpark business would be exempt as a seasonal operation.“I want to pay employees the most that they can possibly make,” Vernetti said. “I just think the market should dictate it.”According to the&nbsp;<a href="https://data.bls.gov/cew/apps/table_maker/v4/table_maker.htm#type=16&amp;year=2024&amp;st=29&amp;hlind=10&amp;supp=0" target="_blank">Bureau of Labor Statistics</a>, Missouri had 231,753 private businesses in the first quarter of 2024. Of that number, 96% had fewer than 50 workers, employing 46% of the private workforce.The state minimum wage law does not apply to government jobs. But it would have no effect on state government if it did — in 2022, lawmakers&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/02/24/4-6b-spending-bill-heads-to-governor-house-approves-bill-targeting-medicaid-expansion/">agreed to set $15 an hour</a>&nbsp;as the base wage for all state government jobs.&nbsp;As a freshman, Vernetti said he knows he will have difficulty getting action on his bill. But he said he’s encouraged by the reaction from other new lawmakers he met on the freshman tour and hopes to get a committee seat that will allow him to push for it.Proposition A passed overwhelmingly in high-population counties and failed in 79 of 94 counties where fewer than 25,000 votes were cast. That highlights the cultural and economic differences between urban and rural areas, Vernetti said.“You couldn’t get a person in, say, St Louis city, to look for a job that’s even close to the minimum wage,” Vernetti said. “But in a lot of rural Missouri, those are important jobs. If it continues to increase, businesses are going to have no choice but to cut lower paying jobs altogether.”A bill with a smaller impact, filed by State Rep.-elect Carolyn Caton, a Republican from Blue Springs, would rollback the minimum for&nbsp;<a href="https://documents.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills251/hlrbillspdf/1457H.01I.pdf" target="_blank">workers younger than 20</a>. The minimum for those workers would be $12.30 per hour.No bills changing the provisions of Proposition A have been filed in the state Senate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736249161353.png" alt=" Top Dog Training in Boonville, where Heather Overstreet is worried a minimum wage increase will delay plans to expand the converted garage that houses her business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Top Dog Training in Boonville, where Heather Overstreet is worried a minimum wage increase will delay plans to expand the converted garage that houses her business (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Attempting to rollback the increase is short-sighted, Vines said. His business pays above minimum wage and has low job turnover even though most workers are part-time employees.“If you’re at the point where you either have to pay everyone minimum wage and survive barely, or go under paying a little more than minimum wage, your business probably isn’t on stable footing anyway,” he said.Overstreet, however, said she’s worried that customers will look for other options if she raises prices.“Dogs are a luxury. They’re not a necessity,” Overstreet said. “I’ve had people leave already because they think I’m expensive.”Boarding a dog overnight with Overstreet at Top Dog Training costs $40. Daycare costs $30. In much larger Columbia, about 25 miles east of Boonville, overnight boarding can be found starting at $55 and doggy daycare starts at about $40 per day.“It’s good for them, the people receiving the minimum wage increase,” she said. “But like everything else you do, the rest of us are going to have to raise our prices on services or goods, essential or non-essential, luxury or not.”

The battle over Missouri’s minimum wage didn’t end with November vote

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.

Click <a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for area cancelations due to the lingering winter weather.

Winter weather cancelations

St. Joseph street crews are busy pushing snow and clearing
streets for travel.

St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says conditions are
improving.

“Still, a lot of snow out,” Luster says during a call to the
KFEQ Hotline. “A lot of snow to deal with and now some freezing temperatures
which makes everything harder. Slow going, but the main thoroughfares, you can
travel on them.”

The side streets are hit and miss. Many haven’t been touched,
yet.

The blizzard conditions on Sunday caused vehicles to be
stranded on the Belt Highway. Several had to be removed before street crews
could plow the Belt.

“At one point, we were just tremendously backed up on stranded
motorists and slide offs where we were trying to get crews available to send to
them, but there were some moments there during the day yesterday that it got
really busy with those types of calls and motorists that needed help,” Luster
says.

Luster says, if drivers are careful, they should be able to
make it even as city crews continue to work to clear streets.

“Obviously, we’re not down to bare pavement yet, but they’re
working hard to get us that way.” 

Luster says to prepare before you travel. If you have to get
out, give yourself more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of
distance between vehicles.

St. Joseph got as much as 10 inches of snow during the
blizzard that began late Saturday night and extended into Monday morning.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph street crews are busy pushing snow and clearing
streets for travel.St. Joseph Police Chief Paul Luster says conditions are
improving.“Still, a lot of snow out,” Luster says during a call to the
KFEQ Hotline. “A lot of snow to deal with and now some freezing temperatures
which makes everything harder. Slow going, but the main thoroughfares, you can
travel on them.”The side streets are hit and miss. Many haven’t been touched,
yet.The blizzard conditions on Sunday caused vehicles to be
stranded on the Belt Highway. Several had to be removed before street crews
could plow the Belt.“At one point, we were just tremendously backed up on stranded
motorists and slide offs where we were trying to get crews available to send to
them, but there were some moments there during the day yesterday that it got
really busy with those types of calls and motorists that needed help,” Luster
says.Luster says, if drivers are careful, they should be able to
make it even as city crews continue to work to clear streets.“Obviously, we’re not down to bare pavement yet, but they’re
working hard to get us that way.” Luster says to prepare before you travel. If you have to get
out, give yourself more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of
distance between vehicles.St. Joseph got as much as 10 inches of snow during the
blizzard that began late Saturday night and extended into Monday morning.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph streets improving in wake of brutal winter storm

Blizzard conditions forced the closing of Interstate 29 in
northwest Missouri from early Sunday morning until Monday morning.

Sergeant Shane Hux, spokesman for Missouri State Highway Patrol
Troop H in northwest Missouri, says as the winter weather wore on, the patrol
decided to close I-29 from north of St. Joseph to Rock Port.

“The roadway conditions were treacherous. I mean, it was not
safe for travel. So that’s why we strived to get the word out there,” Hux tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We were inundated with calls for service. We had
stranded motorists. Matter of fact, the First Christian Church here in Mound
City had to open an emergency shelter just for a place for troopers to
transport people to for safety.”

The patrol closed I-29, both northbound and southbound lanes,
from mile marker 56 north of St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile market 110 near
Rock Port in Atchison County at 5:30 Sunday evening due to deteriorating
driving conditions. It reopened early Monday morning.

Hux, who has been with the patrol for nearly 25 years, says
the conditions were as bad as he can ever remember.

“And we had hills, like for example, on Interstate 29
southbound at the 79 mile marker, they call that Squaw Creek Hill. Semis could
not get up that hill due to the slick conditions,” according to Hux. “Traffic
was backed up there approximately 6 ½ hours until we could get them through and
(it) wreaked havoc getting MoDOT trucks up in there so they could treat that
hill to give those vehicles traction to get up there.”

If you have to get out today, Hux advises you to give yourself
more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of distance between vehicles.

The Missouri Department of Transportation reports much of I-29
remains snow covered, though the sunshine today is helping clear the pavement
of snow. MoDOT asks motorists to limit travel on the instate while crews work
to remove vehicles that became stranded during the blizzard.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736190693116.jpeg" alt="Stranded truck on I-29 in northwest Missouri/Photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Stranded truck on I-29 in northwest Missouri/Photo courtesy of Missouri State Highway Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBlizzard conditions forced the closing of Interstate 29 in
northwest Missouri from early Sunday morning until Monday morning.Sergeant Shane Hux, spokesman for Missouri State Highway Patrol
Troop H in northwest Missouri, says as the winter weather wore on, the patrol
decided to close I-29 from north of St. Joseph to Rock Port.“The roadway conditions were treacherous. I mean, it was not
safe for travel. So that’s why we strived to get the word out there,” Hux tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “We were inundated with calls for service. We had
stranded motorists. Matter of fact, the First Christian Church here in Mound
City had to open an emergency shelter just for a place for troopers to
transport people to for safety.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1736190762099.jpeg" alt="1st Christian Church of Mound City opened Sunday as an emergency shelter for stranded motorists/Photo courtesy of MSHP" />
 <figcaption>1st Christian Church of Mound City opened Sunday as an emergency shelter for stranded motorists/Photo courtesy of MSHP</figcaption>
 </figure>The patrol closed I-29, both northbound and southbound lanes,
from mile marker 56 north of St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile market 110 near
Rock Port in Atchison County at 5:30 Sunday evening due to deteriorating
driving conditions. It reopened early Monday morning.Hux, who has been with the patrol for nearly 25 years, says
the conditions were as bad as he can ever remember.“And we had hills, like for example, on Interstate 29
southbound at the 79 mile marker, they call that Squaw Creek Hill. Semis could
not get up that hill due to the slick conditions,” according to Hux. “Traffic
was backed up there approximately 6 ½ hours until we could get them through and
(it) wreaked havoc getting MoDOT trucks up in there so they could treat that
hill to give those vehicles traction to get up there.”If you have to get out today, Hux advises you to give yourself
more time than usual, slow down, and leave plenty of distance between vehicles.The Missouri Department of Transportation reports much of I-29
remains snow covered, though the sunshine today is helping clear the pavement
of snow. MoDOT asks motorists to limit travel on the instate while crews work
to remove vehicles that became stranded during the blizzard.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

I-29, closed during blizzard, reopens as MoDOT clears stranded cars

The St. Joseph City Council will vote to approve the contract for new City Manager Mike Schumacher during this (Mon.) evening's council session. 

Schumacher, who most recently served as the Lebanon City Administrator, was chosen from a field of 26 applicants, and emerged as the choice out of four finalists.  

District Four Councilmember Michael Grimm says one thing he learned during interviews with Schumacher, is that Schumacher revealed initially he wasn't even looking for a job 

"But he said when I saw this, my wife and I came up and she loved St. Joe, and I did too, so he said I went ahead and applied for it and if you hire me you hire me, and if you don’t I go back to Lebanon” Grimm tells KFEQ Hotline Host Barry Birr.   

 Grimm says this hiring has the opportunity to be the legacy for this current council 

"Because what we do here is hopefully going to last really far into the future with Mike,” Grimm explains.  “So, this could well be the one thing we did that people will remember us for.” 

Schumacher will be paid $190,000 annually.  If the contract is approved, he will begin work on January 21st.  Though City Hall is closed today, the council will still meet at 5:30 tonight. 

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

The St. Joseph City Council will vote to approve the contract for new City Manager Mike Schumacher during this (Mon.) evening's council session. Schumacher, who most recently served as the Lebanon City Administrator, was chosen from a field of 26 applicants, and emerged as the choice out of four finalists. District Four Councilmember Michael Grimm says one thing he learned during interviews with Schumacher, is that Schumacher revealed initially he wasn't even looking for a job "But he said when I saw this, my wife and I came up and she loved St. Joe, and I did too, so he said I went ahead and applied for it and if you hire me you hire me, and if you don’t I go back to Lebanon” Grimm tells KFEQ Hotline Host Barry Birr. Grimm says this hiring has the opportunity to be the legacy for this current council "Because what we do here is hopefully going to last really far into the future with Mike,” Grimm explains. “So, this could well be the one thing we did that people will remember us for.” Schumacher will be paid $190,000 annually. If the contract is approved, he will begin work on January 21st. Though City Hall is closed today, the council will still meet at 5:30 tonight. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph City Council set to vote to approve Mike Schumacher as new city manager

Blizzard conditions have moved out of the area. Bitterly cold
temperatures have moved in.

The winter storm nearly paralyzed the Midland Empire, dumping
anywhere from 10 to 12 inches of snow or more on the area. Winds with gusts of
more than 30 miles per hour made visibility difficult at best.

Interstate 29 has reopened after the conditions forced its
closure early Sunday evening into the overnight hours. The Missouri State
Highway Patrol closed I-29 at 5:30 Sunday evening from mile marker 56 north of
St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile marker 110 near Rock Port as travel
conditions deteriorated.

It now has re-opened, both northbound and southbound lanes.

The Missouri Department of Transportation encourages motorists
to avoid traveling today as crews work to clear the roadways across the state.

Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster on
Sunday afternoon as the winter storm grew fierce and travel conditions grew
worse. The governor urged Kansans to stay off the roads.

The National Weather Service forecast mostly sunny skies today
with a high of only 18 today. Wind chills will be between minus-3 to minus-12.

Partly cloudy tonight with a low of minus-1.

The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook for our area.

Bitterly cold this morning throughout northeast Kansas and northwest
Missouri as well as into southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

It is not going to top 20 in our area until Thursday, when the
high is forecast to be 25. We could see a high of 31 on Friday.

Several closures, including St. Joseph schools, today. Click
<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for a full list.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostBlizzard conditions have moved out of the area. Bitterly cold
temperatures have moved in.The winter storm nearly paralyzed the Midland Empire, dumping
anywhere from 10 to 12 inches of snow or more on the area. Winds with gusts of
more than 30 miles per hour made visibility difficult at best.Interstate 29 has reopened after the conditions forced its
closure early Sunday evening into the overnight hours. The Missouri State
Highway Patrol closed I-29 at 5:30 Sunday evening from mile marker 56 north of
St. Joseph in Andrew County to mile marker 110 near Rock Port as travel
conditions deteriorated.It now has re-opened, both northbound and southbound lanes.The Missouri Department of Transportation encourages motorists
to avoid traveling today as crews work to clear the roadways across the state.Kansas Governor Laura Kelly issued a state of disaster on
Sunday afternoon as the winter storm grew fierce and travel conditions grew
worse. The governor urged Kansans to stay off the roads.The National Weather Service forecast mostly sunny skies today
with a high of only 18 today. Wind chills will be between minus-3 to minus-12.Partly cloudy tonight with a low of minus-1.Sunny, 19, tomorrow.The NWS has issued a hazardous weather outlook for our area.Bitterly cold this morning throughout northeast Kansas and northwest
Missouri as well as into southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.It is not going to top 20 in our area until Thursday, when the
high is forecast to be 25. We could see a high of 31 on Friday.Several closures, including St. Joseph schools, today. Click
<a href="https://www.680kfeq.com/closing/#!/">HERE</a> for a full list.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Area recovering from brutal winter storm; I-29 in NW Missouri reopens

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

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

Troopers continue assisting motorists on Interstate 29 in NW Missouri.

 MODOT is attempting to clear snow-packed roads. Small towns like Mound City have become parking lots for those who made it off the highway. Monday will not be a good travel day. Stay home if possible!

Troopers continue assisting motorists on Interstate 29 in NW Missouri.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">3:45 AM Update! Troopers continue assisting motorists on I-29 in NW Missouri. MODOT is attempting to clear snow-packed roads. Small towns like Mound City have become parking lots for those who made it off the highway. Tomorrow will not be a good travel day. Stay home if possible! <a href="https://t.co/Ku0HpxjwID">pic.twitter.com/Ku0HpxjwID</a>&mdash; MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperH/status/1876203429150015732?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div> MODOT is attempting to clear snow-packed roads. Small towns like Mound City have become parking lots for those who made it off the highway. Monday will not be a good travel day. Stay home if possible!

MODOT continues to clear snow-packed roads in NW Missouri

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Sunday in Daviess County,

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kenworth semi driven by a 62-year-old Berwick, Iowa man was southbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of Pattonsburg.

The semi rear-ended a 2024 Volvo semi driven by a 23-year-old New Britain, Connecticut man. After impact the Kenworth traveled off the road and jackknifed. NTA ambulance transported the Iowa driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. There were no other injuries. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

DAVIESS COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Sunday in Daviess County,The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Kenworth semi driven by a 62-year-old Berwick, Iowa man was southbound on Interstate 35 two miles north of Pattonsburg.The semi rear-ended a 2024 Volvo semi driven by a 23-year-old New Britain, Connecticut man. After impact the Kenworth traveled off the road and jackknifed. NTA ambulance transported the Iowa driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. There were no other injuries. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver injured after Davies County rear-end crash

HOLT COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Peterbilt 379 was parked on the east shoulder of northbound Interstate 29 in Mound City.

The truck became a downhill runaway and struck a 33-year-old pedestrian from Neligh, Nebraska.&nbsp; The truck continued off the east side of the road and the trailer struck a light pole.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.

HOLT COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 12:30p.m. Saturday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1999 Peterbilt 379 was parked on the east shoulder of northbound Interstate 29 in Mound City.The truck became a downhill runaway and struck a 33-year-old pedestrian from Neligh, Nebraska.&nbsp; The truck continued off the east side of the road and the trailer struck a light pole.&nbsp; The pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.The MSHP released no additional details.

Runaway semi strikes and kills pedestrian on Missouri highway

GRUNDY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:4p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.

The MSHP reported a 2020 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 53-year-old McFall man was eastbound on NE 37th Street seven miles northeast of Trenton.&nbsp;

The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The pickup traveled off the east side of the road into a ditxh and overturned.

Grundy County EMS transported the driver to Wright Memorial Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

GRUNDY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:4p.m. Saturday in Grundy County.The MSHP reported a 2020 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 53-year-old McFall man was eastbound on NE 37th Street seven miles northeast of Trenton.&nbsp;The driver failed to negotiate a curve in the road. The pickup traveled off the east side of the road into a ditxh and overturned.Grundy County EMS transported the driver to Wright Memorial Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man injured after pickup overturns

CLINTON COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Explorer driven by a 27-year-old Excelsior Springs woman was westbound on Route PP two miles east of Holt.&nbsp; The driver lost control on the ice covered road. The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, struck a ditch and came to rest on its top.

EMS transported the driver, a 26-year-old male passenger and a 7-year-old male passenger to Liberty Hospital. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.&nbsp;

CLINTON COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Explorer driven by a 27-year-old Excelsior Springs woman was westbound on Route PP two miles east of Holt.&nbsp; The driver lost control on the ice covered road. The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, struck a ditch and came to rest on its top.EMS transported the driver, a 26-year-old male passenger and a 7-year-old male passenger to Liberty Hospital. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage details.&nbsp;

2 adults, child hospitalized after SUV overturns on the ice

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Storm Warning for the Midland Empire.

The Weather Service updated its forecast, Saturday afternoon, posting a blizzard warning from three o'clock Sunday morning until three o'clock Monday morning.

This warning which covers northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa begins at noon today and runs through three o'clock Monday morning.

Meteorologists with the NWS forecast heavy mixed precipitation with total snow and sleet
  accumulations between 7 and 14 inches and ice accumulations up to
  one tenth of an inch. Winds will gust up to 40 miles per hour. The conditions will make travel very difficult to impossible.&nbsp; The NWS expects widespread blowing snow to significantly reduce visibility.

&nbsp;If you must travel, the NWS advises to keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions in Kansas can be obtained by calling 5 1
1 and in Missouri by visiting <a href="https://traveler.modot.org/map/index.html">traveler.modot.org</a>.&nbsp;

The forecast for the greater St. Joseph area calls for a chance of snow and freezing rain, mostly late this afternoon. It will be cloudy with a high of 26.

The winter storm truly moves in overnight with NWS forecasting snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain, early in the evening into the overnight hours. The overnight low is expected to drop to 16 degrees.

Snowfall is expected to be heavy on Sunday with a high of 19. Wind chills will hover between -1 and -4. It will be blustery with northeasterly winds of around 21 mph and gusts of up to 37 mph. The NWS expects snow accumulations on Sunday to range from 7 to 11 inches.

This storm will leave bitterly cold temperatures in its wake. The NWS expects the storm to clear out by Monday morning with sunny skies and a high of 14 on Monday.

This story has been updated since first posted.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Storm Warning for the Midland Empire.The Weather Service updated its forecast, Saturday afternoon, posting a blizzard warning from three o'clock Sunday morning until three o'clock Monday morning.This warning which covers northeast Kansas, northwest Missouri, southeast Nebraska, and southwest Iowa begins at noon today and runs through three o'clock Monday morning.Meteorologists with the NWS forecast heavy mixed precipitation with total snow and sleet
 accumulations between 7 and 14 inches and ice accumulations up to
 one tenth of an inch. Winds will gust up to 40 miles per hour. The conditions will make travel very difficult to impossible.&nbsp; The NWS expects widespread blowing snow to significantly reduce visibility.&nbsp;If you must travel, the NWS advises to keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in
your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions in Kansas can be obtained by calling 5 1
1 and in Missouri by visiting <a href="https://traveler.modot.org/map/index.html">traveler.modot.org</a>.&nbsp;The forecast for the greater St. Joseph area calls for a chance of snow and freezing rain, mostly late this afternoon. It will be cloudy with a high of 26.The winter storm truly moves in overnight with NWS forecasting snow, possibly mixed with freezing rain, early in the evening into the overnight hours. The overnight low is expected to drop to 16 degrees.Snowfall is expected to be heavy on Sunday with a high of 19. Wind chills will hover between -1 and -4. It will be blustery with northeasterly winds of around 21 mph and gusts of up to 37 mph. The NWS expects snow accumulations on Sunday to range from 7 to 11 inches.This storm will leave bitterly cold temperatures in its wake. The NWS expects the storm to clear out by Monday morning with sunny skies and a high of 14 on Monday.This story has been updated since first posted.

NWS issues Winter Weather Storm Warning; blizzard warning added

BUCHANAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Pontiac G5 driven by a 17-year-old from Plattsburg was northbound on U.S. 169 at SE Schwader five miles north of Gower.

The driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top.

Tri-County ambulance transported the teen to Mosaic. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 6:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Pontiac G5 driven by a 17-year-old from Plattsburg was northbound on U.S. 169 at SE Schwader five miles north of Gower.The driver overcorrected. The car traveled off the east side of the road, struck an embankment and rolled onto its top.Tri-County ambulance transported the teen to Mosaic. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Teen hospitalized after rollover accident

CLINTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Peterbilt trash truck driven by a 42-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on Route A four miles southeast of Cameron.

The driver swerved off the south side of the road to avoid a westbound grain truck that crossed the center line. The trash truck driver then overcorrected. The trash truck traveled off the road, returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the north side of the road and overturned.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Cameron Ambulance transported a 50-year-old passenger from Maysville to Mosaic in St.&nbsp; Joseph.

CLINTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 3p.m. Friday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Peterbilt trash truck driven by a 42-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on Route A four miles southeast of Cameron.The driver swerved off the south side of the road to avoid a westbound grain truck that crossed the center line. The trash truck driver then overcorrected. The trash truck traveled off the road, returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the north side of the road and overturned.A private vehicle transported the driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. Cameron Ambulance transported a 50-year-old passenger from Maysville to Mosaic in St.&nbsp; Joseph.

Trash truck driver from St. Joe injured in crash

Congressman-elect Derek Schmidt will be sworn in today as the
next United States Representative of the Second Congressional District of
Kansas.

Schmidt, a Republican, says though Republicans have had some
friction within its caucus in the United States House, he believes they will
ultimately come together.

“I do think there is a nearly universal sense among House
Republicans that the voters in this country have entrusted us with a special
moment in time and that this moment will not last forever,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “It may not last very long. This is the time we have to find a way
to get to ‘Yes’ and make progress on some of these big problems and serious
problems facing our country.”

Schmidt says the big issues facing the Congress are reforming
the immigration system, securing the southern border, and reducing federal
spending.

Schmidt, the former Kansas Attorney General, succeeds fellow
Republican Jake LaTurner who decided not to run for re-election.

Schmidt says he has several goals as he begins his
Congressional career, but truly representing the district tops the list.

“Well, certainly I want to be an effective advocate for the
people in the Second District of Kansas each and every day and that’s on
matters great and small. It’s not just the headline grabbing issues of
advocating on a piece of legislation or a vote, although certainly we’ll do
that,” Schmidt says. “It’s also being an effective advocate in terms of
constituent service, being a presence around the district, making sure I
understand the needs, dynamics, and hopes of people all over the district.”

Schmidt says a big challenge for him and fellow Republicans is,
as he puts it, clearing out the underbrush of the federal bureaucracy.

“Just a huge amount, nearly all of the consequential decisions
in Washington, are made by people that nobody ever voted for,” according to
Schmidt. “And I think we’ve let that get out of kilter. You have to have some
of that, but we have far, far too much and I would like to be part of paring
back the bureaucracy and returning control and accountability for public decisions
to people who run for office, put their names on the line, and are accountable
to Kansans.”

For the first time since 2019, Republicans control both
chambers of federal government, both the House and the Senate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735997578049.png" alt="Ceremonial swearing in for Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derick Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>Ceremonial swearing in for Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derick Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCongressman-elect Derek Schmidt will be sworn in today as the
next United States Representative of the Second Congressional District of
Kansas.Schmidt, a Republican, says though Republicans have had some
friction within its caucus in the United States House, he believes they will
ultimately come together.“I do think there is a nearly universal sense among House
Republicans that the voters in this country have entrusted us with a special
moment in time and that this moment will not last forever,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “It may not last very long. This is the time we have to find a way
to get to ‘Yes’ and make progress on some of these big problems and serious
problems facing our country.”Schmidt says the big issues facing the Congress are reforming
the immigration system, securing the southern border, and reducing federal
spending.Schmidt, the former Kansas Attorney General, succeeds fellow
Republican Jake LaTurner who decided not to run for re-election.Schmidt says he has several goals as he begins his
Congressional career, but truly representing the district tops the list.“Well, certainly I want to be an effective advocate for the
people in the Second District of Kansas each and every day and that’s on
matters great and small. It’s not just the headline grabbing issues of
advocating on a piece of legislation or a vote, although certainly we’ll do
that,” Schmidt says. “It’s also being an effective advocate in terms of
constituent service, being a presence around the district, making sure I
understand the needs, dynamics, and hopes of people all over the district.”Schmidt says a big challenge for him and fellow Republicans is,
as he puts it, clearing out the underbrush of the federal bureaucracy.“Just a huge amount, nearly all of the consequential decisions
in Washington, are made by people that nobody ever voted for,” according to
Schmidt. “And I think we’ve let that get out of kilter. You have to have some
of that, but we have far, far too much and I would like to be part of paring
back the bureaucracy and returning control and accountability for public decisions
to people who run for office, put their names on the line, and are accountable
to Kansans.”For the first time since 2019, Republicans control both
chambers of federal government, both the House and the Senate.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Derek Schmidt prepares to represent 2nd Congressional District of Kansas

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Sentra driven by a 34-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on Powell at 9th Street in St. Joseph.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and traveled into the path of a&nbsp; southbound 2007 Saturn Ion driven by a 22-year-old St. Joseph woman.&nbsp; The Saturn struck drivers side of the Nissan. After impact the Nissan rotated clockwise, traveled off the road and struck a sign.

Buchanan County EMS transported the 22-year-old driver to Mosaic Life Care. A private vehicle transported the 34-year-old to Mosaic.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Nissan Sentra driven by a 34-year-old St. Joseph man was eastbound on Powell at 9th Street in St. Joseph.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and traveled into the path of a&nbsp; southbound 2007 Saturn Ion driven by a 22-year-old St. Joseph woman.&nbsp; The Saturn struck drivers side of the Nissan. After impact the Nissan rotated clockwise, traveled off the road and struck a sign.Buchanan County EMS transported the 22-year-old driver to Mosaic Life Care. A private vehicle transported the 34-year-old to Mosaic.&nbsp; Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

2 from St. Joe hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash

2nd District congressman to be lone former state attorney general in U.S. House

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

TOPEKA — U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt was persuaded by coffee shop chatter and November exit polling that voters were motivated in 2024 by a desire to elect politicians who could effectively do the basic work of governing.

“It wasn’t so much that folks want this or that,” Schmidt said. “It’s that they want something to happen, to show motion, which they then can judge as to whether it’s progress or not. That’s consistent with … a lot of the coffee-shop talk around the 2nd District.”

On the Kansas Reflector podcast, Schmidt said it was safe to assume the clock on the GOP would start ticking in January as soon as Republicans regained the White House with President-elect Donald Trump and assumed leadership of the U.S. Senate in addition to the U.S. House. It was reasonable to think that window of opportunity for an all-GOP D.C. could close with elections in 2026.

“We don’t have to solve every problem, but we have to make progress on many of the things that we’ve talked about,” he said.

Schmidt, 56, won a competitive August primary and coasted through the November general election in the eastern Kansas district. He was chosen by voters to replace U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican who declined to seek reelection. Schmidt focused his campaign on support for Trump and a commitment to border security, inflation reduction through lower government spending and relief from federal overregulation.

Schmidt was no stranger to politics after 12 years as the state’s attorney general and a decade in the Kansas Senate. He narrowly lost the 2022 governor’s race to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.

In Washington, he has been appointed to the House Judiciary Committee. He’ll be the only former state attorney general in the 435-member House. He also was chosen to serve on the House Armed Services Committee. The state hosts Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth as well as the Kansas National Guard’s refueling wing in Topeka.

“Armed services is very important for the district, as well as obviously, for the country,” Schmidt said. “We face a time when, you know, America’s positioning around the world is a bit challenging, a bit in flux. That’s an area I can help fill a gap that would be very good for the state and for the 2nd District in particular.”

He said his previous work as majority leader of the Kansas Senate and as leader of the attorney general’s office from 2011 to 2023 would serve him well at the U.S. Capitol. That background could speed his learning curve in terms of legislative fundamentals. It ought to help with dynamics of interacting with people who come at issues from different perspectives and in anticipating consequences of public policy in terms of the federal bureaucracy and courts.

One clear distinction would be the thin majority Republicans hold in Washington compared to the large GOP majority that has existed in Topeka, he said.

“At some points, it may be down to one vote. That’s difficult, holding everybody together,” Schmidt said. “But the flip side of that is we’ll have unified government with Republican control in all three areas.”

Schmidt’s campaign mirrored calls by Trump and others to bring order to national border crossings and to create more robust physical and law enforcement barriers to illegal entry into the United States.

There should be greater public awareness the past 3.5 years included the largest migration of people into the United States in history, Schmidt said. That’s part of the reason immigration gained so much traction among voters in 2024, he said.

“More than half of the people in the largest wave of migration to this country in our history came here in violation of our laws,” Schmidt said. “It is a different problem than just the sort of ongoing traditional dynamics of managing migration to a nation of immigrants, and I think that’s why you’ve seen so much public reaction to it on both sides.”

Schmidt said the initial focus of Congress ought to be on individuals who entered the United States without proper documentation and subsequently committed criminal offenses. He said as many as 1.3 million immigrants convicted of deportable felonies remained in the country.

He said it was impossible to have a rational discussion about immigration policy without better control of who was coming in and out of the United States.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1725648365265.png" alt="U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt, a Republican headed to Washington to represent the 2nd District of Kansas, speaks on the Kansas Reflector podcast about federal immigration, inflation and regulation reform.&nbsp;He takes office in January and will replace departing U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, also a Republican.&nbsp;(Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt, a Republican headed to Washington to represent the 2nd District of Kansas, speaks on the Kansas Reflector podcast about federal immigration, inflation and regulation reform.&nbsp;He takes office in January and will replace departing U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, also a Republican.&nbsp;(Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>2nd District congressman to be lone former state attorney general in U.S. House</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/tim-carpenter/">TIM CARPENTER</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>TOPEKA — U.S. Rep.-elect Derek Schmidt was persuaded by coffee shop chatter and November exit polling that voters were motivated in 2024 by a desire to elect politicians who could effectively do the basic work of governing.“It wasn’t so much that folks want this or that,” Schmidt said. “It’s that they want something to happen, to show motion, which they then can judge as to whether it’s progress or not. That’s consistent with … a lot of the coffee-shop talk around the 2nd District.”On the Kansas Reflector podcast, Schmidt said it was safe to assume the clock on the GOP would start ticking in January as soon as Republicans regained the White House with President-elect Donald Trump and assumed leadership of the U.S. Senate in addition to the U.S. House. It was reasonable to think that window of opportunity for an all-GOP D.C. could close with elections in 2026.“We don’t have to solve every problem, but we have to make progress on many of the things that we’ve talked about,” he said.Schmidt, 56, won a competitive August primary and coasted through the November general election in the eastern Kansas district. He was chosen by voters to replace U.S. Rep. Jake LaTurner, a Republican who declined to seek reelection. Schmidt focused his campaign on support for Trump and a commitment to border security, inflation reduction through lower government spending and relief from federal overregulation.Schmidt was no stranger to politics after 12 years as the state’s attorney general and a decade in the Kansas Senate. He narrowly lost the 2022 governor’s race to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.<h2>‘Unified government’</h2>In Washington, he has been appointed to the House Judiciary Committee. He’ll be the only former state attorney general in the 435-member House. He also was chosen to serve on the House Armed Services Committee. The state hosts Fort Riley and Fort Leavenworth as well as the Kansas National Guard’s refueling wing in Topeka.“Armed services is very important for the district, as well as obviously, for the country,” Schmidt said. “We face a time when, you know, America’s positioning around the world is a bit challenging, a bit in flux. That’s an area I can help fill a gap that would be very good for the state and for the 2nd District in particular.”He said his previous work as majority leader of the Kansas Senate and as leader of the attorney general’s office from 2011 to 2023 would serve him well at the U.S. Capitol. That background could speed his learning curve in terms of legislative fundamentals. It ought to help with dynamics of interacting with people who come at issues from different perspectives and in anticipating consequences of public policy in terms of the federal bureaucracy and courts.One clear distinction would be the thin majority Republicans hold in Washington compared to the large GOP majority that has existed in Topeka, he said.“At some points, it may be down to one vote. That’s difficult, holding everybody together,” Schmidt said. “But the flip side of that is we’ll have unified government with Republican control in all three areas.”<h2>Immigration, border</h2>Schmidt’s campaign mirrored calls by Trump and others to bring order to national border crossings and to create more robust physical and law enforcement barriers to illegal entry into the United States.There should be greater public awareness the past 3.5 years included the largest migration of people into the United States in history, Schmidt said. That’s part of the reason immigration gained so much traction among voters in 2024, he said.“More than half of the people in the largest wave of migration to this country in our history came here in violation of our laws,” Schmidt said. “It is a different problem than just the sort of ongoing traditional dynamics of managing migration to a nation of immigrants, and I think that’s why you’ve seen so much public reaction to it on both sides.”Schmidt said the initial focus of Congress ought to be on individuals who entered the United States without proper documentation and subsequently committed criminal offenses. He said as many as 1.3 million immigrants convicted of deportable felonies remained in the country.He said it was impossible to have a rational discussion about immigration policy without better control of who was coming in and out of the United States.In fiscal year 2024, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportations reached a 10-year high. The 271,000 unauthorized immigrants deported under President Biden surpassed the highest mark set by Trump during his first term as president.<h2>Inflation adjustments</h2>In terms of inflation, Schmidt said the rapid rise in costs abated after surging through the COVID-19 pandemic and the massive infusion of federal dollars into the economy. There was no quick solution to the nation’s struggle with higher prices at the grocery store, he said.“If there were a magic wand on inflation, it would have been waived already,” he said. “Just passing a bill that says make inflation go away isn’t going to work. The answer to what do we do is the old adage, ‘When you’re in a hole, stop digging.'”Schmidt said the best move for Congress on domestic inflation would be to control spending and slow deficit financing of the government. In that sense, he was encouraged by ideas floated by billionaire Elon Musk and former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who were selected by Trump to serve as special advisers on government efficiency.“I don’t claim to know Mr. Musk. But we had a briefing the other day where he and Mr. Ramaswamy came and talked to the Republican conference, including those of us who are going to be new members, about what their project is —&nbsp;their DOGE project. It was useful. And, I have to admit, I was impressed by both of them. They came across very, very thoughtful,” Schmidt said.<h2>Federal regulation</h2>Schmidt said he was driven to reduce the growth in federal regulation, especially expansion of the administrative state by agency employees. He said recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions had put meaningful walls around agency discretion.In this moment, he said, Congress had to accept responsibility for being less vague when drafting legislation so there were fewer opportunities for bureaucrats to shape laws.He said he had always been a champion of free-trade and was wary of calls for sweeping tariffs on imports. Tariffs could make imported goods more expensive for U.S. consumers and, if retaliation occurred, render U.S. exports less competitive with suppliers from other countries.“In the first Trump administration, yes, the president levied some tariffs, and yes, there was a price paid for those. But overall, he was pretty targeted. He was pretty effective in trying to change the behavior of some of our trading partners with tariffs that were much more targeted than&nbsp;the rhetoric was,” Schmidt said.

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