Northwest Missouri State University’s summer enrollment has topped 5,500 students for the second consecutive year, according to the institution’s summer census.

Northwest's enrollment total for the summer shows 1,910 undergraduate students and 3,592 graduate students, a total of 5,502 students on campus. That number is a 5% decline from a year ago, but the university does report it does still remain consistent with totals over the past five years.

Graduate student enrollment declined by just under 8% (7.6%) this summer. The total of graduate students spiked a year ago to 3,886, which marked the first time in Northwest history that the graduate student total exceeded 3,000 students. Northwest attributes the decline to fewer international students.

Northwest also reports that 83% of undergraduates are enrolled in online only courses, which is common with students being employed or being away from campus on internships, while 70% of graduate students are enrolled in online only courses. 68% that are enrolled are Missouri residents while the international student population this summer declined to 78%.

The number of credit hours that undergraduate students are enrolled in however though has increased, jumping 4.5% to 13,073 credit hours. Overall, Northwest students are enrolled in 32,571 hours this summer.

“It is great to see so many Northwest students engaged in coursework again this summer," Dr. Allison Hoffmann, the University’s associate provost for enrollment management and student success, said in a news release from the University. “Northwest’s summer academic offerings allow students the opportunity to continue progressing toward their degree or credential in a timely manner.”

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

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostNorthwest Missouri State University’s summer enrollment has topped 5,500 students for the second consecutive year, according to the institution’s summer census.Northwest's enrollment total for the summer shows 1,910 undergraduate students and 3,592 graduate students, a total of 5,502 students on campus. That number is a 5% decline from a year ago, but the university does report it does still remain consistent with totals over the past five years.Graduate student enrollment declined by just under 8% (7.6%) this summer. The total of graduate students spiked a year ago to 3,886, which marked the first time in Northwest history that the graduate student total exceeded 3,000 students. Northwest attributes the decline to fewer international students.Northwest also reports that 83% of undergraduates are enrolled in online only courses, which is common with students being employed or being away from campus on internships, while 70% of graduate students are enrolled in online only courses. 68% that are enrolled are Missouri residents while the international student population this summer declined to 78%.The number of credit hours that undergraduate students are enrolled in however though has increased, jumping 4.5% to 13,073 credit hours. Overall, Northwest students are enrolled in 32,571 hours this summer.“It is great to see so many Northwest students engaged in coursework again this summer," Dr. Allison Hoffmann, the University’s associate provost for enrollment management and student success, said in a news release from the University. “Northwest’s summer academic offerings allow students the opportunity to continue progressing toward their degree or credential in a timely manner.”You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

NWMSU summer enrollment tops 5,500 for second consecutive year

The city of St. Joseph will see its sewer rates rise next year by three percent and rise another three percent next year.  

The rise in sewer rates comes after a study was presented to the St. Joseph City Council on sewer rates conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell.   

District 3 Councilmember Andrew Trout says the rise in rates has to do with safety and federal regulations, such as phosphorus regulations coming in 

"Things that are pollutants and carcinogens and bad things that shouldn't be dumped into the Missouri River, because we're on the river, we have to make a ot of changes over the course of time," Trout says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "And there's a lot of things coming up and there's a lot of things that have recently been put into place to get the water even cleaner, to make sure that it's clean for the river to keep the health of the Missouri River going." 

Trout says it also has to do with the cost-of-living increase, with costing more to buy the chemicals and equipment needed, that made the increase necessary as well.  

Trout calls the proposal a "necessary evil" 

"Nobody wants to raise rates of anything, but it has to happen," Trout explains.  "And most of those dollars going into that increase are for federal requirements that are either new or equipment that has to be replaced to keep up with the standards we currently have." 

Trout says some equipment that needs to be replaced or repaired is already being worked on, but says that nothing starts with thousands anymore, it starts with millions to purchase 

Trout says the study from Burns &amp; McDonnell showed many factors that showed the need for the increase, including equipment that's worn out 

"Equipment that we're having to patch together that's not staying patched as long as it used to stay," Trout says.  "So, a big portion of that is equipment that's failing that needs to be replaced, and some of it's in the process of being replaced now, a piece of it is new federal regulations like the phosphate regulations." 

The city states the rise would help the city keep up with the rising cost of state and federal regulations. 

The Burns &amp; McDonnell study reports the average St. Joseph sewer bill is $65.70 a month while the average bill in Omaha is $60.12 and the average bill in Kansas City is $79.01.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The city of St. Joseph will see its sewer rates rise next year by three percent and rise another three percent next year. The rise in sewer rates comes after a study was presented to the St. Joseph City Council on sewer rates conducted by Burns &amp; McDonnell. District 3 Councilmember Andrew Trout says the rise in rates has to do with safety and federal regulations, such as phosphorus regulations coming in "Things that are pollutants and carcinogens and bad things that shouldn't be dumped into the Missouri River, because we're on the river, we have to make a ot of changes over the course of time," Trout says on the KFEQmunnity show. "And there's a lot of things coming up and there's a lot of things that have recently been put into place to get the water even cleaner, to make sure that it's clean for the river to keep the health of the Missouri River going." Trout says it also has to do with the cost-of-living increase, with costing more to buy the chemicals and equipment needed, that made the increase necessary as well. Trout calls the proposal a "necessary evil" "Nobody wants to raise rates of anything, but it has to happen," Trout explains. "And most of those dollars going into that increase are for federal requirements that are either new or equipment that has to be replaced to keep up with the standards we currently have." Trout says some equipment that needs to be replaced or repaired is already being worked on, but says that nothing starts with thousands anymore, it starts with millions to purchase Trout says the study from Burns &amp; McDonnell showed many factors that showed the need for the increase, including equipment that's worn out "Equipment that we're having to patch together that's not staying patched as long as it used to stay," Trout says. "So, a big portion of that is equipment that's failing that needs to be replaced, and some of it's in the process of being replaced now, a piece of it is new federal regulations like the phosphate regulations." The city states the rise would help the city keep up with the rising cost of state and federal regulations. The Burns &amp; McDonnell study reports the average St. Joseph sewer bill is $65.70 a month while the average bill in Omaha is $60.12 and the average bill in Kansas City is $79.01.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph Councilmember says sewer rate increase is "necessary evil"

The annual art fair at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph is coming up tomorrow. 

Executive Director Eric Fuson says the event will be out on the lawn of the museum throughout the day tomorrow 

"We've got about 17 artists that are going to be out with all their wears and their creations," Fuson says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "And then we have bands all day, about every hour we've got another band coming on, so we've got a lot of great local talent and a band from Kansas City as well."  

Fuson says the types of music people will hear is a wide variety 

"We kind of do a little bit of everything so, we're going to start off with the Renaissance Brass guys, there's a group from right here in town, some of them are Missouri Western professors and former professors, and they just get together and play," Fuson explains.  "So, they're going to start off with some Renaissance music and then move into some Beatles, all on brass instruments, which is actually amazing and sounds fantastic out there on the patio." 

The first act will take the stage at 10am with performances running until 7pm. Food trucks, like Kona Ice, will also be on hand 

Fuson says artist vendors will also be on hand, with many of them being from around the St. Joseph and Kansas City area.  

"They really are kind of the heart and soul of the art community around (the area), they all create their own work," Fuson says.  "It's a jury thing so we really kind of look and see whose making good stuff, so there's really good things to choose from." 

The event runs from 10am until 8pm tomorrow.  It is free to attend. 

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

By MATT PIKE The annual art fair at the Albrecht Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph is coming up tomorrow. Executive Director Eric Fuson says the event will be out on the lawn of the museum throughout the day tomorrow "We've got about 17 artists that are going to be out with all their wears and their creations," Fuson says on the KFEQmunnity show. "And then we have bands all day, about every hour we've got another band coming on, so we've got a lot of great local talent and a band from Kansas City as well." Fuson says the types of music people will hear is a wide variety "We kind of do a little bit of everything so, we're going to start off with the Renaissance Brass guys, there's a group from right here in town, some of them are Missouri Western professors and former professors, and they just get together and play," Fuson explains. "So, they're going to start off with some Renaissance music and then move into some Beatles, all on brass instruments, which is actually amazing and sounds fantastic out there on the patio." The first act will take the stage at 10am with performances running until 7pm. Food trucks, like Kona Ice, will also be on hand Fuson says artist vendors will also be on hand, with many of them being from around the St. Joseph and Kansas City area. "They really are kind of the heart and soul of the art community around (the area), they all create their own work," Fuson says. "It's a jury thing so we really kind of look and see whose making good stuff, so there's really good things to choose from." The event runs from 10am until 8pm tomorrow. It is free to attend. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Albrecht Kemper hosting Art Fair this weekend in St. Joseph

Dozens of home brewers, a few
microbreweries, and others will be on hand Saturday at the Ales West Beer
Festival in downtown St. Joseph.

The festival gets underway at noon at
Coleman Hawkins Park.

Organizer Billy Campbell says as many as
50 vendors will be on hand. He says what sets this beer festival apart is the
number of home brewers who participate.

“What those home brewers can do on that
scale with the ingredients that go into that beer (is) just amazing,” Campbell
tells KFEQmmunity. “There are home brewed beers that you can have at this
festival that hands down will be on par or better than anything commercial, anything
at a microbrewery.”

The festival features more than beer.
There also will be distilleries and wineries there.

Designated driver tickets will be sold as
well. There will be live music featuring Casey Brett thanks to a partnership
with the St. Joseph Downtown Association.

Campbell says the festival features a
vast variety of drinks.

“There are so many different options that
it’s definitely something that you can enter into,” Campbell says. “For a small
fee for a ticket you can go try one ounce, two ounce, three ounce samples of
something. If you don’t like, you just pour it out. You’re not wasting (anything),
it’s just a little bit. Not all beer is for everybody, but at Ales West,
everybody can find something.”

The money generated by the festival is
donated to various charities in the St. Joseph area.

Click <a href="https://aleswest.com/">HERE</a> for more information.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749230403023.jpeg" alt="Ales West Beer Festival in Saint Joseph/Photo courtesy of Ales Wet" />
 <figcaption>Ales West Beer Festival in Saint Joseph/Photo courtesy of Ales Wet</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostDozens of home brewers, a few
microbreweries, and others will be on hand Saturday at the Ales West Beer
Festival in downtown St. Joseph.The festival gets underway at noon at
Coleman Hawkins Park.Organizer Billy Campbell says as many as
50 vendors will be on hand. He says what sets this beer festival apart is the
number of home brewers who participate.“What those home brewers can do on that
scale with the ingredients that go into that beer (is) just amazing,” Campbell
tells KFEQmmunity. “There are home brewed beers that you can have at this
festival that hands down will be on par or better than anything commercial, anything
at a microbrewery.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749232621898.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Ales West" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Ales West</figcaption>
 </figure>The festival features more than beer.
There also will be distilleries and wineries there.Designated driver tickets will be sold as
well. There will be live music featuring Casey Brett thanks to a partnership
with the St. Joseph Downtown Association.Campbell says the festival features a
vast variety of drinks.“There are so many different options that
it’s definitely something that you can enter into,” Campbell says. “For a small
fee for a ticket you can go try one ounce, two ounce, three ounce samples of
something. If you don’t like, you just pour it out. You’re not wasting (anything),
it’s just a little bit. Not all beer is for everybody, but at Ales West,
everybody can find something.”The money generated by the festival is
donated to various charities in the St. Joseph area.Click <a href="https://aleswest.com/">HERE</a> for more information.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749232675463.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Ales West" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Ales West</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Ales West gets underway Saturday at Coleman Hawkins Park

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0Wix9vqouZqlxkGkY9vObm?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4Vrd927T8dpiajSiAAV5c8?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

A St. Joseph woman has been charged with
driving drunk, causing a fatal crash last week in Country Club Village.

The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney’s
office has filed four felony charges against 37-year-old Chelsea Ingino,
including driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of another. Ingino
has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, involuntary manslaughter,
and driving while intoxicated resulting in serious in serious physical injury.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported
Ingino was driving south in the northbound passing lane of Business 29 May 27th
and crashed with the vehicle driven by a 35-year-old man, forcing both off the
roadway. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has yet to be
released.

Ingino’s six-year-old daughter was in the vehicle.
Both suffered injuries requiring hospitalization.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph woman has been charged with
driving drunk, causing a fatal crash last week in Country Club Village.The Andrew County Prosecuting Attorney’s
office has filed four felony charges against 37-year-old Chelsea Ingino,
including driving while intoxicated resulting in the death of another. Ingino
has also been charged with endangering the welfare of a child, involuntary manslaughter,
and driving while intoxicated resulting in serious in serious physical injury.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported
Ingino was driving south in the northbound passing lane of Business 29 May 27th
and crashed with the vehicle driven by a 35-year-old man, forcing both off the
roadway. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His name has yet to be
released.Ingino’s six-year-old daughter was in the vehicle.
Both suffered injuries requiring hospitalization.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph woman charged with drunk driving in fatal crash

Starting July 1, state employees will arrive unannounced at dispensaries and collect about 50 products a month off the shelves for further testing.

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>

State cannabis regulators will begin their first attempt next month to double check the work of licensed testing labs tasked with ensuring the safety of Missouri marijuana products.

Starting July 1, staff with the Division of Cannabis Regulation will arrive unannounced at dispensaries and collect about 50 products a month off the shelves. They’ll take them to the Missouri State Public Health Reference Laboratory to be tested for things like mold, pesticides and a whole range of other things.&nbsp;

Ryan Bernard, the division’s testing and research unit manager, said the unannounced sampling has been in the works for a while as a way to add an extra level of compliance. The division, Bernard said, isn’t expecting to find problems.

“We won’t know until we see the data,” Bernard said. “I have full faith and confidence in our testing licensees that they’re testing according to rule as it’s been outlined.”

However, national testing lab experts told The Independent that&nbsp;Missouri’s regulators might be shocked at the results.

“Shelf testing has not gone well in any state that I know of, especially if it’s just starting,” said Josh Swider,&nbsp;vice chair of the cannabis working group for<a href="https://www.acil.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;American Council of Independent Laboratories</a>. “It will be very telling very fast.”

Swider pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arizona-marijuana-regulators-flag-major-testing-lab-for-multiple-violations/" target="_blank">citation in Arizona</a>&nbsp;in April of a cannabis lab, where the state found&nbsp;<a href="https://azcarecheck.azdhs.gov/s/inspection-details?inspectionId=a1Ics00000KAgthEAD&amp;facilityId=0018y000004X7ULAA0" target="_blank">more than a dozen alleged “deficiencies”</a>&nbsp;including problems with the lab’s potency testing and pesticide and microbial detection methods.

Swider called the levels of pesticides on the Arizona products “sickening.”

“But this is what you’re seeing around the country,” said Swider,&nbsp;co-founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://infinitecal.com/" target="_blank">Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs</a>&nbsp;in San Diego. “Regulators are starting to enforce. They’re realizing an issue that’s been systemic for a long time.”

Other common issue Missouri regulars might also find, he said, are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/21/missouri-cannabis-regulators-target-lab-shopping-in-new-rules/">inflated levels of THC on products</a>.&nbsp;

Regulators previously talked about conducting a “round robin” testing, where the state’s certified testing labs would double check each other’s work under the state’s instruction. Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation, told lawmakers in 2023 that this additional testing rule was “critical.”&nbsp;

“The challenges in regulating and relying on for-profit cannabis testing labs,” Moore told lawmakers at a 2023 committee hearing, “is one of the most discussed challenges in the national cannabis regulatory community.”

However, the state never ended up getting the process going for a variety of factors, Bernard said, so the unannounced samples will be the regulators first attempt at a testing backstop.

Lawmakers began allocating money for this kind of sampling to be tested at the state laboratory in the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2024 with $3.8 million. Most of it went unspent because the cannabis testing methods were “still in the process of being implemented,” according to state budget documents. Another $2.4 million was allocated for this fiscal year ending on June 30, and it’s unclear how much of it has been spent.

Bernard couldn’t speak on the budget for testing, he said, because the division and state lab budgets are “totally separate.”

“Our operating budget is DCR only,” he said. “State public health labs is theirs.”

The lab will receive another $2.4 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.&nbsp;

Swider said a standard test at a Missouri cannabis lab costs about $400. With the $2.4 million the lab is allocated to conduct 600 tests a year, it would put that rate at $4,000 a test.&nbsp;

It would take one employee in Swider’s lab to leisurely do 50 tests in a week, he said, but 50 in a day is doable.&nbsp;

Bernard said sampling 50 products out of more than 500,000 product tags is “not even close” to being representative of the market, but he called this a “very much preliminary” start.

Bernard has been working closely with the state public health lab, he said, to build the infrastructure for cannabis testing and they’ve had some “hold ups.”&nbsp;

“[The state lab has] experienced grant-funding delays and and then back orders related to potential tariffs,” he said. “They’ve had equipment failures…so this starting point number will get us to a point where we can start stabilizing the amount they need to purchase compared to the amount that I can sample.”

The goal is to get to a representative sample size as soon as possible, he said.&nbsp;

At an MJ Unpacked cannabis conference in November, concerns were raised among testing experts about the fact that 82% of Missouri’s cannabis testing is conducted at one licensed lab,&nbsp;<a href="https://mogreenway.com/2024/11/21/data-presentation-begets-speculation-regarding-lab-testing/" target="_blank">Greenway Magazine&nbsp;</a>reported. And that lab catches fewer problems with mold compared to other Missouri labs and those across the country.

At the November panel, information obtained through a Sunshine request revealed that the lab referred to as “Lab D” reported a failure rate for Aspergillus—a mold that poses significant health risks— roughly 8 times lower than the national average.

The state’s other labs had a failure rate of 3.3%, which is aligned closely with the national average of 3.8%.&nbsp;

Lab D’s failure rate was just under 0.5%.&nbsp;

The information raised questions about whether the mold was adequately being checked.&nbsp;However, Bernard said those results didn’t raise any alarm for him.&nbsp;

“Everybody’s being held to the same standards as far as testing is concerned and their ISO accreditation,” Bernard said. “Without doing further investigation, I have confidence that the industry is testing appropriately.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696682550411.png" alt="(Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>(Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Starting July 1, state employees will arrive unannounced at dispensaries and collect about 50 products a month off the shelves for further testing.</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>State cannabis regulators will begin their first attempt next month to double check the work of licensed testing labs tasked with ensuring the safety of Missouri marijuana products.Starting July 1, staff with the Division of Cannabis Regulation will arrive unannounced at dispensaries and collect about 50 products a month off the shelves. They’ll take them to the Missouri State Public Health Reference Laboratory to be tested for things like mold, pesticides and a whole range of other things.&nbsp;Ryan Bernard, the division’s testing and research unit manager, said the unannounced sampling has been in the works for a while as a way to add an extra level of compliance. The division, Bernard said, isn’t expecting to find problems.“We won’t know until we see the data,” Bernard said. “I have full faith and confidence in our testing licensees that they’re testing according to rule as it’s been outlined.”However, national testing lab experts told The Independent that&nbsp;Missouri’s regulators might be shocked at the results.“Shelf testing has not gone well in any state that I know of, especially if it’s just starting,” said Josh Swider,&nbsp;vice chair of the cannabis working group for<a href="https://www.acil.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;American Council of Independent Laboratories</a>. “It will be very telling very fast.”Swider pointed to a&nbsp;<a href="https://mjbizdaily.com/arizona-marijuana-regulators-flag-major-testing-lab-for-multiple-violations/" target="_blank">citation in Arizona</a>&nbsp;in April of a cannabis lab, where the state found&nbsp;<a href="https://azcarecheck.azdhs.gov/s/inspection-details?inspectionId=a1Ics00000KAgthEAD&amp;facilityId=0018y000004X7ULAA0" target="_blank">more than a dozen alleged “deficiencies”</a>&nbsp;including problems with the lab’s potency testing and pesticide and microbial detection methods.Swider called the levels of pesticides on the Arizona products “sickening.”“But this is what you’re seeing around the country,” said Swider,&nbsp;co-founder and CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://infinitecal.com/" target="_blank">Infinite Chemical Analysis Labs</a>&nbsp;in San Diego. “Regulators are starting to enforce. They’re realizing an issue that’s been systemic for a long time.”Other common issue Missouri regulars might also find, he said, are&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/08/21/missouri-cannabis-regulators-target-lab-shopping-in-new-rules/">inflated levels of THC on products</a>.&nbsp;Regulators previously talked about conducting a “round robin” testing, where the state’s certified testing labs would double check each other’s work under the state’s instruction. Amy Moore, director of the Division of Cannabis Regulation, told lawmakers in 2023 that this additional testing rule was “critical.”&nbsp;“The challenges in regulating and relying on for-profit cannabis testing labs,” Moore told lawmakers at a 2023 committee hearing, “is one of the most discussed challenges in the national cannabis regulatory community.”However, the state never ended up getting the process going for a variety of factors, Bernard said, so the unannounced samples will be the regulators first attempt at a testing backstop.Lawmakers began allocating money for this kind of sampling to be tested at the state laboratory in the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2024 with $3.8 million. Most of it went unspent because the cannabis testing methods were “still in the process of being implemented,” according to state budget documents. Another $2.4 million was allocated for this fiscal year ending on June 30, and it’s unclear how much of it has been spent.Bernard couldn’t speak on the budget for testing, he said, because the division and state lab budgets are “totally separate.”“Our operating budget is DCR only,” he said. “State public health labs is theirs.”The lab will receive another $2.4 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1.&nbsp;Swider said a standard test at a Missouri cannabis lab costs about $400. With the $2.4 million the lab is allocated to conduct 600 tests a year, it would put that rate at $4,000 a test.&nbsp;“That’s not good,” he said.&nbsp;It would take one employee in Swider’s lab to leisurely do 50 tests in a week, he said, but 50 in a day is doable.&nbsp;Bernard said sampling 50 products out of more than 500,000 product tags is “not even close” to being representative of the market, but he called this a “very much preliminary” start.Bernard has been working closely with the state public health lab, he said, to build the infrastructure for cannabis testing and they’ve had some “hold ups.”&nbsp;“[The state lab has] experienced grant-funding delays and and then back orders related to potential tariffs,” he said. “They’ve had equipment failures…so this starting point number will get us to a point where we can start stabilizing the amount they need to purchase compared to the amount that I can sample.”The goal is to get to a representative sample size as soon as possible, he said.&nbsp;At an MJ Unpacked cannabis conference in November, concerns were raised among testing experts about the fact that 82% of Missouri’s cannabis testing is conducted at one licensed lab,&nbsp;<a href="https://mogreenway.com/2024/11/21/data-presentation-begets-speculation-regarding-lab-testing/" target="_blank">Greenway Magazine&nbsp;</a>reported. And that lab catches fewer problems with mold compared to other Missouri labs and those across the country.At the November panel, information obtained through a Sunshine request revealed that the lab referred to as “Lab D” reported a failure rate for Aspergillus—a mold that poses significant health risks— roughly 8 times lower than the national average.The state’s other labs had a failure rate of 3.3%, which is aligned closely with the national average of 3.8%.&nbsp;Lab D’s failure rate was just under 0.5%.&nbsp;The information raised questions about whether the mold was adequately being checked.&nbsp;However, Bernard said those results didn’t raise any alarm for him.&nbsp;“Everybody’s being held to the same standards as far as testing is concerned and their ISO accreditation,” Bernard said. “Without doing further investigation, I have confidence that the industry is testing appropriately.”

Missouri regulators set to expand marijuana testing protocols

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement investigating the abuse of a dog have made an arrest.

In May of&nbsp;2024 police in the city of Atchison conducted an investigation relating to the abuse of a dog following a report made by the Atchison Humane Society, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The puppy had sustained injuries that resulted in its death.

On Wednesday, police arrested 28-year-old&nbsp;Taylor R. Bonar, 28, Atchison,&nbsp; on a District Court warrant for cruelty to animals.&nbsp; She is being held on a bond of $2,500, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749129001729.png" alt="Bonar photo Atchison Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Bonar photo Atchison Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement investigating the abuse of a dog have made an arrest.In May of&nbsp;2024 police in the city of Atchison conducted an investigation relating to the abuse of a dog following a report made by the Atchison Humane Society, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp; The puppy had sustained injuries that resulted in its death.On Wednesday, police arrested 28-year-old&nbsp;Taylor R. Bonar, 28, Atchison,&nbsp; on a District Court warrant for cruelty to animals.&nbsp; She is being held on a bond of $2,500, according to Wilson.

Animal cruelty: Kansas woman jailed for death of a dog

St. Joseph's Noah Cameron pitched another gem, but the St. Louis Cardinals hit the Kansas City Royals bullpen hard, and in extra innings the Cardinals took game one of a doubleheader, winning 6-5 in 10 innings at Busch Stadium.&nbsp;

Jonathan India got the Royals started off on the right foot, getting Cameron the lead early and on the first pitch, hitting a leadoff home run into left field to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.&nbsp; In the bottom half of the inning, Cameron quickly worked through the St. Louis lineup,&nbsp; retiring the first three batters on 12 pitches, striking out Brendan Donovan to end the inning.&nbsp;

Cameron's roughest inning of the game was the second inning, which started with back to back walks, throwing 25 pitches, but still got out unscathed. The Royals extended the lead in the fourth inning behind back to back doubles, the first coming from Salvador Perez, before top prospect Jac Caglianone notched his first major league hit and RBI, driving in Perez with a double down the right field foul line.&nbsp;

Vinnie Pasquantino singled in the fifth inning, scoring Bobby Witt Jr, to push the Royals ahead more, giving Cameron a 3-0 lead, which he exited with after six innings of work as manager Matt Quatraro went to his bullpen, calling on John Schreiber for the seventh inning.&nbsp;

With his six scoreless innings of work, Cameron becomes the 1st pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela (1981) to spin six plus innings pitched with one run or fewer allowed in each of his first five MLB starts.&nbsp; Cameron struck out three and walked two, also giving up just two hits in the start.&nbsp;

St. Louis cut the lead to one against Schreiber in the seventh.&nbsp; Willson Contreras doubled and&nbsp;Iván Herrera singled, putting runners on the corners, before Nolan Arenado grounded into a forceout where the Royals were unable to turn a double play, Contreras scoring and Arenado being safe at first as Herrera was out at second.&nbsp; Yohel Pozo later in the inning hit a sacrifice fly scoring Arenado.&nbsp;

In the eighth, the Cardinals took the lead, against Taylor Clarke who had seemed to find his groove after some rough seasons, Herrera giving the Redbirds the lead on a two run home run to center field driving in Donovan and himself.&nbsp;

Kansas City forced extra innings though against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.&nbsp; &nbsp;Michael Massey singled, and was pinch ran for by Nick Loftin, which was followed by a single by Kyle Isbel, moving Loftin to third base.&nbsp; India's deep fly ball to left field scored Loftin to tie the game, and moved Isbel to second base, allowing Helsley to intentionally walk Witt Jr.&nbsp; &nbsp;Maikel Garcia popped out to end the inning.&nbsp;

After St. Louis did nothing in the bottom half of the inning, Garcia started the 10th at second base, and was promptly driven in for the Royals lead by Pasquantino on a single, though the Royals could do no more and Carlos Estévez was brought on to try to earn the save, with Pozo starting the bottom half at second for the Cardinals.&nbsp;

Lars Nootbaar's single&nbsp; moved Pozo to third base, and Pozo later scored in the next at bat, Nootbaar moving to second, on a groundout by Masyn Winn.&nbsp;&nbsp;Estévez intentonally walked Donovan, setting up the force out at any base, but Contreras singled into left field, bringing Nootbaar home for the walk off win.&nbsp;

JoJo Romero earned the win in relief for the Cardinals, improving to 2-3 on the season, pitching one inning and giving up one hit with one unearned run, striking out one.&nbsp;&nbsp;Estévez blew his third save, falling to 2-1, recording just one out, giving up two hits and two runs, just one earned, and walking one.&nbsp;

At the plate, Nootbaar (2-5, 1 R), Contreras (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB), and Herrera (2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 BB) led the way for St. Louis.&nbsp; For the Royals, Pasquantino was 4-for-5 with two RBIs, while India (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 R) and Perez (2-5, 1 R) also helped in the loss.&nbsp;

Kansas City and St. Louis wrap up their series in game two of the doubleheader this evening.&nbsp; Cole Ragans (2-3, 4.53 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals, it’ll be Ragans’ first start since May 16, when he allowed four runs to these Cardinals in five innings at Kauffman Stadium.&nbsp; For the Cardinals, Matthew Liberatore (3-4, 3.08 ERA) will start.

First pitch is at 6:45pm.&nbsp; Pregame coverage will begin at 6 for the Royals on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and at 6:35 for the Cardinals on KY 102 (102.5 FM).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749161359438.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph's Noah Cameron pitched another gem for the Kansas City Royals.&nbsp; In a no decision,&nbsp;Cameron became just the second pitcher in MLB history with 6+ innings and 1 run or fewer in each of first 5 career starts.&nbsp; The Royals lost to the Cardinals 6-5./ Photo courtesy X" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph's Noah Cameron pitched another gem for the Kansas City Royals.&nbsp; In a no decision,&nbsp;Cameron became just the second pitcher in MLB history with 6+ innings and 1 run or fewer in each of first 5 career starts.&nbsp; The Royals lost to the Cardinals 6-5./ Photo courtesy X</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph's Noah Cameron pitched another gem, but the St. Louis Cardinals hit the Kansas City Royals bullpen hard, and in extra innings the Cardinals took game one of a doubleheader, winning 6-5 in 10 innings at Busch Stadium.&nbsp;Jonathan India got the Royals started off on the right foot, getting Cameron the lead early and on the first pitch, hitting a leadoff home run into left field to give Kansas City a 1-0 lead.&nbsp; In the bottom half of the inning, Cameron quickly worked through the St. Louis lineup,&nbsp; retiring the first three batters on 12 pitches, striking out Brendan Donovan to end the inning.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Indy leads us off! <a href="https://t.co/7nWyvjCjIi">pic.twitter.com/7nWyvjCjIi</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1930684098038649329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Cameron's roughest inning of the game was the second inning, which started with back to back walks, throwing 25 pitches, but still got out unscathed. The Royals extended the lead in the fourth inning behind back to back doubles, the first coming from Salvador Perez, before top prospect Jac Caglianone notched his first major league hit and RBI, driving in Perez with a double down the right field foul line.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Jac’s on the board! MLB hit No. 1 is an RBI double! <a href="https://t.co/4Afp30GEh5">pic.twitter.com/4Afp30GEh5</a>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1930695995739746731?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Vinnie Pasquantino singled in the fifth inning, scoring Bobby Witt Jr, to push the Royals ahead more, giving Cameron a 3-0 lead, which he exited with after six innings of work as manager Matt Quatraro went to his bullpen, calling on John Schreiber for the seventh inning.&nbsp;With his six scoreless innings of work, Cameron becomes the 1st pitcher since Fernando Valenzuela (1981) to spin six plus innings pitched with one run or fewer allowed in each of his first five MLB starts.&nbsp; Cameron struck out three and walked two, also giving up just two hits in the start.&nbsp;St. Louis cut the lead to one against Schreiber in the seventh.&nbsp; Willson Contreras doubled and&nbsp;Iván Herrera singled, putting runners on the corners, before Nolan Arenado grounded into a forceout where the Royals were unable to turn a double play, Contreras scoring and Arenado being safe at first as Herrera was out at second.&nbsp; Yohel Pozo later in the inning hit a sacrifice fly scoring Arenado.&nbsp;In the eighth, the Cardinals took the lead, against Taylor Clarke who had seemed to find his groove after some rough seasons, Herrera giving the Redbirds the lead on a two run home run to center field driving in Donovan and himself.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">IVAN HERRERA BRINGS THE THUNDER!! 🌩️ <a href="https://t.co/sJdcNRh4yb">pic.twitter.com/sJdcNRh4yb</a>&mdash; St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1930717216653381882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas City forced extra innings though against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley.&nbsp; &nbsp;Michael Massey singled, and was pinch ran for by Nick Loftin, which was followed by a single by Kyle Isbel, moving Loftin to third base.&nbsp; India's deep fly ball to left field scored Loftin to tie the game, and moved Isbel to second base, allowing Helsley to intentionally walk Witt Jr.&nbsp; &nbsp;Maikel Garcia popped out to end the inning.&nbsp;After St. Louis did nothing in the bottom half of the inning, Garcia started the 10th at second base, and was promptly driven in for the Royals lead by Pasquantino on a single, though the Royals could do no more and Carlos Estévez was brought on to try to earn the save, with Pozo starting the bottom half at second for the Cardinals.&nbsp;Lars Nootbaar's single&nbsp; moved Pozo to third base, and Pozo later scored in the next at bat, Nootbaar moving to second, on a groundout by Masyn Winn.&nbsp;&nbsp;Estévez intentonally walked Donovan, setting up the force out at any base, but Contreras singled into left field, bringing Nootbaar home for the walk off win.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">THAT&#39;S A WALK-OFF WINNER!! <a href="https://t.co/SkxAEMJEtk">pic.twitter.com/SkxAEMJEtk</a>&mdash; St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cardinals/status/1930738079146680682?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 5, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>JoJo Romero earned the win in relief for the Cardinals, improving to 2-3 on the season, pitching one inning and giving up one hit with one unearned run, striking out one.&nbsp;&nbsp;Estévez blew his third save, falling to 2-1, recording just one out, giving up two hits and two runs, just one earned, and walking one.&nbsp;At the plate, Nootbaar (2-5, 1 R), Contreras (2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 BB), and Herrera (2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 R, 1 BB) led the way for St. Louis.&nbsp; For the Royals, Pasquantino was 4-for-5 with two RBIs, while India (2-4, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 R) and Perez (2-5, 1 R) also helped in the loss.&nbsp;Kansas City and St. Louis wrap up their series in game two of the doubleheader this evening.&nbsp; Cole Ragans (2-3, 4.53 ERA) takes the mound for the Royals, it’ll be Ragans’ first start since May 16, when he allowed four runs to these Cardinals in five innings at Kauffman Stadium.&nbsp; For the Cardinals, Matthew Liberatore (3-4, 3.08 ERA) will start.First pitch is at 6:45pm.&nbsp; Pregame coverage will begin at 6 for the Royals on KFEQ (680AM/95.3FM) and at 6:35 for the Cardinals on KY 102 (102.5 FM).You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Royals can't back Cameron's strong start, fall 6-5 to Cardinals in extras

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7G0aB0LNXfEYfO2ztfvtfV?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0X1QtDVVBmd9vBBT6VbYCA?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

The 21st Gregg Lynn Radio-A-Thon broadcast on Joe Town 107.5 - to support Camp Quality is coming up tomorrow. 

Lynn will broadcast live from 6am to 5pm from Sav On Furniture Mart in St. Joseph, raising money for Camp Quality, a camp for children with cancer. 

Lynn says the camp provides a week’s worth of fun activities for the kids. 

"George Richmond, whose passed away since, always told us their goal is to not tell the kids no," Lynn says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "If the kid wants to do something, they're going to do it, if they want to go swimming, if they want to go whatever, fishing, they're going to do it." 

The camp recently moved from its original site at Camp Farwesta near Stewartsville, to a camp near Excelsior Springs.  

Lynn says camp is the biggest expense for the campers 

"Renting the campground and then insurance if you can imagine, hey I want to put a camp on and all these kids have cancer the insurance has just got to be crazy, and so it costs somewhere around $1,500 per camper," Lynn explains. 

Lynn says the Radio A Thon is designed to share the stories of these children, while also sharing just how much fun camp is 

"When you first hear about Camp Quality you think oh my gosh it's a camp with a bunch of kids with cancer and oh my gosh it's going to be so depressing, and it is the exact opposite of that," Lynn says.  "It is like the most fun place you would ever go, and if you get a chance to go out there, if they're having a media day or whatever that's how I first got involved I went out for a media day, you will find out it is the most fun place you would ever spend a couple hours at." 

The Radio A Thon will be broadcast from 6am to 5pm on JoeTown 107.5, with Lynn live from Sav On all day. 

Donations can be made at Sav On, online, or by calling the pledge line. Vogel’s food truck will also be on site during the event for lunch. 

Later this month. Lynn will also host an annual 5k. 

Lynn says the Happy Camper Scamper is another way to raise money for Camp Quality, while also getting some exercise 

"You can run, you can walk, you can take your dog and put your dog in a stroller, we don't care whatever you want to do, and we'll sit there an hour if it's going to take you an hour to walk it I don't care, because it's just a fun day to go out and do something else to raise money for Camp Quality and get out and enjoy the parkway system," Lynn says.  "It's at Bartlett Park and the link to register and get all the info is also at Joetown1075.com." 

The Happy Camper Scamper will be held on June 21st at Bartlett Park in St. Joseph.

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

By MATT PIKE The 21st Gregg Lynn Radio-A-Thon broadcast on Joe Town 107.5 - to support Camp Quality is coming up tomorrow. Lynn will broadcast live from 6am to 5pm from Sav On Furniture Mart in St. Joseph, raising money for Camp Quality, a camp for children with cancer. Lynn says the camp provides a week’s worth of fun activities for the kids. "George Richmond, whose passed away since, always told us their goal is to not tell the kids no," Lynn says on the KFEQmunnity show. "If the kid wants to do something, they're going to do it, if they want to go swimming, if they want to go whatever, fishing, they're going to do it." The camp recently moved from its original site at Camp Farwesta near Stewartsville, to a camp near Excelsior Springs. Lynn says camp is the biggest expense for the campers "Renting the campground and then insurance if you can imagine, hey I want to put a camp on and all these kids have cancer the insurance has just got to be crazy, and so it costs somewhere around $1,500 per camper," Lynn explains. Lynn says the Radio A Thon is designed to share the stories of these children, while also sharing just how much fun camp is "When you first hear about Camp Quality you think oh my gosh it's a camp with a bunch of kids with cancer and oh my gosh it's going to be so depressing, and it is the exact opposite of that," Lynn says. "It is like the most fun place you would ever go, and if you get a chance to go out there, if they're having a media day or whatever that's how I first got involved I went out for a media day, you will find out it is the most fun place you would ever spend a couple hours at." The Radio A Thon will be broadcast from 6am to 5pm on JoeTown 107.5, with Lynn live from Sav On all day. Donations can be made at Sav On, online, or by calling the pledge line. Vogel’s food truck will also be on site during the event for lunch. Later this month. Lynn will also host an annual 5k. Lynn says the Happy Camper Scamper is another way to raise money for Camp Quality, while also getting some exercise "You can run, you can walk, you can take your dog and put your dog in a stroller, we don't care whatever you want to do, and we'll sit there an hour if it's going to take you an hour to walk it I don't care, because it's just a fun day to go out and do something else to raise money for Camp Quality and get out and enjoy the parkway system," Lynn says. "It's at Bartlett Park and the link to register and get all the info is also at Joetown1075.com." The Happy Camper Scamper will be held on June 21st at Bartlett Park in St. Joseph.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

21st Gregg Lynn Radio-A-Thon to support Camp Quality on Friday

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Teen driver hospitalized after head-on crash

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

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

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

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

Mo. driver fell asleep just before 2-vehicle crash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Dance Arts Center celebrates 40 years of teaching dance to students this weekend at the historic Missouri Theatre. During its annual dance recital, on Friday and Saturday, the studio will celebrate its 40th season, welcoming back several alumni during the final performances of the weekend. Owner Marla Heeler, whose owned the studio for 21 years, says it's amazing it's been 40 years and adds that even now things feel like they did when she was a student "When we go to the Missouri Theatre, Frank Pollock is still there, and Frank Pollock was there when I was a kid and I love him so much, and I love the theatre so much," Heeler says on the KFEQmunnity show. "And there are smells people talk about, and when you walk in the theatre in the spring, you know it's recital, and I still have that same excitement of going in the theatre and getting it ready and watching the kids come in." Heeler took over the studio in 2004, from founder Lynn Fankhauser, who opened the studio in 1984. Heeler says she believes the legacy of the studio is teaching students to be good humans, more than good dancers "Being involved in the community, trying to make a difference, trying to teach kids that it's ok to have hard conversations," Heeler explains. Heeler says it's also the value of teaching students the value of hard work, and persistence, with students practicing nine months before ever performing "Not many things in life do you still have to wait that long for it seems like in this instant gratification world, and I'm so proud of instilling that discipline in them and being a part of their life and all that," Heeler says. A free performance will be held on Friday at the Missouri Theatre at 6:30, featuring Dance Arts high school seniors among others. On Saturday, three performances will be held at the theatre, at 10am, 2pm, and 6pm. Several alumni will perform during the final performance of the weekend, kicking off the show with the performance 'Legacy in Motion: 40 years of Dance' Heeler, an alumnus herself who will perform, says she was blown away by how many former students signed up to come back "I believe that as of right now, like 60 to 70 have responded that they will be coming back, which I think is amazing, and I'm so excited," Heeler says. "We'll have a rehearsal after the 10'o clock show actually at the theatre on Saturday, and I hope we actually get time to rehearse because I'm just so excited to get to see them all." Tickets are still available and can be purchased online or at the doors of the Missouri Theatre. <div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5fPr4gNmoPptzHMUHc87y0?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

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