The winners of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce's 'Shop St. Joseph' program have been announced.

26-year old Ethan Bennett, of St. Joseph, won the grand prize of $10,000. He was presented the check Thursday afternoon at Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering, which is the restaurant where he received the winning ticket.&nbsp;

Bennett says he plans to use some of the winnings to help his grandmother have a nice Christmas. "My grandma has dementia and we wanted to get her something really nice for the holidays. As of right now, we're just making sure we're talking to the proper people and making sure we're handling this correctly."

Bennett, a small business owner himself, says his family likes supporting local businesses. He is the owner of EWB Co., an online hunting and lifestyle clothing store.

Dale and Annette Murphy, owners of Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering say they're thrilled the winning ticket came from their business. "We're very excited. For us being a new business, we've only had our brick and mortar opened for about a year, but we've had our business since 2015. Having the winning ticket makes it that much better."

Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering is located at 1930 Commercial Street.

The other big winner for Shop St. Joseph was Julie Turner, who claimed the $2,500 Shop Small Business Bonus ticket at Niche of Time Jewelry.

Turner was a first-time shopper at the store, saying, "My hairdresser works there part-time and I was looking for a nice pair of earrings, so I thought I'd go check out the store."

Turner adds, "I was shocked when I saw my ticket matched the winning number."

The presenting sponsor for Shop St. Joseph is First Option Bank.

There are still several second-chance prizes ready to be claimed. For a list of the second-chance prize winning numbers, <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/second-chance-winning-numbers-2024.pdf">visit here</a>.

Those with the winning tickets have 30 days to go to the place of business itself to claim the prize.

By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph Post<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734652808147.jpeg" alt="Shop St Joe Winner 2024 Bennett" />
 <figcaption>Shop St Joe Winner 2024 Bennett</figcaption>
 </figure>The winners of the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce's 'Shop St. Joseph' program have been announced.26-year old Ethan Bennett, of St. Joseph, won the grand prize of $10,000. He was presented the check Thursday afternoon at Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering, which is the restaurant where he received the winning ticket.&nbsp;Bennett says he plans to use some of the winnings to help his grandmother have a nice Christmas. "My grandma has dementia and we wanted to get her something really nice for the holidays. As of right now, we're just making sure we're talking to the proper people and making sure we're handling this correctly."Bennett, a small business owner himself, says his family likes supporting local businesses. He is the owner of EWB Co., an online hunting and lifestyle clothing store.Dale and Annette Murphy, owners of Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering say they're thrilled the winning ticket came from their business. "We're very excited. For us being a new business, we've only had our brick and mortar opened for about a year, but we've had our business since 2015. Having the winning ticket makes it that much better."Murphy's Smokin' Meats and Catering is located at 1930 Commercial Street.The other big winner for Shop St. Joseph was Julie Turner, who claimed the $2,500 Shop Small Business Bonus ticket at Niche of Time Jewelry.Turner was a first-time shopper at the store, saying, "My hairdresser works there part-time and I was looking for a nice pair of earrings, so I thought I'd go check out the store."Turner adds, "I was shocked when I saw my ticket matched the winning number."The presenting sponsor for Shop St. Joseph is First Option Bank.There are still several second-chance prizes ready to be claimed. For a list of the second-chance prize winning numbers, <a href="https://saintjoseph.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/second-chance-winning-numbers-2024.pdf">visit here</a>. Those with the winning tickets have 30 days to go to the place of business itself to claim the prize.

Shop St. Joseph winners announced

To keep it bright and cheery, take a few
precautions.

“I’ve always said, in my time in policing, that
this time of year it brings out the best in a lot of people, but it brings out
the worst in those with more nefarious thoughts,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul
Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.

Luster points out a lot of us do a lot of online
shopping.

“A lot of Amazon boxes, a lot of boxes being
delivered,” Luster says. “So, really pay attention to your deliveries, when
they’re coming; not leaving those packages out on your porch for long periods
of time, almost enticing those criminals.”

Luster suggests that if your work allows it, have
packages delivered to the office.

Luster says many perceive criminals as the
strong-arm type, but adds most criminals will not approach you, attempting to
overpower you.

“They’re opportunists. They may not have gone out
that day with the intention of stealing any packages, but when they see a whole
bunch of packages on a porch, they just decide to make that move,” Luster says.
He adds a few steps can prevent theft. “One is just really pay attention, if
you can, to those deliveries.”

That goes the same for getting out and going
store-to-store. Place purchases in the trunk or at least out of sight.

A key to having a safe holiday season, according
to Luster, is simply to slow down.

“It seems just this time of year, and I’m not
immune to this either, where things get really busy and you get in a hurry and sometimes
you just forget that you have stuff laying there. It just seems like this time
of year there’s really this hustle and bustle. It stresses a lot of people out,”
Luster says. “That’s the last thing you need is a broken window and gifts
stolen that cost money. That will really put a damper on your holiday season for
sure.”

“Also, remember there’s a lot of traffic out
there and, like I said, sometimes this brings out the worst in people. So, you
get impatient people out there,” according to Luster. “Just allow yourself that
extra time. Stay patient and be kind to one another.”

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostChristmas draws near.To keep it bright and cheery, take a few
precautions.“I’ve always said, in my time in policing, that
this time of year it brings out the best in a lot of people, but it brings out
the worst in those with more nefarious thoughts,” St. Joseph Police Chief Paul
Luster tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ Hotline.Luster points out a lot of us do a lot of online
shopping.“A lot of Amazon boxes, a lot of boxes being
delivered,” Luster says. “So, really pay attention to your deliveries, when
they’re coming; not leaving those packages out on your porch for long periods
of time, almost enticing those criminals.”Luster suggests that if your work allows it, have
packages delivered to the office.Perception plays a role in all this.Luster says many perceive criminals as the
strong-arm type, but adds most criminals will not approach you, attempting to
overpower you.“They’re opportunists. They may not have gone out
that day with the intention of stealing any packages, but when they see a whole
bunch of packages on a porch, they just decide to make that move,” Luster says.
He adds a few steps can prevent theft. “One is just really pay attention, if
you can, to those deliveries.”That goes the same for getting out and going
store-to-store. Place purchases in the trunk or at least out of sight.A key to having a safe holiday season, according
to Luster, is simply to slow down.“It seems just this time of year, and I’m not
immune to this either, where things get really busy and you get in a hurry and sometimes
you just forget that you have stuff laying there. It just seems like this time
of year there’s really this hustle and bustle. It stresses a lot of people out,”
Luster says. “That’s the last thing you need is a broken window and gifts
stolen that cost money. That will really put a damper on your holiday season for
sure.”Take steps to protect yourself as well.“Also, remember there’s a lot of traffic out
there and, like I said, sometimes this brings out the worst in people. So, you
get impatient people out there,” according to Luster. “Just allow yourself that
extra time. Stay patient and be kind to one another.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Christmas can bring out the best, but it also brings out the criminals

After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week.   

The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph.  

Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.

InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend 

"We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.

Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU 

"And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains.  "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." 

Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.

Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else 

"We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says.  "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." 

The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th.  Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626748603.jpeg" alt="InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>InspireU, the brand new Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph, will have its grand opening on December 26th/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After two years of hard work, the grand opening for InspireU, the downtown Children’s Discovery Center is next week. The old Plymouth Building is almost unrecognizable nowadays, filled with colorful walls and fun children's activities in a new children’s museum in St. Joseph. Construction on InspireU began in November of 2022, and now over two years later, it will open its doors to several hundreds, if not thousands of children, one day after Christmas.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626808407.jpeg" alt="An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>An area for toddlers is on the mezzanine of the discovery center/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>InspireU Director Katherine Patterson-Paronto, who came on in March, says she's been waiting a long time to see kids play in the space, and says it was wonderful to see during soft openings this past weekend "We had families playing together, everybody was playing, parents, kids, grandparents, all of them together, and I really loved being able to give this experience to them and be a part of it," Patterson-Paronto tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Soft openings have welcomed Mosaic employees as well as employees of Lehr Construction, who did work on the center, to explore and experience the museum.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626859594.jpeg" alt="A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>A climber on the first floor of InspireU that goes between the first floor and the mezzanine/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Mosaic Life Care Foundation President Julie Gaddie says it's been wonderful watching children running into InspireU "And their young parents looking around in awe thinking I can't believe we're in St. Joseph," Gaddie explains. "And those kids just can't get here fast enough and it's so fulfilling to watch them play." Another series of soft openings will be held this weekend, December 20th through the 22nd. If you're interested in attending, you can register at <a href="https://mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events">mlcfndn.ticketapp.org/portal/product/19/events</a>. Admission is $12 a person for the soft openings and can only be purchased online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734626959581.jpeg" alt="The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The water table gives kids an opportunity to play in water on the second floor of InspireU/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Patterson-Paronto says while this children's museum fits the mold of others across the country, what sets it apart is it can't really exist anywhere else "We are very much St. Joe," Patterson-Paronto says. "So you'll look through the place and there will be big things you notice like the Missouri Theatre, but there will be tiny things too, like some of the posters are of stuff here, our murals have iconic buildings, we have career panels throughout the space and a lot of them are local folks who work that job, so that's really the thing that sets us apart." The Grand Opening is now set for December 26th. Tickets can be purchased at the museum, there are also several membership options already available online.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734627023960.jpeg" alt="The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>The rooftop of InspireU gives kids an overview of downtown St. Joseph as well as the Missouri River/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjoepost%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02eWj5rLLpKeKFod7pLv9finZhQ8VozbRs48Ug52YAg6feRhJPk35vWirr5uZCK4TVl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="786" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Transformed Plymouth Building set to open as InspireU day after Christmas

After narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent.  

Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent.  

“As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release.  “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” 

McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition.  She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 

"I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." 

Edgar will officially retire on June 30th.  Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734560279432.jpeg" alt="Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District" />
 <figcaption>Current Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services Ashly McGinnis has been named the next Superintendent of the St. Joseph School District/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostAfter narrowing the field to four earlier this week, the St. Joseph Board of Education has named its next superintendent. Ashly McGinnis, who currently serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Academic Services, has been approved by the St. Joseph School Board unanimously to become the superintendent. “As someone who knows our district inside and out, Dr. McGinnis is uniquely positioned to build on our successes and lead us forward with continuity and purpose,” stated School Board President LaTonya Williams in a news release. “The Board is confident that Dr. McGinnis will continue to strengthen partnerships with families, staff, and the broader community while maintaining our district’s commitment to excellence.” McGinnis will work with current superintendent Gabe Edgar over the coming months to help with a seamless transition. She will officially take the position July 1st, 2025 "I am honored and humbled to serve as the next superintendent of our St. Joseph School District.” said McGinnis. “Both our district and city hold a special place in my heart, and I am committed to fostering a forward-thinking approach to prepare our students for success in an ever-changing world. Together, with our incredible staff, families, and community, we will work tirelessly to ensure every student is supported, inspired, and empowered to achieve their full potential." Edgar will officially retire on June 30th. Edgar announced his intent to retire and work in the public sector to the board last fall.

St. Joseph School Board names Ashly McGinnis as next superintendent 

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>

DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.

Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.

A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.

Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.

But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.

As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.

Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.

Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.

After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.

But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.

In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.

By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.

“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”

Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.

In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.

In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.

In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.

None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.

The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.

Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.

Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.

“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”

Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost

Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.

They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.

Hinkle lived on a sprawling cattle farm handed down to him from his father, a farm where Hinkle had been doing daily labor and chores since he was 12 years old. *By the time the Tyson managers came to visit, his 1,200-acre spread was nearly paid off.

Hinkle was hesitant about Tyson’s offer. He had heard stories about farmers being forced to borrow money and upgrade equipment, only to have contracts later terminated without warning.

But the Tyson managers assured him those were old stories.

Hinkle’s original fears came true a decade later when Tyson closed the Dexter plant.

Tyson’s tactics: Countersuits and secret deals

When Hinkle decided to sue Tyson, he wanted a lawyer who understood his perspective. He found that with Russell Oliver.

Born and raised in Puxico, Missouri (15 miles from Dexter), Oliver was a farm boy himself. Before becoming the district’s prosecuting attorney, a young Oliver dreamed of carrying on the legacy of his family’s farm. When Oliver’s father died in 1974, several of his family members dropped their individual pursuits for the sake of the farm. So, when Hinkle approached him, heartbroken and desperate for answers, Oliver felt he had no choice but to help him.

“Everything about this (case) hits so close to home, it’s so much more than lawsuits and money,” Oliver said. “I see my neighbors that share the same identity that I share going through something like this — there’s no way I can’t fight for them.”

In addition to Hinkle, the lawsuit includes four other farmers once under contract with Tyson: Jessie Bridwell, Richard and Samantha Green, as well as R&amp;S Green Farms LLC.​​ The plaintiffs allege that Tyson deliberately misled them by shutting down the Dexter Complex, which caused severe financial damages.

During an April 29 hearing in Stoddard County, Tyson’s lawyers pushed back on the allegation, pointing out that the farmers are still receiving payment from Tyson to this day. This compensation is called outtime payments and refers to the money given to farmers to cover the time it takes to remove birds, clean out their houses and bring in new birds.

Outtime payments are $0.02 per square foot of chicken houses, significantly less than a monthly payment. Hinkle said the payments have been inconsistent and are far lower than what’s needed to cover his debt. He said Tyson technicians assured him that it would take no longer than four to six weeks to receive outtime payments; however, Hinkle said payments sometimes took as long as 20 weeks to show up.’

“My outtime pay doesn’t even cover the electric bill, so what are we supposed to do?” he said. “You’re always in a tumble of not knowing what to do. You can’t budget anything, it’s just a constant state of chaos.”

The lawsuit also claims Tyson knew about the plant closure as early as 2021 when the company filed a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it had “identified” and “targeted” $1 billion in recurring savings year to year as part of their new “Productivity Program.”

The lawsuit also claims Tyson tried to thwart competition with its sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, which included an agreement restricting how the plant could be used.

Hinkle’s lawyers alleged that they have a copy of the agreement, and they quoted from it in a court filing. However, the contract language was redacted in the public court filing.

The agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine “has eliminated (and will eliminate for 25 years) any competition in the Dexter market area for the services of chicken growers,” the lawsuit claims. The farmers believe Tyson intentionally prevented the sale to a competitor in order to cut supply and raise prices on poultry. The exact mechanisms by which the contract might restrict competition were redacted and remain under seal, according to court filings and Hinkle’s attorneys.

In August, Tyson Foods countersued two Dexter farmers — Elija and Melissa Skaggs — claiming their case should be dismissed because the farmers turned down a chance to sign new contracts with Cal-Maine.

In the countersuit, Tyson acknowledged the agreement’s existence by saying it had terminated it in July. Tyson said that it had originally signed the agreement because it was worried that Cal-Maine might buy the Dexter plant but then quickly sell it to a competing company that would raise “broiler” chickens for food. If that happened, Tyson would have essentially sold the plant to a direct competitor. Tyson said in the court filing that the company later became “comfortable that Cal-Maine was not trying to flip the Dexter complex,” so Tyson terminated the property use-agreement.

*Brandon Boulware, an attorney from Boulware Law representing Dexter’s farmers against Tyson, said terminating the agreement didn’t help the farmers, because the plant had already been transformed into a table-egg producing facility rather than one that produced broilers.

“The damage has already been done,” Boulware said.

Tyson’s agreement with Cal-Maine has also drawn the attention of state and federal lawmakers.

https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25449738-us-sen-josh-hawley-letter/?embed=1

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri’s senior Republican senator, said Tyson’s CEO, Donnie King, personally reassured him in 2023 that Tyson would not prevent a competitor from buying the Dexter plant.

“You misled me,” Hawley wrote in a July 9 letter to King. “These are serious allegations, and the people of Missouri deserve to know the truth.”

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey echoed Hawley in an Oct. 3 letter to King, where he stated that it is “paramount that you do everything in your power to either keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party, including a competitor.”

When Hawley later learned about the property-use agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine that Tyson kept from public filings, he called for it to be made public. The agreement was part of the larger sales contract between Tyson and Cal-Maine, and was not filed publicly with the county recorder of deeds, according to court documents. Bailey later joined the farmer’s lawsuit.

Confidential or concealed? Tyson’s documents under scrutiny&nbsp;

On June 26, the parties gathered in a small New Madrid County courtroom for a hearing. Behind the four lawyers for Tyson were seven empty wooden benches. On the other side, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel was made up of six lawyers, as well as Oliver’s son. Behind their table sat 11 people, many of them farmers in dirt-ridden boots and plaid dress shirts.

The 9 a.m. hearing was fiery from the outset. Of the 1,325 documents produced by Tyson Foods in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorneys complained all three were being kept confidential. Tyson’s lawyers, led primarily by Zach Chaffee-McClure, argued that the opposing legal counsel had used some of the confidential documents without permission. They asked for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Brandon Boulware and Oliver, to be sanctioned.

Boulware and Oliver were quick to express their disbelief.

“This isn’t how we practice law in the (Missouri) Bootheel,” Oliver said. “(Tyson) wants to deflect, they want this to be about the lawyers and not the crimes.”

Boulware, who was from Kansas City, echoed Oliver’s sentiment. “I’ve been in law since 2005, and I have never been sanctioned; this is a first for me,” Boulware said. “I agree, this is not how things are done in the Bootheel, but it’s not how they are done in Kansas City, either.”

Later, Oliver argued that Tyson was concealing evidence of breaking the law. Oliver asked for four confidential documents to be made public, which included the sale agreement with Cal-Maine.

Oliver also said he had no plans to settle with Tyson and promised the judge that, if given permission, they would disclose these documents to government officials like Bailey, Hawley, USDA and the Department of Justice.

McClure, Tyson’s attorney, responded that his client cooperates with the federal government “all the time,” and that the company is allowed to designate any business or competitive document confidential.

Tyson’s other lawyer argued, using the example of a donut shop, that a business preventing the sale of its property to a competitor happens all the time and is not a crime.

Tyson’s market power under the microscope&nbsp;

If the allegations of antitrust violations are accurate, Tyson Foods could face serious consequences, said Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at Open Markets Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on the dangers of monopolization.

“Tyson is a brand that comes with a lot of baggage for those covering the food industry,” Kelloway said. “Tyson gets some of the credit for turning the industry into this really vertically-integrated model that centralizes a lot of control over the supply chain in one company.”

Calling the poultry industry “extremely unfair” and “exploitative” of farmers, Kelloway added that Tyson’s size and political power make it difficult to hold them accountable.

“The industry needs a lot of sunlight and scrutiny,” she said. “Hopefully, the reforms and rulemaking keep coming until these antitrust laws are being enforced as intended.”

Just shy of two months after the hearing, Tyson’s legal counsel said it would depose Hinkle and the other plaintiffs.

Hinkle was also sent a more demanding request. Tyson filed a motion that would compel him to provide complete copies of all recordings and written communications that he and his attorneys had with media outlets. Tyson also demanded all of Hinkle’s communications with the USDA, which enforces antitrust law for farmers.

Boulware said that his law firm had obeyed Tyson’s subpoena and was compelled to hand over documents related to the firm’s communication with journalists.

“It’s unprecedented for a defendant to seek documents, or communication between a lawyer and the press, rather than defend their own misconduct,” Boulware said.

Tyson also subpoenaed two news organizations: KFVS12, a television station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Talk Business and Politics, a news website in Arkansas. In the subpoenas, Tyson demanded copies of all communications between reporters and Hinkle. The local media outlets that were subpoenaed refused to cooperate, Boulware said, and Tyson has refused to enforce those subpoenas.

Both KFVS12 and Talk Business and Politics declined to comment.

With a trial date set for next June, a lifestyle of financial and emotional uncertainty persists for many of the farmers of the Dexter complex. For Hinkle and other plaintiffs, this lawsuit is personal. They, along with Oliver and Boulware, insist this has never been about money; it is about what is right and wrong.

“These companies need to understand that the days of building an empire on our backs and then just throwing us out like garbage is over,” Hinkle said. “Not anymore.”

In November, Tyson Foods reported its quarterly earnings. The news was great for Tyson shareholders. Tyson’s poultry division made a profit of $409 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $267 million the year before.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tyson-foods-cut-contracts-with-poultry-farmers-now-the-company-is-working-to-silence-their-legal-fight/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734607642518.png" alt=" A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest)." />
 <figcaption> A farm near Sikeston on April 17 where the owner raised chickens before market changes (photo by Daniel Byrd, for Investigate Midwest).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/eganward/">EGAN WARD</a>DEXTER, Missouri – On an early August morning in 2023, Shawn Hinkle received a call from one of his technicians at Tyson Foods who, through tears, told him the company’s plant in Dexter was shutting down.Hundreds of jobs at the poultry slaughterhouse would be lost and farmers like Hinkle, who contracted with Tyson to raise egg-laying hens, would be out of business.A decade earlier, Hinkle borrowed $2.3 million to build two chicken houses on his land. After struggling to keep up with Tyson’s standards and investing in his farm, Hinkle now owed $2.8 million and faced the prospect of losing it all in bankruptcy.Tyson said the Dexter plant closure was part of a national effort to streamline production and boost profits —&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/05/08/early-morning-calls-barren-chicken-barns-millions-in-debt/" target="_blank">the company also closed three other poultry plants and two beef packing plants</a>.But Tyson’s explanation didn’t make sense to Hinkle and several other farmers who, in December 2023, sued the giant meat company for breaking its contracts.As the lawsuit moves forward, a&nbsp;<a href="https://watchdogwritersgroup.com/" target="_blank">Watchdog Writers Group</a>&nbsp;analysis of documents filed in the case, in partnership with Investigate Midwest, reveals Tyson coordinated closely with Cal-Maine Foods, the company that ended up buying the Dexter plant. That coordination prevented farmers from continuing their same operations with another Tyson competitor.Documents also show Tyson tried to prevent its former contract farmers from seeking legal remedies over the broken contracts, and has possibly attempted to discourage farmers from speaking with federal officials and journalists.Tyson Foods declined to answer detailed questions about the allegations of the lawsuit.After purchasing the Dexter plant, Cal-Maine offered contracts to local farmers if they retrofitted their farms to raise table egg-laying hens rather than chickens for meat. Unlike many area farmers, Hinke raised egg-laying hens to produce more chicks, which were sent to other farmers. Raising hens for Cal-Maine would have required a significant operational overall for Hinkle and other farmers.But Cal-Maine’s offer came with a catch: The farmers would have to agree not to sue Tyson Foods for any losses because of the plant closure, according to court filings.In another sign of coordination, Tyson provided the data that Cal-Maine used in its offer to farmers, according to a copy of the offer letter obtained by the Watchdog Writers Group.By working with Cal-Maine, Tyson prevented the Dexter plant from being purchased by a competing poultry meat company, like *Perdue Foods or Sanderson Foods, according to attorneys representing Hinkle and his neighbors. Local poultry farmers could have transitioned more easily to new contracts with those competitors that produce meat, rather than eggs for consumption.“Why on earth would Tyson do this?” Russ Oliver, a local attorney representing Hinkle and his neighbors asked during a court hearing in June. “Because if you keep it secret, then Perdue doesn’t find out about your plans. Then Sanderson doesn’t find out about your plans. And you gain a market advantage over the rest of the competition because they have six plants that are a​​ll of a sudden stopping production.”Tyson Foods, which produces about one-fifth of all meat in the U.S., has faced numerous lawsuits and federal investigations over accusations of price fixing.In&nbsp;2016, Tyson was sued in civil court by large meat wholesalers who claimed the company cut supplies to inflate chicken prices. Tyson settled that case for $221.5 million.In&nbsp;2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued large poultry companies, including Tyson, for allegedly colluding with competitors to raise prices. The case ended in a mistrial in 2022.In&nbsp;2021, producers in Oklahoma, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, West Virginia and Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/news/article/2021/09/23/growers-alleged-tyson-perdue-reduce" target="_blank">filed a lawsuit</a>&nbsp;that alleged Tyson and Perdue Foods shared grower pay data in order to suppress wages. Both companies settled for $35.8 million later that year.None of these actions have significantly curbed Tyson’s market power, which, together with its next biggest competitor, Pilgrim’s Pride, controls about half the national market for chicken. In the&nbsp;late 1970s, more than 40 companies controlled half the market,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/41108/18011_aer785_1_.pdf?v=0" target="_blank">according to the USDA</a>.The latest class action lawsuit filed by Hinkle and other Missouri farmers claims Tyson and Cal-Maine signed an agreement restricting how the Dexter poultry complex can be used for the next 25 years.Since the lawsuit was filed, Hinkle and his attorneys also believe Tyson has tried to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage. Tyson asked the court to compel Hinkle and others to reveal all contacts and conversations with officials at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which regulates antitrust laws on behalf of farmers.Tyson has also asked the court to make Hinkle and others reveal any and all contacts and conversations with journalists. Hinkle said he is undeterred and will continue seeking compensation through the lawsuit, which does not request a specific dollar amount.“None of this is anything that we wanted. I didn’t ask for a year’s worth of not sleeping,” he said. “Then again, I’m not going to sit back and get screwed.”<h2>Tyson’s promise of prosperity comes at a cost</h2>Hinkle’s career with Tyson Foods began in 2013 when two managers from the plant said they had an offer that would change his life.They said Hinkle could build a massive factory farm on his land — using borrowed money that Tyson would help him obtain — where he could raise tens of thousands of chickens at a time under contract for Tyson and earn a stable income for decades.Hinkle lived on a sprawling cattle farm handed down to him from his father, a farm where Hinkle had been doing daily labor and chores since he was 12 years old. *By the time the Tyson managers came to visit, his 1,200-acre spread was nearly paid off.Hinkle was hesitant about Tyson’s offer. He had heard stories about farmers being forced to borrow money and upgrade equipment, only to have contracts later terminated without warning.But the Tyson managers assured him those were old stories.Hinkle’s original fears came true a decade later when Tyson closed the Dexter plant.<h2>Tyson’s tactics: Countersuits and secret deals</h2>When Hinkle decided to sue Tyson, he wanted a lawyer who understood his perspective. He found that with Russell Oliver.Born and raised in Puxico, Missouri (15 miles from Dexter), Oliver was a farm boy himself. Before becoming the district’s prosecuting attorney, a young Oliver dreamed of carrying on the legacy of his family’s farm. When Oliver’s father died in 1974, several of his family members dropped their individual pursuits for the sake of the farm. So, when Hinkle approached him, heartbroken and desperate for answers, Oliver felt he had no choice but to help him.“Everything about this (case) hits so close to home, it’s so much more than lawsuits and money,” Oliver said. “I see my neighbors that share the same identity that I share going through something like this — there’s no way I can’t fight for them.”In addition to Hinkle, the lawsuit includes four other farmers once under contract with Tyson: Jessie Bridwell, Richard and Samantha Green, as well as R&amp;S Green Farms LLC.​​ The plaintiffs allege that Tyson deliberately misled them by shutting down the Dexter Complex, which caused severe financial damages.During an April 29 hearing in Stoddard County, Tyson’s lawyers pushed back on the allegation, pointing out that the farmers are still receiving payment from Tyson to this day. This compensation is called outtime payments and refers to the money given to farmers to cover the time it takes to remove birds, clean out their houses and bring in new birds.Outtime payments are $0.02 per square foot of chicken houses, significantly less than a monthly payment. Hinkle said the payments have been inconsistent and are far lower than what’s needed to cover his debt. He said Tyson technicians assured him that it would take no longer than four to six weeks to receive outtime payments; however, Hinkle said payments sometimes took as long as 20 weeks to show up.’“My outtime pay doesn’t even cover the electric bill, so what are we supposed to do?” he said. “You’re always in a tumble of not knowing what to do. You can’t budget anything, it’s just a constant state of chaos.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson knew about the plant closure as early as 2021 when the company filed a disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission stating that it had “identified” and “targeted” $1 billion in recurring savings year to year as part of their new “Productivity Program.”The lawsuit also claims Tyson tried to thwart competition with its sale of the Dexter plant to Cal-Maine Foods, which included an agreement restricting how the plant could be used.Hinkle’s lawyers alleged that they have a copy of the agreement, and they quoted from it in a court filing. However, the contract language was redacted in the public court filing.The agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine “has eliminated (and will eliminate for 25 years) any competition in the Dexter market area for the services of chicken growers,” the lawsuit claims. The farmers believe Tyson intentionally prevented the sale to a competitor in order to cut supply and raise prices on poultry. The exact mechanisms by which the contract might restrict competition were redacted and remain under seal, according to court filings and Hinkle’s attorneys.In August, Tyson Foods countersued two Dexter farmers — Elija and Melissa Skaggs — claiming their case should be dismissed because the farmers turned down a chance to sign new contracts with Cal-Maine.In the countersuit, Tyson acknowledged the agreement’s existence by saying it had terminated it in July. Tyson said that it had originally signed the agreement because it was worried that Cal-Maine might buy the Dexter plant but then quickly sell it to a competing company that would raise “broiler” chickens for food. If that happened, Tyson would have essentially sold the plant to a direct competitor. Tyson said in the court filing that the company later became “comfortable that Cal-Maine was not trying to flip the Dexter complex,” so Tyson terminated the property use-agreement.*Brandon Boulware, an attorney from Boulware Law representing Dexter’s farmers against Tyson, said terminating the agreement didn’t help the farmers, because the plant had already been transformed into a table-egg producing facility rather than one that produced broilers.“The damage has already been done,” Boulware said.Tyson’s agreement with Cal-Maine has also drawn the attention of state and federal lawmakers.https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/25449738-us-sen-josh-hawley-letter/?embed=1U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, Missouri’s senior Republican senator, said Tyson’s CEO, Donnie King, personally reassured him in 2023 that Tyson would not prevent a competitor from buying the Dexter plant.“You misled me,” Hawley wrote in a July 9 letter to King. “These are serious allegations, and the people of Missouri deserve to know the truth.”Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey echoed Hawley in an Oct. 3 letter to King, where he stated that it is “paramount that you do everything in your power to either keep the facilities open or sell to any interested party, including a competitor.”When Hawley later learned about the property-use agreement between Tyson and Cal-Maine that Tyson kept from public filings, he called for it to be made public. The agreement was part of the larger sales contract between Tyson and Cal-Maine, and was not filed publicly with the county recorder of deeds, according to court documents. Bailey later joined the farmer’s lawsuit.<h2>Confidential or concealed? Tyson’s documents under scrutiny&nbsp;</h2>On June 26, the parties gathered in a small New Madrid County courtroom for a hearing. Behind the four lawyers for Tyson were seven empty wooden benches. On the other side, the plaintiffs’ legal counsel was made up of six lawyers, as well as Oliver’s son. Behind their table sat 11 people, many of them farmers in dirt-ridden boots and plaid dress shirts.The 9 a.m. hearing was fiery from the outset. Of the 1,325 documents produced by Tyson Foods in the lawsuit, the plaintiff’s attorneys complained all three were being kept confidential. Tyson’s lawyers, led primarily by Zach Chaffee-McClure, argued that the opposing legal counsel had used some of the confidential documents without permission. They asked for the plaintiff’s lawyers, Brandon Boulware and Oliver, to be sanctioned.Boulware and Oliver were quick to express their disbelief.“This isn’t how we practice law in the (Missouri) Bootheel,” Oliver said. “(Tyson) wants to deflect, they want this to be about the lawyers and not the crimes.”Boulware, who was from Kansas City, echoed Oliver’s sentiment. “I’ve been in law since 2005, and I have never been sanctioned; this is a first for me,” Boulware said. “I agree, this is not how things are done in the Bootheel, but it’s not how they are done in Kansas City, either.”The motion was denied by the judge.Later, Oliver argued that Tyson was concealing evidence of breaking the law. Oliver asked for four confidential documents to be made public, which included the sale agreement with Cal-Maine.Oliver also said he had no plans to settle with Tyson and promised the judge that, if given permission, they would disclose these documents to government officials like Bailey, Hawley, USDA and the Department of Justice.McClure, Tyson’s attorney, responded that his client cooperates with the federal government “all the time,” and that the company is allowed to designate any business or competitive document confidential.Tyson’s other lawyer argued, using the example of a donut shop, that a business preventing the sale of its property to a competitor happens all the time and is not a crime.<h2>Tyson’s market power under the microscope&nbsp;</h2>If the allegations of antitrust violations are accurate, Tyson Foods could face serious consequences, said Claire Kelloway, program manager for fair food and farming systems at Open Markets Institute, a Washington, DC-based think tank focused on the dangers of monopolization.“Tyson is a brand that comes with a lot of baggage for those covering the food industry,” Kelloway said. “Tyson gets some of the credit for turning the industry into this really vertically-integrated model that centralizes a lot of control over the supply chain in one company.”Calling the poultry industry “extremely unfair” and “exploitative” of farmers, Kelloway added that Tyson’s size and political power make it difficult to hold them accountable.“The industry needs a lot of sunlight and scrutiny,” she said. “Hopefully, the reforms and rulemaking keep coming until these antitrust laws are being enforced as intended.”Just shy of two months after the hearing, Tyson’s legal counsel said it would depose Hinkle and the other plaintiffs.Hinkle was also sent a more demanding request. Tyson filed a motion that would compel him to provide complete copies of all recordings and written communications that he and his attorneys had with media outlets. Tyson also demanded all of Hinkle’s communications with the USDA, which enforces antitrust law for farmers.Boulware said that his law firm had obeyed Tyson’s subpoena and was compelled to hand over documents related to the firm’s communication with journalists.“It’s unprecedented for a defendant to seek documents, or communication between a lawyer and the press, rather than defend their own misconduct,” Boulware said.Tyson also subpoenaed two news organizations: KFVS12, a television station in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Talk Business and Politics, a news website in Arkansas. In the subpoenas, Tyson demanded copies of all communications between reporters and Hinkle. The local media outlets that were subpoenaed refused to cooperate, Boulware said, and Tyson has refused to enforce those subpoenas.Both KFVS12 and Talk Business and Politics declined to comment.With a trial date set for next June, a lifestyle of financial and emotional uncertainty persists for many of the farmers of the Dexter complex. For Hinkle and other plaintiffs, this lawsuit is personal. They, along with Oliver and Boulware, insist this has never been about money; it is about what is right and wrong.“These companies need to understand that the days of building an empire on our backs and then just throwing us out like garbage is over,” Hinkle said. “Not anymore.”In November, Tyson Foods reported its quarterly earnings. The news was great for Tyson shareholders. Tyson’s poultry division made a profit of $409 million for the quarter, compared to a loss of $267 million the year before.This&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2024/12/17/tyson-foods-cut-contracts-with-poultry-farmers-now-the-company-is-working-to-silence-their-legal-fight/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/" target="_blank">Investigate Midwest</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.<figure>
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Tyson Foods cut contracts with Missouri farmers and is working to silence their legal fight

The winning number for the Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program is

The shopper with the winning ticket has 24 hours to come forward to claim the $10,000 prize. Shoppers are urged to keep their tickets because if the winner hasn’t come forward by 5 p.m. on Thursday, another number will be announced. This process will continue at 5 p.m. on weekdays until a winner comes forward with the winning ticket.

The winner MUST call the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce at (816) 232-4461 during business hours or (816) 261-3610 after business hours to arrange a time to verify the ticket. He or she MUST come to the Chamber office at 3003 Frederick Ave. before 5 p.m. Thursday to claim the prize. The person with the winning ticket should come to the Chamber to have the ticket verified, not a member of the media. Media members cannot verify a winning ticket.

On top of the $10,000 dollar grand prize, there's an extra cash prize of $2,500 dollars this year for shopping at small businesses&nbsp;

The winning number for the Shop Small Business Bonus is:&nbsp;

The winner will be responsible for any applicable taxes.

The winner must be 18 or older. Proof of age, Social Security number, home address and place of employment (if applicable) is required to claim the prize. Chamber of Commerce staff, Chamber officers and their immediate family members (dependents living at the same address) are not eligible to win the grand prize. Participating business owners, managers and employees are eligible to win, with the exception of tickets distributed through their own place of business (including other participating locations).

One winning number per each second-chance prize were also drawn today. Those numbers will be announced after the grand prize ticket has been verified.

Certified public accountants provided oversight of the program. About&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; on tickets were distributed this year through the 127 participating merchants. During the inaugural year in 2007, there were 59 participating merchants.

This is the 18th year for the local holiday shopping program. The program’s goal is to keep holiday spending in the local economy, so sales tax collected goes back into helping St. Joseph and Buchanan County projects. Shop St. Joseph is presented by First Option Bank.

Approximately 1.8 million tickets were distributed in 2024.

UPDATE: The Chamber reports two people have come forward to claim the top prizes but names have not yet been announced.

The winning number for the Shop St. Joseph Holiday Program is<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734562522571.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The shopper with the winning ticket has 24 hours to come forward to claim the $10,000 prize. Shoppers are urged to keep their tickets because if the winner hasn’t come forward by 5 p.m. on Thursday, another number will be announced. This process will continue at 5 p.m. on weekdays until a winner comes forward with the winning ticket.The winner MUST call the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce at (816) 232-4461 during business hours or (816) 261-3610 after business hours to arrange a time to verify the ticket. He or she MUST come to the Chamber office at 3003 Frederick Ave. before 5 p.m. Thursday to claim the prize. The person with the winning ticket should come to the Chamber to have the ticket verified, not a member of the media. Media members cannot verify a winning ticket.On top of the $10,000 dollar grand prize, there's an extra cash prize of $2,500 dollars this year for shopping at small businesses&nbsp;The winning number for the Shop Small Business Bonus is:&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734562571361.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The winner will be responsible for any applicable taxes.The winner must be 18 or older. Proof of age, Social Security number, home address and place of employment (if applicable) is required to claim the prize. Chamber of Commerce staff, Chamber officers and their immediate family members (dependents living at the same address) are not eligible to win the grand prize. Participating business owners, managers and employees are eligible to win, with the exception of tickets distributed through their own place of business (including other participating locations).One winning number per each second-chance prize were also drawn today. Those numbers will be announced after the grand prize ticket has been verified.Certified public accountants provided oversight of the program. About&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; on tickets were distributed this year through the 127 participating merchants. During the inaugural year in 2007, there were 59 participating merchants.This is the 18th year for the local holiday shopping program. The program’s goal is to keep holiday spending in the local economy, so sales tax collected goes back into helping St. Joseph and Buchanan County projects. Shop St. Joseph is presented by First Option Bank.Approximately 1.8 million tickets were distributed in 2024.UPDATE: The Chamber reports two people have come forward to claim the top prizes but names have not yet been announced.

And the winning number for Shop St. Joe is...

TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two game bird operations — one in&nbsp; Doniphan County and one in Rooks County, according to a media release from the agency.

 These mark the first commercial operations with HPAI in Kansas since early spring of 2024, although the virus has been confirmed this fall in wild birds across the state and some backyard flocks.

KDA is working with the operations with assistance from local officials to respond at the affected premises. Those premises have been placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.

In addition, KDA will be establishing a surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. If you own poultry and live in Doniphan or Rooks counties, please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.HPAI@ks.gov">KDA.HPAI@ks.gov</a>. You can also self-report your birds at&nbsp;<a href="https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html">https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html</a>.

KDA has been reminding poultry owners of the increased risk of HPAI as a result of the fall migration season. Testing continues to reinforce that migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are the primary source of the spread of HPAI, so a critical part of protecting your flock is to establish separation between your domestic birds and wild birds as they migrate through your region. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. Poultry owners should attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.

If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.&nbsp;

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/?splash=https%3a%2f%2fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2f%3furl%3dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdc.gov%252Fflu%252Favianflu%252Fspotlights%252F2021-2022%252Fbird-flu-poses-low-risk-public.htm%26data%3d04%257C01%257CHeather.Lansdowne%2540ks.gov%257Cdcfca033eb9449ca399708da038ec6b5%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C637826209006215717%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C3000%26sdata%3dc7SUuX%252BX44iSBrUj1crcW5Ao0hsggmJrjVpe1bf1Lk0%253D%26reserved%3d0&amp;____isexternal=true">do not present an immediate public health concern</a>&nbsp;or a food safety concern.&nbsp; As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.

For more information about HPAI, including more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>&nbsp;or call KDA at 833-765-2006.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733747978622.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>TOPEKA —The Kansas Department of Agriculture has identified highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in two game bird operations — one in&nbsp; Doniphan County and one in Rooks County, according to a media release from the agency. These mark the first commercial operations with HPAI in Kansas since early spring of 2024, although the virus has been confirmed this fall in wild birds across the state and some backyard flocks.KDA is working with the operations with assistance from local officials to respond at the affected premises. Those premises have been placed under quarantine and the birds will be humanely depopulated and disposed of in an approved manner to prevent the spread of the disease.In addition, KDA will be establishing a surveillance zone around the infected premises, and other farms or properties with poultry that fall within that zone will not be allowed to move birds or poultry products on or off their property without permission from KDA. The animal health team is working to locate all poultry owners in the area to ensure they know the symptoms of HPAI and are taking critical steps to protect their birds. If you own poultry and live in Doniphan or Rooks counties, please contact KDA at 833-765-2006 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KDA.HPAI@ks.gov">KDA.HPAI@ks.gov</a>. You can also self-report your birds at&nbsp;<a href="https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html">https://fs22.formsite.com/KansasDeptAg/zlb9fcr9oc/index.html</a>.KDA has been reminding poultry owners of the increased risk of HPAI as a result of the fall migration season. Testing continues to reinforce that migratory wild birds, particularly waterfowl, are the primary source of the spread of HPAI, so a critical part of protecting your flock is to establish separation between your domestic birds and wild birds as they migrate through your region. Anyone involved with poultry production from the small backyard chicken owner to the large commercial producer should review their biosecurity activities to assure the health of their birds. Find guidance on biosecurity on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>.Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a contagious viral disease that can infect chickens, turkeys and other birds and can cause severe illness and/or sudden death in infected birds. Poultry owners should attentively monitor your birds for symptoms of HPAI which include: coughing, sneezing, nasal discharge, and other signs of respiratory distress; lack of energy and appetite; decreased water consumption; decreased egg production and/or soft-shelled, misshapen eggs; incoordination; and diarrhea. Avian influenza can also cause sudden death in birds even if they aren’t showing other symptoms.If these symptoms are observed in your birds, immediately contact your veterinarian. If you don’t have a regular veterinarian, contact KDA’s Division of Animal Health office toll-free at 833-765-2006.&nbsp;According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/?splash=https%3a%2f%2fgcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2f%3furl%3dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.cdc.gov%252Fflu%252Favianflu%252Fspotlights%252F2021-2022%252Fbird-flu-poses-low-risk-public.htm%26data%3d04%257C01%257CHeather.Lansdowne%2540ks.gov%257Cdcfca033eb9449ca399708da038ec6b5%257Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%257C0%257C0%257C637826209006215717%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C3000%26sdata%3dc7SUuX%252BX44iSBrUj1crcW5Ao0hsggmJrjVpe1bf1Lk0%253D%26reserved%3d0&amp;____isexternal=true">do not present an immediate public health concern</a>&nbsp;or a food safety concern.&nbsp; As a reminder, the proper handling and cooking of all poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F is recommended as a general food safety precaution.For more information about HPAI, including more information about biosecurity for your flock, go to KDA’s avian influenza webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza">agriculture.ks.gov/AvianInfluenza</a>&nbsp;or call KDA at 833-765-2006.

Bird flu found in Doniphan county

Fresh off the heels of the Bill Snyder Women's basketball classic, Civic Arena will turn around and host high school basketball starting tomorrow. 

St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says the third annual Holiday Hoops Classic begins tomorrow and runs through this weekend.  

"16 games over three days, it tips off Thursday, December 19th, so the thing that was really important us, was we wanted to make sure our county high schools, every single one of them, got to play and that's the case for seven of the eight this year," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "And you might say well what happened to the eighth, well didn't work out for East Buchanan this year, because of scheduling, and opponents, and trying to find dates." 

Esely says the action in the Holiday Hoops Classic begin tomorrow with the Lafayette girls taking on Columbia Battle 

"We're trying to bring teams in from outside the area that maybe our teams don't play that often or haven't been here, so Battle High School from Columbia will come up and play Lafayette to tip off the event at 6pm," Eseley says.  "And then the Lafayette boys will play Oak Park from Kansas City, that matchup is intriguing because the Lafayette boys, predominantly strong program, they were in the state final four in 2023, well the Oak Park boys were in the final four last year." 

Holiday Hoops will also see matchups featuring Bishop LeBlond, Savannah, Benton, St. Joseph Christian, North Platte, Mid-Buchanan, and Central. 

Esely says his team prides itself on providing an experience, saying it's a big deal for these high schools to come play at Civic Arena 

"We dress it up for them just how we would dress it up for a national championship or a division one game, or our college showcases, we treat all of these events the same, like an experience," Esely explains.  "I think our coaches and student athletes appreciate that, because what are we trying to prepare them to do? We're trying to prepare them postseason play and what they might see in March, and I think it's a big deal for them to come downtown and play in St. Joe." 

Tickets can be purchased online at the St. Joseph Sports Commission website, or on the day of at Civic Arena. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734540029337.jpeg" alt="The third annual Holiday Hoops classic, hosted by the St. Joseph Sports Commission tips off tomorrow at Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission" />
 <figcaption>The third annual Holiday Hoops classic, hosted by the St. Joseph Sports Commission tips off tomorrow at Civic Arena in downtown St. Joseph/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Fresh off the heels of the Bill Snyder Women's basketball classic, Civic Arena will turn around and host high school basketball starting tomorrow. St. Joseph Sports Commission Director Brett Esely says the third annual Holiday Hoops Classic begins tomorrow and runs through this weekend. "16 games over three days, it tips off Thursday, December 19th, so the thing that was really important us, was we wanted to make sure our county high schools, every single one of them, got to play and that's the case for seven of the eight this year," Esely tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "And you might say well what happened to the eighth, well didn't work out for East Buchanan this year, because of scheduling, and opponents, and trying to find dates." Esely says the action in the Holiday Hoops Classic begin tomorrow with the Lafayette girls taking on Columbia Battle "We're trying to bring teams in from outside the area that maybe our teams don't play that often or haven't been here, so Battle High School from Columbia will come up and play Lafayette to tip off the event at 6pm," Eseley says. "And then the Lafayette boys will play Oak Park from Kansas City, that matchup is intriguing because the Lafayette boys, predominantly strong program, they were in the state final four in 2023, well the Oak Park boys were in the final four last year." Holiday Hoops will also see matchups featuring Bishop LeBlond, Savannah, Benton, St. Joseph Christian, North Platte, Mid-Buchanan, and Central. Esely says his team prides itself on providing an experience, saying it's a big deal for these high schools to come play at Civic Arena "We dress it up for them just how we would dress it up for a national championship or a division one game, or our college showcases, we treat all of these events the same, like an experience," Esely explains. "I think our coaches and student athletes appreciate that, because what are we trying to prepare them to do? We're trying to prepare them postseason play and what they might see in March, and I think it's a big deal for them to come downtown and play in St. Joe." Tickets can be purchased online at the St. Joseph Sports Commission website, or on the day of at Civic Arena. <div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fstjomosportscommission%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0yiETXVEsjPPoGKAzFWUUhMwgq1ZgVs3g4GCBCsS7dUJPQTWyyM2dS5zUZ4HBXLS4l&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="792" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>

Third annual Holiday Hoops tips off tomorrow at Civic Arena

Elizabeth Newell, East Buchanan High School

Zamuel Brushwood, East Buchanan High School

Jackson Cline, St. Joseph Christian School

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734538901924.jpeg" alt="Students pictured (from left):&nbsp; Seated: Sophia Jura, Emma Loehnig, Sophia Mattson, Raychel McCamy, Elizabeth Newell, Cathy Nguyen, Andrea Simmons, and Gracie Wimes. Standing: Zamuel Brushwood, Cy Carlson, Ivan Chatfield, Jackson Cline, Michael Higdon, DeMare' Howard, Gage Proper, and Dalton Suman. Photo courtesy of the&nbsp;Cotillion for Achievement" />
 <figcaption>Students pictured (from left):&nbsp; Seated: Sophia Jura, Emma Loehnig, Sophia Mattson, Raychel McCamy, Elizabeth Newell, Cathy Nguyen, Andrea Simmons, and Gracie Wimes. Standing: Zamuel Brushwood, Cy Carlson, Ivan Chatfield, Jackson Cline, Michael Higdon, DeMare' Howard, Gage Proper, and Dalton Suman. Photo courtesy of the&nbsp;Cotillion for Achievement</figcaption>
 </figure>Cotillion for Achievement Class of 2025:Sophia Jura, Central High SchoolEmma Loehnig, Benton High SchoolSophia Mattson, Lafayette High SchoolRaychel McCamy, Central High SchoolElizabeth Newell, East Buchanan High SchoolCathy Nguyen, Lafayette High SchoolAndrea Simmons, Benton High SchoolGracie Wilmes, North Andrew High SchoolZamuel Brushwood, East Buchanan High SchoolCy Carlson, St. Joseph Christian SchoolIvan Chatfield, Central High SchoolJackson Cline, St. Joseph Christian SchoolMichael Higdon, Central High SchoolDeMare' Howard, Lafayette High SchoolGage Phroper, Benton High SchoolDalton Suman, Lafayette High School

St. Joseph Cotillion for Achievement 2025 class released

St. Joseph’s Sound of Speed Airshow has won a prestigious
honor, being named the “Best Military Show Site” for 2024.

The recognition comes from the United States Air
Force Thunderbirds who performed at the air show held at Rosecrans Memorial
Airport in September that drew thousands to the airport. It is the second time
the airshow at Rosecrans has won the award. The Thunderbirds also honored the
St. Joseph airshow in 2021.

The award honors the contributions of the National
Air Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing, the City of St. Joseph, Rosecrans
Memorial Airport, and the Airshow’s Executive Committee.

St. Joseph was selected for the award from a field
of roughly 75 military airshow sites.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph’s Sound of Speed Airshow has won a prestigious
honor, being named the “Best Military Show Site” for 2024.The recognition comes from the United States Air
Force Thunderbirds who performed at the air show held at Rosecrans Memorial
Airport in September that drew thousands to the airport. It is the second time
the airshow at Rosecrans has won the award. The Thunderbirds also honored the
St. Joseph airshow in 2021.The award honors the contributions of the National
Air Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing, the City of St. Joseph, Rosecrans
Memorial Airport, and the Airshow’s Executive Committee.St. Joseph was selected for the award from a field
of roughly 75 military airshow sites.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Sound of Speed Airshow at Rosecrans wins national award

Four finalists to become the next superintendent of the St.
Joseph School District have gone before the Board of Education as well as the
news media.

Two of the finalists are officials in the St. Joseph School
District. Ashly McGinnis is Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education
Services. Lara Gilpin is the Director of Secondary Education. The other two
finalists are Laura Nelson with the School of the Osage School District and
Jami Jo Thompson with Norfolk, Nebraska Public Schools.

McGinnis tells reporters she is well prepared to step in and
take over the role.

“I have a genuine care for the students, the staff. I’ve pretty
much been raised here my whole life; lived most of my life in St. Joseph. I
have a genuine care for our community,” McGinnis says. “I know that we have
made a lot of progress with Vision Forward, with our long-range plan and I want
to see those other action steps come to life.”

The only candidate from outside Missouri is Thompson, who has
been superintendent with the Norfolk district for 11 ½ years.

“And I think that experience is important to this role,
because I have led three strategic long-range planning initiatives which will
be very important to the district moving forward as they have a very ambitious
long-range plan that is going to be implemented soon,” Thompson says.

Gilpin says her 32 years with the district qualifies her for
the post, especially her work now as Director of Secondary Education.

“In that role, I’ve had a lot more opportunity to be in the
community and in partnership and really it lends itself to the bigger picture,”
Gilpin says. “Also, working with Dr. Edgar on the superintendent’s cabinet, I’ve
been able to work hand-in-hand with Dr. Edgar and the team on our long-range
plan, our CSIP (Continuous Strategic Improvement Plan), and all of those
components that make up the whole picture.”

An outsider of sorts is Nelson, who has served the past five
years as superintendent of the School of the Osage. But Nelson points out, she
has strong ties to St. Joseph.

“I bring in a wealth of experience and a love of St. Joseph,” Nelson
says. “I have grown up here, off-and-on, for many years. We still have a home
here and I’m just very excited about the opportunity to bring my dedication
back.”

The St. Joseph Board of Education interviewed each of the
finalists, who then took a tour of the district.

Superintendent Gabe Edgar informed the Board of Education he
would retire at the end of the school year to pursue opportunities in the
private sector. Edgar became superintendent in 2022.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFour finalists to become the next superintendent of the St.
Joseph School District have gone before the Board of Education as well as the
news media.Two of the finalists are officials in the St. Joseph School
District. Ashly McGinnis is Assistant Superintendent of Academic and Education
Services. Lara Gilpin is the Director of Secondary Education. The other two
finalists are Laura Nelson with the School of the Osage School District and
Jami Jo Thompson with Norfolk, Nebraska Public Schools.McGinnis tells reporters she is well prepared to step in and
take over the role.“I have a genuine care for the students, the staff. I’ve pretty
much been raised here my whole life; lived most of my life in St. Joseph. I
have a genuine care for our community,” McGinnis says. “I know that we have
made a lot of progress with Vision Forward, with our long-range plan and I want
to see those other action steps come to life.”The only candidate from outside Missouri is Thompson, who has
been superintendent with the Norfolk district for 11 ½ years.“And I think that experience is important to this role,
because I have led three strategic long-range planning initiatives which will
be very important to the district moving forward as they have a very ambitious
long-range plan that is going to be implemented soon,” Thompson says.Gilpin says her 32 years with the district qualifies her for
the post, especially her work now as Director of Secondary Education.“In that role, I’ve had a lot more opportunity to be in the
community and in partnership and really it lends itself to the bigger picture,”
Gilpin says. “Also, working with Dr. Edgar on the superintendent’s cabinet, I’ve
been able to work hand-in-hand with Dr. Edgar and the team on our long-range
plan, our CSIP (Continuous Strategic Improvement Plan), and all of those
components that make up the whole picture.”An outsider of sorts is Nelson, who has served the past five
years as superintendent of the School of the Osage. But Nelson points out, she
has strong ties to St. Joseph.“I bring in a wealth of experience and a love of St. Joseph,” Nelson
says. “I have grown up here, off-and-on, for many years. We still have a home
here and I’m just very excited about the opportunity to bring my dedication
back.”The St. Joseph Board of Education interviewed each of the
finalists, who then took a tour of the district.Superintendent Gabe Edgar informed the Board of Education he
would retire at the end of the school year to pursue opportunities in the
private sector. Edgar became superintendent in 2022.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Four finalists for St. Joseph school superintendent interview with school board

U.S. senator from Kansas calls Department of Energy transmission program ‘a dangerous overreach of federal authority’

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Members of Kansas’ congressional delegation celebrated the federal government’s decision Monday to remove a proposed electric transmission line route from a program offering assistance for power infrastructure projects.

The U.S. Department of Energy earlier this year announced a list of preliminary “<a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/national-interest-electric-transmission-corridor-designation-process" target="_blank">National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors</a>” to offer financial assistance and permits to transmission line builders in areas with little infrastructure.

One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/09/27/transmission-line-developer-asks-for-narrower-corridor-through-kansas-nearby-states/">corridors the agency initially proposed</a>&nbsp;was the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/tag/grain-belt-express/" target="_blank">Grain Belt Express</a>, a 5,000-megawatt transmission line expected to run from Kansas to Indiana proposed by Chicago-based Invenergy. The Grain Belt route was dropped from the program when the Department of Energy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-three-high-priority-areas-advancing-national" target="_blank">narrowed the proposed corridors Monday</a>.

U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said the program “represented a dangerous overreach of federal authority,” and on Monday took credit for the Department of Energy’s removal of the Grain Belt route.

“We are glad to report that we won this battle, and Kansans voices were heard at the highest levels,” he said.

But the Department of Energy’s decision Monday will not keep the Grain Belt Express transmission line from being built. While the agency’s program helps obtain permits for transmission projects that can’t get state approval, Invenergy has already obtained state approvals for Grain Belt.

“This designation was not required for the project to continue to advance toward construction,” said Patrick Whitty, senior vice president of public affairs for transmission at Invenergy.

Whitty said in a statement that Invenergy, too, asked that the Grain Belt route be removed from consideration for the Department of Energy program and was pleased the agency listened.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734452717911.png" alt="&nbsp;The Grain Belt Express transmission line can still move forward despite removal from a Department of Energy program meant to help spur transmission development in areas with limited infrastructure. (Robert Zullo/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Grain Belt Express transmission line can still move forward despite removal from a Department of Energy program meant to help spur transmission development in areas with limited infrastructure. (Robert Zullo/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>U.S. senator from Kansas calls Department of Energy transmission program ‘a dangerous overreach of federal authority’</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/allison-kite/">ALLISON KITE</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/">Kansas Reflector</a>Members of Kansas’ congressional delegation celebrated the federal government’s decision Monday to remove a proposed electric transmission line route from a program offering assistance for power infrastructure projects.But the project will still move forward.The U.S. Department of Energy earlier this year announced a list of preliminary “<a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/national-interest-electric-transmission-corridor-designation-process" target="_blank">National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors</a>” to offer financial assistance and permits to transmission line builders in areas with little infrastructure.One of the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/09/27/transmission-line-developer-asks-for-narrower-corridor-through-kansas-nearby-states/">corridors the agency initially proposed</a>&nbsp;was the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/tag/grain-belt-express/" target="_blank">Grain Belt Express</a>, a 5,000-megawatt transmission line expected to run from Kansas to Indiana proposed by Chicago-based Invenergy. The Grain Belt route was dropped from the program when the Department of Energy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/articles/biden-harris-administration-announces-three-high-priority-areas-advancing-national" target="_blank">narrowed the proposed corridors Monday</a>.U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican, said the program “represented a dangerous overreach of federal authority,” and on Monday took credit for the Department of Energy’s removal of the Grain Belt route.“We are glad to report that we won this battle, and Kansans voices were heard at the highest levels,” he said.But the Department of Energy’s decision Monday will not keep the Grain Belt Express transmission line from being built. While the agency’s program helps obtain permits for transmission projects that can’t get state approval, Invenergy has already obtained state approvals for Grain Belt.“This designation was not required for the project to continue to advance toward construction,” said Patrick Whitty, senior vice president of public affairs for transmission at Invenergy.Whitty said in a statement that Invenergy, too, asked that the Grain Belt route be removed from consideration for the Department of Energy program and was pleased the agency listened.Grain Belt Express is expected to run from southwest Kansas&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/07/11/grain-belt-express-announces-expansion-that-means-more-clean-energy-for-missouri/" target="_blank">carrying renewable energy through Missouri</a>&nbsp;and Illinois before ending at the Indiana border. To do so, the line has to cross thousands of properties and needs easements on landowners’ properties across three states.Invenergy says it has obtained the vast majority of those easements through voluntary negotiations with landowners. For the rest, the project was granted the right of eminent domain, a legal mechanism that allows utilities and governments to take land or easements from unwilling landowners and compensate them.Grain Belt’s&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/06/08/missouri-governor-to-sign-compromise-legislation-after-efforts-to-stymie-grain-belt-express/" target="_blank">ability to use eminent domain has drawn the ire</a>&nbsp;of Republican lawmakers and farm groups who&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/04/19/grain-belt-transmission-line-forges-ahead-amid-landowner-lawmaker-pushback/" target="_blank">fought to undermine the project at the Missouri General Assembly</a>&nbsp;for years.Now federal lawmakers from Kansas, including Marshall, Sen. Jerry Moran and Rep. Tracey Mann are railing against the project.Mann called Monday’s announcement a “huge win for Kansans.”“Kansans made it clear from the very beginning that we were not interested in the federal government seizing our private land,” Mann said.Moran said the decision to allow projects like Grain Belt Express “should be left up to Kansans, not Washington.”In Missouri, U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley has taken issue with a $4.9 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/lpo-announces-conditional-commitment-grain-belt-express-construct-high-voltage-direct" target="_blank">loan the Department of Energy offered to the Grain Belt project</a>.<a href="https://www.hawley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Hawley-Letter-to-Biden-Energy-Department-re-Grain-Belt-Express.pdf" target="_blank">Hawley wrote a letter</a>&nbsp;to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm saying the Grain Belt line will wreak havoc on landowners.“Your decision to commit funding to the Grain Belt Express via conditional loan comes after repeated refusals to engage with my constituents,” Hawley said, “who live in constant fear of their land being confiscated.”