CLINTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident that occurred just after 6:30a.m. Tuesday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Dodge Durango driven by a 32-year-old Lathrop woman was westbound on MO 116 near County Road 256 two miles east of Lathrop.

An eastbound vehicle crossed the center of the road and sideswiped the Durango. After impact the eastbound vehicle fled the scene.

A private party transported the Durango driver to Liberty Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLINTON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a hit-and-run accident that occurred just after 6:30a.m. Tuesday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Dodge Durango driven by a 32-year-old Lathrop woman was westbound on MO 116 near County Road 256 two miles east of Lathrop.An eastbound vehicle crossed the center of the road and sideswiped the Durango. After impact the eastbound vehicle fled the scene.A private party transported the Durango driver to Liberty Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.&nbsp;

Missouri woman injured after 2-vehicle hit-and-run

Two people were wounded in an accidental shooting&nbsp; at the South Belt Walmart that forced the store to be evacuated. 

The St. Joseph Police Department reports that around 1:45pm it received a report of shots fired inside the Walmart at 3022 South Belt Highway.  When officers arrived on scene, they found a young juvenile and adult female sustained gunshot wounds due to the accidental discharge of the gun inside the store. 

Out of caution, officers did evacuate the store until it was searched and deemed safe.  Officers determined there was no active shooter or ongoing threat.  The two involved in the incident did know each other, but officers say there was no indication of criminal activity towards other shoppers.

Both individuals involved are being treated for non life threatening injuries.  Due to there being a juvenile involved, the St. Joseph Police Department is not releasing the names of the victims. 

The investigation continues into the incident.

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph PostTwo people were wounded in an accidental shooting&nbsp; at the South Belt Walmart that forced the store to be evacuated. The St. Joseph Police Department reports that around 1:45pm it received a report of shots fired inside the Walmart at 3022 South Belt Highway. When officers arrived on scene, they found a young juvenile and adult female sustained gunshot wounds due to the accidental discharge of the gun inside the store. Out of caution, officers did evacuate the store until it was searched and deemed safe. Officers determined there was no active shooter or ongoing threat. The two involved in the incident did know each other, but officers say there was no indication of criminal activity towards other shoppers.Both individuals involved are being treated for non life threatening injuries. Due to there being a juvenile involved, the St. Joseph Police Department is not releasing the names of the victims. The investigation continues into the incident.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Two wounded in shooting accident at St. Joseph's South Belt Walmart 

A leadership group in St. Joseph is working to make better community leaders through a coaching framework designed to develop leadership.  

The Joseph Company is a group of people working to become transformational leaders who make a difference within St. Joseph.  

Wes Simmons owner of the 3D Institute who leads the group says the group is focused on building a shared framework to help the community thrive in every sector 

"Whether it be the arts, athletics, business, education, healthcare, government, nonprofit, I mean that kind of sums up the community, and so we're looking for leaders within all of those sectors who want to join us and say you know what we want to be part of the solution and creating our future, because I believe we have a bright future and there's a lot here," Simmons says on the KFEQmunnity show.  

Simmons says one of the bigger challenges at the beginning of the group was relaying to everyone that they really are coaches in their own right 

"I know you may not call yourself a coach, but that's what you're doing, in fact that's really the original definition of a coach we lean into," Simmons explains.  "In the 1500's a coach was a covered carriage that takes a person of importance from where they are to where they want or need to go, and that's a great metaphor for transformational leadership, it begs four questions, do I see everybody as a person of importance? Do I know where they are? Do I know where I take them? And am I providing covering?" 

Simmons says it takes people buying in to the program to really transform the community and that culture 

"And I just say this often, I know there's a lot of organizations out there that have a great culture and they don't need this, well I'm reminded of the old JFK quote, ask not what St. Joe can do for you, what can you do for St. Joseph, and that's kind of the mindset," Simmons says.  "So, even if you're successful and you're thriving, all right well bring that leadership, bring that energy, and bring that expertise to us, because we need you." 

The Joseph Company held a 'Head Coaches Summit' today at the InspireU Children's Discovery Center ahead of the launch of its season five campaign in October.   

Participants heard from City Manager Mike Schumacher and Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn, as well as Simmons, and also get a tour of the InspireU Children's Discovery Center. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752604647236.jpeg" alt="Many area leaders have gathered as the Joseph Company to take on the 3D Coaching lifestyle to better the community/ Photo courtesy of the Joseph Company Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Many area leaders have gathered as the Joseph Company to take on the 3D Coaching lifestyle to better the community/ Photo courtesy of the Joseph Company Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A leadership group in St. Joseph is working to make better community leaders through a coaching framework designed to develop leadership. The Joseph Company is a group of people working to become transformational leaders who make a difference within St. Joseph. Wes Simmons owner of the 3D Institute who leads the group says the group is focused on building a shared framework to help the community thrive in every sector "Whether it be the arts, athletics, business, education, healthcare, government, nonprofit, I mean that kind of sums up the community, and so we're looking for leaders within all of those sectors who want to join us and say you know what we want to be part of the solution and creating our future, because I believe we have a bright future and there's a lot here," Simmons says on the KFEQmunnity show. Simmons says one of the bigger challenges at the beginning of the group was relaying to everyone that they really are coaches in their own right "I know you may not call yourself a coach, but that's what you're doing, in fact that's really the original definition of a coach we lean into," Simmons explains. "In the 1500's a coach was a covered carriage that takes a person of importance from where they are to where they want or need to go, and that's a great metaphor for transformational leadership, it begs four questions, do I see everybody as a person of importance? Do I know where they are? Do I know where I take them? And am I providing covering?" Simmons says it takes people buying in to the program to really transform the community and that culture "And I just say this often, I know there's a lot of organizations out there that have a great culture and they don't need this, well I'm reminded of the old JFK quote, ask not what St. Joe can do for you, what can you do for St. Joseph, and that's kind of the mindset," Simmons says. "So, even if you're successful and you're thriving, all right well bring that leadership, bring that energy, and bring that expertise to us, because we need you." The Joseph Company held a 'Head Coaches Summit' today at the InspireU Children's Discovery Center ahead of the launch of its season five campaign in October. Participants heard from City Manager Mike Schumacher and Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn, as well as Simmons, and also get a tour of the InspireU Children's Discovery Center. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph group coaches leadership skills

Charges have been
filed in a hit-and-run in the early morning hours of December 1st which
left a St. Joseph man dead.

The St. Joseph
Police Department has filed a 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter
charge against 28-year-old Steven Richardson of Savannah in the death of Jason
Goldesberry, a St. Joseph resident who was 41.

Police report
Richardson was driving north on St. Joseph Avenue shortly before three o’clock
that Sunday morning near the intersection of Broadway Street when his pickup
drove off the east side of the roadway and struck a pedestrian walking on the
sidewalk. Goldesberry died of his injuries. Police say Richardson continued
through the yard and struck a house between Madison and Green Streets, causing extensive
damage. He fled the scene on foot, according to police.

Richardson also
faces a charge of Armed Criminal Action.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752602404868.png" alt="Richardson photo Buchanan County" />
 <figcaption>Richardson photo Buchanan County</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostCharges have been
filed in a hit-and-run in the early morning hours of December 1st which
left a St. Joseph man dead.The St. Joseph
Police Department has filed a 1st Degree Involuntary Manslaughter
charge against 28-year-old Steven Richardson of Savannah in the death of Jason
Goldesberry, a St. Joseph resident who was 41.Police report
Richardson was driving north on St. Joseph Avenue shortly before three o’clock
that Sunday morning near the intersection of Broadway Street when his pickup
drove off the east side of the roadway and struck a pedestrian walking on the
sidewalk. Goldesberry died of his injuries. Police say Richardson continued
through the yard and struck a house between Madison and Green Streets, causing extensive
damage. He fled the scene on foot, according to police.Richardson also
faces a charge of Armed Criminal Action.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Charges filed in December 1st fatal hit & run in St. Joseph

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3eOttaRG217SF9CTJvzHPk?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4kZPQrXfHL8l1IPJbAFLzT?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:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

Local laws&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/bill-overturning-protections-for-section-8-renters-sent-to-missouri-governor/">prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants&nbsp;</a>who receive public assistance are unenforceable under&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB595&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;signed Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/23/bill-overturning-protections-for-section-8-renters-a-step-away-from-missouri-governors-desk/">legislation takes aim at ordinances</a>&nbsp;passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay rent.

The bill was co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City, and Ben Keathley, a Republican from Chesterfield. In the Senate, it was carried by state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.&nbsp;

Kansas City passed a source of income discrimination ban&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/kansas-city-passes-source-income-discrimination-ordinance#:~:text=Lawmakers%20in%20Kansas%20City%2C%20Missouri,8%20Housing%20Choice%20Voucher%20program." target="_blank">last year</a>, though it was in large part&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article300295239.html" target="_blank">paused by the courts</a>&nbsp;in February.

<a href="https://www.prrac.org/columbia-missouri-ordinance-amended-to-include-source-of-income-discrimination-language-march-2023/" target="_blank">Columbia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/ordinances/ordinance.cfm?ord=69953" target="_blank">St. Louis</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/city-passes-changes-to-fair-housing-code/article_781c0820-f0e4-11e9-bfbd-cb1232da5b2f.html" target="_blank">Webster Groves</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ecode360.com/27565605" target="_blank">Clayton</a>&nbsp;have similar protections on the books. The laws make it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the fact of renters’ lawful sources of income, including Section 8, veterans’ benefits and Social Security.

The legislation had the&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/-testimony/witnesses-hb595.pdf?c=34589" target="_blank">support</a>&nbsp;of landlords groups, apartment associations, the realtors’ association and the conservative think tank Show Me Institute. Proponents characterized localities’ source-of-income protections as an overreach into property owners’ rights.

Opponents said the bill infringed on local control and would hurt affordable housing availability, exacerbating homelessness. The city of Kansas City has been opposed along with the anti-poverty nonprofit Empower Missouri and an association of&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/30ac2530ca5d2f6efc3863113c35adae.pdf?c=53409" target="_blank">public housing</a>&nbsp;authorities in Missouri.

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Local laws&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/bill-overturning-protections-for-section-8-renters-sent-to-missouri-governor/">prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants&nbsp;</a>who receive public assistance are unenforceable under&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB595&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;signed Monday by Gov. Mike Kehoe.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/23/bill-overturning-protections-for-section-8-renters-a-step-away-from-missouri-governors-desk/">legislation takes aim at ordinances</a>&nbsp;passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay rent.The bill was co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City, and Ben Keathley, a Republican from Chesterfield. In the Senate, it was carried by state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.&nbsp;Kansas City passed a source of income discrimination ban&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/kansas-city-passes-source-income-discrimination-ordinance#:~:text=Lawmakers%20in%20Kansas%20City%2C%20Missouri,8%20Housing%20Choice%20Voucher%20program." target="_blank">last year</a>, though it was in large part&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article300295239.html" target="_blank">paused by the courts</a>&nbsp;in February.<a href="https://www.prrac.org/columbia-missouri-ordinance-amended-to-include-source-of-income-discrimination-language-march-2023/" target="_blank">Columbia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/ordinances/ordinance.cfm?ord=69953" target="_blank">St. Louis</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/city-passes-changes-to-fair-housing-code/article_781c0820-f0e4-11e9-bfbd-cb1232da5b2f.html" target="_blank">Webster Groves</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ecode360.com/27565605" target="_blank">Clayton</a>&nbsp;have similar protections on the books. The laws make it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the fact of renters’ lawful sources of income, including Section 8, veterans’ benefits and Social Security.The legislation had the&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/-testimony/witnesses-hb595.pdf?c=34589" target="_blank">support</a>&nbsp;of landlords groups, apartment associations, the realtors’ association and the conservative think tank Show Me Institute. Proponents characterized localities’ source-of-income protections as an overreach into property owners’ rights.Opponents said the bill infringed on local control and would hurt affordable housing availability, exacerbating homelessness. The city of Kansas City has been opposed along with the anti-poverty nonprofit Empower Missouri and an association of&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/30ac2530ca5d2f6efc3863113c35adae.pdf?c=53409" target="_blank">public housing</a>&nbsp;authorities in Missouri.

Bill overturning protections for Section 8 renters signed by Missouri governor

DEKALB COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 62-year-old Stanberry man was westbound on Liberty Road four miles southeast of King City.

The driver failed to yield at Ogle Road. The Jeep and a southbound 2024 Ram 2500 driven by a 35-year-old Phoenix, Arizona man entered the intersection at approximately the same time. The vehicles collided.&nbsp;

After impact the pickup skidded off the southwest corner of the intersection and sstruck a utility&nbsp; pole.

EMS transported the driver of the pickup and his 35-year-old male passenger to Mosaic Life Care. The Jeep driver refused treatment of a minor injury. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Monday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 62-year-old Stanberry man was westbound on Liberty Road four miles southeast of King City.The driver failed to yield at Ogle Road. The Jeep and a southbound 2024 Ram 2500 driven by a 35-year-old Phoenix, Arizona man entered the intersection at approximately the same time. The vehicles collided.&nbsp;After impact the pickup skidded off the southwest corner of the intersection and sstruck a utility&nbsp; pole.EMS transported the driver of the pickup and his 35-year-old male passenger to Mosaic Life Care. The Jeep driver refused treatment of a minor injury. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

2 hospitalized in St. Joe after Jeep, pickup crash

DONIPHAN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Monday in Doniphan County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by Donnell D.&nbsp;Martin, 54, Manhattan, Kansas, was westbound on U.S. 36 one half mile east of Blackjack Road. The semi traveled off the roadway to the north, struck a culvert and fence and came to rest into a cornfield&nbsp;

Martin was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

DONIPHAN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6:30p.m. Monday in Doniphan County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Peterbilt semi driven by Donnell D.&nbsp;Martin, 54, Manhattan, Kansas, was westbound on U.S. 36 one half mile east of Blackjack Road. The semi traveled off the roadway to the north, struck a culvert and fence and came to rest into a cornfield&nbsp;Martin was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

Kansas man dies after semi crash into a cornfield

A former pitcher with the Mid-Buchanan Dragons, who also spent some time pitching in the summer for the St. Joseph Mustangs, is going pro after Denton Biller was selected with pick 484 in the 16th round to the Baltimore Orioles.&nbsp;

Biller pitched this past season at Johnson County Community College as a redshirt freshman, starting 15 games and going 10-0 with one complete game, striking out 69 batters and posting a 4.20 ERA.&nbsp; With the Mustangs last season, Biller earned All MINK league first team honors.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Biller could join the Orioles organization, or he could opt to stay in college and go to an SEC powerhouse.&nbsp; Last September, Biller committed to Arkansas, a team that was one game shy of making it to the 2025 College World Series championship game.&nbsp; Arkansas had 11 players selected in this year's MLB draft.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1680224436779.jpeg" alt="Denton Biller/ File photo" />
 <figcaption>Denton Biller/ File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA former pitcher with the Mid-Buchanan Dragons, who also spent some time pitching in the summer for the St. Joseph Mustangs, is going pro after Denton Biller was selected with pick 484 in the 16th round to the Baltimore Orioles.&nbsp;Biller pitched this past season at Johnson County Community College as a redshirt freshman, starting 15 games and going 10-0 with one complete game, striking out 69 batters and posting a 4.20 ERA.&nbsp; With the Mustangs last season, Biller earned All MINK league first team honors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Biller could join the Orioles organization, or he could opt to stay in college and go to an SEC powerhouse.&nbsp; Last September, Biller committed to Arkansas, a team that was one game shy of making it to the 2025 College World Series championship game.&nbsp; Arkansas had 11 players selected in this year's MLB draft.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">At pick 484 overall (16th round), the Orioles select Johnson County CC RHP Denton Biller 6&#39;4&quot;. 20 years old. 69 K in 64 IP this season. Arkansas commit. 4 pitch mix with a fastball that gets into the upper-90s. <a href="https://t.co/MU12lHiehR">pic.twitter.com/MU12lHiehR</a>&mdash; The Verge- An Orioles MiLB Podcast (@TheVergePod) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheVergePod/status/1944881082467553564?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Former Mid-Buchanan pitcher Denton Biller drafted by Orioles

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1979 Ford F150 driven by a 42-year-old Ridgeway woman was traveling southwest on U.S. 136 at Church Street in Mount Moriah.&nbsp; The driver attempted to turn west onto Church Street. The pickup slid on the graved and struck a utility pole.

EMS transported the driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Monday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1979 Ford F150 driven by a 42-year-old Ridgeway woman was traveling southwest on U.S. 136 at Church Street in Mount Moriah.&nbsp; The driver attempted to turn west onto Church Street. The pickup slid on the graved and struck a utility pole.EMS transported the driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman injured after pickup slides, strikes utility pole

ANDREW COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Jeep Wrangler driven by 19-year-old Wathena, Kansas, man was northbound in the driving lane on Business Loop Interstate 29 in Country Club&nbsp; Village.&nbsp; The driver failed to notice a northbound 2008 Saturn Vue driven by a 60-year-old St. Joseph woman in the passing and attempted to make a left turn at the crossover at Emerald Lane.&nbsp; The Jeep struck the passenger side of the Saturn.

EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Monday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Jeep Wrangler driven by 19-year-old Wathena, Kansas, man was northbound in the driving lane on Business Loop Interstate 29 in Country Club&nbsp; Village.&nbsp; The driver failed to notice a northbound 2008 Saturn Vue driven by a 60-year-old St. Joseph woman in the passing and attempted to make a left turn at the crossover at Emerald Lane.&nbsp; The Jeep struck the passenger side of the Saturn.EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic. They were both properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

St. Joseph woman injured in 2-vehicle crash

12 students made up the first class of the Nurses of Scholar program, a program designed to help make going into nursing school more affordable.  

Students in the program will have their first and fourth years of nursing school at Missouri Western State University fully paid for by Mosaic Life Care, with the second and third years paid at 50%.  

Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says the costs of nursing school can get up there, so this program is a tremendous help for students 

"So, if you think about your books, and fees to have testing done, and fees to buy the scrubs, everything is going to be taken care of them for three full years so that's a huge financial relief for them," Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "And it really gives them the opportunity where instead of worrying about taking out loans or how they're going to pay for it, now they can worry more about working on their academics, working for the hospital, developing the network, learning about the healthcare fields and industry." 

Eight of the students come from the area.  Students signed an agreement to work at Mosaic while going to school at Western, and for four years after graduating from the university. Students can also work during the summer if they wish

Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says recruiting those local students is important, because when it comes to recruiting for rural healthcare, it's vital to keep those people here 

"Mosaic Life Care provides health care for over 18 counties in northwest Missouri, up into Iowa, Nebraska, and over into Kansas, and to have these local kids come back means they'll most likely settle and stay in these communities, live in the communities, and come here and work for us," Turner tells reporters.  "And it's going to only benefit all of us." 

One of those students that comes from the area developed a passion for nursing when she started as a lifeguard, Madison Kendall, who recently graduated from Savannah.  

Kendall says she applied for the program because once she's out of college, she'll be set for the future 

"It will put me in a job, and I will be financially stable enough to get set on my life and my journey further abroad," Kendall says.  "Buying a house, everything, I won't be in debt." 

And Kendall says it's also important to her that with this program she gets to stay in the area, close to her family and friends 

"I feel like being close to home is helpful for me and my mental health, but also I could potentially care for people that are close to me, or like my friends, so staying close to home and helping my community gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling," Kendall says. 

Some of the other area schools represented were Central, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, and Riverside.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752533632678.jpeg" alt="Savannah graduate Madison Kendall signs her agreement to be a part of the Nurses of Scholar program/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Savannah graduate Madison Kendall signs her agreement to be a part of the Nurses of Scholar program/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE 12 students made up the first class of the Nurses of Scholar program, a program designed to help make going into nursing school more affordable. Students in the program will have their first and fourth years of nursing school at Missouri Western State University fully paid for by Mosaic Life Care, with the second and third years paid at 50%. Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says the costs of nursing school can get up there, so this program is a tremendous help for students "So, if you think about your books, and fees to have testing done, and fees to buy the scrubs, everything is going to be taken care of them for three full years so that's a huge financial relief for them," Kennedy tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And it really gives them the opportunity where instead of worrying about taking out loans or how they're going to pay for it, now they can worry more about working on their academics, working for the hospital, developing the network, learning about the healthcare fields and industry." Eight of the students come from the area. Students signed an agreement to work at Mosaic while going to school at Western, and for four years after graduating from the university. Students can also work during the summer if they wish<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752533688028.jpeg" alt="Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Mosaic Chief Medical Officer Dr. Davin Turner says recruiting those local students is important, because when it comes to recruiting for rural healthcare, it's vital to keep those people here "Mosaic Life Care provides health care for over 18 counties in northwest Missouri, up into Iowa, Nebraska, and over into Kansas, and to have these local kids come back means they'll most likely settle and stay in these communities, live in the communities, and come here and work for us," Turner tells reporters. "And it's going to only benefit all of us." One of those students that comes from the area developed a passion for nursing when she started as a lifeguard, Madison Kendall, who recently graduated from Savannah. Kendall says she applied for the program because once she's out of college, she'll be set for the future "It will put me in a job, and I will be financially stable enough to get set on my life and my journey further abroad," Kendall says. "Buying a house, everything, I won't be in debt." And Kendall says it's also important to her that with this program she gets to stay in the area, close to her family and friends "I feel like being close to home is helpful for me and my mental health, but also I could potentially care for people that are close to me, or like my friends, so staying close to home and helping my community gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling," Kendall says. Some of the other area schools represented were Central, Lafayette, Bishop LeBlond, and Riverside.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752533724003.jpeg" alt="Dr. Davin Turner/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Davin Turner/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Mosaic and MWSU announce first Nurses of Scholar class

More than 100 area
Vietnam War veterans received a tangible “thank you” for their service Monday morning
during a special ceremony at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph.

The City of St.
Joseph, the AUSA Henry Leavenworth Chapter, and the St. Joseph Community
Alliance hosted a special pinning ceremony for Vietnam War veterans, giving them
a special pin and certificate for their service during a difficult time.

Missouri Adjutant
General, Charles Hausman, remembers that when his unit would return from
deployment, Vietnam War veterans – who didn’t receive a warm welcome home – always
participated in the welcome ceremonies.

“They were leading
the Freedom Riders. They were leading that welcome home. And it really, I
think, is because of the treatment they received when they came home, they
never wanted to see that again,” Hausman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post after the
ceremony. “And it was very, very impactful and certainly not lost on all the
soldiers coming back during my generation of who was out there leading that
effort.”

Hausman, a native
of St. Joseph, has served in three deployments:&nbsp;
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation
Inherent Resolve/Spartan Shield.

Hausman gave the
keynote address at the gathering. He and other speakers touched on the
inability of U.S. citizens to separate the unpopular war with the warrior often
drafted into service. Many Vietnam War veterans either returned unheralded or
as the object of protestors’ ire.

That makes their
participation in welcome home ceremonies now even more impressive, according to
Hausman.

“But to see that
generation take that experience and then turn it around and say, okay, never
again,” Hausman says. “It is truly welcomed. It is certainly appreciated by my
generation. And it’s a testament to that sense of never giving up and never abandoning
their duty and their commitment to their nation; very, very impressive.”

Around 115 Vietnam
War veterans from throughout the area registered. Some were unable to attend
Monday’s ceremony.

Special
recognition was given to Wilson Fletcher, the 1,000th veteran recognized in one
of the events coordinated with the Fort Leonard Wood Association of the United
States Army Chapter.

The program in St.
Joseph grew from the United States of America Vietnam War
Commemoration program signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012 to
create a 13-year period to honor the country’s military veterans of that era
and their families.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752521182035.jpeg" alt="Vietnam War veterans received pins and certificates to commemorate their service during a special ceremony at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Vietnam War veterans received pins and certificates to commemorate their service during a special ceremony at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMore than 100 area
Vietnam War veterans received a tangible “thank you” for their service Monday morning
during a special ceremony at Word of Life Church in St. Joseph.The City of St.
Joseph, the AUSA Henry Leavenworth Chapter, and the St. Joseph Community
Alliance hosted a special pinning ceremony for Vietnam War veterans, giving them
a special pin and certificate for their service during a difficult time.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752521285018.jpeg" alt="Major Gen. Charles Hausman speaks during the ceremony./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Major Gen. Charles Hausman speaks during the ceremony./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>Missouri Adjutant
General, Charles Hausman, remembers that when his unit would return from
deployment, Vietnam War veterans – who didn’t receive a warm welcome home – always
participated in the welcome ceremonies.“They were leading
the Freedom Riders. They were leading that welcome home. And it really, I
think, is because of the treatment they received when they came home, they
never wanted to see that again,” Hausman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post after the
ceremony. “And it was very, very impactful and certainly not lost on all the
soldiers coming back during my generation of who was out there leading that
effort.”Hausman, a native
of St. Joseph, has served in three deployments:&nbsp;
Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation
Inherent Resolve/Spartan Shield.Hausman gave the
keynote address at the gathering. He and other speakers touched on the
inability of U.S. citizens to separate the unpopular war with the warrior often
drafted into service. Many Vietnam War veterans either returned unheralded or
as the object of protestors’ ire.That makes their
participation in welcome home ceremonies now even more impressive, according to
Hausman.“But to see that
generation take that experience and then turn it around and say, okay, never
again,” Hausman says. “It is truly welcomed. It is certainly appreciated by my
generation. And it’s a testament to that sense of never giving up and never abandoning
their duty and their commitment to their nation; very, very impressive.”Around 115 Vietnam
War veterans from throughout the area registered. Some were unable to attend
Monday’s ceremony.Special
recognition was given to Wilson Fletcher, the 1,000th veteran recognized in one
of the events coordinated with the Fort Leonard Wood Association of the United
States Army Chapter.The program in St.
Joseph grew from the United States of America Vietnam War
Commemoration program signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2012 to
create a 13-year period to honor the country’s military veterans of that era
and their families.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Vietnam War veterans get their due during special ceremony

Eastern Kansas Congressman, Derek
Schmidt, says Congress needed to approve President Trump’s budget bill before
tax cuts approved in Trump’s first term expired.

Schmidt voted with nearly every
Republican in the U.S. House to approve the Senate’s version of the bill that
kept tax cuts from expiring January 1st.

“So, we had to get that done,” Schmidt
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I’d put that right at the top of the list. It was
time sensitive. It was urgent, needed to happen, it did. It’s very good public
policy and we won’t have to do that again. We can move down the road.”

Schmidt says while citizens might not
have been concerned now about the federal tax cuts approved in 2017, they would
have noticed come January if Congress hadn’t acted.

The bill also raised the federal tax
deduction for Social Security benefits and allows individuals to deduct part of
their tips and overtime pay from taxable income.

It increases funding for border security.

“Also, this got less discussion, but very
important for eastern Kansas that I represent,” Schmidt says. “Congress had
been overdue by years, I think two-plus years now, in passing a new Farm Bill.
Typically, Farm Bills come every five years. They didn’t get it done the last
two years even after the expiration. And we got big parts of a Farm Bill
extension in this bill. They’re now law.”

Critics have focused on the cost of the
bill, claiming it will add $3 trillion to the federal deficit over a 10-year
period. Schmidt says that number is in dispute, because it is based on an
assumption that the tax cuts would have expired.

“You know, the accounting is something
that the people that do numbers will fight about over time,” Schmidt says. “My
own view is the first step toward getting your fiscal house in order is to
control the explosive growth in spending and this bill takes a step in the
right direction for the first time in generations.”

The bill does contain cuts. It reduces
some federal food stamp and nutrition programs. It adds restrictions to
Medicaid.

Schmidt insists, overall, the legislation
took the country a step in the right direction.

“Like I said at the time, there’s some
things I would have preferred not be there. They weren’t my first choice, but
you’ve got to compromise,” Schmidt says. “It’s easy to say the good outweighed
the bad for the people I represent.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEastern Kansas Congressman, Derek
Schmidt, says Congress needed to approve President Trump’s budget bill before
tax cuts approved in Trump’s first term expired.Schmidt voted with nearly every
Republican in the U.S. House to approve the Senate’s version of the bill that
kept tax cuts from expiring January 1st.“So, we had to get that done,” Schmidt
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I’d put that right at the top of the list. It was
time sensitive. It was urgent, needed to happen, it did. It’s very good public
policy and we won’t have to do that again. We can move down the road.”Schmidt says while citizens might not
have been concerned now about the federal tax cuts approved in 2017, they would
have noticed come January if Congress hadn’t acted.The bill also raised the federal tax
deduction for Social Security benefits and allows individuals to deduct part of
their tips and overtime pay from taxable income.It increases funding for border security.“Also, this got less discussion, but very
important for eastern Kansas that I represent,” Schmidt says. “Congress had
been overdue by years, I think two-plus years now, in passing a new Farm Bill.
Typically, Farm Bills come every five years. They didn’t get it done the last
two years even after the expiration. And we got big parts of a Farm Bill
extension in this bill. They’re now law.”The bill extends crop insurance.Critics have focused on the cost of the
bill, claiming it will add $3 trillion to the federal deficit over a 10-year
period. Schmidt says that number is in dispute, because it is based on an
assumption that the tax cuts would have expired.“You know, the accounting is something
that the people that do numbers will fight about over time,” Schmidt says. “My
own view is the first step toward getting your fiscal house in order is to
control the explosive growth in spending and this bill takes a step in the
right direction for the first time in generations.”The bill does contain cuts. It reduces
some federal food stamp and nutrition programs. It adds restrictions to
Medicaid.Schmidt insists, overall, the legislation
took the country a step in the right direction.“Like I said at the time, there’s some
things I would have preferred not be there. They weren’t my first choice, but
you’ve got to compromise,” Schmidt says. “It’s easy to say the good outweighed
the bad for the people I represent.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Congressman Schmidt says Congress had to act to extend tax cuts

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/00TFtLDPc7hstzG6bhorWz?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 data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3b9hphChgm4mmyiVcaH1tT?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 Buchanan County Sheriff's Office has received a state grant that will help create a new position to combat impaired driving.  

Captain Mike Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers.  

Hess says over the past three years there has been a significant amount of impaired driving arrests 

"That was just through patrol regular activities, there wasn't a focus per say, with those numbers being so high we decided we need a focused person or unit which is what we're moving towards," Hess tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin.  "Our numbers alone, last year we had 94 DWI arrests, the year before we had over 150." 

Hess says that's just the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office.  He adds that in 2023, four officers between the Sheriff's Office, the St. Joseph Police, and the Missouri Highway Patrol had over 450 DWI arrests. 

Hess says often these impaired drivers might think they are fine driving a short distance, or perhaps have even made the drive before while impaired 

"I think statistically the average DWI arrest has driven up to 80 times prior to their first arrest, meaning 80 times impaired on some level," Hess explains. 

Hess says your odds of encountering someone that is driving impaired is quite high, especially on the weekend 

"On the weekdays, think about this, between 10am and 1pm, one in 13 drivers are legally drunk, and that's during the weekdays," Hess points out. 

Hess says the new position will simply have one goal in mind 

"We want to just get impaired drives off the road and it's not necessarily about anything other than making the roadways safer, period that's it, nothing else that's our focus," Hess says.  "To keep the community safe, make the roadways safer for everyone to travel on, and reduce impaired crashes, because if we can reduce that maybe we can reduce the fatality crashes or injuries that effect people's lives." 

Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers. The new position must go into effect by October 1st. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Buchanan County Sheriff's Office has received a state grant that will help create a new position to combat impaired driving. Captain Mike Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers. Hess says over the past three years there has been a significant amount of impaired driving arrests "That was just through patrol regular activities, there wasn't a focus per say, with those numbers being so high we decided we need a focused person or unit which is what we're moving towards," Hess tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. "Our numbers alone, last year we had 94 DWI arrests, the year before we had over 150." Hess says that's just the Buchanan County Sheriff's Office. He adds that in 2023, four officers between the Sheriff's Office, the St. Joseph Police, and the Missouri Highway Patrol had over 450 DWI arrests. Hess says often these impaired drivers might think they are fine driving a short distance, or perhaps have even made the drive before while impaired "I think statistically the average DWI arrest has driven up to 80 times prior to their first arrest, meaning 80 times impaired on some level," Hess explains. Hess says your odds of encountering someone that is driving impaired is quite high, especially on the weekend "On the weekdays, think about this, between 10am and 1pm, one in 13 drivers are legally drunk, and that's during the weekdays," Hess points out. Hess says the new position will simply have one goal in mind "We want to just get impaired drives off the road and it's not necessarily about anything other than making the roadways safer, period that's it, nothing else that's our focus," Hess says. "To keep the community safe, make the roadways safer for everyone to travel on, and reduce impaired crashes, because if we can reduce that maybe we can reduce the fatality crashes or injuries that effect people's lives." Hess says the grant will help pay the salary and purchase a vehicle for the next three years to specifically focus on impaired drivers. The new position must go into effect by October 1st. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

State grant helps Buchanan County combat impaired driving

DEKALB COUNTY—One person died in a house fire Sunday in Cameron.

Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police along with fire crews and EMS responded to 911 call for a fire in a home at 424 N. Nettleton Street in Cameron, according to a media release from Cameron Police.&nbsp; 

The caller indicated a possible victim trapped inside the home. Another caller reported hearing an explosion within the home.

Cameron Police were first to arrive and observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the front porch area of the home. During this time, a good Samaritan was able to break a window and rescue a child from inside the home.&nbsp;

Despite the swift response and efforts from Cameron Fire crews, the home became fully engulfed. There was one fatality. Police have not released the name or additional details on the victim. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office with assistance from the Cameron Police Detectives.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752487414987.png" alt="Photo by Ale Espinosa courtesy KCTV" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Ale Espinosa courtesy KCTV</figcaption>
 </figure>DEKALB COUNTY—One person died in a house fire Sunday in Cameron.Just before 4p.m. Sunday, police along with fire crews and EMS responded to 911 call for a fire in a home at 424 N. Nettleton Street in Cameron, according to a media release from Cameron Police.&nbsp; The caller indicated a possible victim trapped inside the home. Another caller reported hearing an explosion within the home.Cameron Police were first to arrive and observed heavy smoke and flames coming from the front porch area of the home. During this time, a good Samaritan was able to break a window and rescue a child from inside the home.&nbsp;Despite the swift response and efforts from Cameron Fire crews, the home became fully engulfed. There was one fatality. Police have not released the name or additional details on the victim. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Missouri State Fire Marshal's office with assistance from the Cameron Police Detectives.

1 dead, Good Samaritan rescues child from house fire

With just one week left until the Kansas City Chiefs again report to St. Joseph for Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp, "Welcome Chiefs" signs are once again available to welcome the team to town. 

Signs will be available to the public for free on Tuesday, July 15, from 11am-5pm while supplies last at the Visitors Center at the East Hills Library and Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. 

There will be a limit of two signs per person on Tuesday to allow as many residents and businesses as possible to have an opportunity to pick them up. Any signs remaining after Tuesday will be available during regular business hours at both locations.

The St. Joseph Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau recommends people put out any saved signs from previous years to maximize the visibility of signs around town.

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostWith just one week left until the Kansas City Chiefs again report to St. Joseph for Kansas City Chiefs Training Camp, "Welcome Chiefs" signs are once again available to welcome the team to town. Signs will be available to the public for free on Tuesday, July 15, from 11am-5pm while supplies last at the Visitors Center at the East Hills Library and Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau. There will be a limit of two signs per person on Tuesday to allow as many residents and businesses as possible to have an opportunity to pick them up. Any signs remaining after Tuesday will be available during regular business hours at both locations.The St. Joseph Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau recommends people put out any saved signs from previous years to maximize the visibility of signs around town.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Get your Welcome Chiefs sign Tuesday as Training Camp nears

Nearly 73 million workers fall under such laws, a new report said.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>

Across most of the South and Midwest, state laws bar local governments from requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, effectively stripping cities of the power to enact their own labor protections.

Nearly 73 million workers live in the 18 states that now have such preemptive laws, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalpartnership.org/report/nearly-73-million-workers-live-in-states-that-block-local-communities-from-making-progress-on-paid-sick-days/" target="_blank">new report</a>&nbsp;from A Better Balance, a legal advocacy organization focused on workplace rights, and the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families, a nonprofit advocacy group.

“Local leaders know what’s best for their communities. To take away the decision-making power from local communities on this issue and others is very, very concerning,” said Feroza Freeland, policy director of the Southern office at A Better Balance, and one of the report’s authors.

Among the 18 states included in the report was Missouri. The legislature passed a measure in May to&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB567/id/3166038" target="_blank">repeal</a>&nbsp;paid leave requirements voters had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/01/missouri-paid-sick-leave-law-now-in-effect-though-legislative-challenges-still-loom/#:~:text=Under%20the%20law,least%2056%20hours." target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;in November that expanded access to paid sick leave for about 728,000 workers who lacked it. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday signed the statewide repeal into law. Local paid sick leave laws have been banned in Missouri since 2017.

Kehoe in a statement called the paid sick leave mandates “onerous,” saying they dictated when and how sick leave was provided and had “burdensome” recordkeeping and compliance obligations.

Nationwide, about 27 million workers don’t earn paid sick days, the report found. Many of them work low-wage and part-time jobs, and they’re disproportionately likely to be women, younger workers and people of color, according to the report.

“Folks are facing impossible choices between their own health — or the health of their children — and continuing to earn a paycheck to pay bills and put food on the table,” Freeland told Stateline.

In the absence of federal laws guaranteeing paid sick leave for workers, more cities and local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/paid-sick-time-laws/" target="_blank">have passed their own</a>, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle.

But lawmakers in 18 states, mainly in the South and Midwest, have done the opposite, the report found. GOP legislators have said such paid leave requirements&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20financially%20burdensome%2C%20just%20short%20of%20devastating%2C%20and%20its%20regulatory%20requirements%20are%20extremely%20difficult%20for%20single%20unit%20operators%2C%E2%80%9D%20Buddy%20Lahl%2C%20CEO%20of%20the%20Missouri%20Restaurant%20Association%2C%20told%20The%20Independent%20Tuesday." target="_blank">create financial hardship</a>&nbsp;for employers, particularly for smaller businesses.

Over the past decade, in GOP-led states across the country, Republican lawmakers have tried to limit the policymaking power of Democratic-led urban centers on issues ranging from immigration to voting rights to LGBTQ+ matters.

While all of the states that preempt local paid sick leave laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition" target="_blank">Republican-led</a>, many conservative-led states in the Mountain West don’t have such laws.

Katherine Gallagher Robbins, a senior fellow at the National Partnership and another author of the report, said that’s because Western states tend to have more of a libertarian bent. And she said preemption laws in the South have their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/preemption-in-the-south/" target="_blank">roots</a>&nbsp;in historically racist standards that undervalue Black workers.

More than half the Black labor force — 56% — lives in one of the 18 states that prohibit local paid sick time protections, the report said.

Freeland also pointed out that the paid sick leave issue impacts not just urban centers, but rural communities as well. Many people without paid sick leave work in physically demanding jobs such as manufacturing and farming.

The report’s authors say that paid sick leave laws can help reduce the spread of illness, increase employment and wages, particularly for women with child care responsibilities, and can help recruit and retain workers.

Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the scope of the new Missouri law. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@statline.org">avollers@statline.org</a>.

<h2>Nearly 73 million workers fall under such laws, a new report said.</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/author/avollers/">Anna Claire Vollers</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://stateline.org/">Stateline</a>Across most of the South and Midwest, state laws bar local governments from requiring employers to provide paid sick leave, effectively stripping cities of the power to enact their own labor protections.Nearly 73 million workers live in the 18 states that now have such preemptive laws, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://nationalpartnership.org/report/nearly-73-million-workers-live-in-states-that-block-local-communities-from-making-progress-on-paid-sick-days/" target="_blank">new report</a>&nbsp;from A Better Balance, a legal advocacy organization focused on workplace rights, and the National Partnership for Women &amp; Families, a nonprofit advocacy group.“Local leaders know what’s best for their communities. To take away the decision-making power from local communities on this issue and others is very, very concerning,” said Feroza Freeland, policy director of the Southern office at A Better Balance, and one of the report’s authors.Among the 18 states included in the report was Missouri. The legislature passed a measure in May to&nbsp;<a href="https://legiscan.com/MO/text/HB567/id/3166038" target="_blank">repeal</a>&nbsp;paid leave requirements voters had&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/01/missouri-paid-sick-leave-law-now-in-effect-though-legislative-challenges-still-loom/#:~:text=Under%20the%20law,least%2056%20hours." target="_blank">approved</a>&nbsp;in November that expanded access to paid sick leave for about 728,000 workers who lacked it. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe on Thursday signed the statewide repeal into law. Local paid sick leave laws have been banned in Missouri since 2017.Kehoe in a statement called the paid sick leave mandates “onerous,” saying they dictated when and how sick leave was provided and had “burdensome” recordkeeping and compliance obligations.Nationwide, about 27 million workers don’t earn paid sick days, the report found. Many of them work low-wage and part-time jobs, and they’re disproportionately likely to be women, younger workers and people of color, according to the report.“Folks are facing impossible choices between their own health — or the health of their children — and continuing to earn a paycheck to pay bills and put food on the table,” Freeland told Stateline.In the absence of federal laws guaranteeing paid sick leave for workers, more cities and local governments&nbsp;<a href="https://www.abetterbalance.org/paid-sick-time-laws/" target="_blank">have passed their own</a>, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh and Seattle.But lawmakers in 18 states, mainly in the South and Midwest, have done the opposite, the report found. GOP legislators have said such paid leave requirements&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/29/missouri-supreme-court-upholds-voter-approved-paid-sick-leave-law/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20is%20financially%20burdensome%2C%20just%20short%20of%20devastating%2C%20and%20its%20regulatory%20requirements%20are%20extremely%20difficult%20for%20single%20unit%20operators%2C%E2%80%9D%20Buddy%20Lahl%2C%20CEO%20of%20the%20Missouri%20Restaurant%20Association%2C%20told%20The%20Independent%20Tuesday." target="_blank">create financial hardship</a>&nbsp;for employers, particularly for smaller businesses.Over the past decade, in GOP-led states across the country, Republican lawmakers have tried to limit the policymaking power of Democratic-led urban centers on issues ranging from immigration to voting rights to LGBTQ+ matters.While all of the states that preempt local paid sick leave laws are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ncsl.org/about-state-legislatures/state-partisan-composition" target="_blank">Republican-led</a>, many conservative-led states in the Mountain West don’t have such laws.Katherine Gallagher Robbins, a senior fellow at the National Partnership and another author of the report, said that’s because Western states tend to have more of a libertarian bent. And she said preemption laws in the South have their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/preemption-in-the-south/" target="_blank">roots</a>&nbsp;in historically racist standards that undervalue Black workers.More than half the Black labor force — 56% — lives in one of the 18 states that prohibit local paid sick time protections, the report said.Freeland also pointed out that the paid sick leave issue impacts not just urban centers, but rural communities as well. Many people without paid sick leave work in physically demanding jobs such as manufacturing and farming.The report’s authors say that paid sick leave laws can help reduce the spread of illness, increase employment and wages, particularly for women with child care responsibilities, and can help recruit and retain workers.Editor’s note: This story was updated to clarify the scope of the new Missouri law. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:avollers@statline.org">avollers@statline.org</a>.

18 states now stop cities from enacting paid leave standards

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6LVkgcDxUbMURQelSj3cim?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 Week in Review

While the InspireU Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph has had a successful beginning, staff continue to develop new programming to draw people in. 

Director Katherine Patterson Paronto says while the museum has seen nearly 50 thousand visitors in the first six months, programming has been developed nearly every day, such as music and movement every Tuesday 

"We try and do two in a day, there's one for toddlers in the morning and one for older kids in the afternoon, so you can come and have a low stress music and dancing kind of an activity," Patterson Paronto says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "We also do interactive story time once a week as well, and then bubbles on the rooftop as well, that's Thursdays." 

And Patterson Paronto says starting on Tuesday they will launch a new program, the Inspired Concert Series 

"And we're starting off with Mr. Stinky Feet, who has a following, on the 16th we're going to have an afternoon concert with him," Patterson Paronto says.  "And if it's cool enough we'll have it on the roof, otherwise we'll have it in the space." 

Patterson Paronto says her staff is continuing to explore new programs to bring to the museum all the time and hope to have new opportunities this fall. 

As summer winds down, kids will be heading back to school, and the museum wants to send them back by having some fun first.  

Patterson Paronto says next month ahead of back to school the museum will host a Back-to-School bash 

"We plan on having all the favorite activities out all at once, so if you ever missed something you'll be able to do that," Patterson Paronto explains.  "And then we'll have other programming in the space, we just plan on having one big party to end the summer with a bang." 

The back-to-school bash does not have a date yet but will be held next month at the museum.  

InspireU is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sundays from noon to 5pm.  You can find more information on tickets on their website. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post While the InspireU Children's Discovery Center in downtown St. Joseph has had a successful beginning, staff continue to develop new programming to draw people in. Director Katherine Patterson Paronto says while the museum has seen nearly 50 thousand visitors in the first six months, programming has been developed nearly every day, such as music and movement every Tuesday "We try and do two in a day, there's one for toddlers in the morning and one for older kids in the afternoon, so you can come and have a low stress music and dancing kind of an activity," Patterson Paronto says on the KFEQmunnity show. "We also do interactive story time once a week as well, and then bubbles on the rooftop as well, that's Thursdays." And Patterson Paronto says starting on Tuesday they will launch a new program, the Inspired Concert Series "And we're starting off with Mr. Stinky Feet, who has a following, on the 16th we're going to have an afternoon concert with him," Patterson Paronto says. "And if it's cool enough we'll have it on the roof, otherwise we'll have it in the space." Patterson Paronto says her staff is continuing to explore new programs to bring to the museum all the time and hope to have new opportunities this fall. As summer winds down, kids will be heading back to school, and the museum wants to send them back by having some fun first. Patterson Paronto says next month ahead of back to school the museum will host a Back-to-School bash "We plan on having all the favorite activities out all at once, so if you ever missed something you'll be able to do that," Patterson Paronto explains. "And then we'll have other programming in the space, we just plan on having one big party to end the summer with a bang." The back-to-school bash does not have a date yet but will be held next month at the museum. InspireU is open every Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sundays from noon to 5pm. You can find more information on tickets on their website. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Off to fast start, InspireU aims at keeping kids coming back

The new law will expand on efforts by the state’s education department to improve literacy in K-12 schools

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

Missouri lawmakers have banned educators from leaning on a model of reading instruction called the “three-cueing” method as part of a bipartisan education package signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday.

The law mandates that three cueing, which teaches students to&nbsp;<a href="https://fivefromfive.com.au/phonics-teaching/the-three-cueing-system/" target="_blank">read using context clues</a>, can be used to supplement lessons, but phonics should be the majority of instruction.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican and sponsor of the legislation, told The Independent that the law builds on prior legislative efforts and work from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“We’ve come to the realization that phonics is crucial,” Lewis said. “The three cueing system, when used as the primary source, evidence shows a decrease in the amount of learning that occurs, and for that reason, we want to use it less.”

Three cueing is widely criticized for encouraging kids to make guesses when reading and doesn’t show how to sound out words, which is important for understanding complicated texts.

Missouri isn’t the only state to ban three cueing. By the end of 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-states-are-taking-aim-at-a-controversial-early-reading-method/2025/04" target="_blank">at least 11 states</a>&nbsp;had explicitly banned the method.

The problem with three cueing, which once was lauded as an alternative to phonics, came to public attention when American Public Media reporter Emily Hanford&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-reading" target="_blank">investigated reading instruction</a>&nbsp;and later launched the podcast series “<a href="https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/" target="_blank">Sold a Story</a>.”

The series&nbsp;<a href="https://theweek.com/education/science-of-reading-battle" target="_blank">armed those backing the “science of reading” in a longstanding war</a>&nbsp;between phonics instruction and context-clue-based models and state laws followed — including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/BTS_Web/Summary.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;SummaryID=52&amp;BillID=71259862" target="_blank">literacy bill</a>&nbsp;passed in Missouri in 2022.

The 2022 legislation required state education officials to create a teacher preparatory course on literacy. DESE, in turn, launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-read-lead-exceed" target="_blank">“Read, Lead, Exceed” initiative</a>, including instruction for educators.

As of this spring, 429 school districts and over 8,600 educators have had training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS.

“It is pretty intense training,” Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told The Independent. “It creates an opportunity for the teachers to use that science of reading, that evidence-based best practices on how you teach reading.”

The training and other science-backed materials provided by the department are not mandatory but participation has been encouraging, Eslinger said.

She expects elementary literacy rates to rise as a result of the training and other efforts since 2022, like literacy coaches the department hired.

With a charge to ban three cueing as the primary form of reading instruction, Eslinger said the department will continue to push best practices.

“We are not going to police this,” she said. “We are going to show good practice and give support to good practice, so it just bolsters what we’re doing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1752321916316.png" alt=" State Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, stands on the House floor Wednesday during the last day of special session. Lewis sponsored legislation seeking to restrict teachers from using a controversial method of reading instruction as their primary tool (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Ed Lewis, R-Moberly, stands on the House floor Wednesday during the last day of special session. Lewis sponsored legislation seeking to restrict teachers from using a controversial method of reading instruction as their primary tool (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The new law will expand on efforts by the state’s education department to improve literacy in K-12 schools</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri lawmakers have banned educators from leaning on a model of reading instruction called the “three-cueing” method as part of a bipartisan education package signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe on Wednesday.The law mandates that three cueing, which teaches students to&nbsp;<a href="https://fivefromfive.com.au/phonics-teaching/the-three-cueing-system/" target="_blank">read using context clues</a>, can be used to supplement lessons, but phonics should be the majority of instruction.State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Moberly Republican and sponsor of the legislation, told The Independent that the law builds on prior legislative efforts and work from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.“We’ve come to the realization that phonics is crucial,” Lewis said. “The three cueing system, when used as the primary source, evidence shows a decrease in the amount of learning that occurs, and for that reason, we want to use it less.”Three cueing is widely criticized for encouraging kids to make guesses when reading and doesn’t show how to sound out words, which is important for understanding complicated texts.Missouri isn’t the only state to ban three cueing. By the end of 2024,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/more-states-are-taking-aim-at-a-controversial-early-reading-method/2025/04" target="_blank">at least 11 states</a>&nbsp;had explicitly banned the method.The problem with three cueing, which once was lauded as an alternative to phonics, came to public attention when American Public Media reporter Emily Hanford&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apmreports.org/episode/2019/08/22/whats-wrong-how-schools-teach-reading" target="_blank">investigated reading instruction</a>&nbsp;and later launched the podcast series “<a href="https://features.apmreports.org/sold-a-story/" target="_blank">Sold a Story</a>.”The series&nbsp;<a href="https://theweek.com/education/science-of-reading-battle" target="_blank">armed those backing the “science of reading” in a longstanding war</a>&nbsp;between phonics instruction and context-clue-based models and state laws followed — including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/22info/BTS_Web/Summary.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;SummaryID=52&amp;BillID=71259862" target="_blank">literacy bill</a>&nbsp;passed in Missouri in 2022.The 2022 legislation required state education officials to create a teacher preparatory course on literacy. DESE, in turn, launched its&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-read-lead-exceed" target="_blank">“Read, Lead, Exceed” initiative</a>, including instruction for educators.As of this spring, 429 school districts and over 8,600 educators have had training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, or LETRS.“It is pretty intense training,” Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told The Independent. “It creates an opportunity for the teachers to use that science of reading, that evidence-based best practices on how you teach reading.”The training and other science-backed materials provided by the department are not mandatory but participation has been encouraging, Eslinger said.She expects elementary literacy rates to rise as a result of the training and other efforts since 2022, like literacy coaches the department hired.With a charge to ban three cueing as the primary form of reading instruction, Eslinger said the department will continue to push best practices.“We are not going to police this,” she said. “We are going to show good practice and give support to good practice, so it just bolsters what we’re doing.”As part of a checklist school districts provide annually to the department, they will be required to confirm that they are not using three cueing as a primary instructional model.“The work that our literacy teams are doing in the state is all being very well received. (Educators) are wanting more and more,” Eslinger said. “It is not because it is mandated, it is because it works.”