Missouri Chamber
of Commerce officials have outlined five priorities for this year’s legislative
session in Jefferson City.

Chair of the
Chamber, Stet Schanze with Gray Manufacturing in St. Joseph, says the top
priority of the chamber is passing legislation to ease the state child care
shortage, something the legislature hasn’t been able to do the past two years.

“I think there’s
an enthusiasm that we’re going to get legislation through this year,” Schanze
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s not going to be bogged down where nothing’s
coming out and, hopefully, most importantly, meaningful legislation that comes
out.”

Schanze says a
lack of child care has prevented some Missourians from re-entering the
workforce.

Schanze says
violent crime is another issue that concerns the Chamber.

“Eighty percent of
businesses believe that crime, the high rate of crime in our state, is
negatively impacting our economy,” according to Schanze, who referred to a
Chamber survey of its members.

Schanze says crime
is worse in some areas than others, but is always a concern of business
executives considering a move.

“They’re going to
Google the city they’re moving to and they’re going to see all the things that
pop up, whether it’s real or perceived, and in this case, I think it’s more real,”
Schanze says. “We’ve got to do a better job at addressing the crime in the
state of Missouri.”

Commerce officials
in a news release expressed frustration about productivity at the Capitol in
Jefferson City a year ago and hope that more could be done this year.

Little got done at
the state Capitol in 2023 or 2024. The Chamber points out the Missouri General
Assembly approved only 28 non-budget bills in the last legislative session.

Schanze says the Chamber
looks to the legislature to accomplish more this year.

“I think we’re going
to see some legislation approved this year, but they’ve got to do it,” Schanze
says. “But I can tell you in talking with our local delegation they’re ready to
go try to get some stuff done for us.”

Other priorities
outlined by the Chamber include enhancing energy generation, clarifying the
provisions of Proposition A approved by voters in November, and cutting
government red tape.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMissouri Chamber
of Commerce officials have outlined five priorities for this year’s legislative
session in Jefferson City.Chair of the
Chamber, Stet Schanze with Gray Manufacturing in St. Joseph, says the top
priority of the chamber is passing legislation to ease the state child care
shortage, something the legislature hasn’t been able to do the past two years.“I think there’s
an enthusiasm that we’re going to get legislation through this year,” Schanze
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s not going to be bogged down where nothing’s
coming out and, hopefully, most importantly, meaningful legislation that comes
out.”Schanze says a
lack of child care has prevented some Missourians from re-entering the
workforce.Schanze says
violent crime is another issue that concerns the Chamber.“Eighty percent of
businesses believe that crime, the high rate of crime in our state, is
negatively impacting our economy,” according to Schanze, who referred to a
Chamber survey of its members.Schanze says crime
is worse in some areas than others, but is always a concern of business
executives considering a move.“They’re going to
Google the city they’re moving to and they’re going to see all the things that
pop up, whether it’s real or perceived, and in this case, I think it’s more real,”
Schanze says. “We’ve got to do a better job at addressing the crime in the
state of Missouri.”Commerce officials
in a news release expressed frustration about productivity at the Capitol in
Jefferson City a year ago and hope that more could be done this year.Little got done at
the state Capitol in 2023 or 2024. The Chamber points out the Missouri General
Assembly approved only 28 non-budget bills in the last legislative session.Schanze says the Chamber
looks to the legislature to accomplish more this year.“I think we’re going
to see some legislation approved this year, but they’ve got to do it,” Schanze
says. “But I can tell you in talking with our local delegation they’re ready to
go try to get some stuff done for us.”Other priorities
outlined by the Chamber include enhancing energy generation, clarifying the
provisions of Proposition A approved by voters in November, and cutting
government red tape.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MO Chamber outlines 5 legislative priorities; hopes for better session

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an aggravated battery in Atchison.

The incident occurred just before 7p.m. Monday&nbsp;in a convenience store parking lot in the 900 block Unity Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

A disturbance had occurred between two men. A 34-year-old man sustained several stab wounds and was subsequently taken to Amberwell Hospital by private vehicle for treatment.&nbsp;The other man ran from the area. Police have not released suspect information or additional details.

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating an aggravated battery in Atchison.The incident occurred just before 7p.m. Monday&nbsp;in a convenience store parking lot in the 900 block Unity Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.A disturbance had occurred between two men. A 34-year-old man sustained several stab wounds and was subsequently taken to Amberwell Hospital by private vehicle for treatment.&nbsp;The other man ran from the area. Police have not released suspect information or additional details.

Police: Man hospitalized after stabbing in store parking lot

‘It is inhumane to say people should be hunted like a sport,’ said Aura Velasquez, who has been a U.S. citizen for five years.

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

A confrontational legislative hearing Monday — with a witness calling a state senator a fascist and lawmakers battling over whether the state should put a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/pdf-bill/intro/SB72.pdf" target="_blank">bounty on undocumented immigrants</a>&nbsp;— set the tone for this year’s debate on immigration and the state’s role in border security.

The most aggressive approach, in a bill filed by state Sen. David Gregory, would award a $1,000 bounty for tips that result in the arrest of a person present in the United States without authorization. Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield, wants to authorize bounty hunters, usually employed by bail bond businesses to catch absconders, to track down people identified in tips.

And if the tip proves accurate, the person arrested would be charged with “trespass by an illegal alien,” and subject to life in prison without parole if federal immigration authorities declined to take custody.

“This bill seeks to create an ICE program at the state level,” Gregory told the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. “That’s essentially all it does. This is an ICE program inside the state of Missouri.”

State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, said it encourages people to make reports based on skin color or English proficiency.&nbsp;

“Don’t tell me it is not going to happen because it is happening now,” Washington said.

Gregory’s bill — and another heard Monday from state Sen. Jill Carter, a Joplin Republican — are among several introduced by Republicans this session seeking to make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to remain in the state.

<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=355" target="_blank">Carter’s bill</a>&nbsp;would also create new crimes based on immigration status. For simply being undocumented, a person could be charged with “improper entry” and could be punished by a fine of up to $10,000 and removal to a U.S. port of entry for deportation

The crime of “aggravated illegal presence” would be a felony applying to undocumented people who violated any other Missouri law. The penalty would be increased if the violation was a felony law.

Immigration and border security have been a major issue for the GOP nationally, helping get President Donald Trump elected to a new term. Trump promised mass deportations, and roundups began almost immediately after he took office.

There were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6434dq7p1o" target="_blank">956 arrests on Sunday</a>, the BBC reported. Colombia, which initially refused to accept incoming flights of people being deported, relented after Trump threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colombia-deportation-flights-trump-retaliation/" target="_blank">impose a tariff of 25%</a>&nbsp;on all imports from the South American country.

Federal courts have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-law-iowa-texas-oklahoma-5685f877f4516f3f18d2fc2c6858f696" target="_blank">blocked attempts in Iowa</a>, Texas and Georgia to make it a crime to be in those states if a person is in the U.S. illegally.

During Monday’s hearing, immigrants — with legal status and without — said the bills filed this year represent an escalation of oppression.

“It is inhumane to say people should be hunted like a sport,” said Aura Velasquez, who has been a citizen for five years. “It would turn neighbors against neighbors and friends against each other.”

Immigration advocates argued that a community already fearful about having documentation to remain in the U.S. revoked would become more fearful.

“This bill fosters a climate of fear, where people feel unsafe engaging in even the most basic activities beyond going to work or school,” said Gabriella Cepeda, representing the Hispanic Law Students Association at St. Louis University. “They are terrified of being profiled or targeted life in prison for simply existing in the state without documentation. It is not just extreme, it’s cruel and unusual punishment.”

The handful of supporters, representing law enforcement and a conservative Jewish group, said the state must protect itself from human trafficking and drug trafficking associated with lax border security.

“This legislation would simply give law enforcement another tool in the tool box to assist our federal partners,” Lewis County Sheriff David Parish said.

Last summer, a Missouri House interim committee studied the issue of crime associated with illegal immigration. The report, published Jan. 7, drew no conclusions and reported that many of the witnesses said they feared problems associated with border communities reaching Missouri.

The report did not estimate the number of undocumented immigrants in Missouri but said studies show a substantial economic impact.&nbsp;

Undocumented immigrants paid approximately $113 million in state taxes in 2022 but cannot use the public benefits those taxes support like Medicaid. Their economic activity supports 160,000 jobs and $19 billion in total economic activity, providing “real economic stability that benefits all Missourians,” the committee report stated.

Washington peppered Gregory and Carter with questions about whether the state should trade that economic support for a state free of undocumented immigrants.

“We have 77,000 illegal immigrants that we have here in Missouri,” Gregory said.

“So they should all be subject to this, because you’re saying that we should arrest them just because they’re here?” Washington asked.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738065953752.png" alt=" State Sen. David Gregory reviews his notes before presenting a bill Monday that would criminalize undocumented immigrants to a Senate committee (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. David Gregory reviews his notes before presenting a bill Monday that would criminalize undocumented immigrants to a Senate committee (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘It is inhumane to say people should be hunted like a sport,’ said Aura Velasquez, who has been a U.S. citizen for five years.</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A confrontational legislative hearing Monday — with a witness calling a state senator a fascist and lawmakers battling over whether the state should put a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/pdf-bill/intro/SB72.pdf" target="_blank">bounty on undocumented immigrants</a>&nbsp;— set the tone for this year’s debate on immigration and the state’s role in border security.The most aggressive approach, in a bill filed by state Sen. David Gregory, would award a $1,000 bounty for tips that result in the arrest of a person present in the United States without authorization. Gregory, a Republican from Chesterfield, wants to authorize bounty hunters, usually employed by bail bond businesses to catch absconders, to track down people identified in tips.And if the tip proves accurate, the person arrested would be charged with “trespass by an illegal alien,” and subject to life in prison without parole if federal immigration authorities declined to take custody.“This bill seeks to create an ICE program at the state level,” Gregory told the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee. “That’s essentially all it does. This is an ICE program inside the state of Missouri.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738065919068.png" alt=" State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, questions state Sen. Jill Carter on Monday about her bill that would create new crimes based on immigration status (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, questions state Sen. Jill Carter on Monday about her bill that would create new crimes based on immigration status (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat, said it encourages people to make reports based on skin color or English proficiency.&nbsp;“Don’t tell me it is not going to happen because it is happening now,” Washington said.Gregory’s bill — and another heard Monday from state Sen. Jill Carter, a Joplin Republican — are among several introduced by Republicans this session seeking to make it more difficult for undocumented immigrants to remain in the state.<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=355" target="_blank">Carter’s bill</a>&nbsp;would also create new crimes based on immigration status. For simply being undocumented, a person could be charged with “improper entry” and could be punished by a fine of up to $10,000 and removal to a U.S. port of entry for deportationThe crime of “aggravated illegal presence” would be a felony applying to undocumented people who violated any other Missouri law. The penalty would be increased if the violation was a felony law.Immigration and border security have been a major issue for the GOP nationally, helping get President Donald Trump elected to a new term. Trump promised mass deportations, and roundups began almost immediately after he took office.There were&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cd6434dq7p1o" target="_blank">956 arrests on Sunday</a>, the BBC reported. Colombia, which initially refused to accept incoming flights of people being deported, relented after Trump threatened to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/colombia-deportation-flights-trump-retaliation/" target="_blank">impose a tariff of 25%</a>&nbsp;on all imports from the South American country.Federal courts have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/immigration-law-iowa-texas-oklahoma-5685f877f4516f3f18d2fc2c6858f696" target="_blank">blocked attempts in Iowa</a>, Texas and Georgia to make it a crime to be in those states if a person is in the U.S. illegally.During Monday’s hearing, immigrants — with legal status and without — said the bills filed this year represent an escalation of oppression.“It is inhumane to say people should be hunted like a sport,” said Aura Velasquez, who has been a citizen for five years. “It would turn neighbors against neighbors and friends against each other.”Immigration advocates argued that a community already fearful about having documentation to remain in the U.S. revoked would become more fearful.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738065880821.png" alt=" After hearing that posters and signs were not allowed in the committee room, Kansas City resident Katelin Nott wrote messages on her arm Monday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> After hearing that posters and signs were not allowed in the committee room, Kansas City resident Katelin Nott wrote messages on her arm Monday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>“This bill fosters a climate of fear, where people feel unsafe engaging in even the most basic activities beyond going to work or school,” said Gabriella Cepeda, representing the Hispanic Law Students Association at St. Louis University. “They are terrified of being profiled or targeted life in prison for simply existing in the state without documentation. It is not just extreme, it’s cruel and unusual punishment.”The handful of supporters, representing law enforcement and a conservative Jewish group, said the state must protect itself from human trafficking and drug trafficking associated with lax border security.“This legislation would simply give law enforcement another tool in the tool box to assist our federal partners,” Lewis County Sheriff David Parish said.Last summer, a Missouri House interim committee studied the issue of crime associated with illegal immigration. The report, published Jan. 7, drew no conclusions and reported that many of the witnesses said they feared problems associated with border communities reaching Missouri.The report did not estimate the number of undocumented immigrants in Missouri but said studies show a substantial economic impact.&nbsp;Undocumented immigrants paid approximately $113 million in state taxes in 2022 but cannot use the public benefits those taxes support like Medicaid. Their economic activity supports 160,000 jobs and $19 billion in total economic activity, providing “real economic stability that benefits all Missourians,” the committee report stated.Washington peppered Gregory and Carter with questions about whether the state should trade that economic support for a state free of undocumented immigrants.“We have 77,000 illegal immigrants that we have here in Missouri,” Gregory said.“So they should all be subject to this, because you’re saying that we should arrest them just because they’re here?” Washington asked.“Yes,” Gregory replied.

Missouri bill putting a bounty on undocumented immigrants faces fierce resistance

ATCHISON–&nbsp;Bryson McCray, 36, of St. Joseph, Missouri, the subject in the weekend officer-involved shooting in Atchison, died from his injuries in a local hospital early Monday, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. An autopsy is scheduled.

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

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

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

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

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1666119705831.png" alt="McCray photo Buchanan County" />
 <figcaption>McCray photo Buchanan County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON–&nbsp;Bryson McCray, 36, of St. Joseph, Missouri, the subject in the weekend officer-involved shooting in Atchison, died from his injuries in a local hospital early Monday, according to a statement from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. An autopsy is scheduled.At around 5:45 p.m. Friday, the Atchison Police Department responded to a call about a person with a gun and a second call of a subject breaking into an apartment. As officers arrived at 508 N 9th&nbsp;St. in Atchison, an officer exited his vehicle and shots were fired at him, striking his police vehicle multiple times. The officer was not struck. The man,&nbsp;identified as Bryson McCray, 36, of St. Joseph, Mo., then fled back into a&nbsp;residence. Additional officers from the Atchison PD were called to the scene.Officers learned that a woman known to McCray was being held inside of the residence. Atchison PD requested Kansas Highway Patrol’s (KHP) Special Response Team’s assistance. They also requested assistance from the&nbsp;KBI High Risk Warrant Team. Law enforcement attempted to peacefully negotiate throughout the night with McCray insisting he release the woman inside the residence. The subject did not cooperate with the negotiations and fired multiple shots at law enforcement officials throughout the incident.&nbsp;Preliminary information indicates&nbsp;that at around 2:30 a.m., an attempt was made to rescue the female hostage. During the rescue attempt, McCray and the hostage were separated momentarily, and a KHP trooper fired at McCray striking him.&nbsp; At that time, the hostage was safely rescued. Life-saving measures were made on McCray at the scene and at an area hospital. McCray was subsequently transported to a Kansas City hospital where he died on Monday. No law enforcement officers were injured during the rescue attempt or during the interactions with McCray.This independent investigation aims to discover all events leading up to the officer-involved shooting. In police use of force cases, the KBI releases details to the public as soon as possible. This information is preliminary in nature, and is based on evidence collected and early statements of the parties involved, witnesses, medical personnel and others. It does not represent final or thorough findings which take several weeks to complete.When this investigation concludes, case findings will be presented to the Atchison County Attorney.

KBI: St. Joe man injured in gunfight with Kan. officers has died

Former 139th
Airlift Wing Commander, Col. John Cluck, is optimistic about the future of the
base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.

Still, Cluck says
he has concerns, because the military is constantly downsizing in an attempt to
save money.

“We had about twice
as many aircraft back in ’03 when we deployed that we have now,” Cluck tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview. “Things get more expensive. It gets
harder to remain relevant. I know that it’s going to be a tremendous challenge
until we get these new aircraft here at the 139th to make sure that
we’re still in a good position. I think that we are. I’ve worked very hard to
make sure that we are.”

The glaring need
for the 139th remains, though. It has yet to land the new mode
C-130J planes to replace the aging C-130H models it currently flies.

Cluck says
improvements made to Rosecrans with state, county, and city money has improved
the chances the base lands the new aircraft.

“We may not get
them as quickly as we want them, but as long as we get across the finish line
at the end that’ll be just fine,” Cluck says. “I know the mission we have here,
not only with the flying squadron, but also the Advance Airlift Tactics Training
Center is too critically important to the Air Force as a whole to let it go aside.
I feel very confident we’re going to get them. I don’t know if we’ll get the
next round or not, but I’m very confident we are going to win.”

Money has poured
into Rosecrans, building a new main runway, a new terminal, and a new tower. It
is undergoing a complete renovation even as the Air Guard constructs new
buildings for the 139th on ground that didn’t flood during the
devasting 1993 Missouri River flood.

Cluck handed over
commanded of the base to his Deputy Commander, Col. Barrett Golden, during a
Change of Command ceremony at Rosecrans Saturday afternoon.

Cluck says the
primary challenge the Air Guard faces is recruitment.

“Our numbers are
coming up. It doesn’t take very long to go down, but it takes a long way to
climb back up out of that hole,” Cluck says. “We’ve made some really, really
good strides coming up. We’ve increased our percentage overall manning by about
5 or 6%, which is huge. And I think we’ll come back out of that.”

Cluck feels
optimistic about the future of the Air Guard base in St. Joseph.

“I’m very
optimistic about it,” Cluck says. “I’ll tell you, that was the one thing I said
during my tenure as the wing commander is I want to make sure that not only is
the wing is moving, but it’s also there for generations to come.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFormer 139th
Airlift Wing Commander, Col. John Cluck, is optimistic about the future of the
base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.Still, Cluck says
he has concerns, because the military is constantly downsizing in an attempt to
save money.“We had about twice
as many aircraft back in ’03 when we deployed that we have now,” Cluck tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview. “Things get more expensive. It gets
harder to remain relevant. I know that it’s going to be a tremendous challenge
until we get these new aircraft here at the 139th to make sure that
we’re still in a good position. I think that we are. I’ve worked very hard to
make sure that we are.”The glaring need
for the 139th remains, though. It has yet to land the new mode
C-130J planes to replace the aging C-130H models it currently flies.Cluck says
improvements made to Rosecrans with state, county, and city money has improved
the chances the base lands the new aircraft.“We may not get
them as quickly as we want them, but as long as we get across the finish line
at the end that’ll be just fine,” Cluck says. “I know the mission we have here,
not only with the flying squadron, but also the Advance Airlift Tactics Training
Center is too critically important to the Air Force as a whole to let it go aside.
I feel very confident we’re going to get them. I don’t know if we’ll get the
next round or not, but I’m very confident we are going to win.”Money has poured
into Rosecrans, building a new main runway, a new terminal, and a new tower. It
is undergoing a complete renovation even as the Air Guard constructs new
buildings for the 139th on ground that didn’t flood during the
devasting 1993 Missouri River flood.Cluck handed over
commanded of the base to his Deputy Commander, Col. Barrett Golden, during a
Change of Command ceremony at Rosecrans Saturday afternoon.Cluck says the
primary challenge the Air Guard faces is recruitment.“Our numbers are
coming up. It doesn’t take very long to go down, but it takes a long way to
climb back up out of that hole,” Cluck says. “We’ve made some really, really
good strides coming up. We’ve increased our percentage overall manning by about
5 or 6%, which is huge. And I think we’ll come back out of that.”Cluck feels
optimistic about the future of the Air Guard base in St. Joseph.“I’m very
optimistic about it,” Cluck says. “I’ll tell you, that was the one thing I said
during my tenure as the wing commander is I want to make sure that not only is
the wing is moving, but it’s also there for generations to come.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Former commander optimistic about future of 139th in St. Joseph

ATCHISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday.

&nbsp;A 2021 Chevrolet car driven by Eric Hill, Nortonville, and a 1998 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Jody Erickson, Atchison, were involved in an accident in the 400 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike  Wilson,

Both vehicles had been southbound on 10th Street when the accident occurred. EMS transported Erickson to Amberwell Hospital for an examination of injuries and later released.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737995727441.png" alt="Photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Saturday.&nbsp;A 2021 Chevrolet car driven by Eric Hill, Nortonville, and a 1998 Yamaha motorcycle driven by Jody Erickson, Atchison, were involved in an accident in the 400 block North 10th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson,Both vehicles had been southbound on 10th Street when the accident occurred. EMS transported Erickson to Amberwell Hospital for an examination of injuries and later released.

Police: Man injured after car, motorcycle crash

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/aj-dome/">AJ DOME</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>

Researchers at Kansas State University say the number of cases of an allergic reaction to red meat tied to tick bites is increasing across the state.

Priscilla Brenes, K-State Research and Extension nutrition and wellness specialist, said cases of an allergy called alpha-gal syndrome are becoming more common through more rural areas of Kansas. Alpha-gal syndrome is the term used to describe the allergic reaction to red meats and mammalian related products, most often through a tick bite.

The main parasite responsible for the spread of alpha-gal syndrome is the Lone Star tick, a common variety in brushy and more heavily wooded parts of Kansas. Brenes said in a statement that she surveyed other Kansas extension agents and found there was a lack of available information about alpha-gal syndrome, and that the agents wanted more details to share within their communities.

K-State entomologist Yoonseong Park said studies indicate that less than 10% of people bitten by the Lone Star tick ever develop an allergic reaction to red meat. Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome include hives, nausea or vomiting, severe stomach pain, dizziness, drops in blood pressure, shortness of breath and swollen lips and throat.

Park said tick activity picks up during spring months in Kansas, and every patient who develops the red meat allergy has a different level of sensitivity to it, like other allergies. In any case of possible alpha-gal syndrome, patients are encouraged to talk with their doctor immediately.

Michael Chao, K-State meat scientist, said a recent report from the Yale School of Medicine shows that the levels of antibodies which cause the reaction decline over time, giving some people the chance to consume red meat and related products again.

Chao uses mice in his research to test the reaction of various meat products, such as hot dogs and jerky. He said his hope is to use the data he gathers to help people reintroduce red meat into their diet “when they’re ready for it.”

Brenes and her colleagues are offering a survey to residents across all 105 Kansas counties as part of their effort to collect more information about alpha-gal syndrome. Brenes said those who participate in the survey may receive a financial incentive.

The survey and more information about alpha-gal syndrome can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://entomology.k-state.edu/ags/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;and through local extension offices.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737977963996.png" alt="The Lone Star tick is responsible for most cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that’s appearing more and more in Kansas. (Kansas State University Research and Extension.)" />
 <figcaption>The Lone Star tick is responsible for most cases of alpha-gal syndrome, a red meat allergy that’s appearing more and more in Kansas. (Kansas State University Research and Extension.)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/author/aj-dome/">AJ DOME</a> <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/09/21/kansas-board-of-regents-sculpts-plan-for-boosting-state-aid-to-public-higher-education/?emci=78717300-c858-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;emdi=fc107f78-2659-ee11-9937-00224832eb73&amp;ceid=115039">Kansas Reflector</a>Researchers at Kansas State University say the number of cases of an allergic reaction to red meat tied to tick bites is increasing across the state.Priscilla Brenes, K-State Research and Extension nutrition and wellness specialist, said cases of an allergy called alpha-gal syndrome are becoming more common through more rural areas of Kansas. Alpha-gal syndrome is the term used to describe the allergic reaction to red meats and mammalian related products, most often through a tick bite.The main parasite responsible for the spread of alpha-gal syndrome is the Lone Star tick, a common variety in brushy and more heavily wooded parts of Kansas. Brenes said in a statement that she surveyed other Kansas extension agents and found there was a lack of available information about alpha-gal syndrome, and that the agents wanted more details to share within their communities.K-State entomologist Yoonseong Park said studies indicate that less than 10% of people bitten by the Lone Star tick ever develop an allergic reaction to red meat. Symptoms of alpha-gal syndrome include hives, nausea or vomiting, severe stomach pain, dizziness, drops in blood pressure, shortness of breath and swollen lips and throat.Park said tick activity picks up during spring months in Kansas, and every patient who develops the red meat allergy has a different level of sensitivity to it, like other allergies. In any case of possible alpha-gal syndrome, patients are encouraged to talk with their doctor immediately.Michael Chao, K-State meat scientist, said a recent report from the Yale School of Medicine shows that the levels of antibodies which cause the reaction decline over time, giving some people the chance to consume red meat and related products again.Chao uses mice in his research to test the reaction of various meat products, such as hot dogs and jerky. He said his hope is to use the data he gathers to help people reintroduce red meat into their diet “when they’re ready for it.”Brenes and her colleagues are offering a survey to residents across all 105 Kansas counties as part of their effort to collect more information about alpha-gal syndrome. Brenes said those who participate in the survey may receive a financial incentive.The survey and more information about alpha-gal syndrome can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://entomology.k-state.edu/ags/" target="_blank">online</a>&nbsp;and through local extension offices.

K-State researchers say red meat allergy from tick bites is becoming more common

The Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills once again put on an instant playoff classic in the AFC Championship at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, but for a fourth straight time it was the Chiefs coming out on top, winning 32-29.&nbsp;

With the win, Kansas City is now in its third straight Super Bowl.&nbsp; Now, the AFC champions will try to do something no other NFL team has done: Win all three.

The matchup was back and forth from the get go, the Chiefs getting the first blow on the first offensive drive of the game that went 90 yards in nine plays, ending with a 12 yard rushing score by Kareem Hunt.&nbsp; In the six playoff games that Hunt has played in his career, he has scored in all six.&nbsp;

A 53 yard field goal from Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass, yet another of 50+ yards which Bass has not missed from this season, was the only other score in the first quarter, but following a Kansas City fumble on a misplayed handoff between Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco, the Bills drove 10 plays before James Cook gave them the lead on a six yard run.&nbsp;

The Chiefs wasted no time answering with a long 11 play drive of their own on the following drive, Mahomes throwing his lone passing touchdown of the game, 11 yards to rookie Xavier Worthy. and after forcing the Bills to punt, Mahomes scored again this time with his legs,&nbsp; from one yard out, extending the lead to 21-10.

The number 13 when it comes to the Bills, might give the Chiefs some nightmares.&nbsp; The last time Kansas City and Buffalo clashed in the AFC Championship at Arrowhead, it was Gabe Davis, who wore #13, that had eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns.&nbsp; This time it was Mack Hollins, scoring a 34 yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen near the end of the half to cut the lead to five, and after a failed two point conversion, the two teams went to the halftime break with Kansas City leading 21-16.&nbsp;

Cook scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter, giving the Bills the lead back, but again Buffalo was unable to convert the two point conversion attempt, leading 22-21.&nbsp; The Chiefs were forced to punt on the following drive, but then got a big break from their defense, stopping Allen on 4th and 1, and after replay review ruled the MVP favorite short, forced a turnover on downs.&nbsp;

Kansas City took advantage of the turnover on downs, needing just five plays to do so, ending with Mahomes using his legs and keeping his wheels spinning for a 10 yard rushing touchdown, then completing a two point conversion pass to Justin Watson to make it a touchdown game, putting the ball back in the hands of Allen with 10:14 left in the game.&nbsp;

The Bills went on to exploit the Chiefs defense on a nine play drive, the biggest play of the drive again being a pass between Allen and Hollins of 32 yards, setting Buffalo up at the four yard line.&nbsp; Kansas City got a sack on Allen to back the Bills up, but after back to back incomplete passes, Allen found Curtis Samuel in the back of the endzone for a four yard pass, tying up the game after the extra point kick from Bass.&nbsp;

Getting the ball back with 6:15 remaining in regulation Kansas City drove seven plays before stalling in the redzone, Harrison Butker knocking through a go ahead 35 yard field goal with 3:33 left in regulation, putting the game in the hands of their defense again.&nbsp; The Bills got a 13 yard run from Ty Johnson, but two incomplete passes and a five yard short route to Amari Cooper, pinned Buffalo at 4th and 5 at the two minute warning.&nbsp;

Coming out of the two minute warning, Allen was looking deep, but was also faced with pressure by the Chiefs front seven, and George Karlaftis, who had three sacks last week, put enough pressure on Allen to force a long pass off his back leg, that fell through the hands of second year tight end Dalton Kincaid, turning the ball over on downs.&nbsp;

&nbsp;Kansas City ran out the remaining clock, getting a first down run from Pacheco, and cementing the game on a 17 yard pass from Mahomes to Samaje Perine.&nbsp;

Mahomes was 18 of 26 passing for 245 yards with one touchdown, rushing for 43 yards and two scores.&nbsp; Hunt rushed 17 times for 64 yards and one touchdown.&nbsp; Worthy was the leading receiver with six catches for 85 yards and a score.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Chiefs will get a familiar foe in the Eagles, whom they beat two years ago for the first title in this run. Philadelphia romped to a 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders earlier Sunday to earn a shot at the champs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1737946017425.png" alt="Chiefs" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostThe Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills once again put on an instant playoff classic in the AFC Championship at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday, but for a fourth straight time it was the Chiefs coming out on top, winning 32-29.&nbsp;With the win, Kansas City is now in its third straight Super Bowl.&nbsp; Now, the AFC champions will try to do something no other NFL team has done: Win all three.The matchup was back and forth from the get go, the Chiefs getting the first blow on the first offensive drive of the game that went 90 yards in nine plays, ending with a 12 yard rushing score by Kareem Hunt.&nbsp; In the six playoff games that Hunt has played in his career, he has scored in all six.&nbsp;A 53 yard field goal from Buffalo kicker Tyler Bass, yet another of 50+ yards which Bass has not missed from this season, was the only other score in the first quarter, but following a Kansas City fumble on a misplayed handoff between Patrick Mahomes and Isiah Pacheco, the Bills drove 10 plays before James Cook gave them the lead on a six yard run.&nbsp;The Chiefs wasted no time answering with a long 11 play drive of their own on the following drive, Mahomes throwing his lone passing touchdown of the game, 11 yards to rookie Xavier Worthy. and after forcing the Bills to punt, Mahomes scored again this time with his legs,&nbsp; from one yard out, extending the lead to 21-10.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">NO. 1 IS ON ONE 🔥 <a href="https://t.co/ihHcq1mqxJ">pic.twitter.com/ihHcq1mqxJ</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1883676840864129192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The number 13 when it comes to the Bills, might give the Chiefs some nightmares.&nbsp; The last time Kansas City and Buffalo clashed in the AFC Championship at Arrowhead, it was Gabe Davis, who wore #13, that had eight catches for 201 yards and four touchdowns.&nbsp; This time it was Mack Hollins, scoring a 34 yard touchdown pass from Josh Allen near the end of the half to cut the lead to five, and after a failed two point conversion, the two teams went to the halftime break with Kansas City leading 21-16.&nbsp;Cook scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter, giving the Bills the lead back, but again Buffalo was unable to convert the two point conversion attempt, leading 22-21.&nbsp; The Chiefs were forced to punt on the following drive, but then got a big break from their defense, stopping Allen on 4th and 1, and after replay review ruled the MVP favorite short, forced a turnover on downs.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Chiefs&#39; defense stops them on fourth down! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsKC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsKC</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> and Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/VwGmEZ3IrW">pic.twitter.com/VwGmEZ3IrW</a>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1883699421512356149?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Kansas City took advantage of the turnover on downs, needing just five plays to do so, ending with Mahomes using his legs and keeping his wheels spinning for a 10 yard rushing touchdown, then completing a two point conversion pass to Justin Watson to make it a touchdown game, putting the ball back in the hands of Allen with 10:14 left in the game.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">WHEELS STILL SPINNIN&#39;‼️ <a href="https://t.co/p9L7w06KQ3">pic.twitter.com/p9L7w06KQ3</a>&mdash; Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Chiefs/status/1883700585746067554?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Bills went on to exploit the Chiefs defense on a nine play drive, the biggest play of the drive again being a pass between Allen and Hollins of 32 yards, setting Buffalo up at the four yard line.&nbsp; Kansas City got a sack on Allen to back the Bills up, but after back to back incomplete passes, Allen found Curtis Samuel in the back of the endzone for a four yard pass, tying up the game after the extra point kick from Bass.&nbsp;Getting the ball back with 6:15 remaining in regulation Kansas City drove seven plays before stalling in the redzone, Harrison Butker knocking through a go ahead 35 yard field goal with 3:33 left in regulation, putting the game in the hands of their defense again.&nbsp; The Bills got a 13 yard run from Ty Johnson, but two incomplete passes and a five yard short route to Amari Cooper, pinned Buffalo at 4th and 5 at the two minute warning.&nbsp;Coming out of the two minute warning, Allen was looking deep, but was also faced with pressure by the Chiefs front seven, and George Karlaftis, who had three sacks last week, put enough pressure on Allen to force a long pass off his back leg, that fell through the hands of second year tight end Dalton Kincaid, turning the ball over on downs.&nbsp;<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The Chiefs make the stop on fourth down! 📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUFvsKC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BUFvsKC</a> on CBS 📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> and Paramount+ <a href="https://t.co/s4rXNURB3z">pic.twitter.com/s4rXNURB3z</a>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1883707709113118872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>&nbsp;Kansas City ran out the remaining clock, getting a first down run from Pacheco, and cementing the game on a 17 yard pass from Mahomes to Samaje Perine.&nbsp;Mahomes was 18 of 26 passing for 245 yards with one touchdown, rushing for 43 yards and two scores.&nbsp; Hunt rushed 17 times for 64 yards and one touchdown.&nbsp; Worthy was the leading receiver with six catches for 85 yards and a score.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Chiefs will get a familiar foe in the Eagles, whom they beat two years ago for the first title in this run. Philadelphia romped to a 55-23 victory over the Washington Commanders earlier Sunday to earn a shot at the champs on Feb. 9 in New Orleans.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Chiefs Super Bowl bound once again, top Bills 32-29 in AFC Championship clash

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">MEG CUNNINGHAM</a>

The average caller would never know, but dialing 911 during an emergency isn’t possible in several Missouri counties.

While the call will go through, in parts of southeast Missouri, the number is instead rerouted to a traditional 10-digit landline. But that won’t be the case for long.

Thanks to federal funds, 911 dispatchers and call centers are set for some&nbsp;<a href="https://mosheriffs.com/2024/04/missouri-911-service-board-announces-new-grant-awards-expansions-of-911-services-to-65-counties/" target="_blank">major upgrades</a>. Geolocation and new software are poised to bring a multitude of changes to the way emergency responders and dispatchers do their jobs.

“If you couldn’t tell them where you were and couldn’t tell them what your emergency was, they had no idea where to send anybody,” said Scott Cason, the executive director of the Missouri 911 Service Board, which was launched as part of a new law in 2018.

Since then, the board has been awarding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouri911.org/past-cycles" target="_blank">grants</a>&nbsp;and facilitating similar upgrades for counties across the state to bring them up to date with modern technology.

“Before this board started, you would really have to figure out where the caller was at,” Cason said. “That doesn’t save lives.”

In Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2021/07/09/kc-paramedics-piled-on-overtime/" target="_blank">counties are responsible</a>&nbsp;for handling their own emergency dispatching. With different tax bases, populations and resources, counties could fall anywhere on a wide spectrum of 911 capabilities.

“It has been a patchwork process,” Cason said. “There is a big chunk of this state that could still use a lot of help on bringing their infrastructure up to play.”

The areas that needed the most upgrades were largely clustered around southeast Missouri and Mark Twain National Forest.

“There were over 10 counties where you couldn’t call 911 from your cell phone and geolocate it,” said Kaycee Nail, who runs legislative affairs for the service board. “We had counties that we called red counties because they had the lowest service level allowable. You call 911, it just goes to a landline. Someone might miss that call because they’re also dealing with someone in jail.”

Approximately $10 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and another $11 million from Missouri helped the board tackle the problem. The state has made improvements to 911 in over 65 counties since the ARPA funding began.

The end goal is to get all 911 dispatchers connected to a technology called Next Generation 911, or NG911.

In many parts of the state, 911 dispatch is run through copper cables from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrct.net/blog/pots/" target="_blank">traditional</a>&nbsp;telephone poles. NG911 uses newer fiber optics and wireless 5G networks for better communication.

But moving onto a new system is no easy feat. End-to-end, copper is incompatible with the new NG911 capabilities.

And to use the new services, ultra-specific GIS mapping is required. Nearly $3 million of the ARPA funds were used to complete a flyover of the entire state to improve mapping.

Much of the new system aims to speed up the dispatching process, which is why the mapping must be specific. Things like bridge clearances or detours will be automatically factored into the process when emergency services are dispatched.

Angela Rodgers, the director of the Scott County 911 Emergency Services Board, is looking forward to seeing the upgrades unfold over the next two to three years.

“Scott County can receive calls out of Illinois if the cellphone towers hit just right,” Rodgers said. “We weren’t able to transfer across to the right county or use certain lines.”

Part of the 911 Service Board’s goal was to find ways to consolidate services. With new technology, that goal becomes much easier.

The board opted for a “regionalization” approach —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dddnews.com/features/missouri-counties-unite-for-upgraded-911-services-with-23-million-grant-ac548507" target="_blank">grouping nearby counties together</a>&nbsp;to make the upgrades more affordable and quicker to achieve.

“You can consolidate virtually,” Nail said. “If the sheriff in Scott County wants to continue dispatching his police, but is happy to give up fire and EMS, you can break up and consolidate different aspects.”

The upgrades are expected to take two to three years to complete. The service board is asking the General Assembly for $10 million for next year’s budget.

“There are places that have not got the grant that we needed more funding for, quite honestly, to bring these all up to speed and bring the entire state to Next Gen 911 compliancy,” Nail said. “That’s going to take a lot more money and a lot more time.”

Response times are expected to fall as more processes are automated, meaning dispatchers should be able to make it to an emergency more quickly. Rodgers said she isn’t sure what to expect when it comes to how the technology may make things easier for dispatchers.

“The service is going to be top-notch now. I am not even sure that we are going to be able to compare it to what we’ve done before,” Rodgers said.

This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/23/missouri-911-emergency-services-upgrades-2025/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718393182004.png" alt="-Federal funds are allowing Missouri counties to make upgrades on their 911 services." />
 <figcaption>-Federal funds are allowing Missouri counties to make upgrades on their 911 services.</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/megcunningham/">MEG CUNNINGHAM</a>The average caller would never know, but dialing 911 during an emergency isn’t possible in several Missouri counties.While the call will go through, in parts of southeast Missouri, the number is instead rerouted to a traditional 10-digit landline. But that won’t be the case for long.Thanks to federal funds, 911 dispatchers and call centers are set for some&nbsp;<a href="https://mosheriffs.com/2024/04/missouri-911-service-board-announces-new-grant-awards-expansions-of-911-services-to-65-counties/" target="_blank">major upgrades</a>. Geolocation and new software are poised to bring a multitude of changes to the way emergency responders and dispatchers do their jobs.“If you couldn’t tell them where you were and couldn’t tell them what your emergency was, they had no idea where to send anybody,” said Scott Cason, the executive director of the Missouri 911 Service Board, which was launched as part of a new law in 2018.Since then, the board has been awarding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouri911.org/past-cycles" target="_blank">grants</a>&nbsp;and facilitating similar upgrades for counties across the state to bring them up to date with modern technology.“Before this board started, you would really have to figure out where the caller was at,” Cason said. “That doesn’t save lives.”In Missouri,&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2021/07/09/kc-paramedics-piled-on-overtime/" target="_blank">counties are responsible</a>&nbsp;for handling their own emergency dispatching. With different tax bases, populations and resources, counties could fall anywhere on a wide spectrum of 911 capabilities.“It has been a patchwork process,” Cason said. “There is a big chunk of this state that could still use a lot of help on bringing their infrastructure up to play.”<h2>Different 911 capabilities&nbsp;</h2>The areas that needed the most upgrades were largely clustered around southeast Missouri and Mark Twain National Forest.“There were over 10 counties where you couldn’t call 911 from your cell phone and geolocate it,” said Kaycee Nail, who runs legislative affairs for the service board. “We had counties that we called red counties because they had the lowest service level allowable. You call 911, it just goes to a landline. Someone might miss that call because they’re also dealing with someone in jail.”Approximately $10 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and another $11 million from Missouri helped the board tackle the problem. The state has made improvements to 911 in over 65 counties since the ARPA funding began.The end goal is to get all 911 dispatchers connected to a technology called Next Generation 911, or NG911.In many parts of the state, 911 dispatch is run through copper cables from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hrct.net/blog/pots/" target="_blank">traditional</a>&nbsp;telephone poles. NG911 uses newer fiber optics and wireless 5G networks for better communication.But moving onto a new system is no easy feat. End-to-end, copper is incompatible with the new NG911 capabilities.And to use the new services, ultra-specific GIS mapping is required. Nearly $3 million of the ARPA funds were used to complete a flyover of the entire state to improve mapping.Much of the new system aims to speed up the dispatching process, which is why the mapping must be specific. Things like bridge clearances or detours will be automatically factored into the process when emergency services are dispatched.Angela Rodgers, the director of the Scott County 911 Emergency Services Board, is looking forward to seeing the upgrades unfold over the next two to three years.“Scott County can receive calls out of Illinois if the cellphone towers hit just right,” Rodgers said. “We weren’t able to transfer across to the right county or use certain lines.”<h2>New technology&nbsp;</h2>Part of the 911 Service Board’s goal was to find ways to consolidate services. With new technology, that goal becomes much easier.The board opted for a “regionalization” approach —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dddnews.com/features/missouri-counties-unite-for-upgraded-911-services-with-23-million-grant-ac548507" target="_blank">grouping nearby counties together</a>&nbsp;to make the upgrades more affordable and quicker to achieve.“You can consolidate virtually,” Nail said. “If the sheriff in Scott County wants to continue dispatching his police, but is happy to give up fire and EMS, you can break up and consolidate different aspects.”The upgrades are expected to take two to three years to complete. The service board is asking the General Assembly for $10 million for next year’s budget.“There are places that have not got the grant that we needed more funding for, quite honestly, to bring these all up to speed and bring the entire state to Next Gen 911 compliancy,” Nail said. “That’s going to take a lot more money and a lot more time.”Response times are expected to fall as more processes are automated, meaning dispatchers should be able to make it to an emergency more quickly. Rodgers said she isn’t sure what to expect when it comes to how the technology may make things easier for dispatchers.“The service is going to be top-notch now. I am not even sure that we are going to be able to compare it to what we’ve done before,” Rodgers said.This&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2025/01/23/missouri-911-emergency-services-upgrades-2025/" target="_blank">article</a>&nbsp;first appeared on&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/" target="_blank">Beacon: Missouri</a>&nbsp;and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

In some Missouri counties, 911 doesn’t exist. Upgrades to emergency dispatching will change that

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

St. Joseph Symphony Minis return Sunday featuring flutist Lory Lacy

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

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

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

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

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

Young St. Joseph man faces hearing on September shooting

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cluck
says joining the Air Guard changed his life.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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