The Republican and Democratic candidates answered questions on abortion rights, border policy and the Jan. 6, 2021, riots during hourlong appearance

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

In the only one-on-one debate of Missouri’s 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, Republican incumbent Josh Hawley sparred with Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce over abortion rights, border security and whether the 2020 presidential election was legitimate.

The abortion issue provoked some of the sharpest exchanges about 20 minutes into the debate. Hawley said he would not vote for Amendment 3, the reproductive rights proposal on Tuesday’s ballot. He co-sponsored a bill to create a national abortion ban at 15 weeks and has advocated outlawing abortion since he first sought office as Missouri attorney general in 2016, saying it is “not a right” and “should be barred by American law.”&nbsp;

Hawley said he supports exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother, but argued Amendment 3 is not limited to restoring legal abortion in Missouri.

“Amendment 3 would legalize sex change operations and transgender treatments for minors in Missouri without parental consent,” he said.

Legal and medical experts&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/16/missouri-abortion-gender-affirming-health-care-amendment-3/">interviewed by The Independent</a>&nbsp;said the claim is a stretch at best — and at worst, an outright lie. Gender-affirming care, they say, would not be impacted by Amendment 3.

Kunce, who has made&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/21/missouri-senate-race-abortion-hawley-kunce/">his support for Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;one of the key points in his message, said Hawley is obscuring his old positions to fool voters.

“He will literally lie, cheat, steal, do anything he can to confirm his life’s ambition, which is to make sure that there is no abortion, no contraception or anything else,” Kunce said.

The transgender treatments claims are a diversion, Kunce said.

“He sees sex-change surgeries around every corner,” he said.

Thursday’s debate was hosted by Missouri Nexstar stations and broadcast from the KTVI/KPLR-St. Louis studios. It was also carried by other stations throughout the state.

Hawley and Kunce debated once before, at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/20/hawley-kunce-clash-over-aid-to-ukraine-abortion-rights-ballot-measure-during-senate-debate/">Missouri Press Association convention</a>&nbsp;in September. In that debate, which was not televised, they shared the stage with Jared Young, who formed the Better Party by petition to get on the ballot, and Nathan Kline of the Green Party.

No third-party candidates were invited to Thursday’s debate.

Hawley is seeking a second term in the Senate. Kunce is making his second run for a Senate seat after narrowly losing the 2022 Democratic primary.

They also clashed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/15/why-are-you-so-weird-lucas-kunce-taunts-josh-hawley-during-squabble-about-debates/">face-to-face at the Missouri State Fair</a>, where Hawley demanded an outdoor debate without a moderator and Kunce called on Hawley to agree to five televised debates.

Thursday night’s&nbsp; debate was less than 30 seconds old when Hawley injected a snarky reminder that a bullet fragment fired by Kunce&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/tv-reporter-injured-by-bullet-fragment-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event/">struck a television reporter&nbsp;</a>in the arm at a shooting range near Kansas City earlier this month.

Kunce provided first aid and the injury was not serious, but it has been the butt of snarky social media posts from Hawley and his campaign.&nbsp;

Hawley referred to it in his opening answer of the debate.

“It takes a little bit of courage to share a stage with Lucas Kunce after he shot a reporter last week,” Hawley said.

When his turn came to answer the first question, Kunce described the event and turned Hawley’s quip back on him with a reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in the U.S. Capitol.&nbsp;

Hawley sells coffee mugs with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ManuelQ/status/1346913744736157714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1346913744736157714%7Ctwgr%5E620f62017ed63de8482676518225ab20e0252f7c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmissouriindependent.com%2F2021%2F01%2F08%2Freckless-pandering-josh-hawleys-woes-grow-as-another-major-backer-abandons-him%2F" target="_blank">news photo</a>&nbsp;that shows him raising his fist in solidarity with the groups that later stormed the Capitol hoping to violently stop the certification of the presidential election.&nbsp;

“It is crazy to see this guy over here clutching his pearls over this when he is completely cool with inciting a riot that led to the injuries of 174 police officers, God knows how many other civilians, and even led to several deaths,” Kunce said.

Asked later in the debate whether he felt responsible for the mob’s actions that day, Hawley didn’t reference the violence as he defended&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/01/07/after-rioting-mob-is-driven-from-the-capitol-congress-certifies-biden-victory-of-objections-from-josh-hawley/">his lead role</a>&nbsp;in raising objections to the electoral vote count. “What I feel responsibility for is defending our Constitution, which is what I was doing that day,” Hawley said.

On immigration, Hawley said he voted against a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/24/bipartisan-border-bill-loses-support-fails-procedural-vote-in-u-s-senate/">bipartisan border security bil</a>l this year because it allowed too many new immigrants in while funding attorneys for their amnesty cases.

“What we need to do is close the border,” Hawley said. “What we need to do is reinstate the remain in Mexico program.”

Hawley accused Kunce of backing unlimited immigration and providing undocumented immigrants access to Social Security and Medicare.&nbsp;

“He said he was for amnesty,” Hawley said, referring to Kunce’s 2022 campaign. “He said that he was for no border wall.”

Kunce said he would have supported the bill because it provided for 1,500 new border agents and funding for new equipment. He also said Hawley doesn’t understand the real issues at the southern border.

Kunce, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, said he trained with border patrol units in Arizona.

“I know what’s going on there,” he said. “I have seen it. I haven’t just done a field trip like this guy.”

The debate hit economic issues as well, ranging from whether Grain Belt Express should be able to use eminent domain to obtain a wind power electricity transmission line corridor to Hawley’s legislation to cap credit card interest rates nationally at 18%.

Hawley said he sees eminent domain as a threat to farmers, while Kunce said the national policy should be to expand energy created from renewable resources.

The credit card interest rate policy was one where there was some level of agreement between the candidates.

Kunce said the caps should also apply to payday lenders who charge rates in excess of 100% per year.

“We need to make sure these predatory financial institutions can’t come into these people’s lives and destroy them over and over and over again,” Kunce said.

Hawley said he doesn’t think his proposal would lead to fewer people having access to credit. Credit card companies would still offer credit cards to consumers even with a cap.

“They want the profit,” Hawley said. “They want the market.”

The last question of the debate was about how divisive politics have become, and where to draw the line on hate speech.

Kunce said there has been “a degradation” in politics and said Hawley is partially to blame.

“We have swamp creatures all throughout D.C.,” Kunce said. “Josh Hawley is a swamp creature.”

Hawley sought to turn that around to point to Kunce as part of the problem.

“If that’s my opponent’s attempt to unite the country, we’ve got a long way to go,” Hawley said.

Kunce has been campaigning for the seat&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/06/democrat-lucas-kunce-says-hell-challenge-josh-hawley-in-2024-missouri-senate-race/">since late 2022</a>, a few months after he narrowly lost a Democratic primary in the race for the seat eventually won by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican.

He is the best-funded Democrat running statewide this year, raising almost $19 million since the start of 2023. Hawley has raised $26.4 million since taking office in 2019, but only $7.4 million since the start of 2023.

They are the only statewide candidates who have advertised continually on television and digital platforms.&nbsp;

Kunce has purchased $7.3 million in television time on broadcast and cable outlets, tracking by The Independent shows. He has also spent $2.7 million on digital platforms, with another $1.6 million devoted to direct mail, according to his campaign finance reports.

Hawley has spent $5.4 million on television and radio advertising and a PAC called Show Me Strong has spent another $2.7 million on his behalf. The campaign has not spent significantly on digital or mail promotion.

“He’s only run negative ads against me, nothing about his own record, because he hasn’t accomplished anything,” Kunce said.

In fundraising emails, Kunce is pleading for cash to beef up his final television buy. While&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/senate/2024/missouri/general/" target="_blank">independent polls</a>&nbsp;indicate Hawley has a double-digit lead, Kunce touted one sponsored by his campaign that shows a margin of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaff2665.org/kunce" target="_blank">three percentage points</a>.

Kunce’s campaign has not purchased any ads beyond Friday.

Hawley, meanwhile, is begging for more money to hold Kunce off. In an email sent Wednesday, he told supporters that “I’ve got BAD news. It’s Sen. Josh Hawley, and a new poll just confirmed my WORST fears.”

Hawley has repeatedly sought to draw out Kunce to say he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, on Tuesday. Even when asked during the debate, Kunce refused to reveal how he would vote.

Hawley is counting on long coattails from former President Donald Trump to boost his chances on Tuesday.&nbsp;

“While my opponent will not tell you tonight who he’s going to vote for, I think we all know whose policies he supports, Kamala Harris,” Hawley said in his closing remarks.

Kunce has been criss-crossing the state this week, with stops in Smithville, Columbia and Cape Girardeau.&nbsp;

Hawley will be part of a statewide GOP get-out-the-vote tour on Monday, the Missouri Republican Party stated in a news release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713523091389.png" alt=" U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, and Democrat Lucas Kunce (phots by Drew Angerer/Getty Images and Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, left, and Democrat Lucas Kunce (phots by Drew Angerer/Getty Images and Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Republican and Democratic candidates answered questions on abortion rights, border policy and the Jan. 6, 2021, riots during hourlong appearance</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>In the only one-on-one debate of Missouri’s 2024 U.S. Senate campaign, Republican incumbent Josh Hawley sparred with Democratic challenger Lucas Kunce over abortion rights, border security and whether the 2020 presidential election was legitimate.The abortion issue provoked some of the sharpest exchanges about 20 minutes into the debate. Hawley said he would not vote for Amendment 3, the reproductive rights proposal on Tuesday’s ballot. He co-sponsored a bill to create a national abortion ban at 15 weeks and has advocated outlawing abortion since he first sought office as Missouri attorney general in 2016, saying it is “not a right” and “should be barred by American law.”&nbsp;Hawley said he supports exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother, but argued Amendment 3 is not limited to restoring legal abortion in Missouri.“Amendment 3 would legalize sex change operations and transgender treatments for minors in Missouri without parental consent,” he said.Legal and medical experts&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/16/missouri-abortion-gender-affirming-health-care-amendment-3/">interviewed by The Independent</a>&nbsp;said the claim is a stretch at best — and at worst, an outright lie. Gender-affirming care, they say, would not be impacted by Amendment 3.Kunce, who has made&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/21/missouri-senate-race-abortion-hawley-kunce/">his support for Amendment 3</a>&nbsp;one of the key points in his message, said Hawley is obscuring his old positions to fool voters.“He will literally lie, cheat, steal, do anything he can to confirm his life’s ambition, which is to make sure that there is no abortion, no contraception or anything else,” Kunce said.The transgender treatments claims are a diversion, Kunce said.“He sees sex-change surgeries around every corner,” he said.Thursday’s debate was hosted by Missouri Nexstar stations and broadcast from the KTVI/KPLR-St. Louis studios. It was also carried by other stations throughout the state.Hawley and Kunce debated once before, at the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/20/hawley-kunce-clash-over-aid-to-ukraine-abortion-rights-ballot-measure-during-senate-debate/">Missouri Press Association convention</a>&nbsp;in September. In that debate, which was not televised, they shared the stage with Jared Young, who formed the Better Party by petition to get on the ballot, and Nathan Kline of the Green Party.No third-party candidates were invited to Thursday’s debate.Hawley is seeking a second term in the Senate. Kunce is making his second run for a Senate seat after narrowly losing the 2022 Democratic primary.They also clashed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/15/why-are-you-so-weird-lucas-kunce-taunts-josh-hawley-during-squabble-about-debates/">face-to-face at the Missouri State Fair</a>, where Hawley demanded an outdoor debate without a moderator and Kunce called on Hawley to agree to five televised debates.Thursday night’s&nbsp; debate was less than 30 seconds old when Hawley injected a snarky reminder that a bullet fragment fired by Kunce&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/tv-reporter-injured-by-bullet-fragment-at-lucas-kunce-campaign-event/">struck a television reporter&nbsp;</a>in the arm at a shooting range near Kansas City earlier this month.Kunce provided first aid and the injury was not serious, but it has been the butt of snarky social media posts from Hawley and his campaign.&nbsp;Hawley referred to it in his opening answer of the debate.“It takes a little bit of courage to share a stage with Lucas Kunce after he shot a reporter last week,” Hawley said.When his turn came to answer the first question, Kunce described the event and turned Hawley’s quip back on him with a reference to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots in the U.S. Capitol.&nbsp;Hawley sells coffee mugs with a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/ManuelQ/status/1346913744736157714?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1346913744736157714%7Ctwgr%5E620f62017ed63de8482676518225ab20e0252f7c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmissouriindependent.com%2F2021%2F01%2F08%2Freckless-pandering-josh-hawleys-woes-grow-as-another-major-backer-abandons-him%2F" target="_blank">news photo</a>&nbsp;that shows him raising his fist in solidarity with the groups that later stormed the Capitol hoping to violently stop the certification of the presidential election.&nbsp;“It is crazy to see this guy over here clutching his pearls over this when he is completely cool with inciting a riot that led to the injuries of 174 police officers, God knows how many other civilians, and even led to several deaths,” Kunce said.Asked later in the debate whether he felt responsible for the mob’s actions that day, Hawley didn’t reference the violence as he defended&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/01/07/after-rioting-mob-is-driven-from-the-capitol-congress-certifies-biden-victory-of-objections-from-josh-hawley/">his lead role</a>&nbsp;in raising objections to the electoral vote count. “What I feel responsibility for is defending our Constitution, which is what I was doing that day,” Hawley said.On immigration, Hawley said he voted against a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/05/24/bipartisan-border-bill-loses-support-fails-procedural-vote-in-u-s-senate/">bipartisan border security bil</a>l this year because it allowed too many new immigrants in while funding attorneys for their amnesty cases.“What we need to do is close the border,” Hawley said. “What we need to do is reinstate the remain in Mexico program.”Hawley accused Kunce of backing unlimited immigration and providing undocumented immigrants access to Social Security and Medicare.&nbsp;“He said he was for amnesty,” Hawley said, referring to Kunce’s 2022 campaign. “He said that he was for no border wall.”Kunce said he would have supported the bill because it provided for 1,500 new border agents and funding for new equipment. He also said Hawley doesn’t understand the real issues at the southern border.Kunce, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corp, said he trained with border patrol units in Arizona.“I know what’s going on there,” he said. “I have seen it. I haven’t just done a field trip like this guy.”The debate hit economic issues as well, ranging from whether Grain Belt Express should be able to use eminent domain to obtain a wind power electricity transmission line corridor to Hawley’s legislation to cap credit card interest rates nationally at 18%.Hawley said he sees eminent domain as a threat to farmers, while Kunce said the national policy should be to expand energy created from renewable resources.The credit card interest rate policy was one where there was some level of agreement between the candidates.Kunce said the caps should also apply to payday lenders who charge rates in excess of 100% per year.“We need to make sure these predatory financial institutions can’t come into these people’s lives and destroy them over and over and over again,” Kunce said.Hawley said he doesn’t think his proposal would lead to fewer people having access to credit. Credit card companies would still offer credit cards to consumers even with a cap.“They want the profit,” Hawley said. “They want the market.”The last question of the debate was about how divisive politics have become, and where to draw the line on hate speech.Kunce said there has been “a degradation” in politics and said Hawley is partially to blame.“We have swamp creatures all throughout D.C.,” Kunce said. “Josh Hawley is a swamp creature.”Hawley sought to turn that around to point to Kunce as part of the problem.“If that’s my opponent’s attempt to unite the country, we’ve got a long way to go,” Hawley said.<h2>Campaign activities</h2>Kunce has been campaigning for the seat&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/01/06/democrat-lucas-kunce-says-hell-challenge-josh-hawley-in-2024-missouri-senate-race/">since late 2022</a>, a few months after he narrowly lost a Democratic primary in the race for the seat eventually won by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican.He is the best-funded Democrat running statewide this year, raising almost $19 million since the start of 2023. Hawley has raised $26.4 million since taking office in 2019, but only $7.4 million since the start of 2023.They are the only statewide candidates who have advertised continually on television and digital platforms.&nbsp;Kunce has purchased $7.3 million in television time on broadcast and cable outlets, tracking by The Independent shows. He has also spent $2.7 million on digital platforms, with another $1.6 million devoted to direct mail, according to his campaign finance reports.Hawley has spent $5.4 million on television and radio advertising and a PAC called Show Me Strong has spent another $2.7 million on his behalf. The campaign has not spent significantly on digital or mail promotion.“He’s only run negative ads against me, nothing about his own record, because he hasn’t accomplished anything,” Kunce said.In fundraising emails, Kunce is pleading for cash to beef up his final television buy. While&nbsp;<a href="https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/senate/2024/missouri/general/" target="_blank">independent polls</a>&nbsp;indicate Hawley has a double-digit lead, Kunce touted one sponsored by his campaign that shows a margin of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iaff2665.org/kunce" target="_blank">three percentage points</a>.Kunce’s campaign has not purchased any ads beyond Friday.Hawley, meanwhile, is begging for more money to hold Kunce off. In an email sent Wednesday, he told supporters that “I’ve got BAD news. It’s Sen. Josh Hawley, and a new poll just confirmed my WORST fears.”Hawley has repeatedly sought to draw out Kunce to say he will vote for Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, on Tuesday. Even when asked during the debate, Kunce refused to reveal how he would vote.Hawley is counting on long coattails from former President Donald Trump to boost his chances on Tuesday.&nbsp;“While my opponent will not tell you tonight who he’s going to vote for, I think we all know whose policies he supports, Kamala Harris,” Hawley said in his closing remarks.Kunce has been criss-crossing the state this week, with stops in Smithville, Columbia and Cape Girardeau.&nbsp;Hawley will be part of a statewide GOP get-out-the-vote tour on Monday, the Missouri Republican Party stated in a news release.

Hawley, Kunce trade insults in only televised debate of Missouri Senate race

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a burglary on a college campus and have made an arrest.

On Wednesday, police were involved in an investigation with Benedictine College Security focusing on the theft of wine bottles from Ferrell Hall,&nbsp;1020 N 2nd Street in Atchison on the Benedictine College Campus, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

 It was determined the theft occurred around 2a.m. on Sunday.&nbsp;

Just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday, police took a student identified as 22-year-old Matthew Hockel of Brentwood, California, into custody on campus.&nbsp; Hockel is being held in the Atchison County jail on requested charges of burglary and theft, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730384618556.png" alt="Hockel photo Atchison Co. Jail" />
 <figcaption>Hockel photo Atchison Co. Jail</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a burglary on a college campus and have made an arrest.On Wednesday, police were involved in an investigation with Benedictine College Security focusing on the theft of wine bottles from Ferrell Hall,&nbsp;1020 N 2nd Street in Atchison on the Benedictine College Campus, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined the theft occurred around 2a.m. on Sunday.&nbsp;Just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday, police took a student identified as 22-year-old Matthew Hockel of Brentwood, California, into custody on campus.&nbsp; Hockel is being held in the Atchison County jail on requested charges of burglary and theft, according to Wilson.

Student took bottles of wine in burglary at Benedictine College

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Thursday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F150 driven by Michael E. Newton, 25, Rea, was southbound on Route D just north of CF 315 six and one half miles southeast of Savannah.

The driver became distracted. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, continued southbound, up a field entrance, went airborne, struck the ground and overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported Newton to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Thursday in Andrew County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ford F150 driven by Michael E. Newton, 25, Rea, was southbound on Route D just north of CF 315 six and one half miles southeast of Savannah.The driver became distracted. The pickup traveled off the west side of the road, continued southbound, up a field entrance, went airborne, struck the ground and overturned.Andrew County EMS transported Newton to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Missouri man injured after pickup goes airborne, overturns

Amendment 3 on the ballot Tuesday would overturn Missouri’s
abortion ban and place in the state constitution the fundamental right to
reproductive freedom.

While critics say the amendment would allow abortions up to
nine months of pregnancy, Blue Missouri Executive Director Jess Piper counters
those critics don’t understand the reality women considering abortion face. 

“When people talk about women having abortions late into their
pregnancies, they’re really dealing with women who have been subjected to something
horrible,” Piper says during her appearance on the KFEQ Hotline. “These women
have a nursery at home. They have strollers. They have a name picked out and something
devastating has happened.”

Yet, Coalition Life Executive Director Brian Westbrook claims
Amendment 3 goes too far, placing no real restrictions on abortion.

“But this is abortion in all nine months of pregnancy and if
we look at the definition of fetal viability, it clearly is all nine months of
pregnancy,” Westbrook says during his time on the KFEQ Hotline.

Amendment 3 would create a section in the Missouri Constitution
entitled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.” Under the section, the
government would not be able to infringe on a person’s fundamental right to
reproductive freedom.

Piper points out the amendment allows regulations after Fetal
Viability.

“If we leave those decisions to the people who have the
expertise, I definitely trust a doctor to understand viability and it would be
different with every fetus, right, different with every pregnancy,” Piper says.

Westbrook notes the amendment allows for abortion after Fetal
Viability if a doctor determines the abortion is needed to protect the life or
the physical or mental health of the "pregnant person."

“And this would be a far, sweeping change, all the way to the
other side,” according to Westbrook. “Basically, we’re removing absolutely every
safeguard with regards to all reproductive health. They didn’t limit this just to
abortion.”

The Missouri General Assembly had earlier enacted a so-called
trigger law that banned abortions after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade. An initiative petition campaign succeeded in placing Amendment 3 on the
ballot Tuesday.

Westbrook calls the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment
broad and specific; not vague.

Piper says the amendment’s language is broad, because abortion
is not black and white.

“Abortion looks different in every single situation and I know
the people listening to this right now know their mothers and their sisters and
their daughters aren’t people who get pregnant to have an abortion, right?”
Piper states. “Life happens. Tragedies happen. And women need access to health
care.”

Piper rejects allegations the broad language in the amendment
could be used to keep a parent from knowing if their child would undergo a sex
change operation.

But Westbrook claims Amendment 3 is so broad, it would go far
beyond just restoring abortion rights.

“Well, this is sex change operations for minors without their
parent’s knowledge or consent,” according to Westbrook. “This is abortion in
all nine months of pregnancy. It’s a loss of medical malpractice protections.”

Amendment 3 would allow the Missouri legislature to regulate
abortions after “Fetal Viability,” unless a health care professional determines
an abortion is needed “to protect the life or physical or mental health of the
pregnant person.” The amendment does not use the word “woman.”

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAmendment 3 on the ballot Tuesday would overturn Missouri’s
abortion ban and place in the state constitution the fundamental right to
reproductive freedom.While critics say the amendment would allow abortions up to
nine months of pregnancy, Blue Missouri Executive Director Jess Piper counters
those critics don’t understand the reality women considering abortion face. “When people talk about women having abortions late into their
pregnancies, they’re really dealing with women who have been subjected to something
horrible,” Piper says during her appearance on the KFEQ Hotline. “These women
have a nursery at home. They have strollers. They have a name picked out and something
devastating has happened.”Yet, Coalition Life Executive Director Brian Westbrook claims
Amendment 3 goes too far, placing no real restrictions on abortion.“But this is abortion in all nine months of pregnancy and if
we look at the definition of fetal viability, it clearly is all nine months of
pregnancy,” Westbrook says during his time on the KFEQ Hotline.Amendment 3 would create a section in the Missouri Constitution
entitled “The Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative.” Under the section, the
government would not be able to infringe on a person’s fundamental right to
reproductive freedom.Piper points out the amendment allows regulations after Fetal
Viability.“If we leave those decisions to the people who have the
expertise, I definitely trust a doctor to understand viability and it would be
different with every fetus, right, different with every pregnancy,” Piper says.Westbrook notes the amendment allows for abortion after Fetal
Viability if a doctor determines the abortion is needed to protect the life or
the physical or mental health of the "pregnant person."“And this would be a far, sweeping change, all the way to the
other side,” according to Westbrook. “Basically, we’re removing absolutely every
safeguard with regards to all reproductive health. They didn’t limit this just to
abortion.”The Missouri General Assembly had earlier enacted a so-called
trigger law that banned abortions after the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v.
Wade. An initiative petition campaign succeeded in placing Amendment 3 on the
ballot Tuesday.Westbrook calls the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment
broad and specific; not vague.Piper says the amendment’s language is broad, because abortion
is not black and white.“Abortion looks different in every single situation and I know
the people listening to this right now know their mothers and their sisters and
their daughters aren’t people who get pregnant to have an abortion, right?”
Piper states. “Life happens. Tragedies happen. And women need access to health
care.”Piper rejects allegations the broad language in the amendment
could be used to keep a parent from knowing if their child would undergo a sex
change operation.But Westbrook claims Amendment 3 is so broad, it would go far
beyond just restoring abortion rights.“Well, this is sex change operations for minors without their
parent’s knowledge or consent,” according to Westbrook. “This is abortion in
all nine months of pregnancy. It’s a loss of medical malpractice protections.”Amendment 3 would allow the Missouri legislature to regulate
abortions after “Fetal Viability,” unless a health care professional determines
an abortion is needed “to protect the life or physical or mental health of the
pregnant person.” The amendment does not use the word “woman.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Abortion is on the ballot Tuesday in Missouri

The St. Joseph School Foundation is providing Appleseed Grant to teachers to help be more innovative in the classroom. 

This year the school district foundation gave out around 12 thousand dollars in grants to teachers throughout the district. 

Executive Director Julie Cobb says for the upcoming school year, the foundation will be expanding the program slightly, calling it Appleseed 2.0 

"That is going to be, I would call a little bit of a Shark Tank version, we are going to invite teachers to apply, and then a few finalists will be invited to present in front of a panel, a community panel," Cobb tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Some community leaders, some educators, and just see who comes out on top." 

Cobb says as technology becomes more expensive many of the grants applied for are around that. 

"New technology comes out and it's a little pricy, it hasn't come down yet to where it's in a reasonable price range, so sometimes we have things like that," Cobb explains.  

Cobb says one of her favorite grants the group saw this year was from a teacher at Robidoux Middle School that wanted to take her students to the Nelson Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City.  

"Many of them, perhaps, in the Robidoux area haven't made to far off of St. Joseph Avenue, a few have, but one of the things in education is access, we want all students to have equal access to education regardless of their lifestyle or where they live," Cobb says. 

Cobb says the Appleseed grants are one of the key programs, calling it the founding premise of the St. Joseph School District Foundation. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724773694595.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School Foundation is providing Appleseed Grant to teachers to help be more innovative in the classroom. This year the school district foundation gave out around 12 thousand dollars in grants to teachers throughout the district. Executive Director Julie Cobb says for the upcoming school year, the foundation will be expanding the program slightly, calling it Appleseed 2.0 "That is going to be, I would call a little bit of a Shark Tank version, we are going to invite teachers to apply, and then a few finalists will be invited to present in front of a panel, a community panel," Cobb tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "Some community leaders, some educators, and just see who comes out on top." Cobb says as technology becomes more expensive many of the grants applied for are around that. "New technology comes out and it's a little pricy, it hasn't come down yet to where it's in a reasonable price range, so sometimes we have things like that," Cobb explains. Cobb says one of her favorite grants the group saw this year was from a teacher at Robidoux Middle School that wanted to take her students to the Nelson Atkins Art Museum in Kansas City. "Many of them, perhaps, in the Robidoux area haven't made to far off of St. Joseph Avenue, a few have, but one of the things in education is access, we want all students to have equal access to education regardless of their lifestyle or where they live," Cobb says. Cobb says the Appleseed grants are one of the key programs, calling it the founding premise of the St. Joseph School District Foundation. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph School Foundation helping teachers be more innovative with Appleseed Grants

Playoffs are here and it's the first round of districts in Missouri and Kansas! Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!

Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!

Chillicothe vs Northeast Kansas City- Friday @ 7pm

Van Horn vs Excelsior Springs- Friday @ 7pm

St. Pius vs William Chrisman- Friday @ 7pm

Fort Osage vs Lincoln College Prep- Friday @ 7pm

Northland Christian vs Dekalb- Friday @ 7pm

Mound City vs East Atchison- Friday @ 7pm

Worth County vs Stanberry- Thursday @ 7:30pm

 winner will play winner of Jackson Heights vs Erie-  Firday @ 7pm

Riverside vs Jefferson County North- Friday @ 7pm

-winner will play winner of St. Mary's Colgan vs Horton - Thursday @ 6pm

-winner will play winner of Girard vs Bishop Ward- Friday @ 7pm

-winner will play winner of Lansing vs Eudora- Friday @ 7pm

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostPlayoffs are here and it's the first round of districts in Missouri and Kansas! Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!Missouri 11-ManClass 1 District 4Gallatin vs Maysville- Thursday @ 7pmClass 2 District 8South Harrison vs Lawson- Friday @ 7pmMid-Buchanan vs Lathrop- Thursday @ 7pmEast Buchanan vs Trenton- Friday @ 7pmClass 3 District 8Cameron vs Benton- Friday @ 7pmMaryville vs Lafayette- Friday @ 7pmChillicothe vs Northeast Kansas City- Friday @ 7pmClass 4 District 8Savannah vs Southeast- Friday @ 7pmSmithville vs Center- Friday @ 7pmVan Horn vs Excelsior Springs- Friday @ 7pmClass 5 District 8Central vs Winnetonka- Friday @ 7pmSt. Pius vs William Chrisman- Friday @ 7pmFort Osage vs Lincoln College Prep- Friday @ 7pmMissouri 8-ManDistrict 5Plattsburg vs Stewartville- Friday @ 7pmNorthland Christian vs Dekalb- Friday @ 7pmDistrict 6Mound City vs East Atchison- Friday @ 7pmNorth Andew vs South Holt- Friday @ 7pmDistrict 7King City vs Pattonsburg- Friday @ 7pmWorth County vs Stanberry- Thursday @ 7:30pmKansas FootballClass 1ATroy @ Jayhawk Linn- Friday @ 7pm winner will play winner of Jackson Heights vs Erie- Firday @ 7pmRiverside vs Jefferson County North- Friday @ 7pm-winner will play winner of St. Mary's Colgan vs Horton - Thursday @ 6pmClass 3AHiawatha @ Hayden- Friday @ 7pm-winner will play winner of Girard vs Bishop Ward- Friday @ 7pmClass 4AAtchison vs Bonner Springs- Friday @ 7pm-winner will play winner of Lansing vs Eudora- Friday @ 7pmYou can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post Area High School Football District scoreboard Oct 31-Nov 1

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Volvo semi driven by Adam S. Jbory, 44, Overland Park, was southbound on Interstate 29 two miles east of Craig. The vehicle traveled off the road into the median and overturned.

A Holt County Sheriff's Deputy transported Jbory to Community Hospital of Fairfax. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Wednesday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Volvo semi driven by Adam S. Jbory, 44, Overland Park, was southbound on Interstate 29 two miles east of Craig. The vehicle traveled off the road into the median and overturned.A Holt County Sheriff's Deputy transported Jbory to Community Hospital of Fairfax. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Kansas man injured after semi overturns 

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Camry driven by Colleen M. McGrane, 60, Clyde, was southbound on Route M at MO 48 six miles west of King City.

The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The car traveled into the path of an eastbound 2006 Jeep Liberty driven by Trent C. Lorraine 61, Amazonia. The Jeep struck the Toyota in the passenger side.&nbsp;

After impact the Toyota struck a stop sign and came to rest in a field and the Jeep struck a utility pole.

Grand River EMS transported Lorraine to Mosaic Life Care. McGrane was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2018 Toyota Camry driven by Colleen M. McGrane, 60, Clyde, was southbound on Route M at MO 48 six miles west of King City.The driver failed to stop at a stop sign. The car traveled into the path of an eastbound 2006 Jeep Liberty driven by Trent C. Lorraine 61, Amazonia. The Jeep struck the Toyota in the passenger side.&nbsp;After impact the Toyota struck a stop sign and came to rest in a field and the Jeep struck a utility pole.Grand River EMS transported Lorraine to Mosaic Life Care. McGrane was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Mo. man hospitalized in St. Joe after 2-vehicle crash

High winds have blew over a tractor trailer in Holt County,
shutting down the southbound lanes of I-29 north of St. Joseph.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports high winds this afternoon toppled the truck at mile marker 91.

The Highway Patrol reports that southbound I-29 is now clear and reopened to drivers traveling that direction.

Heavy winds also blew over another tractor trailer near mile marker 93, however that one is not affecting traffic with it going into the median.&nbsp; The Highway Patrol advises drivers with these winds to be cautious driving alongside tractor trailers

The National Weather Service forecasts winds gusts of 50 to 60 mile per hour as a strong storm system moves into the area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730321796702.jpeg" alt="Tow trucks pull up a trailer tractor that was blown over by high winds at Mile Marker 91/ Photo courtesy of MSHP Sergeant Shane Hux" />
 <figcaption>Tow trucks pull up a trailer tractor that was blown over by high winds at Mile Marker 91/ Photo courtesy of MSHP Sergeant Shane Hux</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN/MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostHigh winds have blew over a tractor trailer in Holt County,
shutting down the southbound lanes of I-29 north of St. Joseph.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reports high winds this afternoon toppled the truck at mile marker 91.The Highway Patrol reports that southbound I-29 is now clear and reopened to drivers traveling that direction.Heavy winds also blew over another tractor trailer near mile marker 93, however that one is not affecting traffic with it going into the median.&nbsp; The Highway Patrol advises drivers with these winds to be cautious driving alongside tractor trailers<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730321957709.jpeg" alt="A tractor trailer was also blown over and into the median at Mile Marker 93 during a severe thunderstorm in Holt County/ Photo courtesy of Sergeant Shane Hux" />
 <figcaption>A tractor trailer was also blown over and into the median at Mile Marker 93 during a severe thunderstorm in Holt County/ Photo courtesy of Sergeant Shane Hux</figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service forecasts winds gusts of 50 to 60 mile per hour as a strong storm system moves into the area.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Southbound I-29 north of St. Joseph reopened after winds blow truck over

HOLT COUNTY —A severe thunderstorm swept through Holt County, leaving damage to structures in its wake, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

"Thankfully, no injuries have been reported."

The National Weather service issued a tornado watch for parts of Kansas and Missouri until 10p.m. Wednesday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730325945805.png" alt="Photos MSHP Troop H" />
 <figcaption>Photos MSHP Troop H</figcaption>
 </figure>HOLT COUNTY —A severe thunderstorm swept through Holt County, leaving damage to structures in its wake, according to a social media report from the Missouri State Highway Patrol."Thankfully, no injuries have been reported."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730325835090.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather service issued a tornado watch for parts of Kansas and Missouri until 10p.m. Wednesday.

Storm damage reported in NW Missouri

The holidays are almost here and that means 'Shop St. Joseph' is about to begin. 

Kristi Bailey, with the St. Joe Chamber of Commerce, says the annual event is great way for shoppers to do their holiday shopping locally for a chance at winning prizes.

"It's a great way for local merchants to see new people come into their stores, but its also a fun way for local shoppers to potentially win big. There's a $10,000 grand prize and a '$2,500 shop small business bonus,' plus a lot of second-chance prizes."

Bailey adds that collecting tickets throughout the event is easy, "If you go into any participating business, you get a ticket just for walking in the door. Then you get another ticket for every ten dollars spent, up to a certain point."

Any local business that would like to participate still has time to sign up, Bailey adds, "The sooner they sign up, the more advertising they'll get. We're going to start putting all the businesses in ads so everyone knows where to shop."

'Shop St. Joseph' begins November 13th and runs through December 16th. 

Bailey says the prize drawing will take place December 18th.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702315298098.jpeg" alt="christmas holiday shopping bags shopper pixabay.jpg" />
 <figcaption>christmas holiday shopping bags shopper pixabay.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostThe holidays are almost here and that means 'Shop St. Joseph' is about to begin. Kristi Bailey, with the St. Joe Chamber of Commerce, says the annual event is great way for shoppers to do their holiday shopping locally for a chance at winning prizes."It's a great way for local merchants to see new people come into their stores, but its also a fun way for local shoppers to potentially win big. There's a $10,000 grand prize and a '$2,500 shop small business bonus,' plus a lot of second-chance prizes."Bailey adds that collecting tickets throughout the event is easy, "If you go into any participating business, you get a ticket just for walking in the door. Then you get another ticket for every ten dollars spent, up to a certain point."Any local business that would like to participate still has time to sign up, Bailey adds, "The sooner they sign up, the more advertising they'll get. We're going to start putting all the businesses in ads so everyone knows where to shop."'Shop St. Joseph' begins November 13th and runs through December 16th. Bailey says the prize drawing will take place December 18th.

Shop St. Joseph begins soon

Ranked choice voting, a relatively new concept,
is on the ballot in Missouri next week.

Only, Amendment 7 – placed on the ballot by the
Missouri legislature – would prohibit ranked choice voting.

House Elections Committee chair, Rep. Peggy
McGaugh of Carrollton, says ranked choice voting only confuses voters.

“Here in Missouri, we are built on the best man
for the job and that might be a woman as well,” McGaugh tells host Barry Birr
on the KFEQ Hotline.

But Larry Bradley with Better Ballot KC claims
the ballot in use today is antiquated and ineffective.

“And it has flaws in it that you can’t fix,”
Bradley tells Birr during his appearance on the KFEQ Hotline. “You know, with
software they talk about patches, patches for software. There’s no patching
this ballot. The only way to fix it is to change to something else, namely
ranked choice voting.”

Under ranked choice voting, voters select their
preferred candidate and then can select two alternatives. If no candidate in an
election garners a majority, those votes for second and third place enter the
calculation. The vote total is recalibrated and recounted until a candidate
receives a majority of the votes.

Only Alaska and Maine have experimented with the
concept.

McGaugh points out Alaska has placed on the
ballot an issue to overturn ranked choice voting.

“They adopted ranked choice voting for some of
their elections, but, matter of fact, Alaska now has it on the ballot to reverse
that choice,” McGaugh says. “So, it didn’t work in another state so I don’t
think Missouri wants to be a test pilot state, either.”

Disagreeing is Bradley, who says ranked choice
voting gives voters more options.

“Our problem is not that we have political parties
in this country,” according to Bradley. “Our problem is that we have
insufficient competition within and between political parties, because of the
ballot we’re using that limits our choices.”

Amendment 7 also makes a subtle, yet to McGaugh
significant change to who is eligible to vote in Missouri by changing a word in
the state constitution, from all citizens of the United States can vote to only
citizens in the U.S. can vote.

“And the reason why that’s necessary is that some
state court can change that in their jurisdiction to that non-citizens can vote
in local elections; the political subdivisions like the schools and the cities,”
McGaugh asserts.

But it’s the banning of ranked choice voting that
bothers Bradley, who says a national poll indicates a majority of Americans
don’t like what the two political parties offer.

“Let me explain something to you, you will never,
ever have more competition and more choices so long as you use the ballot today,”
according to Bradley.

Amendment 7 is one of six issues Missouri voters
will decide next week.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostRanked choice voting, a relatively new concept,
is on the ballot in Missouri next week.Only, Amendment 7 – placed on the ballot by the
Missouri legislature – would prohibit ranked choice voting.House Elections Committee chair, Rep. Peggy
McGaugh of Carrollton, says ranked choice voting only confuses voters.“Here in Missouri, we are built on the best man
for the job and that might be a woman as well,” McGaugh tells host Barry Birr
on the KFEQ Hotline.But Larry Bradley with Better Ballot KC claims
the ballot in use today is antiquated and ineffective.“And it has flaws in it that you can’t fix,”
Bradley tells Birr during his appearance on the KFEQ Hotline. “You know, with
software they talk about patches, patches for software. There’s no patching
this ballot. The only way to fix it is to change to something else, namely
ranked choice voting.”Under ranked choice voting, voters select their
preferred candidate and then can select two alternatives. If no candidate in an
election garners a majority, those votes for second and third place enter the
calculation. The vote total is recalibrated and recounted until a candidate
receives a majority of the votes.Only Alaska and Maine have experimented with the
concept.McGaugh points out Alaska has placed on the
ballot an issue to overturn ranked choice voting.“They adopted ranked choice voting for some of
their elections, but, matter of fact, Alaska now has it on the ballot to reverse
that choice,” McGaugh says. “So, it didn’t work in another state so I don’t
think Missouri wants to be a test pilot state, either.”Disagreeing is Bradley, who says ranked choice
voting gives voters more options.“Our problem is not that we have political parties
in this country,” according to Bradley. “Our problem is that we have
insufficient competition within and between political parties, because of the
ballot we’re using that limits our choices.”Amendment 7 also makes a subtle, yet to McGaugh
significant change to who is eligible to vote in Missouri by changing a word in
the state constitution, from all citizens of the United States can vote to only
citizens in the U.S. can vote.“And the reason why that’s necessary is that some
state court can change that in their jurisdiction to that non-citizens can vote
in local elections; the political subdivisions like the schools and the cities,”
McGaugh asserts.But it’s the banning of ranked choice voting that
bothers Bradley, who says a national poll indicates a majority of Americans
don’t like what the two political parties offer.“Let me explain something to you, you will never,
ever have more competition and more choices so long as you use the ballot today,”
according to Bradley.Amendment 7 is one of six issues Missouri voters
will decide next week.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Amendment 7 would ban ranked choice voting in Missouri

The Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding everyone of the importance of putting your phone down and buckling up as you drive.  

Buckle Up, Phone Down day has been happening for eight years, spreading awareness of the importance of avoiding distracted driving.  

Area Engineer Jose Rodriguez says one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents are unbuckled, distracted drivers. 

"In Missouri this year, 64% of individual vehicle occupants have been killed in traffic crashes that are unbuckled," Rodriguez tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And also distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes in Missouri and the United States." 

Rodriguez says in Missouri alone there were 106 fatal traffic crashes that were caused by distracted driving in 2023. 

Rodriguez says phones make things such as GPS and music more accessible, data showing just how often drivers use their phone while traveling. 

"Drivers actually interacted with their phones on nearly 58% of their trips, and so that's a pretty high amount," Rodriguez explains. "And also found that 34% of drivers were distracted within one minute before the time they crashed." 

Rodriguez says there is definite data showing that people interacting with their phones it's almost instantaneous that they could crash, which is why MoDOT is working to spread awareness on this day.  

Rodriguez says it's important to avoid distracted driving 

"Using your phone while you're driving, it takes your attention away from the driving task, so we're just wanting to remind everybody that as you put your phone down and you buckle up, it just makes your chances of getting to your destination that much greater," Rodriguez says. 

The state of Missouri enacted a hands-free law in August of last year.  Starting in January, Tickets and fines will begin taking effect on January 1st of 2025. 

Since the creation of Buckle Up, Phone Down in 2017, Missouri’s seat belt usage rate reached an all-time high and the number of people killed who were unbuckled has decreased. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1635185170229.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Missouri Department of Transportation is reminding everyone of the importance of putting your phone down and buckling up as you drive. Buckle Up, Phone Down day has been happening for eight years, spreading awareness of the importance of avoiding distracted driving. Area Engineer Jose Rodriguez says one of the leading causes of fatal traffic accidents are unbuckled, distracted drivers. "In Missouri this year, 64% of individual vehicle occupants have been killed in traffic crashes that are unbuckled," Rodriguez tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And also distracted driving is one of the leading causes of crashes in Missouri and the United States." Rodriguez says in Missouri alone there were 106 fatal traffic crashes that were caused by distracted driving in 2023. Rodriguez says phones make things such as GPS and music more accessible, data showing just how often drivers use their phone while traveling. "Drivers actually interacted with their phones on nearly 58% of their trips, and so that's a pretty high amount," Rodriguez explains. "And also found that 34% of drivers were distracted within one minute before the time they crashed." Rodriguez says there is definite data showing that people interacting with their phones it's almost instantaneous that they could crash, which is why MoDOT is working to spread awareness on this day. Rodriguez says it's important to avoid distracted driving "Using your phone while you're driving, it takes your attention away from the driving task, so we're just wanting to remind everybody that as you put your phone down and you buckle up, it just makes your chances of getting to your destination that much greater," Rodriguez says. The state of Missouri enacted a hands-free law in August of last year. Starting in January, Tickets and fines will begin taking effect on January 1st of 2025. Since the creation of Buckle Up, Phone Down in 2017, Missouri’s seat belt usage rate reached an all-time high and the number of people killed who were unbuckled has decreased. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MoDOT reminding drivers to buckle up and put your phone down as you travel

A truck driver escaped serious injury early this (WED) morning
when he got stuck at a railway crossing in south St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police report the truck driver attempted to cross
the train track at the 11-Hundred block of Alabama when the railroad crossing
safety arms came down as the train approached. The driver told police he
attempted to back off the tracks, but traffic blocked him in. He did get the
tractor off the tracks. The train hit the trailer and dragged it down the tracks.

The truck driver complained of only minor injuries.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA truck driver escaped serious injury early this (WED) morning
when he got stuck at a railway crossing in south St. Joseph.St. Joseph police report the truck driver attempted to cross
the train track at the 11-Hundred block of Alabama when the railroad crossing
safety arms came down as the train approached. The driver told police he
attempted to back off the tracks, but traffic blocked him in. He did get the
tractor off the tracks. The train hit the trailer and dragged it down the tracks.The truck driver complained of only minor injuries.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Truck driver escapes serious injury in vehicle-train crash in south St. Joseph

The 2022 law allowing two weeks of voting before Election Day is proving its popularity with turnouts approaching 20% of the total cast four years ago

Don’t call it early voting. It is “no excuse absentee” voting.

Whatever the name, it is clearly popular in Missouri. As of late-morning Tuesday, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/411f2d97802e4f8ca81069c48cd7c092/page/Absentee-Turnout/" target="_blank">100,000 St. Louis County voters</a>&nbsp;had cast ballots. That is nearly 20% of the total vote recorded in the county in the 2020 presidential race.

Across the Missouri River in St. Charles County, the story is the same.&nbsp;

St. Charles, second in total 2020 ballots only to St. Louis County among Missouri’s 116 voting jurisdictions, had more than 35,000 votes cast when the offices closed on Monday, Kurt Bahr, the county’s director of elections.

Bahr is operating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sccmo.org/447/Absentee-Voting" target="_blank">two locations</a>&nbsp;for no-excuse absentee voting.&nbsp;

Missouri’s law allowing two weeks for no-excuse absentee voting&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/voter-id-bill-clears-missouri-legislature-despite-fierce-criticism-from-black-democrats/">passed in 2022</a>. It was included in a bill that also mandated the use of a government-issued identification for voting.

The two weeks of early voting was the price state Senate Democrats extracted for allowing the bill to come to a vote.

Some of the early votes in the St. Charles County tally are traditional absentee ballots, for people who will be out of town or physically unable to go to the polls Nov. 5, Bahr said. But the vast majority are people who are taking advantage of the new law to cast ballots when every election authority in the state is open for in-person voting.

“If I do another 5,000 today, which we’re likely to do, between my office and the satellite location, we’re gonna get over the number of voters who voted in the April election in its entirety,” Bahr said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730288467947.png" alt="Boone County residents line up Tuesday for no-excuse absentee voting. Shortly before 10 a.m., there were 50 people in line at the Boone County Government Center in Columbia (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Boone County residents line up Tuesday for no-excuse absentee voting. Shortly before 10 a.m., there were 50 people in line at the Boone County Government Center in Columbia (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The 2022 law allowing two weeks of voting before Election Day is proving its popularity with turnouts approaching 20% of the total cast four years ago</h2>BY:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Don’t call it early voting. It is “no excuse absentee” voting.Whatever the name, it is clearly popular in Missouri. As of late-morning Tuesday, more than&nbsp;<a href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/411f2d97802e4f8ca81069c48cd7c092/page/Absentee-Turnout/" target="_blank">100,000 St. Louis County voters</a>&nbsp;had cast ballots. That is nearly 20% of the total vote recorded in the county in the 2020 presidential race.Across the Missouri River in St. Charles County, the story is the same.&nbsp;St. Charles, second in total 2020 ballots only to St. Louis County among Missouri’s 116 voting jurisdictions, had more than 35,000 votes cast when the offices closed on Monday, Kurt Bahr, the county’s director of elections.Bahr is operating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sccmo.org/447/Absentee-Voting" target="_blank">two locations</a>&nbsp;for no-excuse absentee voting.&nbsp;Missouri’s law allowing two weeks for no-excuse absentee voting&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/12/voter-id-bill-clears-missouri-legislature-despite-fierce-criticism-from-black-democrats/">passed in 2022</a>. It was included in a bill that also mandated the use of a government-issued identification for voting.The two weeks of early voting was the price state Senate Democrats extracted for allowing the bill to come to a vote.Some of the early votes in the St. Charles County tally are traditional absentee ballots, for people who will be out of town or physically unable to go to the polls Nov. 5, Bahr said. But the vast majority are people who are taking advantage of the new law to cast ballots when every election authority in the state is open for in-person voting.“If I do another 5,000 today, which we’re likely to do, between my office and the satellite location, we’re gonna get over the number of voters who voted in the April election in its entirety,” Bahr said.In Greene County, which had the fourth largest vote recorded in 2020, about 2,500 people cast a ballot each day last week, increasing to 3,000 on Monday, Clerk Shane Schoeller said.“I anticipate by the end of the no excuse absentee voting period that we will be somewhere between 20 and 25% turnout,” Schoeller said.&nbsp;And in Boone County, which ranked ninth in 2020 with 91,130 votes cast for president, the number who have already voted is nearing the total absentee vote of 14,000 from 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic led a large number of people to use a vote-by-mail option.Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said 2,000 people voted Saturday at polling locations in a shopping mall and a centrally located park. This weekend, she will take the mobile polling stations to Ashland and Centralia, the two largest communities in the county outside Columbia.“It has been increasing every day,” Lennon said.And in smaller jurisdictions, the turnout is just as strong. Cape Girardeau County in southeast Missouri had 1,400 ballots cast in the first two days of no-excuse absentee voting, Clerk Kara Clark Summers said last week.“There are lines of people voting,” she said on Thursday. “I was here until 7:30 last night.”While St. Louis County is the only top-10 voting jurisdiction to post turnout numbers on its website, news outlets across the state are reporting&nbsp;<a href="https://fox4kc.com/politics/your-local-election-headquarters/long-wait-lines-continue-for-missouri-early-voting/" target="_blank">long lines</a>&nbsp;and many people waiting&nbsp;<a href="https://sgfcitizen.org/government/elections/absentee-voting-in-springfield-draws-huge-lines-wait-times/" target="_blank">45 minutes or an hour</a>&nbsp;to vote at many clerk’s offices.But the delays don’t seem to deter anyone, Bahr said. There are parking issues at his central location and it can take up to a half hour or longer to find a parking spot. He runs a shuttle from a nearby church parking lot to ease traffic.People are showing up in pairs and trios and generally are in a good mood, he said.“Early voting tends to be a little bit more of a social event for voters,” Bahr said.A traditional absentee ballot is cast because someone will be out of town or physically unable to go to the polls on Election Day. Liberal groups nationwide have pushed early voting as a way to boost participation, while it has generally been opposed by conservatives who argue it increases the chances for problems with the election.The first election when the no-excuse early voting option was available in Missouri was November 2022.This is the first presidential election using the new law and Lennon said she thinks part of the surge is word-of-mouth sharing from people who have already voted.“It’s just people realizing that we have the option now,” she said. “But a lot of them, too, are just people worried that they’re not going to be able to make it to the polls on Election Day. They don’t want to have to worry about ‘what if an emergency happens’”Kathy Ritter, a retired educator who voted Tuesday at the Boone County Government Center in Columbia, said she loved having the ability to just show up and vote at any time during the day.“It’s a wonderful convenience for our community,” she said. “The line was long, but it went quickly.”Missouri employers are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=115.639&amp;bid=6261&amp;hl=" target="_blank">required by law</a>&nbsp;to give workers three hours leave to vote on Election Day, but only if the employee requests it in advance and does not have three hours when they are not working while the polls are open.“Just having the flexibility of voting in the days before the one day, because that one day, especially for people who work, it can be difficult to squeeze in time to vote,” Ritter said.<h2>Voter ID link</h2>The ties between early voting and the voter identification law aren’t just that they were included in the same bill. As their price for including it, Republicans demanded language that ended the no-excuse absentee voting if the identification provisions were thrown out by the courts.Missouri Republicans have pushed what’s known as a photo-ID law through several times, and voters signed off on putting it in the state constitution in 2016, it has never withstood a legal challenge.&nbsp;The new law is facing a court test and the ruling could come at any time. On Oct. 21, Circuit Judge Jon Beetem heard final arguments in a challenge filed in 2022 and took the case under advisement.The lawsuit focuses on the burdens faced by three individuals obtaining state-issued identification. The problems include finding transportation to a state license office, misspellings on important documents or lack of those documents entirely due to age.To qualify as acceptable for voting, the identification must be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/voterid" target="_blank">Missouri- or federally issued</a>&nbsp;with a photo, date of birth and an expiration date. Identification that has expired since the most recent general election is also acceptable.A voter who does not have one of those forms of identification can cast a provisional ballot. For that ballot to be counted, the voter must return to the polling place and show an acceptable ID or hope that the signature on the ballot is considered a valid match with their signature on file.Prior to the law taking effect in 2022, a voter could also use an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/politics/2017/06/05/ashcroft-estimates-voters-without-id/20705163007/" target="_blank">out-of-state driver’s license</a>&nbsp;or identification card, a student identification, a voter registration card issued by the local election authority, or a recent bank statement or utility bill mailed to them at their registered address.If Beetem rules against the law, there will be demands that it be re-enacted without any caveats, said Bahr, a former state representative.“There’d be an outcry because most voters, Republican, Democrat, general voters, like this accessibility to their ballot box and like the convenience of not having to worry about a single day,” Bahr said.Schoeller, who also served in the legislature, said he, too, thinks there would be people pressuring for the law to be re-enacted if the courts strike down the identification law.“I’ve always been a proponent of it, especially after becoming an election authority when you realize that when you concentrate all your problems on the day of the election, that creates a lot of challenges for voters,” he said.The popularity of early voting does not appear to be partisan. St. Louis County voted 61% for Joe Biden in 2020 and St. Charles County voted 58% for Trump. Boone County&nbsp;Election authorities like it as much, if not more, than voters, Bahr said.“​​One, we like people voting. We like to help people,” Bahr said. “And two, if everything is in one day, you know, there’s always that fear of ‘what happens if something goes bad.’ But if we can handle issues early, then we can take care of it over a span of time.”<h2>Election Day impact</h2>There will not be any delays in delivering election results to the public because of the extra early votes, both Bahr and Lennon said.It generally takes her office about an hour after polls close to release absentee results and that won’t change, Lennon said.The surge of early votes could point to a large increase in overall turnout, but election authorities are not forecasting much change from four years ago.There are very high profile ballot measures this year for abortion rights and sports wagering, but the only statewide candidate race where large sums have been spent on advertising is the U.S. Senate contest.&nbsp;&nbsp;About 70% of Missouri’s registered voters cast ballots in the 2020 election and that is the estimate Secretary of State Jay Ashcrorft is making for this year, spokesman JoDonn Chaney said.That’s Lennon’s estimate for Boone County as well. The early voting period changes when people vote but she doesn’t expect it to lead to a big increase in participation.“I’m sticking with 70,” she said. “It was 70% in 2020, so I feel pretty confident.”Bahr said he anticipates 75% turnout in St. Charles County, about the same as 2020.For Ritter, voting in Boone County, the urge to vote right away was overwhelming.“I was so excited to vote and so motivated to vote that I couldn’t wait until Nov. 5 to do it,” she said.She wants civility in politics, she said, and that’s what she voted for.“I’m looking for some sanity in politics, and I just felt like my little voice could be heard,” Ritter said. “And if it could be heard, I’m going to put it out there today.”

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