For a third year, the St. Joseph Mustangs and United Way of Greater St. Joseph are partnering to honor some deserving area volunteers in local organizations.  

Nominations are open for the 2025 Team Player Award, where every Friday during the Mustangs season home games, one volunteer or group will be recognized out on the field.  

United Way President Kylee Strough says winners will be treated to a special night, starting with recognition on the pitcher’s mound of what the volunteer has done.  

"Then they get to throw out a first pitch, and most weeks what we see is the organization that nominated them is also showing up in force to celebrate them," Strough tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "They get to stick around and watch the game, so it's a little bit of a special night where they get treated to a little red carpet." 

Strough says the award is an opportunity to honor volunteers for their work in the community, but also a great way to promote volunteerism 

"Our hope with it is that we not only recognize the volunteers, but the people in the stands hear about an organization or a volunteer activity that they might not have even knew existed in our community," Strough explains.  "And they can contact United Way Volunteer Center to make that connection, so it lifts and elevates volunteering in general while recognizing some very special people." 

Strough says she's seen this as an effective tool for promoting volunteerism, saying even at games she gets stopped to be asked about volunteer opportunities 

"I've had some spectators stop me on my way out and say like hey I'd like to get connected or where can I find more information," Strough says.  "So, it does spur some action which is great." 

Winners will be recognized during Friday home games at Phil Welch Stadium.  The nomination window is open through May 6th.  

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745507685705.jpeg" alt="Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner recognizing volunteer&nbsp;Isaac Wheel-iam Unruh last season with the Team Player Award.&nbsp; The United Way of Greater St. Joseph is accepting nominations for this year's awards/ Photo courtesy of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner recognizing volunteer&nbsp;Isaac Wheel-iam Unruh last season with the Team Player Award.&nbsp; The United Way of Greater St. Joseph is accepting nominations for this year's awards/ Photo courtesy of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post For a third year, the St. Joseph Mustangs and United Way of Greater St. Joseph are partnering to honor some deserving area volunteers in local organizations. Nominations are open for the 2025 Team Player Award, where every Friday during the Mustangs season home games, one volunteer or group will be recognized out on the field. United Way President Kylee Strough says winners will be treated to a special night, starting with recognition on the pitcher’s mound of what the volunteer has done. "Then they get to throw out a first pitch, and most weeks what we see is the organization that nominated them is also showing up in force to celebrate them," Strough tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "They get to stick around and watch the game, so it's a little bit of a special night where they get treated to a little red carpet." Strough says the award is an opportunity to honor volunteers for their work in the community, but also a great way to promote volunteerism "Our hope with it is that we not only recognize the volunteers, but the people in the stands hear about an organization or a volunteer activity that they might not have even knew existed in our community," Strough explains. "And they can contact United Way Volunteer Center to make that connection, so it lifts and elevates volunteering in general while recognizing some very special people." Strough says she's seen this as an effective tool for promoting volunteerism, saying even at games she gets stopped to be asked about volunteer opportunities "I've had some spectators stop me on my way out and say like hey I'd like to get connected or where can I find more information," Strough says. "So, it does spur some action which is great." Winners will be recognized during Friday home games at Phil Welch Stadium. The nomination window is open through May 6th. The Mustangs season opens on May 28th.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph United Way- Mustangs honoring volunteers this baseball season

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1pcz7hDUbdTYfwK8hnNUsy?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4znkiV2ZbxQRZussmW25DX?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>

The legislation is a response to laws passed by several Missouri cities protecting tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income

Local laws prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants who receive public assistance would be unenforceable under&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB595&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;approved by the Missouri Senate Tuesday night.

The bill takes aim at ordinances passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay rent. It now returns to the House, which approved it earlier this year.&nbsp;

If the House approves of the changes made in the Senate, the bill would go to the governor.

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

Schroer on Tuesday called the bill “a common sense piece of legislation that prioritizes property rights over radical government overreach.”

Brown in a March Senate committee hearing called it a “property rights bill.”&nbsp;

“Basically what has happened is [cities] are forcing people to take Section 8 housing,” Brown said. “…I would submit this kind of amounts to an illegal appropriation of private property. But there’s a very practical reason why a landlord may not want to do Section 8 housing.”

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

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

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said Tuesday that the legislation would not only undo those local ordinances but exacerbate homelessness.

&nbsp;“But really the fear for those who are the most vulnerable is that this would lead to further problems, expanding the homeless population,” she said

The bill to override these local policies passed the Senate after&nbsp;Democratic Sen. Patty Lewis of Kansas City successfully added an amendment to carve out the portions of Kansas City that are in Jackson and Clay counties. Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia also successfully added an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/Journals/RDay550422845-854.pdf" target="_blank">amendment</a>&nbsp;to allow those who receive veterans’ benefits to continue being protected from source-of-income based housing discrimination.

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

During a hearing in January, Brown said proponents are “not unsympathetic to tenants that have some housing insecurities.

&nbsp;“It’s not about the Section 8 tenant,” he said, “it’s about the program that we do not want to be forced into.”&nbsp;

Not every property owner, he said, wants to undergo the bureaucratic hurdles to accept Section 8.

David Stokes, director of municipal policy at the Show Me Institute, said source of income discrimination bans are simply a “violation of the property rights of landlords.”&nbsp;

Landlords, he said, shouldn’t be required to participate in a voluntary federal program.

“Just as the State of Missouri has long forbidden cities from imposing rent control,” he said, “this is just a very similar next step, and I think it will really benefit housing options and housing availability throughout Missouri.”&nbsp;

In January’s hearing, Kansas City Councilman&nbsp;Johnathan Duncan emphasized that landlords under the ordinance can still screen tenants and deny individuals based on other reasons, just not for the sole basis of the source of their income. He said landlords could still deny applicants with violent criminal histories or low credit scores for instance.&nbsp;

“I hope that representatives understand that we’re here to govern ourselves and definitely can pass our own laws,” Duncan said. “And I think it is an affront to the city of Kansas City and the other municipalities in the state of Missouri — that the state would know better than how we know and how to govern ourselves.”&nbsp;

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

Mallory Rusch, executive director of Empower, said in the January hearing that the discrimination bans help vulnerable Missourians secure housing.

“Discrimination bans like the one passed in Kansas City and other places in the state are really a key tool for local governments to prevent homelessness and ensure that those with the least among us can put a roof over their heads,” she said, “and we really believe that the state should not be preventing local governments from enacting these provisions when they know their communities best.”&nbsp;

Gavriel Schreiber, general counsel to Kansas City’s mayor, testified in March that the bill “targets some of our most respected citizens, veterans, seniors,” because those individuals who get most of their income from benefits often don’t have their benefits counted toward their rent-to-income ratio mandated by landlords.

“The ordinance says at its base that if you have a lawful source of income, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you simply because they don’t like where you get your lawful money from,” Schreiber said.&nbsp;

Dozens of states and localities nationally have these protections, which cover around 60% of families with Section 8 vouchers,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prrac.org/letter-re-hud-guidance-on-soid-october-3-2023/" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the federal government.&nbsp;

Enforcement in states and cities where the protections have been passed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/21/some-states-protect-section-8-renters-but-enforcement-is-elusive/#:~:text=The%20onus%20to%20enforce%20source,years%20%E2%80%94%20for%20violating%20the%20law">has been somewhat mixed</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/cityscape/vol26num2/ch7.pdf" target="_blank">studies have found</a>&nbsp;that overall the protections modestly improve outcomes for voucher holders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1745496012922.png" alt=" Sen. Nick Schroer, a Defiance Republican, speaks on the Senate floor in April 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Sen. Nick Schroer, a Defiance Republican, speaks on the Senate floor in April 2025 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>The legislation is a response to laws passed by several Missouri cities protecting tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income</h2>Local laws prohibiting landlords from discriminating against tenants who receive public assistance would be unenforceable under&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB595&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">legislation</a>&nbsp;approved by the Missouri Senate Tuesday night.The bill takes aim at ordinances passed in several Missouri cities to protect tenants from discrimination based on the source of their income — especially tenants who use federal housing choice vouchers, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay rent. It now returns to the House, which approved it earlier this year.&nbsp;If the House approves of the changes made in the Senate, the bill would go to the governor.The bill was co-sponsored by state Reps. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City, and Ben Keathley, a Republican from Chesterfield. In the Senate, it was carried by state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.&nbsp;Schroer on Tuesday called the bill “a common sense piece of legislation that prioritizes property rights over radical government overreach.”Brown in a March Senate committee hearing called it a “property rights bill.”&nbsp;“Basically what has happened is [cities] are forcing people to take Section 8 housing,” Brown said. “…I would submit this kind of amounts to an illegal appropriation of private property. But there’s a very practical reason why a landlord may not want to do Section 8 housing.”Kansas City passed a source of income discrimination ban&nbsp;<a href="https://nlihc.org/resource/kansas-city-passes-source-income-discrimination-ordinance#:~:text=Lawmakers%20in%20Kansas%20City%2C%20Missouri,8%20Housing%20Choice%20Voucher%20program." target="_blank">last year</a>, though it was in large part&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article300295239.html" target="_blank">paused by the courts</a>&nbsp;in February.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prrac.org/columbia-missouri-ordinance-amended-to-include-source-of-income-discrimination-language-march-2023/" target="_blank">Columbia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/city-laws/ordinances/ordinance.cfm?ord=69953" target="_blank">St. Louis</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.timesnewspapers.com/webster-kirkwoodtimes/city-passes-changes-to-fair-housing-code/article_781c0820-f0e4-11e9-bfbd-cb1232da5b2f.html" target="_blank">Webster Groves</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://ecode360.com/27565605" target="_blank">Clayton</a>&nbsp;have similar protections on the books. The laws make it illegal for landlords to discriminate based solely on the fact of renters’ lawful sources of income, including Section 8, veterans’ benefits and Social Security.State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Kansas City Democrat, said Tuesday that the legislation would not only undo those local ordinances but exacerbate homelessness.&nbsp;“But really the fear for those who are the most vulnerable is that this would lead to further problems, expanding the homeless population,” she saidThe bill to override these local policies passed the Senate after&nbsp;Democratic Sen. Patty Lewis of Kansas City successfully added an amendment to carve out the portions of Kansas City that are in Jackson and Clay counties. Democratic state Sen. Stephen Webber of Columbia also successfully added an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/Journals/RDay550422845-854.pdf" target="_blank">amendment</a>&nbsp;to allow those who receive veterans’ benefits to continue being protected from source-of-income based housing discrimination.Proponents have characterized localities’ protections as overreach, forcing property owners’ hands. The bill has the&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/-testimony/witnesses-hb595.pdf?c=34589" target="_blank">support</a>&nbsp;of landlords groups, apartment associations, the realtors’ association and the conservative think tank Show Me Institute.During a hearing in January, Brown said proponents are “not unsympathetic to tenants that have some housing insecurities.&nbsp;“It’s not about the Section 8 tenant,” he said, “it’s about the program that we do not want to be forced into.”&nbsp;Not every property owner, he said, wants to undergo the bureaucratic hurdles to accept Section 8.David Stokes, director of municipal policy at the Show Me Institute, said source of income discrimination bans are simply a “violation of the property rights of landlords.”&nbsp;Landlords, he said, shouldn’t be required to participate in a voluntary federal program.“Just as the State of Missouri has long forbidden cities from imposing rent control,” he said, “this is just a very similar next step, and I think it will really benefit housing options and housing availability throughout Missouri.”&nbsp;In January’s hearing, Kansas City Councilman&nbsp;Johnathan Duncan emphasized that landlords under the ordinance can still screen tenants and deny individuals based on other reasons, just not for the sole basis of the source of their income. He said landlords could still deny applicants with violent criminal histories or low credit scores for instance.&nbsp;“I hope that representatives understand that we’re here to govern ourselves and definitely can pass our own laws,” Duncan said. “And I think it is an affront to the city of Kansas City and the other municipalities in the state of Missouri — that the state would know better than how we know and how to govern ourselves.”&nbsp;Opponents also said the bill could hurt affordable housing availability. The city of Kansas City has been opposed along with the anti-poverty nonprofit Empower Missouri and an association of&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/30ac2530ca5d2f6efc3863113c35adae.pdf?c=53409" target="_blank">public housing</a>&nbsp;authorities in Missouri.Mallory Rusch, executive director of Empower, said in the January hearing that the discrimination bans help vulnerable Missourians secure housing.“Discrimination bans like the one passed in Kansas City and other places in the state are really a key tool for local governments to prevent homelessness and ensure that those with the least among us can put a roof over their heads,” she said, “and we really believe that the state should not be preventing local governments from enacting these provisions when they know their communities best.”&nbsp;Gavriel Schreiber, general counsel to Kansas City’s mayor, testified in March that the bill “targets some of our most respected citizens, veterans, seniors,” because those individuals who get most of their income from benefits often don’t have their benefits counted toward their rent-to-income ratio mandated by landlords.“The ordinance says at its base that if you have a lawful source of income, a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you simply because they don’t like where you get your lawful money from,” Schreiber said.&nbsp;Dozens of states and localities nationally have these protections, which cover around 60% of families with Section 8 vouchers,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prrac.org/letter-re-hud-guidance-on-soid-october-3-2023/" target="_blank">according to</a>&nbsp;the federal government.&nbsp;Enforcement in states and cities where the protections have been passed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/21/some-states-protect-section-8-renters-but-enforcement-is-elusive/#:~:text=The%20onus%20to%20enforce%20source,years%20%E2%80%94%20for%20violating%20the%20law">has been somewhat mixed</a>, but&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/cityscape/vol26num2/ch7.pdf" target="_blank">studies have found</a>&nbsp;that overall the protections modestly improve outcomes for voucher holders.

Bill overturning protections for Section 8 renters a step away from Missouri governor’s desk

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Wednesday in Daviess County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Kia Forte driven by Gallatin woman was eastbound on MO 6 at 252nd Street three miles east of Gallatin. The driver lost control of the car. The vehicle traveled off the north side of the road and struck a rock embankment.

Daviess County ambulanxe transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 2p.m. Wednesday in Daviess County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Kia Forte driven by Gallatin woman was eastbound on MO 6 at 252nd Street three miles east of Gallatin. The driver lost control of the car. The vehicle traveled off the north side of the road and struck a rock embankment.Daviess County ambulanxe transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.<h2></h2>

Mo. woman hospitalized after car strikes rock embankment

The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce wants people to come explore the parkway system this summer as Parties on the Parkway returns.  

Chamber spokesperson Kristi Bailey says Parties on the Parkway is a live concert series 

"That's open to the public, that gets people out along our 26-mile parkway system," Bailey tells KFEQ News.  "So, the first one is May 8th." 

Bailey says every year the chamber tries to change the lineup of music that performs at each concert 

"This year especially, because this year the St. Joseph Symphony is going to be one of the bands, and we've never done anything like that," Bailey explains.  "So that will be very interesting." 

Bailey says the feedback they get shows that people loving hearing a variety of types of music at each part of the parkway, starting with the south end 

"They seem to like country, so we always usually start with country down there by Benton High School," Bailey says.  "Then we move from the south end up through the parkway system and we end up north, so country and then June we're doing the Jason and Brandon duo and they're a pop variety." 

Bailey says people can be intimidated by the parkway system, and the concert series is designed to get people to come and enjoy it 

"A lot of people get in the habit of they go to work and they go home, or they go to the grocery store and they go home, but a lot of people don't really explore our city," Bailey says.  "So that's one of the good things about Parties on the Parkway, it gets people maybe someplace they've never been before." 

The first concert will be held at southwest parkway and King Hill Drive on May 8th, featuring country music from The Dirty Bourbon Band.&nbsp; A full schedule for Parties on the Parkway is below:&nbsp;

May 8: The Dirty Bourbon Band (Country) at SW Parkway &amp; King Hill Drive (Rain Date is May 15)

June 12: Jason &amp; Brandon Duo (Pop Variety) at SW Parkway &amp; 28th Street (Rain Date is June 19)

July 10: Fast Times (80s) at SW Noyes &amp; Messanie, Parkway A (Rain Date is July 17)

August 14: Saint Joseph Symphony (Jazz, Pops, &amp; Light Classical) at Corby Pond (Rain Date is August 21)

September 11: Soca Jukebox (Soul Calypso &amp; Reggae) at Remington Nature Center (Rain Date is September 18)

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce wants people to come explore the parkway system this summer as Parties on the Parkway returns. Chamber spokesperson Kristi Bailey says Parties on the Parkway is a live concert series "That's open to the public, that gets people out along our 26-mile parkway system," Bailey tells KFEQ News. "So, the first one is May 8th." Bailey says every year the chamber tries to change the lineup of music that performs at each concert "This year especially, because this year the St. Joseph Symphony is going to be one of the bands, and we've never done anything like that," Bailey explains. "So that will be very interesting." Bailey says the feedback they get shows that people loving hearing a variety of types of music at each part of the parkway, starting with the south end "They seem to like country, so we always usually start with country down there by Benton High School," Bailey says. "Then we move from the south end up through the parkway system and we end up north, so country and then June we're doing the Jason and Brandon duo and they're a pop variety." Bailey says people can be intimidated by the parkway system, and the concert series is designed to get people to come and enjoy it "A lot of people get in the habit of they go to work and they go home, or they go to the grocery store and they go home, but a lot of people don't really explore our city," Bailey says. "So that's one of the good things about Parties on the Parkway, it gets people maybe someplace they've never been before." The first concert will be held at southwest parkway and King Hill Drive on May 8th, featuring country music from The Dirty Bourbon Band.&nbsp; A full schedule for Parties on the Parkway is below:&nbsp;May 8: The Dirty Bourbon Band (Country) at SW Parkway &amp; King Hill Drive (Rain Date is May 15)June 12: Jason &amp; Brandon Duo (Pop Variety) at SW Parkway &amp; 28th Street (Rain Date is June 19)July 10: Fast Times (80s) at SW Noyes &amp; Messanie, Parkway A (Rain Date is July 17)August 14: Saint Joseph Symphony (Jazz, Pops, &amp; Light Classical) at Corby Pond (Rain Date is August 21)September 11: Soca Jukebox (Soul Calypso &amp; Reggae) at Remington Nature Center (Rain Date is September 18)You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Explore the St. Joseph parkway system this summer as Parties on the Parkway returns

Northern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves understands it won’t be a cure-all, but insists the
E-BRIDGE Act that has been signed into law will take a giant step toward
expanding broadband for hard-to-reach parts of the country.

Graves, the
Republican chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sponsored
the legislation along with three other members of Congress. Graves says
installing the last mile of fiber optic cable is the most expensive.

“We can’t slow
down or stop until everyone has access to good, high-speed internet,” Graves
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s the same way when we were electrifying all
the rural areas or when we were getting phone service to all the rural areas.
We eventually got it done and it going to obviously take some time, but we’ll
get there.”

E-BRIDGE is short
for the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility
Act. Congress approved it late last year as part of the Thomas R. Carper Water
Resources Development Act. The grants allow communities to partner with the
private sector to expand internet access. It is aimed at spreading broadband to
rural America, but it also targets economically distressed communities.

Graves says it is
vital that all communities have access to the internet.

“Whether it’s
rural health care or tele-medicine or education, whatever the case may be, everyone
should be able to have access to high spread internet,” Graves says.

Graves says it is
the last mile of fiber optic cable that is the most expensive.

Graves first
introduced the measure six years ago.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNorthern Missouri
Congressman Sam Graves understands it won’t be a cure-all, but insists the
E-BRIDGE Act that has been signed into law will take a giant step toward
expanding broadband for hard-to-reach parts of the country.Graves, the
Republican chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sponsored
the legislation along with three other members of Congress. Graves says
installing the last mile of fiber optic cable is the most expensive.“We can’t slow
down or stop until everyone has access to good, high-speed internet,” Graves
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s the same way when we were electrifying all
the rural areas or when we were getting phone service to all the rural areas.
We eventually got it done and it going to obviously take some time, but we’ll
get there.”E-BRIDGE is short
for the Eliminating Barriers to Rural Internet Development Grant Eligibility
Act. Congress approved it late last year as part of the Thomas R. Carper Water
Resources Development Act. The grants allow communities to partner with the
private sector to expand internet access. It is aimed at spreading broadband to
rural America, but it also targets economically distressed communities.Graves says it is
vital that all communities have access to the internet.“Whether it’s
rural health care or tele-medicine or education, whatever the case may be, everyone
should be able to have access to high spread internet,” Graves says.Graves says it is
the last mile of fiber optic cable that is the most expensive.Graves first
introduced the measure six years ago.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Graves calls E-BRIDGE a major step to expanding broadband to rural America

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4PH0ZCfcKzFrwGwdlXjUHX?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/15YoTTrYFMhAfmz1PbfdT7?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Meierhoffer Funeral Home is helping area residents reflect on the life of Pope Francis after his death on Monday.  

The St. Joseph funeral home is offering a register book to sign for people throughout the duration of the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis, which are set for Saturday at 3 am our time in St. Peters Square.  

Todd Meierhoffer with Meierhoffer Funeral Home says sometimes just the act of signing a book and taking time to pay respects is important to people 

"Pope Francis obviously is certainly noteworthy in terms of impacting many Catholics and just Christians a like, just to take time and sign a book," Meierhoffer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "So, we have a table, we have a picture, some Catholic memorabilia, and that book will end up being sent to the Vatican." 

Meierhoffer says it is interesting what people will do at the time of a death to pay their respects 

"And what I'm saying is, is people will take time because it's important to them," Meierhoffer explains.  "And I think that's the most rewarding piece of this, is there will be a lot of people that come out." 

Meierhoffer says anyone is welcome to come and sign the book, and says this is just something they want to offer the community to help in the healing process 

"Helping families begin to heal is our mission, and that's all families and all deaths, and we're happy to be a part of this and offer this to the community," Meierhoffer says.   

Meierhoffer says people will come in and connect by signing the book, with prayer cards available, and then they get in their car and reflect on the death itself 

"And then through the coming weeks, as people watch and take part in Pope Francis's funeral, essentially there will be a celebration," Meierhoffer says.  "And the celebration is in the form of recognizing the life that he lived." 

Meierhoffer says all of this is part of a bigger picture than just a death, and it's a process that everyone goes through.  

The book will be available to sign for the remainder of the month during normal business hours at the funeral home.   

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Meierhoffer Funeral Home is helping area residents reflect on the life of Pope Francis after his death on Monday. The St. Joseph funeral home is offering a register book to sign for people throughout the duration of the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis, which are set for Saturday at 3 am our time in St. Peters Square. Todd Meierhoffer with Meierhoffer Funeral Home says sometimes just the act of signing a book and taking time to pay respects is important to people "Pope Francis obviously is certainly noteworthy in terms of impacting many Catholics and just Christians a like, just to take time and sign a book," Meierhoffer tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, we have a table, we have a picture, some Catholic memorabilia, and that book will end up being sent to the Vatican." Meierhoffer says it is interesting what people will do at the time of a death to pay their respects "And what I'm saying is, is people will take time because it's important to them," Meierhoffer explains. "And I think that's the most rewarding piece of this, is there will be a lot of people that come out." Meierhoffer says anyone is welcome to come and sign the book, and says this is just something they want to offer the community to help in the healing process "Helping families begin to heal is our mission, and that's all families and all deaths, and we're happy to be a part of this and offer this to the community," Meierhoffer says. Meierhoffer says people will come in and connect by signing the book, with prayer cards available, and then they get in their car and reflect on the death itself "And then through the coming weeks, as people watch and take part in Pope Francis's funeral, essentially there will be a celebration," Meierhoffer says. "And the celebration is in the form of recognizing the life that he lived." Meierhoffer says all of this is part of a bigger picture than just a death, and it's a process that everyone goes through. The book will be available to sign for the remainder of the month during normal business hours at the funeral home. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Meierhoffer offers chance to reflect on Pope Francis' life and legacy

DEKALB COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Toyota Corolla driven by a 90-year-old Trenton woman was southbound on MO 31 at U.S. 36 three miles west of Stewartsville.

The car traveled into the path of a westbound 2019 Toyota Sequoia driven by a 48-year-old St. Joseph woman. The SUV struck the driver's side of the car. After impact the car traveled off the road and struck a highway sign.&nbsp;

A private vehicle transported the driver of the SUV to Mosaic. DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the car and an 89-year-old male passenger to Mosaic in St. Joseph. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

DEKALB COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Tuesday in DeKalb County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Toyota Corolla driven by a 90-year-old Trenton woman was southbound on MO 31 at U.S. 36 three miles west of Stewartsville.The car traveled into the path of a westbound 2019 Toyota Sequoia driven by a 48-year-old St. Joseph woman. The SUV struck the driver's side of the car. After impact the car traveled off the road and struck a highway sign.&nbsp;A private vehicle transported the driver of the SUV to Mosaic. DeKalb-Clinton ambulance transported the driver of the car and an 89-year-old male passenger to Mosaic in St. Joseph. All three were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

3 hospitalized in St. Joe after SUV, car crash

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Ford F150 driven by a 54-year-old Oregon, Mo., man was southbound on Interstate at mile marker 64.4. The driver failed to maintain control of the pickup. It traveled off the west side of the road, struck a guardrail, began to skid, struck the guardrail face with the rear. passenger door and became impaled.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30a.m. Tuesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Ford F150 driven by a 54-year-old Oregon, Mo., man was southbound on Interstate at mile marker 64.4. The driver failed to maintain control of the pickup. It traveled off the west side of the road, struck a guardrail, began to skid, struck the guardrail face with the rear. passenger door and became impaled.Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man injured after pickup door became impaled on guardrail

This is the time
of year when severe weather threatens; anywhere from a thunderstorm to a
tornado.

St. Joseph Police
Chief, Paul Luster, urges residents to take it seriously. 

Luster says every
family should take a little time this time of year to plan for what to do
should thunderstorms or tornadoes threaten. Begin by designating a safe place
in the home.

“Identify that
safe place in the home,” Luster says during his time on KFEQmmunity. “Where are
we going? Is that a basement? Is that a storm cellar? Is that an interior room
on the lowest level without windows, like a bathroom or a closet? To have that
safety plan in place and even practice it with your family.”

Make sure
flashlights have batteries and cell phones are charged. Luster also advises
storing some bottled drinking water and non-perishable food. Get your weather
information from a reliable source, such as a NOAA radio and local media.

Luster says everyone
in the family should find an emergency kit on standby once they arrive there.

“Have that little
emergency kit prepped in there; some essential items, like some water, some
non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, first aid kit,” Luster says. “Have
that in a container wherever you’re going to go. Have that little emergency kit
ready in case you lose power, in case you have to stay in shelter for a long period
of time. Have that ready to go.”

Luster worries too
many residents become complacent and ignore weather forecaster warnings or even
the sound of tornado sirens.

“I think sometimes
they don’t heed to the actual weather warnings well enough,” Luster says. “If
there’s a tornado warning in the area and the sirens have been sounded, you
need to immediately seek that shelter in the home like I talked about and not
just get outside and try to watch it.” 

Southern and
central Missouri have already seen deadly tornadoes. The National Weather
Service confirms two tornadoes struck central Missouri Easter Sunday. Netflix
is running a documentary on the deadly Joplin tornado in May of 2011 that wipe
out much of the town and took more than 150 lives.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThis is the time
of year when severe weather threatens; anywhere from a thunderstorm to a
tornado.St. Joseph Police
Chief, Paul Luster, urges residents to take it seriously. And to prepare.Luster says every
family should take a little time this time of year to plan for what to do
should thunderstorms or tornadoes threaten. Begin by designating a safe place
in the home.“Identify that
safe place in the home,” Luster says during his time on KFEQmmunity. “Where are
we going? Is that a basement? Is that a storm cellar? Is that an interior room
on the lowest level without windows, like a bathroom or a closet? To have that
safety plan in place and even practice it with your family.”Make sure
flashlights have batteries and cell phones are charged. Luster also advises
storing some bottled drinking water and non-perishable food. Get your weather
information from a reliable source, such as a NOAA radio and local media.Luster says everyone
in the family should find an emergency kit on standby once they arrive there.“Have that little
emergency kit prepped in there; some essential items, like some water, some
non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, first aid kit,” Luster says. “Have
that in a container wherever you’re going to go. Have that little emergency kit
ready in case you lose power, in case you have to stay in shelter for a long period
of time. Have that ready to go.”Luster worries too
many residents become complacent and ignore weather forecaster warnings or even
the sound of tornado sirens.“I think sometimes
they don’t heed to the actual weather warnings well enough,” Luster says. “If
there’s a tornado warning in the area and the sirens have been sounded, you
need to immediately seek that shelter in the home like I talked about and not
just get outside and try to watch it.” Southern and
central Missouri have already seen deadly tornadoes. The National Weather
Service confirms two tornadoes struck central Missouri Easter Sunday. Netflix
is running a documentary on the deadly Joplin tornado in May of 2011 that wipe
out much of the town and took more than 150 lives.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Prepare now for severe weather later

A local animal rescue has received a $10,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri 

M'Shoogy's animal rescue is one of several agencies to receive money through the Mary Margaret Hodgin Fund, aimed at providing money to services that aid cats and dogs.  

Community Foundation President Mary Hinde says M'Shoogy's works in animal welfare and says they also help law enforcement across five counties with injured or abandoned animals 

"It's not unusual for someone to drop an animal on the highway, or an animal to get out into the road and be hit, and so when a dog or cat has that happen to them their normally taken to M'Shoogy's at any time of the day or night to be recuperated and operated on, whatever needs to be done to them, and then they can be adopted out after that," Hinde tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

Hinde says M'Shoogy's provides services to rehabilitate injured and abandoned animals for adoption, but also provides what they call Angel Vet 

"When animals come in, they are able to rehabilitate them and operate on them," Hinde explains.  "Also, individuals can use that service for their pets, so if they have a pet that needs help or needs its inoculations, they can take their pet there at any time and pay a minimal amount for those services there." 

Hinde says M'Shoogy's will use the money to make quality of life improvements around the rescue 

"To have larger pens so that their animals have a better quality of life and have more space to run in when they're outside and so that they can do a little bit of socializing," Hinde says.  "So, these new pens are going to be a great asset" 

M'Shoogy's isn’t the only agency receiving money. The Community Foundation is also giving money to the Friends of the Animal Shelter in St. Joseph as well as the God’s Furry Angels Pet Rescue through the Mary Margaret Hodgin Fund. 

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A local animal rescue has received a $10,500 grant from the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri M'Shoogy's animal rescue is one of several agencies to receive money through the Mary Margaret Hodgin Fund, aimed at providing money to services that aid cats and dogs. Community Foundation President Mary Hinde says M'Shoogy's works in animal welfare and says they also help law enforcement across five counties with injured or abandoned animals "It's not unusual for someone to drop an animal on the highway, or an animal to get out into the road and be hit, and so when a dog or cat has that happen to them their normally taken to M'Shoogy's at any time of the day or night to be recuperated and operated on, whatever needs to be done to them, and then they can be adopted out after that," Hinde tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Hinde says M'Shoogy's provides services to rehabilitate injured and abandoned animals for adoption, but also provides what they call Angel Vet "When animals come in, they are able to rehabilitate them and operate on them," Hinde explains. "Also, individuals can use that service for their pets, so if they have a pet that needs help or needs its inoculations, they can take their pet there at any time and pay a minimal amount for those services there." Hinde says M'Shoogy's will use the money to make quality of life improvements around the rescue "To have larger pens so that their animals have a better quality of life and have more space to run in when they're outside and so that they can do a little bit of socializing," Hinde says. "So, these new pens are going to be a great asset" M'Shoogy's isn’t the only agency receiving money. The Community Foundation is also giving money to the Friends of the Animal Shelter in St. Joseph as well as the God’s Furry Angels Pet Rescue through the Mary Margaret Hodgin Fund. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Local animal rescue receives grant money to enhance animal quailty of life

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3NO3zwRJ5eppL9SYrxryG4?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/3yMXbt0VN5n4XhvN1dcr0v?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Michelle Trupiano with the Missouri Family Health Center said the state’s Title X funding was frozen after the federal government cited DEI compliance concerns

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>

Until April, much of the $5,000 a month in federal Title X family planning funding received by the Dent County Health Center went toward purchasing contraceptive devices for some of the 200 people they serve annually.&nbsp;

But the health center’s administrator, Zachary Moser, said a recent decision to freeze family planning funds has the center fearful it won’t be able to continue covering family planning services for its rural southeastern Missouri population.

In late March, the Trump administration froze about $27.5 million in Title X funding to a number of states, including several million dollars to Missouri that are distributed by Missouri Family Health Council.&nbsp;

<a href="https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants" target="_blank">The Title X program</a>&nbsp;was created more than half a century ago as a funding stream to support access to family planning options, including contraceptives, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and cancer screenings related to reproductive health.&nbsp;

While some have speculated the administration was trying to target abortion providers, only seven of the 52 recipients of Title X grants through the Missouri Family Health Council are Planned Parenthood clinics. A breakdown of how funding is distributed between clinics was not made available.

The majority of the recipients are health centers like Moser’s. Moser said in the short-term, Dent County has redirected some general revenues toward family planning services and continues to offer them to patients for free.

“Will we be able to do that indefinitely?” he asked. “No.”

For example, instead of Title X funding covering the cost of an IUD — a contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy — the patient would instead have to foot the bill, choose a less-effective but more affordable or go without.&nbsp;

Moser said some of the longer-lasting contraceptive devices can cost upwards of $1,000 out of pocket, a price that isn’t feasible for most of the people the center serves.&nbsp;

Limiting or eliminating family planning services can impact entire communities and public health.&nbsp;

Michelle Trupiano, executive director of the Missouri Family Health Council, said if the freeze continues, she anticipates immediate health consequences like increased unintended pregnancies, later-stage cancer diagnoses, more overall disease and worse maternal health outcomes.&nbsp;

Missouri Family Health Council has been leading the state’s Title X planning program for nearly 45 years. Their network of 52 clinics includes health departments, community action agencies, federally-qualified health centers and hospital-based clinics. They also work with family planning clinics, including seven Planned Parenthood locations.

“The Trump administration and Elon Musk are using Title X to push their own political agenda and impose their personal beliefs on everyone at the expense of people who need critical access to care,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. ” …. If blocking health care for low-income patients is what the Trump administration means by ‘making America great again,’ then we want no part of it. It’s cruel, it’s calculated, and it won’t stop us from fighting for our patients.”&nbsp;

Trupiano said she’s not sure why Missouri was targeted while other states with Planned Parenthood clinics were left untouched. But the letter Trupiano received announcing the freeze cited compliance concerns around diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI. She said the grant they were awarded includes “access, quality and equity” among its priorities.&nbsp;

Through Title X funding, Missouri clinics served nearly 34,800 patients in 2024. Of those, 83% were female, 75% were under the age of 34 and 45% were uninsured.

Last year, 58% of the patients served were white and 30% were Black.&nbsp;

“We know the devastating impact and consequences that will result if this is not swiftly resolved,” Trupiano said.

The funding to Missouri Family Health Council was paused the day before year four of a five-year grant cycle began on April 1.&nbsp;

The Dent County Health Center applied for Title X funding after hiring a full-time nurse practitioner in 2022. Not only does the grant help them increase health care access for patients, but&nbsp;Moser&nbsp;said it also backs up an ongoing effort to inform more young people on pregnancy prevention.&nbsp;

In his corner of southeast Missouri there’s still a lot of stigma around premarital sex, Moser said, making it difficult to educate teenagers on pregnancy-prevention. Among those teens who do seek out contraceptive access at the health center, he said many don’t want to go through their parent’s insurance policy because they want to keep their choices private.&nbsp;

“We won’t have any way to serve those patients,” Moser said. “It’s going to limit access for sure, which is going to drive up the teen pregnancy rate, drive up unwanted pregnancies and have other unintended consequences.”

Missouri’s teen pregnancy birth rate has steadily declined over the past several years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/teen-births/teenbirths.htm" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,</a>&nbsp;though it still remains among the highest in the country.

Stephanie Kraft Sheley, director of Right By You, a Missouri-based nonprofit that in part advocates for contraceptive access, said some of the most common calls to the organization’s hotline revolve around navigating birth control access.

She said a continued freeze could have “catastrophic” effects, potentially shuttering programs or clinics whose efforts help reduce unintended pregnancies.

If the&nbsp;freeze continues, Kraft Sheley said, that likely means navigating fewer people to pregnancy-prevention options and increasingly directing them to abortion options. While abortion is now legal in Missouri, access is still difficult for many people, as only three Planned Parenthood clinics have resumed procedural abortions and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/28/missouri-rejects-planned-parenthood-medication-abortion-plan/">medication abortions remain unavailable.</a>

Trupiano has spent the past few weeks helping clinics like Moser’s navigate the abrupt funding change as they work to determine how to stretch resources in order to continue providing free family planning services to patients.&nbsp;

“They already were working in the leanest possible way to provide this critical care,” she said. “These cuts are very devastating, and for a lot of the health departments and other safety net clinics, this isn’t the only infrastructure cut that they are facing.”&nbsp;

That rings true in Dent County, where Moser said Title X is one of a handful of programs under threat right now. He remains particularly concerned about continued federal funding for the county’s lead testing and vaccine programs, both of which rely entirely on grant funding.

Trupiano and others have been drawing attention to Missouri’s&nbsp;public health safety net for years, raising concerns that clinics and providers are stretched beyond capacity. Funding freezes such as this only cause longer wait times and more people who ultimately go without timely care as the burden shifts off one clinic and onto another, she said.&nbsp;

For example, if a clinic relying on Title X funding were ultimately to close, those patients would be forced to find another provider. In many places, new patient wait lists are already months long. For those without reliable access to transportation, getting to a different clinic further away might be too much of a burden to continue care.

While the greatest harm will be inflicted on the most vulnerable Missourians, Trupiano said, “the impact is going to be borne by everybody.”&nbsp;

<h2>Michelle Trupiano with the Missouri Family Health Center said the state’s Title X funding was frozen after the federal government cited DEI compliance concerns</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Until April, much of the $5,000 a month in federal Title X family planning funding received by the Dent County Health Center went toward purchasing contraceptive devices for some of the 200 people they serve annually.&nbsp;But the health center’s administrator, Zachary Moser, said a recent decision to freeze family planning funds has the center fearful it won’t be able to continue covering family planning services for its rural southeastern Missouri population.In late March, the Trump administration froze about $27.5 million in Title X funding to a number of states, including several million dollars to Missouri that are distributed by Missouri Family Health Council.&nbsp;<a href="https://opa.hhs.gov/grant-programs/title-x-service-grants" target="_blank">The Title X program</a>&nbsp;was created more than half a century ago as a funding stream to support access to family planning options, including contraceptives, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections and cancer screenings related to reproductive health.&nbsp;While some have speculated the administration was trying to target abortion providers, only seven of the 52 recipients of Title X grants through the Missouri Family Health Council are Planned Parenthood clinics. A breakdown of how funding is distributed between clinics was not made available.The majority of the recipients are health centers like Moser’s. Moser said in the short-term, Dent County has redirected some general revenues toward family planning services and continues to offer them to patients for free.“Will we be able to do that indefinitely?” he asked. “No.”For example, instead of Title X funding covering the cost of an IUD — a contraceptive device that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy — the patient would instead have to foot the bill, choose a less-effective but more affordable or go without.&nbsp;Moser said some of the longer-lasting contraceptive devices can cost upwards of $1,000 out of pocket, a price that isn’t feasible for most of the people the center serves.&nbsp;Limiting or eliminating family planning services can impact entire communities and public health.&nbsp;Michelle Trupiano, executive director of the Missouri Family Health Council, said if the freeze continues, she anticipates immediate health consequences like increased unintended pregnancies, later-stage cancer diagnoses, more overall disease and worse maternal health outcomes.&nbsp;Missouri Family Health Council has been leading the state’s Title X planning program for nearly 45 years. Their network of 52 clinics includes health departments, community action agencies, federally-qualified health centers and hospital-based clinics. They also work with family planning clinics, including seven Planned Parenthood locations.“The Trump administration and Elon Musk are using Title X to push their own political agenda and impose their personal beliefs on everyone at the expense of people who need critical access to care,” Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, said in a statement. ” …. If blocking health care for low-income patients is what the Trump administration means by ‘making America great again,’ then we want no part of it. It’s cruel, it’s calculated, and it won’t stop us from fighting for our patients.”&nbsp;Trupiano said she’s not sure why Missouri was targeted while other states with Planned Parenthood clinics were left untouched. But the letter Trupiano received announcing the freeze cited compliance concerns around diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI. She said the grant they were awarded includes “access, quality and equity” among its priorities.&nbsp;Through Title X funding, Missouri clinics served nearly 34,800 patients in 2024. Of those, 83% were female, 75% were under the age of 34 and 45% were uninsured.Last year, 58% of the patients served were white and 30% were Black.&nbsp;“We know the devastating impact and consequences that will result if this is not swiftly resolved,” Trupiano said.The funding to Missouri Family Health Council was paused the day before year four of a five-year grant cycle began on April 1.&nbsp;The Dent County Health Center applied for Title X funding after hiring a full-time nurse practitioner in 2022. Not only does the grant help them increase health care access for patients, but&nbsp;Moser&nbsp;said it also backs up an ongoing effort to inform more young people on pregnancy prevention.&nbsp;In his corner of southeast Missouri there’s still a lot of stigma around premarital sex, Moser said, making it difficult to educate teenagers on pregnancy-prevention. Among those teens who do seek out contraceptive access at the health center, he said many don’t want to go through their parent’s insurance policy because they want to keep their choices private.&nbsp;“We won’t have any way to serve those patients,” Moser said. “It’s going to limit access for sure, which is going to drive up the teen pregnancy rate, drive up unwanted pregnancies and have other unintended consequences.”Missouri’s teen pregnancy birth rate has steadily declined over the past several years, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/teen-births/teenbirths.htm" target="_blank">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,</a>&nbsp;though it still remains among the highest in the country.Stephanie Kraft Sheley, director of Right By You, a Missouri-based nonprofit that in part advocates for contraceptive access, said some of the most common calls to the organization’s hotline revolve around navigating birth control access.She said a continued freeze could have “catastrophic” effects, potentially shuttering programs or clinics whose efforts help reduce unintended pregnancies.If the&nbsp;freeze continues, Kraft Sheley said, that likely means navigating fewer people to pregnancy-prevention options and increasingly directing them to abortion options. While abortion is now legal in Missouri, access is still difficult for many people, as only three Planned Parenthood clinics have resumed procedural abortions and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/28/missouri-rejects-planned-parenthood-medication-abortion-plan/">medication abortions remain unavailable.</a>Trupiano has spent the past few weeks helping clinics like Moser’s navigate the abrupt funding change as they work to determine how to stretch resources in order to continue providing free family planning services to patients.&nbsp;“They already were working in the leanest possible way to provide this critical care,” she said. “These cuts are very devastating, and for a lot of the health departments and other safety net clinics, this isn’t the only infrastructure cut that they are facing.”&nbsp;That rings true in Dent County, where Moser said Title X is one of a handful of programs under threat right now. He remains particularly concerned about continued federal funding for the county’s lead testing and vaccine programs, both of which rely entirely on grant funding.Trupiano and others have been drawing attention to Missouri’s&nbsp;public health safety net for years, raising concerns that clinics and providers are stretched beyond capacity. Funding freezes such as this only cause longer wait times and more people who ultimately go without timely care as the burden shifts off one clinic and onto another, she said.&nbsp;For example, if a clinic relying on Title X funding were ultimately to close, those patients would be forced to find another provider. In many places, new patient wait lists are already months long. For those without reliable access to transportation, getting to a different clinic further away might be too much of a burden to continue care.While the greatest harm will be inflicted on the most vulnerable Missourians, Trupiano said, “the impact is going to be borne by everybody.”&nbsp;

Federal family planning funding freeze in Missouri impacts more than Planned Parenthood

The Missouri Department of Transportation continues to consider changes to the I-229 double decker bridge in downtown St. Joseph. 

Now that an environmental study has been completed, MoDOT is in the design phase of what will be done to move away from the current double decker design.  

MoDOT Deputy Director Eric Schroeter says there will be a public comment period next month as the department puts together its annual Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. 

"And that's the one that will include as we're trying to put the project with the double decker bridge into that five-year plan as to where that falls when funding is available and timing" Schroeter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "And moving on from, now that we've completed the environmental study part, to now taking it on as a project and getting it planned, and the design work done for it." 

An exact date or location for the meeting has not yet been announced by the department.   

For two years, Missouri has been discussing the possibility of converting Highway 36 into Interstate 72. MoDOT officials say it is not a simple process. 

Highway 36 runs across the northern half of the state – from St. Joseph to Hannibal. Turning U.S. Highway 36 into Interstate 72 could make traversing along the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, as it’s known, a little bit easier. 

Schroeter says there are several federal standards that would have to be met for Highway 36 to be upgraded to an interstate. 

"So, some of the things that are different that would change with 36 to become an interstate, the interstates don't have any private driveways on them, there's no direct connections, it's all restricted access," Schroeter explains.  "And they also have a minimum speed limit, so they don't typically allow agriculture type equipment that can't maintain an interstate speed." 

Schroeter says the department has heard the discussions and the desire, but hopes people understand the costs and what goes into it, and that it also comes down to federal guidelines. 

While much transportation talk in Missouri has centered on Interstate 70 in central Missouri and Interstates 44 in southern Missouri, a top official insists MoDOT hasn’t forgotten about northwest Missouri. 

Schroeter says northwest Missouri will get plenty of attention in the next Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. 

"All the bridge replacements we're doing, minor road resurfacing, resurfacing to some of the interstates up in the northwest part, a lot of bridge replacements going on, and also looking at projects specifically in St. Joseph," Schroeter says.  "Looking at the future of what's commonly known as a double decker bridge, we've worked on an environmental plan there what's the future of that look like, so all of those projects are in the STIP as well." 

Schroeter says there are 45o projects in the works currently and points out on any given day this summer there will be 800 work zones active across the state.

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Missouri Department of Transportation continues to consider changes to the I-229 double decker bridge in downtown St. Joseph. Now that an environmental study has been completed, MoDOT is in the design phase of what will be done to move away from the current double decker design. MoDOT Deputy Director Eric Schroeter says there will be a public comment period next month as the department puts together its annual Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. "And that's the one that will include as we're trying to put the project with the double decker bridge into that five-year plan as to where that falls when funding is available and timing" Schroeter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And moving on from, now that we've completed the environmental study part, to now taking it on as a project and getting it planned, and the design work done for it." An exact date or location for the meeting has not yet been announced by the department. For two years, Missouri has been discussing the possibility of converting Highway 36 into Interstate 72. MoDOT officials say it is not a simple process. Highway 36 runs across the northern half of the state – from St. Joseph to Hannibal. Turning U.S. Highway 36 into Interstate 72 could make traversing along the Chicago-Kansas City Expressway, as it’s known, a little bit easier. Schroeter says there are several federal standards that would have to be met for Highway 36 to be upgraded to an interstate. "So, some of the things that are different that would change with 36 to become an interstate, the interstates don't have any private driveways on them, there's no direct connections, it's all restricted access," Schroeter explains. "And they also have a minimum speed limit, so they don't typically allow agriculture type equipment that can't maintain an interstate speed." Schroeter says the department has heard the discussions and the desire, but hopes people understand the costs and what goes into it, and that it also comes down to federal guidelines. While much transportation talk in Missouri has centered on Interstate 70 in central Missouri and Interstates 44 in southern Missouri, a top official insists MoDOT hasn’t forgotten about northwest Missouri. Schroeter says northwest Missouri will get plenty of attention in the next Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. "All the bridge replacements we're doing, minor road resurfacing, resurfacing to some of the interstates up in the northwest part, a lot of bridge replacements going on, and also looking at projects specifically in St. Joseph," Schroeter says. "Looking at the future of what's commonly known as a double decker bridge, we've worked on an environmental plan there what's the future of that look like, so all of those projects are in the STIP as well." Schroeter says there are 45o projects in the works currently and points out on any given day this summer there will be 800 work zones active across the state.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

State department of transportation official insists northwest Missouri has not been left out

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2gCphNzhXPMz6Nb0EhmvnI?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1hbPeaMzk7D7mzT7KMl2WM?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Attorney Laura
Chavez has been chosen to fill the Municipal Court Judge vacancy left in wake
of the death of Municipal Judge Ted Elo.

Chavez, a St.
Joseph native, was chosen by the St. Joseph City Council which considered two
candidates to fill the vacancy. Chavez graduated from Bishop Leblond High
School and Missouri Western State University. She earned her law degree at
Creighton University in Omaha.

Chavez served as
the City Prosecutor in Municipal Court for the last ten years. The St. Joseph
City Council will formally vote to confirm Chavez at the April 28th City
Council session as an emergency ordinance. 

Her appointment
will remain effective until the April general municipal election next year.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAttorney Laura
Chavez has been chosen to fill the Municipal Court Judge vacancy left in wake
of the death of Municipal Judge Ted Elo.Chavez, a St.
Joseph native, was chosen by the St. Joseph City Council which considered two
candidates to fill the vacancy. Chavez graduated from Bishop Leblond High
School and Missouri Western State University. She earned her law degree at
Creighton University in Omaha.Chavez served as
the City Prosecutor in Municipal Court for the last ten years. The St. Joseph
City Council will formally vote to confirm Chavez at the April 28th City
Council session as an emergency ordinance. Her appointment
will remain effective until the April general municipal election next year.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Chavez chosen as new St. Joseph Municipal Judge

Much construction work of various types
is being done around St. Joseph.

Some residents complain contractors have
been leaving trash behind after completing projects with a few damaging
property.

St. Joseph Public Works Director, Abe
Forney, says residents who have complaints should contact his department.

“If somebody’s sidewalk is damaged and it
was the utility company or fiber company then they could contact us and we’ll
have the process of contacting them through (the) Public Works Department,”
Forney tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Most of the contractors completing
construction projects in St. Joseph are not working for the city, according to
Forney. He points out Missouri American Water is undergoing a huge project,
replacing aging water pipes, many of which contain lead. Spire is also
upgrading gas lines throughout the greater St. Joseph area. More than one
company is working to install fiber optic cables.

“People get confused often when a utility
company like a water line or fiber is getting put in. It’s not the city that
actually does the work,” according to Forney. “We just oversee it to make that
if the street is cut out or the sidewalk is cut, we’re kind of the fallback to
make sure it’s put back properly.”

Forney says there is a lot of
construction ongoing in St. Joseph as contractors replace aging infrastructure.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostMuch construction work of various types
is being done around St. Joseph.Some residents complain contractors have
been leaving trash behind after completing projects with a few damaging
property.St. Joseph Public Works Director, Abe
Forney, says residents who have complaints should contact his department.“If somebody’s sidewalk is damaged and it
was the utility company or fiber company then they could contact us and we’ll
have the process of contacting them through (the) Public Works Department,”
Forney tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Most of the contractors completing
construction projects in St. Joseph are not working for the city, according to
Forney. He points out Missouri American Water is undergoing a huge project,
replacing aging water pipes, many of which contain lead. Spire is also
upgrading gas lines throughout the greater St. Joseph area. More than one
company is working to install fiber optic cables.“People get confused often when a utility
company like a water line or fiber is getting put in. It’s not the city that
actually does the work,” according to Forney. “We just oversee it to make that
if the street is cut out or the sidewalk is cut, we’re kind of the fallback to
make sure it’s put back properly.”Forney says there is a lot of
construction ongoing in St. Joseph as contractors replace aging infrastructure.“We’ve got to continue to upgrade these
things,” Forney says. “I know it’s frustrating, but I really appreciate
everybody’s patience.”One St. Joseph resident who contacted
KFEQ complained of trash being left behind by a contractor after completing a
project. He said other residents have had their property damaged during
construction. The resident also said it was difficult to make a formal
complaint to the city.Forney suggests those with complaints
either contact the Public Works and Transportation Department at 816-271-4653
or City Yards at 816-271-4848.“Just communicate with us and we’ll
figure it out,” Forney says.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.