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KFEQ Morning News

Gov. Mike Kehoe’s policy director said a new formula for funding public schools should align with levels $300 million behind the legislature’s recommendations

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

A group of state officials and business leaders tasked by Gov. Mike Kehoe with creating a new formula to fund Missouri’s public schools gathered for the first time on Monday under an expectation that funding should be below what lawmakers approved earlier this year.

Halle Herbert, the governor’s incoming policy director, told the group that Kehoe seeks funding “consistent with what is provided in the state fiscal year 2025 budget.”

Last month, lawmakers signed off on public education funding that was $300 million higher than what the governor recommended.&nbsp;

“A lot of times when you ask a school superintendent, ‘where are the problems?….’ They ask for more money,” Kehoe told the group Monday. “That is not a great answer to me… That can’t always be the answer to every problem.”

Between fiscal year 2025 and 2026, a multiplier in the formula called the “state adequacy target” increased. This number is the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s estimate of proper per-pupil funding and is calculated by looking at top-performing schools in the state’s annual performance reports.

The change was driven by a new iteration of the state’s accountability system, called the Missouri School Improvement Program, which was introduced in 2022 and became more “rigorous” for districts to score high and produced a smaller number of districts that could be deemed top performers.

The program is required by law to be phased in, making fiscal year 2026 the first year with the updated state adequacy target. This change requires an additional $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula.

Kehoe’s proposed budget this January did not include the $300 million increase, and his comments in Monday’s meeting show an intention to tamp down the rising costs of public education.

Kari Monsees, deputy commissioner of financial and administrative services, said part of Kehoe’s intention with calling for a change to the formula comes from the “unpredictability” of the state adequacy target.

State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly and former educator, pointed out that there was a 12% increase in the multiplier this year — but before now, it had only increased 4% in 16 years.

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/29/missouri-school-boards-request-commission-to-adjust-school-funding-formula-for-inflation/">Superintendents have been asking for a formula that responds to inflation</a>&nbsp;for years, arguing lawmakers “manipulated” the formula to keep funding flat.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-school-funding-march-2023" target="_blank">study commissioned by the department</a>&nbsp;and released in 2023 concluded that the current formula hurts districts with more low-income students. Multipliers for serving sensitive student groups were “not based on any empirical analysis,” the study determined.

The study recommends looking at other states and the cost associated with desired performance outcomes to determine whether the per-pupil funding is enough.

But Kehoe is seeking financial incentives for high performance.

Monsees said there aren’t many states with performance in school funding formulas and alluded to a lack of information on that model.

The group that met Monday was created by an executive order Kehoe shortly after taking office. He appointed members representing public schools, agriculture, business and charter schools.

One member is to represent “a non-profit organization that works on expanding school choice in Missouri,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo14" target="_blank">according to the order</a>. Kehoe chose Chris Vas, a senior director with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/10/nonprofit-near-kansas-city-seeks-to-become-epicenter-of-the-school-choice-movement/">the Herzog Foundation</a>. The foundation “advances K-12 Christian education primarily,” Vas said Monday.

There was some discussion that the formula, which was previously intended to fund public districts, should also be responsible for funding charter schools and vouchers for private education.

Committee member Michael Podgursky, an economics professor at the University of Missouri–Columbia, said there “was an active discussion of interdisciplinary school choice.”

“How do you design a funding mechanism with school choice, which really means thinking about tying it more to kids,” he said.

Podgursky has served as a fellow with various conservative research groups, such as the Fordham Institute and the George W. Bush institute and is a director at the conservative think tank the Show-Me Institute.

The group must come up with recommendations to deliver to the governor by Dec. 1, 2026.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748946701960.png" alt=" State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, chairs the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, chairs the Missouri School Funding Modernization Task Force meeting Monday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe’s policy director said a new formula for funding public schools should align with levels $300 million behind the legislature’s recommendations</h2>&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A group of state officials and business leaders tasked by Gov. Mike Kehoe with creating a new formula to fund Missouri’s public schools gathered for the first time on Monday under an expectation that funding should be below what lawmakers approved earlier this year.Halle Herbert, the governor’s incoming policy director, told the group that Kehoe seeks funding “consistent with what is provided in the state fiscal year 2025 budget.”Last month, lawmakers signed off on public education funding that was $300 million higher than what the governor recommended.&nbsp;“A lot of times when you ask a school superintendent, ‘where are the problems?….’ They ask for more money,” Kehoe told the group Monday. “That is not a great answer to me… That can’t always be the answer to every problem.”Between fiscal year 2025 and 2026, a multiplier in the formula called the “state adequacy target” increased. This number is the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s estimate of proper per-pupil funding and is calculated by looking at top-performing schools in the state’s annual performance reports.The change was driven by a new iteration of the state’s accountability system, called the Missouri School Improvement Program, which was introduced in 2022 and became more “rigorous” for districts to score high and produced a smaller number of districts that could be deemed top performers.The program is required by law to be phased in, making fiscal year 2026 the first year with the updated state adequacy target. This change requires an additional $300 million to fully fund the foundation formula.Kehoe’s proposed budget this January did not include the $300 million increase, and his comments in Monday’s meeting show an intention to tamp down the rising costs of public education.Kari Monsees, deputy commissioner of financial and administrative services, said part of Kehoe’s intention with calling for a change to the formula comes from the “unpredictability” of the state adequacy target.State Rep. Ed Lewis, a Republican from Moberly and former educator, pointed out that there was a 12% increase in the multiplier this year — but before now, it had only increased 4% in 16 years.<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/29/missouri-school-boards-request-commission-to-adjust-school-funding-formula-for-inflation/">Superintendents have been asking for a formula that responds to inflation</a>&nbsp;for years, arguing lawmakers “manipulated” the formula to keep funding flat.A&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/media/pdf/missouri-school-funding-march-2023" target="_blank">study commissioned by the department</a>&nbsp;and released in 2023 concluded that the current formula hurts districts with more low-income students. Multipliers for serving sensitive student groups were “not based on any empirical analysis,” the study determined.The study recommends looking at other states and the cost associated with desired performance outcomes to determine whether the per-pupil funding is enough.But Kehoe is seeking financial incentives for high performance.Monsees said there aren’t many states with performance in school funding formulas and alluded to a lack of information on that model.The group that met Monday was created by an executive order Kehoe shortly after taking office. He appointed members representing public schools, agriculture, business and charter schools.One member is to represent “a non-profit organization that works on expanding school choice in Missouri,”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo14" target="_blank">according to the order</a>. Kehoe chose Chris Vas, a senior director with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/10/nonprofit-near-kansas-city-seeks-to-become-epicenter-of-the-school-choice-movement/">the Herzog Foundation</a>. The foundation “advances K-12 Christian education primarily,” Vas said Monday.There was some discussion that the formula, which was previously intended to fund public districts, should also be responsible for funding charter schools and vouchers for private education.Committee member Michael Podgursky, an economics professor at the University of Missouri–Columbia, said there “was an active discussion of interdisciplinary school choice.”“How do you design a funding mechanism with school choice, which really means thinking about tying it more to kids,” he said.Podgursky has served as a fellow with various conservative research groups, such as the Fordham Institute and the George W. Bush institute and is a director at the conservative think tank the Show-Me Institute.The group must come up with recommendations to deliver to the governor by Dec. 1, 2026.

Missouri governor calls for task force to keep state education funding flat

Gov. Mike Kehoe wants a quick session to approve stadium financing, disaster relief and state spending that failed in the regular session. How he satisfies lawmakers demanding more could decide success or failure for the new governor

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>

The opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">legislative special session Monday</a>&nbsp;put partisan and intraparty fights in the Missouri Senate on display as Democrats called for expanded storm relief and Freedom Caucus members called for tax cuts as the price for supporting stadium subsidies.

Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers together just two weeks after they finished work in the regular session to consider a package of tax incentives intended to convince the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri.&nbsp;

Kehoe is also asking lawmakers for a $235 million spending bill with $25 million for disaster relief as well as a special tax deduction for the cost of meeting insurance deductibles after a disaster.&nbsp;

The brief opening session didn’t feature any sharp exchanges, but the bills filed — and the statements made about them — show where the battle lines are being drawn.

Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters that members of his caucus aren’t willing to talk about stadium funding until an appropriations bill and other disaster relief measures are on Kehoe’s desk.

“When that happens and it’s through the House and on the governor’s desk, then we can talk about it,” Beck said.

Members of the Freedom Caucus said they are holding out for a tax cut that benefits all Missourians before considering a stadium plan, said state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.

Schroer filed a bill to cut the top income tax rate to 4% — it is currently 4.7% — and make the tax flat across all incomes.

“​​The members of the Freedom Caucus, plus the other conservative members that are not necessarily in the caucus, they’ve all expressed that whether it’s income tax, personal property tax or real property tax, for us to sit at the table, and allow tax credits for billionaires to move forward, the little guy needs to get something in return,” Schroer said.

The regular session ended in acrimony when Republicans twice invoked a rarely used procedural move to shut off debate. Democrats had blocked a proposed ballot measure to restore Missouri’s ban on most abortions and a bill repealing the paid sick leave law passed by voters in November.

Democrats vowed that the move ended their cooperation with Republicans and gave a taste of what that meant last week when they&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">stalled the final paperwork</a>&nbsp;of the regular session.

Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session and Kehoe has said he won’t try to impose an artificial deadline. Because of the uncertainty of action in the Senate, the Missouri House won’t convene until next week and will only remain in session if the Senate has passed a bill for it to consider.

But the Chiefs and Royals have only until the end of the month to answer an offer from Kansas to fund new stadiums. Kehoe hopes to have his plan for tax incentives worth about 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums to be passed by then.

The plan for the Chiefs and Royals would take tax money already generated from activities at the stadiums — $28.8 million annually as estimated by the Chiefs and $15 million annually by an estimate from the Royals — and commit it to bond payments for 30 years for the new or upgraded facilities.

The economic activity associated with the Chiefs supports 4,500 jobs, Kehoe contends, and a new stadium for the Royals would generate about 8,400 jobs.&nbsp;

The spending bill Kehoe wants passed would use $25 million of general revenue to support a new research reactor on the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus, plus funding for a new livestock display barn at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia and about $50 million to help with construction of a new mental hospital in Kansas City.

The funding for the reactor is $25 million less than Kehoe proposed. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, introduced an appropriations bill with $75 million for the reactor, plus all the other general revenue projects that died when Missouri House Republicans refused to bring the construction spending bill up for a vote.

“If there is going to be a $25 million variance on agreements made in this chamber, we ought to go $25 million in the other direction,” Webber said.

Webber also introduced a bill imposing a 1% income tax surcharge on incomes greater than $1 million, which he said would bring in about $400 million over three years to support disaster relief.

“There is obviously a belief, among some, that billionaires should be given a sweetheart deal. I would disagree with that,” Webber said. “There is also some concern about whether we can fund disaster relief for some communities in our state that were desperately hit. So what I’ve tried to do is build a bridge between those two issues.”

State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican who chairs the Freedom Caucus, introduced a bill to finance the stadiums entirely from donations. He called it the “No Taxation, All Donation Act” and included incentives for giving.

“So if somebody gives over $10,000 to this stadium, then they are able to obtain free parking to be able to get into that stadium,” Brattin said.

The next step will be to send the bills to committees for hearings. That will happen tomorrow and the first hearings will occur soon afterward.

Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, seemed happy to have gotten past the first day without a filibuster.

“Today went smoothly,” Luetkemeyer said. “And then we’ll just take it day by day and see where we go from here.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Gov. Mike Kehoe wants a quick session to approve stadium financing, disaster relief and state spending that failed in the regular session. How he satisfies lawmakers demanding more could decide success or failure for the new governor</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>The opening of the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">legislative special session Monday</a>&nbsp;put partisan and intraparty fights in the Missouri Senate on display as Democrats called for expanded storm relief and Freedom Caucus members called for tax cuts as the price for supporting stadium subsidies.Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers together just two weeks after they finished work in the regular session to consider a package of tax incentives intended to convince the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri.&nbsp;Kehoe is also asking lawmakers for a $235 million spending bill with $25 million for disaster relief as well as a special tax deduction for the cost of meeting insurance deductibles after a disaster.&nbsp;The brief opening session didn’t feature any sharp exchanges, but the bills filed — and the statements made about them — show where the battle lines are being drawn.Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, a Democrat from Affton, told reporters that members of his caucus aren’t willing to talk about stadium funding until an appropriations bill and other disaster relief measures are on Kehoe’s desk.“When that happens and it’s through the House and on the governor’s desk, then we can talk about it,” Beck said.Members of the Freedom Caucus said they are holding out for a tax cut that benefits all Missourians before considering a stadium plan, said state Sen. Nick Schroer, a Republican from Defiance.Schroer filed a bill to cut the top income tax rate to 4% — it is currently 4.7% — and make the tax flat across all incomes.“​​The members of the Freedom Caucus, plus the other conservative members that are not necessarily in the caucus, they’ve all expressed that whether it’s income tax, personal property tax or real property tax, for us to sit at the table, and allow tax credits for billionaires to move forward, the little guy needs to get something in return,” Schroer said.The regular session ended in acrimony when Republicans twice invoked a rarely used procedural move to shut off debate. Democrats had blocked a proposed ballot measure to restore Missouri’s ban on most abortions and a bill repealing the paid sick leave law passed by voters in November.Democrats vowed that the move ended their cooperation with Republicans and gave a taste of what that meant last week when they&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/29/bipartisan-resistance-building-against-missouri-governors-stadium-funding-plan/">stalled the final paperwork</a>&nbsp;of the regular session.Under the Missouri Constitution, lawmakers have 60 days to complete work on items in a special session and Kehoe has said he won’t try to impose an artificial deadline. Because of the uncertainty of action in the Senate, the Missouri House won’t convene until next week and will only remain in session if the Senate has passed a bill for it to consider.But the Chiefs and Royals have only until the end of the month to answer an offer from Kansas to fund new stadiums. Kehoe hopes to have his plan for tax incentives worth about 50% of the cost of new or renovated stadiums to be passed by then.The plan for the Chiefs and Royals would take tax money already generated from activities at the stadiums — $28.8 million annually as estimated by the Chiefs and $15 million annually by an estimate from the Royals — and commit it to bond payments for 30 years for the new or upgraded facilities.The economic activity associated with the Chiefs supports 4,500 jobs, Kehoe contends, and a new stadium for the Royals would generate about 8,400 jobs.&nbsp;The spending bill Kehoe wants passed would use $25 million of general revenue to support a new research reactor on the University of Missouri’s Columbia campus, plus funding for a new livestock display barn at the State Fairgrounds in Sedalia and about $50 million to help with construction of a new mental hospital in Kansas City.The funding for the reactor is $25 million less than Kehoe proposed. State Sen. Stephen Webber, a Columbia Democrat, introduced an appropriations bill with $75 million for the reactor, plus all the other general revenue projects that died when Missouri House Republicans refused to bring the construction spending bill up for a vote.“If there is going to be a $25 million variance on agreements made in this chamber, we ought to go $25 million in the other direction,” Webber said.Webber also introduced a bill imposing a 1% income tax surcharge on incomes greater than $1 million, which he said would bring in about $400 million over three years to support disaster relief.“There is obviously a belief, among some, that billionaires should be given a sweetheart deal. I would disagree with that,” Webber said. “There is also some concern about whether we can fund disaster relief for some communities in our state that were desperately hit. So what I’ve tried to do is build a bridge between those two issues.”State Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican who chairs the Freedom Caucus, introduced a bill to finance the stadiums entirely from donations. He called it the “No Taxation, All Donation Act” and included incentives for giving.“So if somebody gives over $10,000 to this stadium, then they are able to obtain free parking to be able to get into that stadium,” Brattin said.The next step will be to send the bills to committees for hearings. That will happen tomorrow and the first hearings will occur soon afterward.Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, a Republican from Parkville, seemed happy to have gotten past the first day without a filibuster.“Today went smoothly,” Luetkemeyer said. “And then we’ll just take it day by day and see where we go from here.”

Missouri special session begins with lawmakers split on stadium funding plan

A community member has stepped up and given the generous gift of free tickets to the St. Joseph Mustangs game on Saturday. 

Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says in 2022 an anonymous donor gifted tickets to games, and wanted to do it again this year, donating 500 tickets to the Mustangs. 

Turner says the whole intent behind this is to do something nice, and hopefully have the domino effect, influencing others to go do something nice as well 

"We're very appreciative of the people involved in making this possible, but then we're also very appreciative the people who take the challenge," Turner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "We heard so many great stories, whether it's just holding the door open for somebody, I think one person said they went to a garage sale and they bought some items for some people who couldn't afford an item and so they did something nice and purchased it for them." 

Turner says when the offer went up on social media, fans were very receptive 

"We surpassed that 500 in under the first hour, and so I actually made a phone call and I haven't made this edit online yet, I just went to the person who made that donation and I said hey this went quicker than what we thought, so they've actually upped their donation of how many tickets they're going to provide," Turner explains. "So, we're kind of reserving that number back so I can just tell them once we get there, and they say ok that's enough." 

Turner says it feels good to be able to use Mustangs baseball as a platform for this. 

"We're so appreciative of the team effort, whether it's the team on the field and playing the game but then the team off the field in our community and just doing nice things there," Turner says.  "It's really neat to use Mustangs baseball as that platform and just the domino effect it can have in our community, and St. Joe is just a wonderful community, it's full of a lot of great people, and I don't think sometimes we realize how awesome St. Joe is and can be." 

You can visit the Mustangs Facebook page to find a link to reserve tickets while they are still available. 

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

By MATT PIKE A community member has stepped up and given the generous gift of free tickets to the St. Joseph Mustangs game on Saturday. Mustangs General Manager and Owner Ky Turner says in 2022 an anonymous donor gifted tickets to games, and wanted to do it again this year, donating 500 tickets to the Mustangs. Turner says the whole intent behind this is to do something nice, and hopefully have the domino effect, influencing others to go do something nice as well "We're very appreciative of the people involved in making this possible, but then we're also very appreciative the people who take the challenge," Turner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "We heard so many great stories, whether it's just holding the door open for somebody, I think one person said they went to a garage sale and they bought some items for some people who couldn't afford an item and so they did something nice and purchased it for them." Turner says when the offer went up on social media, fans were very receptive "We surpassed that 500 in under the first hour, and so I actually made a phone call and I haven't made this edit online yet, I just went to the person who made that donation and I said hey this went quicker than what we thought, so they've actually upped their donation of how many tickets they're going to provide," Turner explains. "So, we're kind of reserving that number back so I can just tell them once we get there, and they say ok that's enough." Turner says it feels good to be able to use Mustangs baseball as a platform for this. "We're so appreciative of the team effort, whether it's the team on the field and playing the game but then the team off the field in our community and just doing nice things there," Turner says. "It's really neat to use Mustangs baseball as that platform and just the domino effect it can have in our community, and St. Joe is just a wonderful community, it's full of a lot of great people, and I don't think sometimes we realize how awesome St. Joe is and can be." You can visit the Mustangs Facebook page to find a link to reserve tickets while they are still available. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Anonymous donor gifts free tickets to St. Joseph Mustangs on Saturday

State lawmakers return to work this week to tackle tax breaks for sports stadiums against a backdrop of sluggish revenues and a declining surplus

Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">hundreds of millions</a>&nbsp;in potential&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">new costs for Missouri</a>&nbsp;taxpayers, an analysis of the budget bill backed by Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump shows it would also cut state revenue as tax changes at the federal level are reflected in state returns.

Exactly how much is uncertain. The&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/blog/big-beautiful-bill-state-implications-snap-medicaid-no-tax-on-overtime-tips/" target="_blank">review</a>&nbsp;by Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, estimates it will be at least $170 million and could be as much as $429 million if state lawmakers pass tax cuts that mirror provisions in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">legislation approved in the U.S. House</a>.

Dylan Grundman O’Neill, senior state tax policy analyst at the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said Walczak’s estimate is sound. O’Neill said he is working to estimate how much Missouri’s revenues would be reduced further from the bill’s increase in the limit on the itemized deduction for state and local taxes.

The potential reduction in state revenue caused by federal changes, coupled with the new exemption for&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-bill-exempting-capital-gains-from-income-tax-sent-to-governor/">capital gains income</a>&nbsp;and expanded property tax credit for some retirees and people with disabilities passed by the Missouri legislature earlier this year, could cause the coming fiscal year to be the fourth in a row where revenue growth&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/17/missouri-tax-revenues-declining-in-first-months-of-fiscal-year-raising-concerns/">does not keep up with inflation</a>.

And the prospect that those federal tax changes and state tax cuts will put the squeeze on Missouri’s budget hangs like a shadow over the legislature as it&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">reconvenes this week</a>&nbsp;to consider whether to set aside almost $1.4 billion in state taxes over the next 30 years to finance professional sports stadiums in Kansas City

“We know the state budget years ahead are going to be challenging, and the amount of general revenue that we have is something that I’m taking very seriously as a businessman, and what it’s going to take in future years,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe.

The state budget for the coming fiscal year, awaiting action by Kehoe, would spend $15.8 billion in general revenue while collections are estimated at $13.6 billion. The budget’s draw on the state’s surplus and uncertainty about future collections is why a spending bill also on the special session agenda has only $50 million more in general revenue, Kehoe said last week.

Missouri’s state income tax is linked to the federal tax system. The state tax form starts with the adjusted gross income calculated on the federal return and grants filers the same standard deduction.

The approximately 10% of taxpayers who itemize deductions are allowed to keep most of what they report to the IRS and add some deductions for Social Security and other payroll taxes.

The bill approved by the U.S. House includes a temporary $1,000 increase for the federal standard deduction,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025" target="_blank">$15,000 for single filers this year</a>. That would reduce Missouri revenue by about $124 million, Walczak said.

The new deduction for interest on motor vehicle loans would be added to the federal form in a way that reduces the adjusted gross income amount. That change is estimated to reduce state revenue by $46 million, he said.

“They’re putting that above the line there,” he said. “I don’t understand why. I don’t think anyone knows why they choose to do it this way.”

It would require action by state lawmakers to reverse the effect, Walczak said.

“A state could choose to have a modification where they add back the subtracted amount for auto loans, but they would have to choose to do that,” he said.

For most taxpayers,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/repub/no-tax-on-tips-child-tax-credit-and-business-tax-cuts-survive-in-big-house-gop-bill/">income derived from tips</a>&nbsp;and overtime would be exempt from the income tax entirely. Like reversing the auto loan deduction, making Missouri law mirror that benefit would have to be done by the legislature, Walczak said.

The two exemptions would reduce Missouri state revenues by about $259 million.

“We put those numbers there because there are states that are saying that they want to follow the federal government and exempt tips and overtime,” he said. “So we wanted to show what it would cost if they did that.”&nbsp;

The change in the $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local taxes to $40,000 is one of the hardest pieces of the federal bill to estimate, O’Neill said.&nbsp;

Before the cap was put in place by Congress in 2017, more than 30% of taxpayers itemized their deductions. When the standard deduction was doubled — and when mortgage loan rates were low — the rate of itemizers plummeted.

The deduction covers state and local income and property taxes. Missouri’s current tax forms subtract state income tax payments from the amount claimed, for those under the cap, allowing the rest.

Itemizers who claim the maximum calculate the share of the tax payments that come from income tax, and subtraction a pro-rated amount from the $10,000 limit.

For example, the owner of a home in Columbia that the assessor appraises at $1.5 million pays just under $20,000 in property taxes. If income taxes are 90% of the total state and local taxes included on that person’s federal form, the owner would retain a $1,000 deduction for their state return under current law.

With the cap increased to $40,000, the taxpayer would retain a $4,000 deduction. The net effect on state taxes would be a $141 cut for that taxpayer.

“The more the congressional bill raises that cap, the more relevant that provision becomes for states,” O’Neill said. “Missouri is one of the states that has relatively high exposure to that change because of its rolling conformity to the federal tax code.”

The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that Missouri taxpayers would see their federal tax bills drop by $9.1 billion, with more than&nbsp;<a href="https://itep.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/OBBB-20250519-Missouri.png" target="_blank">one-fifth of that total</a>&nbsp;going to the 1% of Missouri taxpayers who have an income greater than $689,300.

Filers in that group would receive an average tax cut of $58,490.&nbsp;

Taxpayers in the lowest 40% of filers would receive one-twentieth of the tax cuts under the bill.

The new costs imposed by the bill include a possible&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">$400 million annually</a>&nbsp;to maintain the food benefits program known as SNAP. Missouri would have to pick up an estimated 25% of the cost of providing the aid because Missouri’s error rate on payments was 10% in 2023, which would mean the highest cost share.

Missouri will end the current fiscal year with an unobligated general revenue balance of $2.6 billion, the state budget office estimated when Kehoe’s spending proposal was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">released in January</a>.

Even after spending $1 billion of the accumulated balance, it is historically large and almost $900 million more than was predicted a year earlier. Two factors played into that increase — revenues in fiscal 2024 that were almost $300 million more than anticipated and a gap between budgeted amounts and actual costs, mainly due to understaffing.

Kehoe’s January budget anticipates the surplus would fall to $1.4 billion by the end of the coming fiscal year in June 2026.&nbsp;

In the coming special session, Kehoe will be under pressure to allow more money to be spent in the appropriations bill.&nbsp;

“I don’t believe that it’s the government or the state’s job to accumulate a billion dollars to look at in the bank,” said state Sen. Lincoln Hough, the Springfield Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I agree with a healthy reserve. I’m fine with that. But this billion and a half dollars that we have sitting in the bank while we’ve got hospitals that are closing down and child care facilities that need support… it’s the whole list of projects.”

There should be some allowance for lawmakers to add items to the bill, he said.

“I’m not naive enough to think we’re going to put together a $513 million capital improvements package and drop that,” Hough said.

The budget revenue estimate&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-revenue-estimate-predicts-70-million-drop-in-state-tax-receipts-through-june/">made in December</a>&nbsp;anticipates a slight decline in revenue in the current year and a slight increase in the coming year.&nbsp;

That estimate was made before lawmakers passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-bill-exempting-capital-gains-from-income-tax-sent-to-governor/">tax cut worth about $285 million</a>&nbsp;in the coming year by official estimates but&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/07/missouri-lawmakers-set-to-pass-capital-gains-tax-cut-with-questions-about-its-total-cost/">forecast to be much more</a>&nbsp;by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, supports the legislation to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the state. She also said there should be more for the appropriations bill.

“We need to be concerned about where we’re spending our dollars, but I also think that we have to be doing it responsibly,” Aune said.

But she is also concerned about the revenue impact of the federal budget bill and the tax cut awaiting action from Kehoe.

“We are in a position right now where we are seeing revenues dwindling,” Aune said. “With everything that has been passed recently, it has the potential to put Missouri in a much more difficult position.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1746787756639.png" alt="&nbsp;Missouri Senate Appropriations Chairman Lincoln Hough, right, discusses a budget item May 8 with House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton during negotiations over the fiscal 2026 budget (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Missouri Senate Appropriations Chairman Lincoln Hough, right, discusses a budget item May 8 with House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton during negotiations over the fiscal 2026 budget (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>State lawmakers return to work this week to tackle tax breaks for sports stadiums against a backdrop of sluggish revenues and a declining surplus</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>Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">hundreds of millions</a>&nbsp;in potential&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">new costs for Missouri</a>&nbsp;taxpayers, an analysis of the budget bill backed by Congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump shows it would also cut state revenue as tax changes at the federal level are reflected in state returns.Exactly how much is uncertain. The&nbsp;<a href="https://taxfoundation.org/blog/big-beautiful-bill-state-implications-snap-medicaid-no-tax-on-overtime-tips/" target="_blank">review</a>&nbsp;by Jared Walczak, vice president of state projects at the conservative-leaning Tax Foundation, estimates it will be at least $170 million and could be as much as $429 million if state lawmakers pass tax cuts that mirror provisions in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/us-house-republicans-push-through-massive-tax-and-spending-bill-slashing-medicaid" target="_blank">legislation approved in the U.S. House</a>.Dylan Grundman O’Neill, senior state tax policy analyst at the left-leaning Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said Walczak’s estimate is sound. O’Neill said he is working to estimate how much Missouri’s revenues would be reduced further from the bill’s increase in the limit on the itemized deduction for state and local taxes.The potential reduction in state revenue caused by federal changes, coupled with the new exemption for&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-bill-exempting-capital-gains-from-income-tax-sent-to-governor/">capital gains income</a>&nbsp;and expanded property tax credit for some retirees and people with disabilities passed by the Missouri legislature earlier this year, could cause the coming fiscal year to be the fourth in a row where revenue growth&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/17/missouri-tax-revenues-declining-in-first-months-of-fiscal-year-raising-concerns/">does not keep up with inflation</a>.And the prospect that those federal tax changes and state tax cuts will put the squeeze on Missouri’s budget hangs like a shadow over the legislature as it&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">reconvenes this week</a>&nbsp;to consider whether to set aside almost $1.4 billion in state taxes over the next 30 years to finance professional sports stadiums in Kansas City“We know the state budget years ahead are going to be challenging, and the amount of general revenue that we have is something that I’m taking very seriously as a businessman, and what it’s going to take in future years,” said Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe.The state budget for the coming fiscal year, awaiting action by Kehoe, would spend $15.8 billion in general revenue while collections are estimated at $13.6 billion. The budget’s draw on the state’s surplus and uncertainty about future collections is why a spending bill also on the special session agenda has only $50 million more in general revenue, Kehoe said last week.<h2>Federal impacts</h2>Missouri’s state income tax is linked to the federal tax system. The state tax form starts with the adjusted gross income calculated on the federal return and grants filers the same standard deduction.The approximately 10% of taxpayers who itemize deductions are allowed to keep most of what they report to the IRS and add some deductions for Social Security and other payroll taxes.The bill approved by the U.S. House includes a temporary $1,000 increase for the federal standard deduction,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-releases-tax-inflation-adjustments-for-tax-year-2025" target="_blank">$15,000 for single filers this year</a>. That would reduce Missouri revenue by about $124 million, Walczak said.The new deduction for interest on motor vehicle loans would be added to the federal form in a way that reduces the adjusted gross income amount. That change is estimated to reduce state revenue by $46 million, he said.“They’re putting that above the line there,” he said. “I don’t understand why. I don’t think anyone knows why they choose to do it this way.”It would require action by state lawmakers to reverse the effect, Walczak said.“A state could choose to have a modification where they add back the subtracted amount for auto loans, but they would have to choose to do that,” he said.For most taxpayers,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/14/repub/no-tax-on-tips-child-tax-credit-and-business-tax-cuts-survive-in-big-house-gop-bill/">income derived from tips</a>&nbsp;and overtime would be exempt from the income tax entirely. Like reversing the auto loan deduction, making Missouri law mirror that benefit would have to be done by the legislature, Walczak said.The two exemptions would reduce Missouri state revenues by about $259 million.“We put those numbers there because there are states that are saying that they want to follow the federal government and exempt tips and overtime,” he said. “So we wanted to show what it would cost if they did that.”&nbsp;The change in the $10,000 cap on the deduction for state and local taxes to $40,000 is one of the hardest pieces of the federal bill to estimate, O’Neill said.&nbsp;Before the cap was put in place by Congress in 2017, more than 30% of taxpayers itemized their deductions. When the standard deduction was doubled — and when mortgage loan rates were low — the rate of itemizers plummeted.The deduction covers state and local income and property taxes. Missouri’s current tax forms subtract state income tax payments from the amount claimed, for those under the cap, allowing the rest.Itemizers who claim the maximum calculate the share of the tax payments that come from income tax, and subtraction a pro-rated amount from the $10,000 limit.For example, the owner of a home in Columbia that the assessor appraises at $1.5 million pays just under $20,000 in property taxes. If income taxes are 90% of the total state and local taxes included on that person’s federal form, the owner would retain a $1,000 deduction for their state return under current law.With the cap increased to $40,000, the taxpayer would retain a $4,000 deduction. The net effect on state taxes would be a $141 cut for that taxpayer.“The more the congressional bill raises that cap, the more relevant that provision becomes for states,” O’Neill said. “Missouri is one of the states that has relatively high exposure to that change because of its rolling conformity to the federal tax code.”The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that Missouri taxpayers would see their federal tax bills drop by $9.1 billion, with more than&nbsp;<a href="https://itep.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/OBBB-20250519-Missouri.png" target="_blank">one-fifth of that total</a>&nbsp;going to the 1% of Missouri taxpayers who have an income greater than $689,300.Filers in that group would receive an average tax cut of $58,490.&nbsp;Taxpayers in the lowest 40% of filers would receive one-twentieth of the tax cuts under the bill.The new costs imposed by the bill include a possible&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/23/cuts-to-food-aid-endorsed-by-congressional-gop-could-cost-missouri-400-million/">$400 million annually</a>&nbsp;to maintain the food benefits program known as SNAP. Missouri would have to pick up an estimated 25% of the cost of providing the aid because Missouri’s error rate on payments was 10% in 2023, which would mean the highest cost share.<h2>State financial picture</h2>Missouri will end the current fiscal year with an unobligated general revenue balance of $2.6 billion, the state budget office estimated when Kehoe’s spending proposal was&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">released in January</a>.Even after spending $1 billion of the accumulated balance, it is historically large and almost $900 million more than was predicted a year earlier. Two factors played into that increase — revenues in fiscal 2024 that were almost $300 million more than anticipated and a gap between budgeted amounts and actual costs, mainly due to understaffing.Kehoe’s January budget anticipates the surplus would fall to $1.4 billion by the end of the coming fiscal year in June 2026.&nbsp;In the coming special session, Kehoe will be under pressure to allow more money to be spent in the appropriations bill.&nbsp;“I don’t believe that it’s the government or the state’s job to accumulate a billion dollars to look at in the bank,” said state Sen. Lincoln Hough, the Springfield Republican who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee. “I agree with a healthy reserve. I’m fine with that. But this billion and a half dollars that we have sitting in the bank while we’ve got hospitals that are closing down and child care facilities that need support… it’s the whole list of projects.”There should be some allowance for lawmakers to add items to the bill, he said.“I’m not naive enough to think we’re going to put together a $513 million capital improvements package and drop that,” Hough said.The budget revenue estimate&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-revenue-estimate-predicts-70-million-drop-in-state-tax-receipts-through-june/">made in December</a>&nbsp;anticipates a slight decline in revenue in the current year and a slight increase in the coming year.&nbsp;That estimate was made before lawmakers passed the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/07/missouri-bill-exempting-capital-gains-from-income-tax-sent-to-governor/">tax cut worth about $285 million</a>&nbsp;in the coming year by official estimates but&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/07/missouri-lawmakers-set-to-pass-capital-gains-tax-cut-with-questions-about-its-total-cost/">forecast to be much more</a>&nbsp;by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, supports the legislation to keep the Chiefs and Royals in the state. She also said there should be more for the appropriations bill.“We need to be concerned about where we’re spending our dollars, but I also think that we have to be doing it responsibly,” Aune said.But she is also concerned about the revenue impact of the federal budget bill and the tax cut awaiting action from Kehoe.“We are in a position right now where we are seeing revenues dwindling,” Aune said. “With everything that has been passed recently, it has the potential to put Missouri in a much more difficult position.”

Proposed federal tax changes could mean $170M or more cut to Missouri state revenues

Former KFEQ Ag Director Tom Brand has released a new book.  

'Welts on Your Butt a Calf Could Suck: Reflections on Faith, Family and a Farm Kids' Life is a book Brand has tried to write for some time, and says is full of many stories 

"Some people might call it a bathroom book because it's just short reads, but it's probably not what I envisioned 20 some years ago, I was thinking more of a memoir of things," Brand tells KFEQmunnity show host Brent Martin.  "Just some humorous stories I've learned through the years and maybe some travel adventures and that kind of thing, and some might call it a bit of a memoir." 

Brand says he had wanted to write a book for some time, but lost motivation, before rediscovering his joy for writing while doing articles for the Nodaway News Leader 

"I was probably a few months into it and someone said you ought to write a book," Brand says.  "Well, I've talked about writing a book for quite a while." 

Brand says this book though, was not the book he had originally set out to write 

"There's still a book in the works about my heart attack and the experiences surrounding that, that I'm going to say is a third to halfway written. That's been a bit of a heavier lift because that's more emotional than this has been," Brand explains. 

Brand says while writing the book, he accessed some memory rooms he hasn't visited for years 

"Some of those were a big smile on the face, like visiting family that I hadn't seen for a long time, others were an emotional tug at the heartstrings," Brand says.  "I will admit, there are some stories in here that I don't know that I could actually read out loud without choking up." 

The book is available to purchase on Amazon or on RichardsonPress.com.  Copies are also available at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748884094079.jpeg" alt="Welts_BookCover_TomBrand.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Welts_BookCover_TomBrand.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE Former KFEQ Ag Director Tom Brand has released a new book. 'Welts on Your Butt a Calf Could Suck: Reflections on Faith, Family and a Farm Kids' Life is a book Brand has tried to write for some time, and says is full of many stories "Some people might call it a bathroom book because it's just short reads, but it's probably not what I envisioned 20 some years ago, I was thinking more of a memoir of things," Brand tells KFEQmunnity show host Brent Martin. "Just some humorous stories I've learned through the years and maybe some travel adventures and that kind of thing, and some might call it a bit of a memoir." Brand says he had wanted to write a book for some time, but lost motivation, before rediscovering his joy for writing while doing articles for the Nodaway News Leader "I was probably a few months into it and someone said you ought to write a book," Brand says. "Well, I've talked about writing a book for quite a while." Brand says this book though, was not the book he had originally set out to write "There's still a book in the works about my heart attack and the experiences surrounding that, that I'm going to say is a third to halfway written. That's been a bit of a heavier lift because that's more emotional than this has been," Brand explains. Brand says while writing the book, he accessed some memory rooms he hasn't visited for years "Some of those were a big smile on the face, like visiting family that I hadn't seen for a long time, others were an emotional tug at the heartstrings," Brand says. "I will admit, there are some stories in here that I don't know that I could actually read out loud without choking up." The book is available to purchase on Amazon or on RichardsonPress.com. Copies are also available at the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Former KFEQ Ag Director Tom Brand writes book about growing up on farm

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7H6wSwDzmtVr35n2Hwz7Bv?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

The Comfort Center in St. Joe is hooking someone up with 8 Field Box Suite tickets for the Goats (Arena Football Team) vs. Duluth at Civic Arena Saturday, June 7th. Enter to win your way to the game before Wednesday, June 4th at 9:27 pm for your chance to win!

The Comfort Center in St. Joe is hooking someone up with 8 Field Box Suite tickets for the Goats (Arena Football Team) vs. Duluth at Civic Arena Saturday, June 7th. Enter to win your way to the game before Wednesday, June 4th at 9:27 pm for your chance to win!<div><script>
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Enter To Win 8 Tickets To The Goats Home Opener

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4TcsB6GyFlCghrPbLedtJz?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Summer time is fun time! Based on your preferences we are going to do our best to predict where you might consider taking your next vacation. Take the quiz for your chance to win $50 (to help go towards your summer vacation)! Don't pass up the extra entries at the end of the quiz to better your chances of winning!

Summer time is fun time! Based on your preferences we are going to do our best to predict where you might consider taking your next vacation. Take the quiz for your chance to win $50 (to help go towards your summer vacation)! Don't pass up the extra entries at the end of the quiz to better your chances of winning!<div><script>
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June Quiz Corner

A St. Joseph man
jumped to his death Sunday night, jumping from the Riverside Road bridge
over Highway 36.

St. Joseph police
report the man jumped from the bridge at approximately 9:45pm even as Missouri
Department of Transportation workers were making repairs to the bridge.

Police
report the man was pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 36.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph man
jumped to his death Sunday night, jumping from the Riverside Road bridge
over Highway 36.St. Joseph police
report the man jumped from the bridge at approximately 9:45pm even as Missouri
Department of Transportation workers were making repairs to the bridge.Police
report the man was pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 36.The investigation
continues.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph man jumps to his death

Missouri lawmakers
return to Jefferson City today for a special legislative session, primarily to
consider an incentive package to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in
Missouri.

State Sen. Rusty
Black, a Republican from Chillicothe, says discussions continue as Gov. Mike
Kehoe attempts to gain the votes needed to approve the package.

“I do think that there’s
a path for this to end up on the governor’s desk and signed, but I certainly
don’t think all the negotiation is over yet,” Black says.

Kansas has an
offer on the table to lure both the Chiefs and the Royals across the state
line. Other cities, such as Nashville and Salt Lake City, are reputably
interested in luring the Royals away.

Black says
supporters must overcome objections that the issue only concerns western
Missouri.

“If you’re from
St. Louis, this is for Kansas City and we don’t care about that,” Black says. “And
we’ve got to get past some of that I believe if we’re going to get this piece
of legislation passed.”

Black says St.
Louis should actually be an example. He recalls driving by the former Edward Jones
Dome, now the Dome at America’s Center, and noticing it hasn’t spurred economic
development in downtown St. Louis since the Rams left.

Black views this as
an economic development issue.

“And sports teams
in my mind, professional sports teams in Rusty Black’s mind, they’re somewhat
like talking about a Ford plant closing down or a General Motors plant closing
down or, in St. Joe, all of the sudden Altec decides that they’re going to
leave, that has a lot more economic impact than inside their chain link fence.”

The governor also
wants lawmakers to consider a few capital improvement projects as well as tax
incentives for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered property damage in the
recent storms.

Black says there
could be a possibility of reviving projects for St. Joseph, along with
improvements for North Central Missouri College and other northwest Missouri
interests in the original $500 million capital improvement package.

“At this point in
time, they’re not in there, but it’s not like that I’m not paying attention to
what’s going to move forward and if the opportunity comes, I’m probably going
to ask for those things to be included again,” Black says.

Another obstacle
to overcome in this special legislative session is the way the regular session
ended. The Missouri Senate adjourned abruptly and early with much acrimony
after Republicans used a parliamentary procedure to cut off debate and force
votes on two controversial issues.

Black says the
tensions haven’t been smoothed over, at least not yet.

“We’re going to
have to work through those and hope that we can find a path even though there’s
still hurt feelings,” Black says.

Lawmakers will
also consider authorizing tax breaks for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered
property damage during recent storms.

By BRENT MARTINMissouri lawmakers
return to Jefferson City today for a special legislative session, primarily to
consider an incentive package to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in
Missouri.State Sen. Rusty
Black, a Republican from Chillicothe, says discussions continue as Gov. Mike
Kehoe attempts to gain the votes needed to approve the package.“I do think that there’s
a path for this to end up on the governor’s desk and signed, but I certainly
don’t think all the negotiation is over yet,” Black says.Kansas has an
offer on the table to lure both the Chiefs and the Royals across the state
line. Other cities, such as Nashville and Salt Lake City, are reputably
interested in luring the Royals away.Black says
supporters must overcome objections that the issue only concerns western
Missouri.“If you’re from
St. Louis, this is for Kansas City and we don’t care about that,” Black says. “And
we’ve got to get past some of that I believe if we’re going to get this piece
of legislation passed.”Black says St.
Louis should actually be an example. He recalls driving by the former Edward Jones
Dome, now the Dome at America’s Center, and noticing it hasn’t spurred economic
development in downtown St. Louis since the Rams left.Black views this as
an economic development issue.“And sports teams
in my mind, professional sports teams in Rusty Black’s mind, they’re somewhat
like talking about a Ford plant closing down or a General Motors plant closing
down or, in St. Joe, all of the sudden Altec decides that they’re going to
leave, that has a lot more economic impact than inside their chain link fence.”The governor also
wants lawmakers to consider a few capital improvement projects as well as tax
incentives for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered property damage in the
recent storms.Black says there
could be a possibility of reviving projects for St. Joseph, along with
improvements for North Central Missouri College and other northwest Missouri
interests in the original $500 million capital improvement package.“At this point in
time, they’re not in there, but it’s not like that I’m not paying attention to
what’s going to move forward and if the opportunity comes, I’m probably going
to ask for those things to be included again,” Black says.Another obstacle
to overcome in this special legislative session is the way the regular session
ended. The Missouri Senate adjourned abruptly and early with much acrimony
after Republicans used a parliamentary procedure to cut off debate and force
votes on two controversial issues.Black says the
tensions haven’t been smoothed over, at least not yet.“We’re going to
have to work through those and hope that we can find a path even though there’s
still hurt feelings,” Black says.Lawmakers will
also consider authorizing tax breaks for St. Louis area homeowners who suffered
property damage during recent storms.

Lawmakers return to Jefferson City to decide fate of Chiefs-Royals

WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that critically injured a teen.

The shooting occurred just after 3a.m. Saturday in Quindaro Park,&nbsp;3345 Sewell Ave, Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's office.&nbsp;

 The victim, identified as a Hispanic teen, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Investigators identified and took a suspect into custody. The sheriff's office asked anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748781476826.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>WYANDOTTE COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a shooting that critically injured a teen.The shooting occurred just after 3a.m. Saturday in Quindaro Park,&nbsp;3345 Sewell Ave, Kansas City, Kansas, according to a statement from the Wyandotte County Sheriff's office.&nbsp; The victim, identified as a Hispanic teen, was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Investigators identified and took a suspect into custody. The sheriff's office asked anyone with information on the incident to contact them.

Girl critically injured after Kansas park shooting

ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Kansas.

A motorcycle driven by Anthony Goote, 53, Newton, was westbound in the 1000 Block of U.S. 59,&nbsp; according to Atchison Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson.

The motorcycle entered a construction zone west of 10th Street and struck a flashing arrow device. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle. EMS transported Groote to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Police reported no additional details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1748787219707.png" alt="photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 9p.m. Saturday in Atchison County, Kansas.A motorcycle driven by Anthony Goote, 53, Newton, was westbound in the 1000 Block of U.S. 59,&nbsp; according to Atchison Police Chief Mike&nbsp; Wilson.The motorcycle entered a construction zone west of 10th Street and struck a flashing arrow device. The driver was ejected from the motorcycle. EMS transported Groote to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; Police reported no additional details.

Kan. man hospitalized in St. Joe after motorcycle accident

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Polaris Sportman 500 driven by a 34-year-old Albany man was southbound on Route EE three miles north of New Hampton. The ATV traveled off the west side of the road, down a large embankment, struck several trees, overturned and the driver was ejected.

Grand River Ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic in Albany. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Saturday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Polaris Sportman 500 driven by a 34-year-old Albany man was southbound on Route EE three miles north of New Hampton. The ATV traveled off the west side of the road, down a large embankment, struck several trees, overturned and the driver was ejected.Grand River Ambulance transported the driver to Mosaic in Albany. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured in violent ATV accident

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge 1500 driven by a 59-year-old Lathrop man was westbound on Route PP at Interstate 35 in Holt. The pickup rear-ended a 2015 Ford Escape driven by a 29-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man who had slowed to make a turn.

Holt EMS transported a 26-year-old female passenger in the Ford to Liberty Hospital. The drivers were not injured. The Patrol had incomplete seat belt usage information. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

CLINTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Saturday in Clinton County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge 1500 driven by a 59-year-old Lathrop man was westbound on Route PP at Interstate 35 in Holt. The pickup rear-ended a 2015 Ford Escape driven by a 29-year-old Kansas City, Mo., man who had slowed to make a turn.Holt EMS transported a 26-year-old female passenger in the Ford to Liberty Hospital. The drivers were not injured. The Patrol had incomplete seat belt usage information. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman hospitalized after rear-end crash

A power outage at the Law Enforcement Center in downtown St. Joseph has knocked out the 911 emergency and non-emergency phone lines for the St. Joseph Police Department.

Until further notice, please direct all emergency and non- emergency calls as follows:

· For Law Enforcement assistance: Contact the Missouri Highway Patrol at 816-387-2345

· For fire and EMS services: Contact Buchanan County EMS at 816-396-9580

The St. Joseph Police Department reports technicians are actively working to restore power and phone services at the Law Enforcement Center. Updates will be provided as soon as power is restored and the phones are back up.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA power outage at the Law Enforcement Center in downtown St. Joseph has knocked out the 911 emergency and non-emergency phone lines for the St. Joseph Police Department.Until further notice, please direct all emergency and non- emergency calls as follows:· For Law Enforcement assistance: Contact the Missouri Highway Patrol at 816-387-2345· For fire and EMS services: Contact Buchanan County EMS at 816-396-9580The St. Joseph Police Department reports technicians are actively working to restore power and phone services at the Law Enforcement Center. Updates will be provided as soon as power is restored and the phones are back up.

St. Joseph 911, police phones temporarily out of service

The St. Joseph School District has established principles it would like to see its students learn through life to prepare for a successful future.  

The five aspects the district is focused on for students are communication, respect, courage, problem solving and being a more engaged citizen.  

School Board member Ronda Chesney says courage plays a big role for students when they go into college or go into a job interview 

"All those things take courage, and I think we have the opportunity to encourage our students while we can still support them in an educational setting to have that courage," Chesney tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin.  "Then in turn, that will be embedded in them as they go out and do the things that adults have to do on their own, I think that's important." 

Chesney points out these skills are not just being taught as students are about to graduate, but rather instilled as students in the district start in preschool, so when they are ready to graduate the skills are not new to them.  

Assistant Superintendent Ashly McGinnis says what they are doing with these dispositions is breaking them down, to what it looks like at each grade level 

"What does communication look like in second grade, third grade, fourth grade, all the way up to a high school senior, because it does look different," McGinnis explains.  "But there's little things, even I'm thinking of communication and this is something I see often when we go out to eat, if a parent is ordering for their child, sometimes that's appropriate in elementary school, but as they get a little bit older they should be able to order off a menu or go through the drive-thru and say what they want." 

McGinnis says what the district sees a lot today is kids who are shy and timid, so allowing students opportunities to communicate will be helpful in the classroom, but also as students become adults. 

McGinnis says these dispositions have been in full effect, and are being utilized to this day in the districts classrooms 

"Just going with the courage and communication piece, this is something we see daily in our classrooms," McGinnis says.  "If a teacher is giving a lesson and trying to engage kids and a student might have something valuable to contribute to the class, but a lot of the times they don't speak up, so having that courage to communicate or volunteer to go to the board and work out a problem, that's something we want out of our students." 

Officials hope by instilling these traits within students, starting in preschool, they can be successful once they leave the St. Joseph School District and move into their future endeavor. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748623092438.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph School District</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School District has established principles it would like to see its students learn through life to prepare for a successful future. The five aspects the district is focused on for students are communication, respect, courage, problem solving and being a more engaged citizen. School Board member Ronda Chesney says courage plays a big role for students when they go into college or go into a job interview "All those things take courage, and I think we have the opportunity to encourage our students while we can still support them in an educational setting to have that courage," Chesney tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. "Then in turn, that will be embedded in them as they go out and do the things that adults have to do on their own, I think that's important." Chesney points out these skills are not just being taught as students are about to graduate, but rather instilled as students in the district start in preschool, so when they are ready to graduate the skills are not new to them. Assistant Superintendent Ashly McGinnis says what they are doing with these dispositions is breaking them down, to what it looks like at each grade level "What does communication look like in second grade, third grade, fourth grade, all the way up to a high school senior, because it does look different," McGinnis explains. "But there's little things, even I'm thinking of communication and this is something I see often when we go out to eat, if a parent is ordering for their child, sometimes that's appropriate in elementary school, but as they get a little bit older they should be able to order off a menu or go through the drive-thru and say what they want." McGinnis says what the district sees a lot today is kids who are shy and timid, so allowing students opportunities to communicate will be helpful in the classroom, but also as students become adults. McGinnis says these dispositions have been in full effect, and are being utilized to this day in the districts classrooms "Just going with the courage and communication piece, this is something we see daily in our classrooms," McGinnis says. "If a teacher is giving a lesson and trying to engage kids and a student might have something valuable to contribute to the class, but a lot of the times they don't speak up, so having that courage to communicate or volunteer to go to the board and work out a problem, that's something we want out of our students." Officials hope by instilling these traits within students, starting in preschool, they can be successful once they leave the St. Joseph School District and move into their future endeavor. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph School District working on the portrait of a graduate

The legislation has a 12-year history in Missouri, with little movement until recently

A decade of work by lawmakers and activists culminated earlier this month with the legislature sending a bill to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe expanding extracurricular opportunities for homeschool students.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741816601809.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The legislation has a 12-year history in Missouri, with little movement until recently</h2>&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A decade of work by lawmakers and activists culminated earlier this month with the legislature sending a bill to Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe expanding extracurricular opportunities for homeschool students.The legislation, which has been filed every year in Missouri since 2014, will require public schools to allow homeschooled students in the area to try out for sports teams and other activities beginning in August.Throughout much of the bill’s history, it couldn’t even get a committee hearing. By 2023, the proposal managed to barely pass a Senate committee in a 5-4 vote, with three Democrats and one Republican opposed.Things changed in February, when it cleared the Senate unanimously — a rarity for the chamber. But then the House made changes to the bill, like prohibiting background checks of homeschooling families that receive money through a private school tax credit program.&nbsp;That change drew the ire of some senators and put the bill’s chances in jeopardy. But ultimately, the two chambers worked out a compromise and only three senators ended up voting no.&nbsp;The legislation has had 10 sponsors over the years. Each points to different reasons the bill finally made it to the governor’s desk this legislative session, such as unrelenting dedication from homeschooling families and the fervor of this year’s sponsor, state Sen. Ben Brown.Brown, a Republican from Washington, told The Independent that “the stars were aligned” for the bill to pass this year.“It took a tremendous amount of work, both in the legislature with support from leadership and from the grassroots support,” he said. “Those were all key factors that just culminated and finally, after more than a decade, ensured that these kids get these opportunities.”State Rep. Josh Hurlbert, a Smithville Republican who sponsored the legislation from 2021 to 2024, gave kudos to homeschooling families that came to Jefferson City to support the legislation.“Legislators come and go,” he said. “But it is the families that have been the constant and saw it through.”Hurlbert was a homeschooled student who played soccer in a league of students like him. He sponsored the bill thinking of students in rural areas who don’t have access to homeschool leagues, and his young, home-educated children who play in recreational teams with kids educated both in and outside the public school system.His bill passed committee in 2021 and 2022 after families with home-educated children came to testify in favor of the legislation. Some families&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/17/testimony/witnesses-hb494.pdf?c=43425" target="_blank">who submitted testimony in 2021</a>&nbsp;returned to push for the bill&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/testimony/47a0413a36edaf1a1f520794c879b5db.pdf?c=57864" target="_blank">this year</a>.“We have had so many homeschool families and kids come over through the years to testify and tell their side of the story,” Hurlbert said. “They really made an impact.”The bill’s journey in Missouri began in 2014, when it was first introduced by then-state Rep. Eiljah Haahr.Haahr, a Springfield Republican and homeschool student who went on to become speaker of the Missouri House, participated in a homeschool sports league as a student.“When I got in the legislature, I was like, ‘I don’t want kids to be the same way as me, where they want to participate in sports and they don’t have an opportunity to do so,’” he told The Independent.The greatest opposition in 2014 came from the Missouri State High School Activities Association, or MSHSAA, which regulates extracurricular activities and sports in public schools.Former state Rep. Kirk Mathews, a Republican from Pacific, picked up the bill after Haahr in 2016. It was not heard in committee that year, and Mathews told The Independent that MSHSAA was a big reason.“(MSHSAA) had enough influence with leadership to have a bill not get advanced through the process,” he said.The legislation continued to languish in 2017, sponsored by former state Rep. Don Rone, a Portageville Republican. He told The Independent that leadership continued to overlook the bill.“We had some problems back then,” he said, “and (the bill) just didn’t get put on the front burners.”New leadership in both chambers this year showed support for the bill that Brown “had never seen before.”Senate President Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, sponsored the bill in 2022. And current leaders in the House told Brown they liked the legislation, a departure from the resistance he said he faced from the House’s former speaker, Dean Plocher.Prior to Plocher’s term as speaker, the bill largely moved only in the House. But the Senate version has seen the most activity in the past two years.“The narrative had kind of flipped over the years,” Hurlbert said. “The past couple of years, the hardest part was the House.”Other things have changed as well. State lawmakers have been increasingly interested in alternatives to public education, passing and&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/18/missouri-house-narrowly-sends-private-school-tax-credit-charter-expansion-to-governors-desk/">expanding a tax-credit scholarship system</a>&nbsp;benefiting private schools.“The entire climate towards public education has changed in Missouri over the last couple of years,” Mathews said. “With school choice being looked upon more favorably.”MSHSAA has been largely quiet about the legislation, saying it would cause “substantial changes”&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mshsaa.org/resources/PDF/Senate%20Bill%2063%20Press%20Release.pdf" target="_blank">in a press release</a>&nbsp;but omitting details.The legislation awaits Kehoe’s decision on whether to sign it or veto it. If he doesn’t take action by July 15, the bill is automatically approved.“We had days where 50 people showed up from different homeschool families around the state of Missouri,” Brown said. “To be able to get this done for them, it was probably the most rewarding moment that I’ve had in my time (in the Senate).”

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