A ceremony next week will honor those lives lost on September 11th, while also paying tribute to Vietnam War veterans and those lost in action or taken prisoner.  

Patriot Day Tribute Committee Member Terry Beasley says the event will feature several guest speakers 

"We have Reverend John Welch, a retired Army Chaplain, from the Missouri Guard, we're going to have Missouri State Highway Trooper Andy Henry," Beasley says on the KFEQmunnity show.  "We're going to have Phil Vandel, who I'm sure most of your listeners have heard some of his music before, and we're going to have members of the Central High School Junior ROTC to help put this event on and special presentation." 

Beasley says the event will also feature a Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall display 

"It sort of replicates the wall that you would see out in DC with the black marbling and the names, and that has become a really popular event, because once you see it people get moved and they start looking for names and before you know it they find names that they're familiar with," Beasley explains. 

A featured speaker during the event will be Captain Guy Gruters, the inspiration for local author Milt Toratti's book "Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested"  

Beasley says everything will tie together through what Gruters speaks about as a nationally recognized motivational speaker 

"We're talking about the Vietnam war in a war setting, but what is the talk, the presentation really about, and that's where the title comes into play, Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested," Beasley says.  "This presentation is going to be how faith can save you from the most horrendous challenges that you would think would be impossible to live through." 

Copies of Toratti's book will be for sale during the event. Signed copies will be available for $30 

Tickets to the event can be purchased in advance by contacting Toratti at 816 205 3776 or Beasley at 816 248 0849.  Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $5 for those 18 and under.&nbsp; &nbsp; All proceeds go to the Cameron Veterans Home Assistance League

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A ceremony next week will honor those lives lost on September 11th, while also paying tribute to Vietnam War veterans and those lost in action or taken prisoner. Patriot Day Tribute Committee Member Terry Beasley says the event will feature several guest speakers "We have Reverend John Welch, a retired Army Chaplain, from the Missouri Guard, we're going to have Missouri State Highway Trooper Andy Henry," Beasley says on the KFEQmunnity show. "We're going to have Phil Vandel, who I'm sure most of your listeners have heard some of his music before, and we're going to have members of the Central High School Junior ROTC to help put this event on and special presentation." Beasley says the event will also feature a Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall display "It sort of replicates the wall that you would see out in DC with the black marbling and the names, and that has become a really popular event, because once you see it people get moved and they start looking for names and before you know it they find names that they're familiar with," Beasley explains. A featured speaker during the event will be Captain Guy Gruters, the inspiration for local author Milt Toratti's book "Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested" Beasley says everything will tie together through what Gruters speaks about as a nationally recognized motivational speaker "We're talking about the Vietnam war in a war setting, but what is the talk, the presentation really about, and that's where the title comes into play, Faith Conquers Through Courage Tested," Beasley says. "This presentation is going to be how faith can save you from the most horrendous challenges that you would think would be impossible to live through." Copies of Toratti's book will be for sale during the event. Signed copies will be available for $30 Tickets to the event can be purchased in advance by contacting Toratti at 816 205 3776 or Beasley at 816 248 0849. Tickets cost $10 for adults, and $5 for those 18 and under.&nbsp; &nbsp; All proceeds go to the Cameron Veterans Home Assistance League

Special ceremony honoring Vietnam  POWs on Patriot Day

Two county clerks report being contacted by the DOJ seeking access to election machines made by Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of false allegations of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election

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

The U.S. Department of Justice has been reaching out to Missouri election officials requesting access to voting equipment used in the 2020 presidential election.

According to a memo produced by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, at least two county clerks have been contacted in recent weeks by Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner, a DOJ official. While serving as West Virginia’s secretary of state, Warner&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/12/14/warners-election-comments-endanger-our-democracy/" target="_blank">falsely claimed the CIA and FBI colluded with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;to steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump.&nbsp;

The memo was shared with election officials across the state and obtained by The Independent through a public records request.

Warner requested Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis and McDonald County Clerk Jessica Cole allow the DOJ to “access, physically inspect and perhaps take physical custody” of election equipment made by Dominion Voting Systems that was used in the November 2020 election, according to the memo.&nbsp;

In an interview with The Independent, Davis said he informed the DOJ his office purchased new equipment and no longer has the machines used in the 2020 election. But even if he had those machines, Davis said it would be illegal for him to allow anyone access to them.&nbsp;

“Absolutely not,” he said. “The laws prohibit us from allowing anybody to touch our equipment.”

Davis said he’s not sure why the DOJ wants to access machines used in the 2020 election, which Trump won in Missouri with 57% of the vote. But after the call from the DOJ, Davis said he was also contacted by former Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft urging him to comply with the DOJ request.&nbsp;

In a statement included in the memo, Cole said custody, maintenance, preparation, testing and storage of election equipment are the responsibility of the local election authority. Allowing unauthorized access, she said, is a crime.&nbsp;

“These safeguards exist to protect the security, accuracy and integrity of our elections,” she said.&nbsp;

Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks, who serves as president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, echoed Cole’s point in an email to The Independent, noting that while “robust pre- and post-election equipment testing is open to the public for observation, it is illegal to allow unauthorized access or tampering to election equipment.”

The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;

Ashcroft, who in July was appointed by the governor to serve as an administrative law judge, said in a brief interview on Tuesday: “If I were involved, it was a request from someone to help connect people together. And it would have been something that I’d done on my own time, not during work hours. And it would have just been, ‘Hey, do you know someone? Can you give me their number?’ That sort of thing.”

A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said in an email to The Independent that Hoskins was contacted by the DOJ hoping to speak with local election officials “for more information and context. Our office referred them to the clerks directly.”

In recent months, the DOJ has been contacting states demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. The department has sent letters to at least nine states asking for information related to voter list maintenance in the states under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/01/doj-plans-to-ask-all-states-for-detailed-voting-info/" target="_blank">according to Stateline</a>.&nbsp;

The focus on Dominion machines harkens back to the web of baseless conspiracy theories spread by Trump supporters in the years following his 2020 defeat that the company was at the heart of a scheme designed to rig the presidential election.&nbsp;

Those lies about a stolen election helped fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and continue to percolate through Trump’s political base even after he won a second term last year.&nbsp;

Dominion won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe" target="_blank">$787.5 million settlement from Fox News in 2023</a>&nbsp;after the network repeatedly promoted lies that the company’s machines had been used to flip votes away from Trump in an effort to help Biden win the White House.

More recently, right-wing cable channel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/business/media/newsmax-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-settlement.html" target="_blank">Newsmax agreed in August to pay Dominion $67 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a libel lawsuit based on similar false claims of election rigging.&nbsp;

Davis, who still uses Dominion machines, said he knows there are some people who question the integrity of the 2020 election.&nbsp;

“But it’s been proven, especially here in Jasper County and in the State of Missouri, that our election results are the results of the elections,” he said. “It’s proven that the machines count the ballots correctly.”

<h2>Two county clerks report being contacted by the DOJ seeking access to election machines made by Dominion Voting Systems, the company at the center of false allegations of vote rigging during the 2020 presidential election</h2>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">Jason Hancock</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The U.S. Department of Justice has been reaching out to Missouri election officials requesting access to voting equipment used in the 2020 presidential election.According to a memo produced by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, at least two county clerks have been contacted in recent weeks by Andrew McCoy “Mac” Warner, a DOJ official. While serving as West Virginia’s secretary of state, Warner&nbsp;<a href="https://westvirginiawatch.com/2023/12/14/warners-election-comments-endanger-our-democracy/" target="_blank">falsely claimed the CIA and FBI colluded with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg</a>&nbsp;to steal the 2020 presidential election from Trump.&nbsp;The memo was shared with election officials across the state and obtained by The Independent through a public records request.Warner requested Jasper County Clerk Charlie Davis and McDonald County Clerk Jessica Cole allow the DOJ to “access, physically inspect and perhaps take physical custody” of election equipment made by Dominion Voting Systems that was used in the November 2020 election, according to the memo.&nbsp;In an interview with The Independent, Davis said he informed the DOJ his office purchased new equipment and no longer has the machines used in the 2020 election. But even if he had those machines, Davis said it would be illegal for him to allow anyone access to them.&nbsp;“Absolutely not,” he said. “The laws prohibit us from allowing anybody to touch our equipment.”Davis said he’s not sure why the DOJ wants to access machines used in the 2020 election, which Trump won in Missouri with 57% of the vote. But after the call from the DOJ, Davis said he was also contacted by former Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft urging him to comply with the DOJ request.&nbsp;In a statement included in the memo, Cole said custody, maintenance, preparation, testing and storage of election equipment are the responsibility of the local election authority. Allowing unauthorized access, she said, is a crime.&nbsp;“These safeguards exist to protect the security, accuracy and integrity of our elections,” she said.&nbsp;Livingston County Clerk Sherry Parks, who serves as president of the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities, echoed Cole’s point in an email to The Independent, noting that while “robust pre- and post-election equipment testing is open to the public for observation, it is illegal to allow unauthorized access or tampering to election equipment.”The DOJ did not respond to a request for comment.&nbsp;Ashcroft, who in July was appointed by the governor to serve as an administrative law judge, said in a brief interview on Tuesday: “If I were involved, it was a request from someone to help connect people together. And it would have been something that I’d done on my own time, not during work hours. And it would have just been, ‘Hey, do you know someone? Can you give me their number?’ That sort of thing.”A spokeswoman for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said in an email to The Independent that Hoskins was contacted by the DOJ hoping to speak with local election officials “for more information and context. Our office referred them to the clerks directly.”In recent months, the DOJ has been contacting states demanding access to sensitive election and voting data. The department has sent letters to at least nine states asking for information related to voter list maintenance in the states under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act,&nbsp;<a href="https://stateline.org/2025/08/01/doj-plans-to-ask-all-states-for-detailed-voting-info/" target="_blank">according to Stateline</a>.&nbsp;The focus on Dominion machines harkens back to the web of baseless conspiracy theories spread by Trump supporters in the years following his 2020 defeat that the company was at the heart of a scheme designed to rig the presidential election.&nbsp;Those lies about a stolen election helped fuel the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and continue to percolate through Trump’s political base even after he won a second term last year.&nbsp;Dominion won a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fox-news-dominion-lawsuit-trial-trump-2020-0ac71f75acfacc52ea80b3e747fb0afe" target="_blank">$787.5 million settlement from Fox News in 2023</a>&nbsp;after the network repeatedly promoted lies that the company’s machines had been used to flip votes away from Trump in an effort to help Biden win the White House.More recently, right-wing cable channel&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/business/media/newsmax-dominion-defamation-lawsuit-settlement.html" target="_blank">Newsmax agreed in August to pay Dominion $67 million</a>&nbsp;to settle a libel lawsuit based on similar false claims of election rigging.&nbsp;Davis, who still uses Dominion machines, said he knows there are some people who question the integrity of the 2020 election.&nbsp;“But it’s been proven, especially here in Jasper County and in the State of Missouri, that our election results are the results of the elections,” he said. “It’s proven that the machines count the ballots correctly.”

Trump’s DOJ wants access to Missouri voting equipment used in 2020 election

ANDREW COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before noon Tuesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Escape driven by an 82-year-old Topeka woman was southbound on Business 71 at Country Road 348 seven miles south of Savannah.&nbsp; The SUV traveled through a private driver and into a ditch.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She 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 before noon Tuesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Ford Escape driven by an 82-year-old Topeka woman was southbound on Business 71 at Country Road 348 seven miles south of Savannah.&nbsp; The SUV traveled through a private driver and into a ditch.Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Kansas woman injured after Andrew Co. SUV accident

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. Tuesday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Gold Wing driven by a 71-year=old Stover man was eastbound on Route MM at 290th Street six miles north of Gilman City. The driver saw animals in the road.&nbsp; The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road and the driver was partially ejected.&nbsp;

Lifenet transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was 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 11a.m. Tuesday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Honda Gold Wing driven by a 71-year=old Stover man was eastbound on Route MM at 290th Street six miles north of Gilman City. The driver saw animals in the road.&nbsp; The motorcycle traveled off the south side of the road and the driver was partially ejected.&nbsp;Lifenet transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care. He was wearing a helmet, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Mo. man hospitalized after motorcycle accident

ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend altercation in Atchison.

Shortly after 8p.m. on Saturday officers began an investigation that focused on an incident that had occurred between two people in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Neither person were at the scene when police arrived.&nbsp; Officers soon learned that a 31-year-old woman was at Amberwell Hospital being treated for a stab wound to the leg. 

It was determined that an argument had occurred between two women who were known to each other and had been in a vehicle together when the two exited the vehicle in the 800 block South 5th Street where a disturbance occurred and the 31-year-old victim was stabbed in the leg. 

She was taken to the hospital by a family member. She was treated and released.&nbsp; The 29-year-old suspect was not immediately located. 

Shortly after 9p.m. on Sunday, officers located the suspect, Allison Blakely, in the 400 block South 10th Street and she was taken into custody. At the time of her arrest she was found to be in possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. She is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to Wilson.

Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756744879790.png" alt="Blakely photo Atchison&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Blakely photo Atchison&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations after a weekend altercation in Atchison.Shortly after 8p.m. on Saturday officers began an investigation that focused on an incident that had occurred between two people in the 800 block South 5th Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Neither person were at the scene when police arrived.&nbsp; Officers soon learned that a 31-year-old woman was at Amberwell Hospital being treated for a stab wound to the leg. It was determined that an argument had occurred between two women who were known to each other and had been in a vehicle together when the two exited the vehicle in the 800 block South 5th Street where a disturbance occurred and the 31-year-old victim was stabbed in the leg. She was taken to the hospital by a family member. She was treated and released.&nbsp; The 29-year-old suspect was not immediately located. Shortly after 9p.m. on Sunday, officers located the suspect, Allison Blakely, in the 400 block South 10th Street and she was taken into custody. At the time of her arrest she was found to be in possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana. She is being held on requested charges of aggravated battery, possession of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia, and marijuana, according to Wilson.Blakley has previous convictions for aggravated arson, interference with law enforcement, criminal damage to property and for drugs, according to the KDOC.

Kan. felon accused of knife attack on another woman

The St. Joseph Police Department are enhancing a preexisting program that had officers helping area businesses with safety checks.   

Now, police who visit area businesses will place a door hanger on the businesses that have been checked. 

St. Joseph Deputy Police Chief, Jason Strong, says while police already routinely do these business check ins, the door hangers are an added way to engage the community 

"Provide the officers name, the date that the property was checked and time, and on the back provide them a resource so they can have our Crime Prevention Unit do a street side assessment," Strong tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "To look for vulnerabilities in properties, to make sure if we can add a light, add a camera, or otherwise deter somebody from burglarizing a property." 

The door hangers are also intended to provide property owners with some extra assurance that officers have been there.  

Strong says the effort is part of Police Chief Paul Lusters continued effort to engage more with the community 

"Comes down to communication, right? And engagement," Strong explains.  "And so, community engagement and communicating with the community on what we're doing, and yeah I think it's going over pretty well so far." 

Strong says the hangers will also provide business owners access to the St. Joseph Police's Crime Prevention Unit to have them come out to do a site security assessment 

"Limit the vulnerabilities of the property, give the property owner reassurance that their business gets checked on a regular basis," Strong says.  "Because it is the district officer's responsibility in their downtime they get out and they actively at night look for those properties and check on them and make sure that they're pulling door handles, checking windows." 

Strong says officers are out doing this normally, but now there will be the hangar at businesses to assure business owners that officers are checking. 

Area businesses interested in requesting monitoring of their property can fill out a request online. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756829267771.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Police Department's Shield Check program adds more reassurance to area businesses while also helping St. Joseph police engage with the community/ Photo courtesy of&nbsp;&nbsp;Geneo's Pizza and Pub Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Police Department's Shield Check program adds more reassurance to area businesses while also helping St. Joseph police engage with the community/ Photo courtesy of&nbsp;&nbsp;Geneo's Pizza and Pub Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph Police Department are enhancing a preexisting program that had officers helping area businesses with safety checks. Now, police who visit area businesses will place a door hanger on the businesses that have been checked. St. Joseph Deputy Police Chief, Jason Strong, says while police already routinely do these business check ins, the door hangers are an added way to engage the community "Provide the officers name, the date that the property was checked and time, and on the back provide them a resource so they can have our Crime Prevention Unit do a street side assessment," Strong tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "To look for vulnerabilities in properties, to make sure if we can add a light, add a camera, or otherwise deter somebody from burglarizing a property." The door hangers are also intended to provide property owners with some extra assurance that officers have been there. Strong says the effort is part of Police Chief Paul Lusters continued effort to engage more with the community "Comes down to communication, right? And engagement," Strong explains. "And so, community engagement and communicating with the community on what we're doing, and yeah I think it's going over pretty well so far." Strong says the hangers will also provide business owners access to the St. Joseph Police's Crime Prevention Unit to have them come out to do a site security assessment "Limit the vulnerabilities of the property, give the property owner reassurance that their business gets checked on a regular basis," Strong says. "Because it is the district officer's responsibility in their downtime they get out and they actively at night look for those properties and check on them and make sure that they're pulling door handles, checking windows." Strong says officers are out doing this normally, but now there will be the hangar at businesses to assure business owners that officers are checking. Area businesses interested in requesting monitoring of their property can fill out a request online.

St. Joseph Police Shield Check program gives reassurance to area businesses 

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6afnF21BKsecRNneP2vLLp?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 MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7vNwdHgfsxl3qAGoYwb2zd?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

As the kids go
back to school, don’t forget the pets.

Melaine Barnes
with Friends of the Animal Shelter reminds residents that back-to-school can be
a big adjustment for everyone, including the pets.

“Pets get used to
routines and what their comfort level is with those routines,” Barnes tells
KFEQmmunity.&nbsp; “And that includes the routines
of their people, and their owners, and their loved ones.”

Barnes says a
shift from an unstructured summer to the structure of school can be jarring to
a pet.

“So, if you’ve had
two, three months of no routine or routine of you being home all the time or maybe
kids being home all the time then all of the sudden going back to school,” Barnes
says, adding, “obviously the dogs and cats don’t understand what’s going on and
so then all of the sudden one day, it’s different. Why is it different?”

Barnes suggests
pet owners take intentional steps to help with the transition.

“So, just give
them a little bit of time to adjust,” Barnes says. “It’s a big change for them.
So, make sure that you’re monitoring them in a way that they’re getting
satisfied still. That could be going for a walk after school or taking them
outside to the yard to play fetch.”

Barnes says every
family is different, every household routine is different, and every pet is
different.

“Not all pets are
affectionate. Some are very satisfied being just on their own, hanging out. But
if you have an affectionate pet and now you’ve gone from being home all day to
going to work for eight or nine or ten hours a day, they’re going to miss you. &nbsp;You are their world,” Barnes says. “So, when
you come home, you need to make sure they’re getting a little bit of extra love
and attention to help adapt to your absence.”

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAs the kids go
back to school, don’t forget the pets.Melaine Barnes
with Friends of the Animal Shelter reminds residents that back-to-school can be
a big adjustment for everyone, including the pets.“Pets get used to
routines and what their comfort level is with those routines,” Barnes tells
KFEQmmunity.&nbsp; “And that includes the routines
of their people, and their owners, and their loved ones.”Barnes says a
shift from an unstructured summer to the structure of school can be jarring to
a pet.“So, if you’ve had
two, three months of no routine or routine of you being home all the time or maybe
kids being home all the time then all of the sudden going back to school,” Barnes
says, adding, “obviously the dogs and cats don’t understand what’s going on and
so then all of the sudden one day, it’s different. Why is it different?”Barnes suggests
pet owners take intentional steps to help with the transition.“So, just give
them a little bit of time to adjust,” Barnes says. “It’s a big change for them.
So, make sure that you’re monitoring them in a way that they’re getting
satisfied still. That could be going for a walk after school or taking them
outside to the yard to play fetch.”Barnes says every
family is different, every household routine is different, and every pet is
different.“Not all pets are
affectionate. Some are very satisfied being just on their own, hanging out. But
if you have an affectionate pet and now you’ve gone from being home all day to
going to work for eight or nine or ten hours a day, they’re going to miss you. &nbsp;You are their world,” Barnes says. “So, when
you come home, you need to make sure they’re getting a little bit of extra love
and attention to help adapt to your absence.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Back to school can be hard on the household pet, too

Multiple law enforcement agencies responded to North Daviess R-III School on Saturday night for a report of a loud noise and damage. Upon arrival, they found that the roof of the gymnasium had collapsed. 

At approximately 9:45 pm on August 30, Jameson Fire District, Gallatin Fire District, Pattonsburg Fire District, Daviess County Ambulance District, Daviess County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived at the school.

The release from the Daviess County Sheriff's office stated that the call was made by a school worker who was in the building at the time of the loud noise. The teacher was in the main school building near the gym at the time of the collapse. She says it sounded like someone “messing with lockers in the hallway.” 

The roof of the school had reportedly collapsed, falling inside the gym and causing the east wall of the gym to collapse onto the exterior of the school.&nbsp; First responders stated that there was no fire or explosion after the incident, although multiple stress cracks were located in the building. 

Due to the damage and other signs of possible structural compromise, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the school building until a structural engineer conducts an inspection.

Superintendent&nbsp;John Rockhold says students will use AMI days while the building is assessed, and the school is planning to distribute chromebooks and other materials to ensure learning isn't lost due to the situation.

According to North Daviess R-III School District, classes for students not in their VoTech program on Tuesday September 2nd are cancelled. 

VoTech classes are still in session as scheduled.

By MATT PIKEMultiple law enforcement agencies responded to North Daviess R-III School on Saturday night for a report of a loud noise and damage. Upon arrival, they found that the roof of the gymnasium had collapsed. At approximately 9:45 pm on August 30, Jameson Fire District, Gallatin Fire District, Pattonsburg Fire District, Daviess County Ambulance District, Daviess County Sheriff's Office, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol arrived at the school.The release from the Daviess County Sheriff's office stated that the call was made by a school worker who was in the building at the time of the loud noise. The teacher was in the main school building near the gym at the time of the collapse. She says it sounded like someone “messing with lockers in the hallway.” The roof of the school had reportedly collapsed, falling inside the gym and causing the east wall of the gym to collapse onto the exterior of the school.&nbsp; First responders stated that there was no fire or explosion after the incident, although multiple stress cracks were located in the building. Due to the damage and other signs of possible structural compromise, unauthorized personnel are not allowed to enter the school building until a structural engineer conducts an inspection.Superintendent&nbsp;John Rockhold says students will use AMI days while the building is assessed, and the school is planning to distribute chromebooks and other materials to ensure learning isn't lost due to the situation.According to North Daviess R-III School District, classes for students not in their VoTech program on Tuesday September 2nd are cancelled. VoTech classes are still in session as scheduled.

Gym collapse at North Daviess R-III over holiday weekend

ANDREW COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 11:30p.m. Monday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Truck driven by a 19-year-old Glencoe, Minnesota, man was southbound on Interstate 29 four miles north of Amazonia in the construction zone. The pickup struck traffic cones. The driver overcorrected and the truck rolled onto its top.

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 11:30p.m. Monday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Dodge Truck driven by a 19-year-old Glencoe, Minnesota, man was southbound on Interstate 29 four miles north of Amazonia in the construction zone. The pickup struck traffic cones. The driver overcorrected and the truck rolled onto its top.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.

Teen hospitalized in St. Joe after truck rollover accident

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;

At&nbsp; noon on Sunday an officer on patrol observed&nbsp; 37-year-old James Myers of Warrensburg, Missouri, walking in the 300 block South 4th Street in Atchison and took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

&nbsp;Myers is being held on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756745613744.png" alt="Myers photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Myers photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.&nbsp;At&nbsp; noon on Sunday an officer on patrol observed&nbsp; 37-year-old James Myers of Warrensburg, Missouri, walking in the 300 block South 4th Street in Atchison and took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.&nbsp;Myers is being held on requested charges for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court.&nbsp;

Missouri man accused of skipping court, meth possession

NODAWAY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Monday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 GMC 1500 driven by a 17-year-old Hopkins boy was westbound on MO 246 just east of 5th Street in Hopkins. The pickup crested a hill and rear-ended a 2014 Chevrolet 1500 driven by an 18-year-old Hopkins man who was turning north into a private drive at the time of the crash.

The 18-year-old drove himself to Mosaic in Maryville. A private vehicle transported a 17-year-old female passenger in the Chevrolet to the Pickering Fire Station. Nodaway County EMS then transported her to Mosaic in Maryville. The 17-year-old driver was not injured. the driver and passenger in the Chevrolet were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

NODAWAY COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 10a.m. Monday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 GMC 1500 driven by a 17-year-old Hopkins boy was westbound on MO 246 just east of 5th Street in Hopkins. The pickup crested a hill and rear-ended a 2014 Chevrolet 1500 driven by an 18-year-old Hopkins man who was turning north into a private drive at the time of the crash.The 18-year-old drove himself to Mosaic in Maryville. A private vehicle transported a 17-year-old female passenger in the Chevrolet to the Pickering Fire Station. Nodaway County EMS then transported her to Mosaic in Maryville. The 17-year-old driver was not injured. the driver and passenger in the Chevrolet were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Two teens hospitalized after Nodaway Co. rear-end crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a disturbance at a motel in Atchison and have made two arrests.

At 7p.m. on Sunday police responded to a disturbance at a motel in the 400 block South 10th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined that a disturbance had occurred between two men who were known to each other and during the argument the 35-year-old suspect later identified as Ignacio Gonzalez, Jr. of Laredo, Texas, threatened the 24-year-old victim with a knife. 

Gonzalez was taken into custody at the scene. He was taken to the County Jail on a requested charge of aggravated assault. A third person at the scene, Daniel Shaw, 36, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was taken into custody for interference with law enforcement. He was taken to the County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756745166295.png" alt="Gonzalez photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Gonzalez photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a disturbance at a motel in Atchison and have made two arrests.At 7p.m. on Sunday police responded to a disturbance at a motel in the 400 block South 10th Street, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. It was determined that a disturbance had occurred between two men who were known to each other and during the argument the 35-year-old suspect later identified as Ignacio Gonzalez, Jr. of Laredo, Texas, threatened the 24-year-old victim with a knife. Gonzalez was taken into custody at the scene. He was taken to the County Jail on a requested charge of aggravated assault. A third person at the scene, Daniel Shaw, 36, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was taken into custody for interference with law enforcement. He was taken to the County Jail.

Kansas man accused of threatening victim with a knife

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.

At 5:20p.m. on Friday an officer on patrol observed 21-year-old Jeremiah Mullins on foot in the area of 9th and Unity Street in the city. of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. Mullins was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756745872411.png" alt="Mullins photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Mullins photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on drug allegations.At 5:20p.m. on Friday an officer on patrol observed 21-year-old Jeremiah Mullins on foot in the area of 9th and Unity Street in the city. of Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. The officer took him into custody on a Municipal Court warrant for failure to appear in court. Mullins was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Taken to County Jail.

Police: Kan. man who skipped court caught with meth

‘Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,’ state Rep. Raychel Proudie said while advocating for the new tax law

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>

Diapers and menstrual hygiene products such as tampons and pads will now be taxed at a lower rate in Missouri stores.&nbsp;

The new law, which went into effect last week, eliminates what’s commonly known as the “luxury” state sales tax rate of 4.225% on these products and reduces it to 1.225%, the same rate at which necessities such as groceries are taxed.&nbsp;

After&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/05/missouri-abortion-legislative-session/">years of bipartisan support for eliminating this luxury tax&nbsp;</a>in Missouri, the new law finally got across the finish line in May as part of a larger bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-becomes-first-state-to-repeal-capital-gains-tax-at-an-estimated-625m-cost/">repealed the state’s capital gains tax.&nbsp;</a>

Incontinence products for babies, children and adults are included in the exemption, as are products used during menstruation, including period “cups” and period underwear.

Heading into the 2025 legislative session,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/diaper-tax/" target="_blank">Missouri was one of about two dozen states with the inflated tax on diapers still in place</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/tampon-tax/" target="_blank">one of 19 states with a luxury tax on period products.</a>&nbsp;This year it joined Alabama in eliminating both.

“Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,” state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said during a House committee hearing this spring. “Any of us who has experienced such a luxury once a month would argue strongly against that being the case.”&nbsp;

Advocates for the elimination of this tax on diapers and period products often cite the exclusion of products such as Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, from the luxury tax.

<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/835b25b8-02f4-4f63-87b9-fb20c6ecc08b" target="_blank">Trish Vincent,</a>&nbsp;director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said in a statement that the change “provides meaningful relief for Missouri families.”

This year, Missouri had the greatest number of state legislators working to eliminate the diaper tax, with 17 pieces of legislation proposed, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/legislation-tracker/" target="_blank">National Diaper Bank Network’s legislation tracker.&nbsp;</a>

In 2024, nearly half of U.S. families with children younger than 4 who were wearing diapers reported experiencing diaper insecurity, according to a study published in May&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check-2024/" target="_blank">by the&nbsp;National Diaper Bank Network and the marketing research group YouGov.&nbsp;</a>

Of those experiencing diaper insecurity, 79% of mothers surveyed said they felt stressed or anxious about potentially being unable to afford diapers, which also contributed to feelings of loneliness and fears about the future.

The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank called the new law a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xonuHejm/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">“monumental win for families across Missouri.”</a>

An estimated one in four parents experiencing diaper insecurity reported missing an average of five days of school or work a month because they didn’t have enough diapers and therefore couldn’t drop their child off at day care, where parents are typically required to provide their own diapers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">according to the network.</a>

Lack of access to period products also contributes to missed school and work for countless American girls and women every year.&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/" target="_blank">The Alliance for Period Supplies&nbsp;</a>estimates two in five people struggle to afford period supplies.&nbsp;

State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat and a proponent of eliminating the diaper and period product taxes, also filed legislation aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://govwatch.net/bill/2025-sb342" target="_blank">requiring public schools to provide free period products</a>&nbsp;to students beginning in fourth grade. The bill never got a hearing.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756724713049.jpg" alt="A new Missouri law went into effect last week eliminating the luxury tax on period products and diapers Image PIxaby" />
 <figcaption>A new Missouri law went into effect last week eliminating the luxury tax on period products and diapers Image PIxaby</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,’ state Rep. Raychel Proudie said while advocating for the new tax law</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>Diapers and menstrual hygiene products such as tampons and pads will now be taxed at a lower rate in Missouri stores.&nbsp;The new law, which went into effect last week, eliminates what’s commonly known as the “luxury” state sales tax rate of 4.225% on these products and reduces it to 1.225%, the same rate at which necessities such as groceries are taxed.&nbsp;After&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/01/05/missouri-abortion-legislative-session/">years of bipartisan support for eliminating this luxury tax&nbsp;</a>in Missouri, the new law finally got across the finish line in May as part of a larger bill that&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-becomes-first-state-to-repeal-capital-gains-tax-at-an-estimated-625m-cost/">repealed the state’s capital gains tax.&nbsp;</a>Incontinence products for babies, children and adults are included in the exemption, as are products used during menstruation, including period “cups” and period underwear.Heading into the 2025 legislative session,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/diaper-tax/" target="_blank">Missouri was one of about two dozen states with the inflated tax on diapers still in place</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/tampon-tax/" target="_blank">one of 19 states with a luxury tax on period products.</a>&nbsp;This year it joined Alabama in eliminating both.“Imagine the need for sanitary products being called a luxury,” state Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson, said during a House committee hearing this spring. “Any of us who has experienced such a luxury once a month would argue strongly against that being the case.”&nbsp;Advocates for the elimination of this tax on diapers and period products often cite the exclusion of products such as Viagra, which treats erectile dysfunction, from the luxury tax.<a href="https://dor.mo.gov/news/newsitem/uuid/835b25b8-02f4-4f63-87b9-fb20c6ecc08b" target="_blank">Trish Vincent,</a>&nbsp;director of the Missouri Department of Revenue, said in a statement that the change “provides meaningful relief for Missouri families.”This year, Missouri had the greatest number of state legislators working to eliminate the diaper tax, with 17 pieces of legislation proposed, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/legislation-tracker/" target="_blank">National Diaper Bank Network’s legislation tracker.&nbsp;</a>In 2024, nearly half of U.S. families with children younger than 4 who were wearing diapers reported experiencing diaper insecurity, according to a study published in May&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/the-ndbn-diaper-check-2024/" target="_blank">by the&nbsp;National Diaper Bank Network and the marketing research group YouGov.&nbsp;</a>Of those experiencing diaper insecurity, 79% of mothers surveyed said they felt stressed or anxious about potentially being unable to afford diapers, which also contributed to feelings of loneliness and fears about the future.The St. Louis Area Diaper Bank called the new law a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19xonuHejm/?mibextid=wwXIfr" target="_blank">“monumental win for families across Missouri.”</a>An estimated one in four parents experiencing diaper insecurity reported missing an average of five days of school or work a month because they didn’t have enough diapers and therefore couldn’t drop their child off at day care, where parents are typically required to provide their own diapers,&nbsp;<a href="https://nationaldiaperbanknetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/Missouri.pdf" target="_blank">according to the network.</a>Lack of access to period products also contributes to missed school and work for countless American girls and women every year.&nbsp;<a href="https://allianceforperiodsupplies.org/period-poverty/" target="_blank">The Alliance for Period Supplies&nbsp;</a>estimates two in five people struggle to afford period supplies.&nbsp;State Sen. Barbara Washington, a Kansas City Democrat and a proponent of eliminating the diaper and period product taxes, also filed legislation aimed at&nbsp;<a href="https://govwatch.net/bill/2025-sb342" target="_blank">requiring public schools to provide free period products</a>&nbsp;to students beginning in fourth grade. The bill never got a hearing.

Missouri joins dozens of states in eliminating ‘luxury’ tax on diapers, period products

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.

&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Peterbilt semi driven by a 55-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, man was southbound on Interstate 35 six miles north of Bethany. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a concrete culvert, crossed over the northbound lane of the Interstate and traveled off the east side of the road.

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

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30a.m. Sunday in Harrison County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2024 Peterbilt semi driven by a 55-year-old Lafayette, Louisiana, man was southbound on Interstate 35 six miles north of Bethany. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a concrete culvert, crossed over the northbound lane of the Interstate and traveled off the east side of the road.EMS transported the driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver hospitalized after semi accident

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

Two initiative petition campaigns seeking constitutional protections for public education are suing Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging he crafted “deceptive and prejudicial” summaries that will appear on the ballot.

One campaign, called “the Missouri Right to Education Initiative,” hopes to amend the state constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.”

The other, filed by an attorney with the public education law firm EdCounsel, would amend the constitution to prohibit public funding of nonpublic schools except for when it benefits disabled students. It also would label new charter schools as nonpublic.

Both believe Hoskins’ summaries were written to deceive voters and sink their chances on the ballot next year.

“It is so far away from what we proposed that it really seems like they went to great lengths to try to bring something into the conversation that is not part of this amendment,” Spencer Toder, treasurer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://moeducation.org/" target="_blank">Missouri Right to Education Initiative</a>, told The Independent.

Hoskins’ office did not respond to a request for comment.

In addition to declaring education a “fundamental right,” Toder’s&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20A.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646146" target="_blank">proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;would require state lawmakers to maintain “adequate, thorough and uniform high quality free public schools.”

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20B.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646147" target="_blank">summary from the Secretary of State’s Office</a>&nbsp;describes the initiative as an attempt to dismantle the state’s private-school voucher program. It specifically says the initiative petition would “eliminate existing state scholarship programs that provide direct aid to students with disabilities and low-income families” and “prevent the State from supporting educational choices other than free public schools.”

Toder says the petition doesn’t touch the state’s private school scholarship program, MOScholars.

“Our intent is not to get involved in the voucher dialog. It is to ensure that no matter if vouchers exist, it doesn’t come at the expense of public school students’ quality of education,” he said. “All (the amendment) says is that the students have a guaranteed right to a quality public education.”

The second&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20A%20-%202026-071%201.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650864" target="_blank">initiative petition</a>&nbsp;does train its sights on MOScholars.

“We’re watching the statewide elected officials from Missouri slowly dismantle public schools, this public school system that Missourians have built,” Duane Martin, a public education attorney who filed the initiative petition, told The Independent.

<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20B%20-%202026-071%20Cert%20Packet.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650865" target="_blank">Hoskins’ summary</a>&nbsp;describes the proposed amendment as “eliminating existing programs that provide direct aid to students with special education needs.”&nbsp;

“It did not look to me like they had carefully read the initiative petition because some of what they summarized is the exact opposite of the language of the initiative petition itself,” Martin said.

Both campaigns are hoping to get on the ballot in 2026 and are in the early stages of organizing.

“I’m optimistic that a judge will look at this and see that some of the false statements that are made by the Secretary of State’s office can be corrected pretty readily,” Martin said.

Both Martin and Toder said they have not had contact with the Secretary of State’s Office other than receiving their petitions’ certification letters and serving the office with the lawsuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756640213263.png" alt="Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally wearing his signature red sport coat in March. Hoskins is currently facing two lawsuits alleging he crafted deceptive ballot language for public-education initiative petitions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally wearing his signature red sport coat in March. Hoskins is currently facing two lawsuits alleging he crafted deceptive ballot language for public-education initiative petitions (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/ahanshaw/">Annelise Hanshaw</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>Two initiative petition campaigns seeking constitutional protections for public education are suing Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging he crafted “deceptive and prejudicial” summaries that will appear on the ballot.One campaign, called “the Missouri Right to Education Initiative,” hopes to amend the state constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.”The other, filed by an attorney with the public education law firm EdCounsel, would amend the constitution to prohibit public funding of nonpublic schools except for when it benefits disabled students. It also would label new charter schools as nonpublic.Both believe Hoskins’ summaries were written to deceive voters and sink their chances on the ballot next year.“It is so far away from what we proposed that it really seems like they went to great lengths to try to bring something into the conversation that is not part of this amendment,” Spencer Toder, treasurer of the&nbsp;<a href="https://moeducation.org/" target="_blank">Missouri Right to Education Initiative</a>, told The Independent.Hoskins’ office did not respond to a request for comment.In addition to declaring education a “fundamental right,” Toder’s&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20A.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646146" target="_blank">proposed amendment</a>&nbsp;would require state lawmakers to maintain “adequate, thorough and uniform high quality free public schools.”The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Exhibit%20B.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3646147" target="_blank">summary from the Secretary of State’s Office</a>&nbsp;describes the initiative as an attempt to dismantle the state’s private-school voucher program. It specifically says the initiative petition would “eliminate existing state scholarship programs that provide direct aid to students with disabilities and low-income families” and “prevent the State from supporting educational choices other than free public schools.”Toder says the petition doesn’t touch the state’s private school scholarship program, MOScholars.“Our intent is not to get involved in the voucher dialog. It is to ensure that no matter if vouchers exist, it doesn’t come at the expense of public school students’ quality of education,” he said. “All (the amendment) says is that the students have a guaranteed right to a quality public education.”The second&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20A%20-%202026-071%201.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650864" target="_blank">initiative petition</a>&nbsp;does train its sights on MOScholars.“We’re watching the statewide elected officials from Missouri slowly dismantle public schools, this public school system that Missourians have built,” Duane Martin, a public education attorney who filed the initiative petition, told The Independent.<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Ex.%20B%20-%202026-071%20Cert%20Packet.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=3650865" target="_blank">Hoskins’ summary</a>&nbsp;describes the proposed amendment as “eliminating existing programs that provide direct aid to students with special education needs.”&nbsp;“It did not look to me like they had carefully read the initiative petition because some of what they summarized is the exact opposite of the language of the initiative petition itself,” Martin said.Both campaigns are hoping to get on the ballot in 2026 and are in the early stages of organizing.“I’m optimistic that a judge will look at this and see that some of the false statements that are made by the Secretary of State’s office can be corrected pretty readily,” Martin said.Both Martin and Toder said they have not had contact with the Secretary of State’s Office other than receiving their petitions’ certification letters and serving the office with the lawsuit.

Lawsuits challenge ‘deceptive’ summaries for Missouri public education ballot measures

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0OqCZJsymjHLQPDisBk7Ai?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Week in Review

BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — Nine people on a church bus were injured in an accident just 3:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F550 owned by&nbsp;Olivet Baptist Church of Westwood and driven by a 61-year-old Merriam, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 one half mile south of Faucett.&nbsp; The front passenger side tire blew out.&nbsp; The vehicle began to skid and then the back passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.

EMS transported 9 passengers including two 14-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all from Kansas City, Kansas and a 16-year-old Lee's Summit boy to North Kansas City Hospital; a 15-year-old Merriam, Kansas girl, a 16-year-old Shawnee, Kansas boy; a 14-year-old&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas girl and a 44-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver was not injured, according to the patrol.&nbsp;

There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.&nbsp;Interstate 29 was closed for several hours but reopened while first responders worked the scene. The highway was&nbsp; open again just after 7 p.m. Friday.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP no longer releases the names of accident victims.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756555858424.png" alt="Photo courtesy KMBC" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy KMBC</figcaption>
 </figure>BUCHANAN COUNTY, Mo. — Nine people on a church bus were injured in an accident just 3:30p.m. Friday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Ford F550 owned by&nbsp;Olivet Baptist Church of Westwood and driven by a 61-year-old Merriam, Kansas, man was northbound on Interstate 29 one half mile south of Faucett.&nbsp; The front passenger side tire blew out.&nbsp; The vehicle began to skid and then the back passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road, struck a ditch and overturned.EMS transported 9 passengers including two 14-year-old girls, a 14-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl all from Kansas City, Kansas and a 16-year-old Lee's Summit boy to North Kansas City Hospital; a 15-year-old Merriam, Kansas girl, a 16-year-old Shawnee, Kansas boy; a 14-year-old&nbsp; Kansas City, Kansas girl and a 44-year-old Shawnee, Kansas, woman to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph.&nbsp; The driver was not injured, according to the patrol.&nbsp;There were 30 people on the bus at the time of the accident.&nbsp;Interstate 29 was closed for several hours but reopened while first responders worked the scene. The highway was&nbsp; open again just after 7 p.m. Friday.&nbsp; &nbsp;The MSHP no longer releases the names of accident victims.

8 students injured in church bus crash on Interstate 29 

ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.

At 8:30p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe Street in Atchison to investigate a possible burglary, according to Police Chief Mike Wilsonm.

It was determined that no burglary had occurred but during the investigation the resident and reporting party, 61-year-old Gary Odum, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

&nbsp;Odum was arrested on a requested charge for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He has a previous conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756477662042.png" alt="Odum photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Odum photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas felon on new allegations.At 8:30p.m. on Thursday, police responded to an apartment complex in the 300 block Santa Fe Street in Atchison to investigate a possible burglary, according to Police Chief Mike Wilsonm.It was determined that no burglary had occurred but during the investigation the resident and reporting party, 61-year-old Gary Odum, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.&nbsp;Odum was arrested on a requested charge for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He has a previous conviction for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Call about burglary led to Kansas felon's drug arrest

It's another long holiday weekend as the Missouri Highway Patrol expects travelers to hit the road today.  

Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says Labor Day marks the third of the four major travel holidays. Hux encourages everyone to plan for save travel during the weekend 

"This is one of the holiday's it seems like where alcohol is involved because a lot of people take to the water because the weather is still nice this time of year," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "So, we just encourage you to be responsible, if you consume anything that causes impairment, plan ahead, have a plan in place, and use a designated driver."  

MoDOT reports roadway fatalities are trending downward for a third year in a row, down two percent so far, with 344 deaths this year compared to 364 in 2023. 

Hux says during last year's Labor Day holiday period, 110 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated, because drivers are not being responsible after drinking 

"They're not making plans to get home with a sober driver, and that's what we're trying to stress here, because last year on Missouri roadways 17 people died in traffic crashes during the three-day Labor Day weekend, two people were killed in boating fatalities," Hux explains. 

Hux says if you have any trouble, remember to contact the patrols star 55 emergency hotline for help 

"Now we also encourage them to contact us if they're behind a vehicle careless and imprudent operation, traveling at high speeds, or if they believe the driver is impaired or even on their phone," Hux says.  "Or if they see a small child inside a vehicle that's unsecured." 

The Highway Patrol will be out in force starting this evening at 6pm until Monday at midnight. 

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

By MATT PIKE It's another long holiday weekend as the Missouri Highway Patrol expects travelers to hit the road today. Seargent Shane Hux with Troop H says Labor Day marks the third of the four major travel holidays. Hux encourages everyone to plan for save travel during the weekend "This is one of the holiday's it seems like where alcohol is involved because a lot of people take to the water because the weather is still nice this time of year," Hux tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So, we just encourage you to be responsible, if you consume anything that causes impairment, plan ahead, have a plan in place, and use a designated driver." MoDOT reports roadway fatalities are trending downward for a third year in a row, down two percent so far, with 344 deaths this year compared to 364 in 2023. Hux says during last year's Labor Day holiday period, 110 arrests were made for driving while intoxicated, because drivers are not being responsible after drinking "They're not making plans to get home with a sober driver, and that's what we're trying to stress here, because last year on Missouri roadways 17 people died in traffic crashes during the three-day Labor Day weekend, two people were killed in boating fatalities," Hux explains. Hux says if you have any trouble, remember to contact the patrols star 55 emergency hotline for help "Now we also encourage them to contact us if they're behind a vehicle careless and imprudent operation, traveling at high speeds, or if they believe the driver is impaired or even on their phone," Hux says. "Or if they see a small child inside a vehicle that's unsecured." The Highway Patrol will be out in force starting this evening at 6pm until Monday at midnight. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

MSHP encourages safe travel this long Labor Day holiday weekend

It was a longer than desired delay, but the Noyes Field at Central High School in St. Joseph is finally getting new turf. 

St. Joseph School District Director of Operations, Casey Housman, says rainy summer weather forced delays, with upwards of three inches falling at times.

Housman says after the rain fell, they would have to let everything dry out.

"What that did over time is we had so much rain the subgrade underneath is a lot of expansive clay, that expansive clay would absorb that wall and really just cause a lot of soft spots on the fields," Housman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "So once we'd get things ready they would go in for their third part inspections and make sure everything is stable for the turf, and then they would find a spot that would be to soft, and then they would have to excavate that out and start over."

Housman says this happened two or three times and by that point scheduling became an issue.  

Turf is being laid now at Central. Housman, says with workers have been working overtime to complete the project at Central. . .

"It's laid from about the endzone line to about approximately I'd say the 40 yard line on the other side," Hausman explains.  "That process there is probably the quickest process out of the whole thing that goes down, the longest process that we have is when you start and you have to sew in all the letters, some are sewn, some are glued in, and then you have to do the numbers, every hash mark."

Housman says everything has to be laid by hand, which is time-consuming. It could 14 to 17 days to complete.

The project is part of improvements being made to all the St. Joseph schools after voters approved a bond issue. Benton, Lafayette, and Central will all transition from natural grass fields to turf.

Housman, says once Noyes is complete, each school will have a new modern looking field

"So we're excited about that, and that was one of the things that we wanted to be different," Hausman says.  "We wanted a site that you show up to and then five years from now they're going to be like, man you remember playing at that St. Joe site? Those fields were amazing.  That's the effect that we want, we want people to be happy to go to the fields and be proud of what they have now because they are very nice."

Housman says just one other school in Missouri has the gray turf on it like the ones at the three schools. 

Central will play its first home game against Benton next week at Missouri Western.  Housman, though, expects the field to be completed before the September 19th home game against North Kansas City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756487909754.jpeg" alt="After many delays turf finally began being laid at Noyes Field at Central High School in St. Joseph on Thursday/ Photo courtesy of David Lau- Central Athletic Director on X" />
 <figcaption>After many delays turf finally began being laid at Noyes Field at Central High School in St. Joseph on Thursday/ Photo courtesy of David Lau- Central Athletic Director on X</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostIt was a longer than desired delay, but the Noyes Field at Central High School in St. Joseph is finally getting new turf. St. Joseph School District Director of Operations, Casey Housman, says rainy summer weather forced delays, with upwards of three inches falling at times.Housman says after the rain fell, they would have to let everything dry out."What that did over time is we had so much rain the subgrade underneath is a lot of expansive clay, that expansive clay would absorb that wall and really just cause a lot of soft spots on the fields," Housman tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "So once we'd get things ready they would go in for their third part inspections and make sure everything is stable for the turf, and then they would find a spot that would be to soft, and then they would have to excavate that out and start over."Housman says this happened two or three times and by that point scheduling became an issue. Turf is being laid now at Central. Housman, says with workers have been working overtime to complete the project at Central. . ."It's laid from about the endzone line to about approximately I'd say the 40 yard line on the other side," Hausman explains. "That process there is probably the quickest process out of the whole thing that goes down, the longest process that we have is when you start and you have to sew in all the letters, some are sewn, some are glued in, and then you have to do the numbers, every hash mark."Housman says everything has to be laid by hand, which is time-consuming. It could 14 to 17 days to complete.The project is part of improvements being made to all the St. Joseph schools after voters approved a bond issue. Benton, Lafayette, and Central will all transition from natural grass fields to turf.Housman, says once Noyes is complete, each school will have a new modern looking field"So we're excited about that, and that was one of the things that we wanted to be different," Hausman says. "We wanted a site that you show up to and then five years from now they're going to be like, man you remember playing at that St. Joe site? Those fields were amazing. That's the effect that we want, we want people to be happy to go to the fields and be proud of what they have now because they are very nice."Housman says just one other school in Missouri has the gray turf on it like the ones at the three schools. Central will play its first home game against Benton next week at Missouri Western. Housman, though, expects the field to be completed before the September 19th home game against North Kansas City.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Progress <a href="https://t.co/gOuxxt4Dj7">pic.twitter.com/gOuxxt4Dj7</a>&mdash; David Lau (@DCLau5) <a href="https://twitter.com/DCLau5/status/1961242439831732693?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

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