St. Joseph’s
celebration of Juneteenth begins this weekend and stretches over the next couple
of weeks.

Executive
Director, Sara Wilson, with St. Joseph Museums says it all begins this weekend with
the theatrical production of Our Town at the Missouri Theater.

“So, we have just
a lot of fun stuff going on over the next couple of weeks,” Wilson tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I hope everybody will come out and celebrate Juneteenth,
because Juneteenth is for everyone. It is a national holiday now and we are all
celebrating it together.” 

Our Town will be
performed at the Missouri Theater Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

A 3-Point Shootout
will be held at the Bartlett Center on the 15th. The Juneteenth Gala
will be held on the 19th, followed by the Juneteenth Family Festival
and Vendor Fair on the 20th and 21st. The Juneteenth
Parade and Fashion Show will be held on the 21st, with the
Juneteenth Family Picnic the following day.

Wilson says
Juneteenth should be a celebration for everyone.

“I think it should
be really an exciting celebration of freedom. We live in the United States
where we are free,” Wilson says. “And that’s what we want to celebrate is the
emancipation of all people, for us to be who we are and embrace who we are, to
celebrate culture and to celebrate our differences as well as our
commonalities.”

Juneteenth
celebrates the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The United States
Capitol Historical Society states that on June 19th, 1865, more than a quarter
million slaves in Galveston, Texas received news of their emancipation from Union
Army General, Gordon Granger.

President Joe
Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at the White House in
2021. It is observed on June 19th.

Wilson says
Juneteenth should be seen as a celebration of freedom.

“We tend to
celebrate the Fourth of July as the celebration of freedom, but Juneteenth is
the celebration of freedom for all people,” Wilson says. “For many years, not
all Americans were free. And so, Juneteenth is the celebration of the freedom
for all Americans.” 

Click <a href="https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth">HERE</a> for
more on the Juneteenth celebration.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749756521159.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph’s
celebration of Juneteenth begins this weekend and stretches over the next couple
of weeks.Executive
Director, Sara Wilson, with St. Joseph Museums says it all begins this weekend with
the theatrical production of Our Town at the Missouri Theater.“So, we have just
a lot of fun stuff going on over the next couple of weeks,” Wilson tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I hope everybody will come out and celebrate Juneteenth,
because Juneteenth is for everyone. It is a national holiday now and we are all
celebrating it together.” Our Town will be
performed at the Missouri Theater Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.A 3-Point Shootout
will be held at the Bartlett Center on the 15th. The Juneteenth Gala
will be held on the 19th, followed by the Juneteenth Family Festival
and Vendor Fair on the 20th and 21st. The Juneteenth
Parade and Fashion Show will be held on the 21st, with the
Juneteenth Family Picnic the following day.Wilson says
Juneteenth should be a celebration for everyone.“I think it should
be really an exciting celebration of freedom. We live in the United States
where we are free,” Wilson says. “And that’s what we want to celebrate is the
emancipation of all people, for us to be who we are and embrace who we are, to
celebrate culture and to celebrate our differences as well as our
commonalities.”Juneteenth
celebrates the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The United States
Capitol Historical Society states that on June 19th, 1865, more than a quarter
million slaves in Galveston, Texas received news of their emancipation from Union
Army General, Gordon Granger.President Joe
Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at the White House in
2021. It is observed on June 19th.Wilson says
Juneteenth should be seen as a celebration of freedom.“We tend to
celebrate the Fourth of July as the celebration of freedom, but Juneteenth is
the celebration of freedom for all people,” Wilson says. “For many years, not
all Americans were free. And so, Juneteenth is the celebration of the freedom
for all Americans.” Click <a href="https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth">HERE</a> for
more on the Juneteenth celebration.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Juneteenth celebration begins tonight in St. Joseph

Jefferson City&nbsp;— On Thursday, in response to immigration enforcement protests planned across Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-25, activating the Missouri National Guard as a precautionary measure in reaction to recent instances of civil unrest across the country, according to a statement from the governor's office.

"We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,"&nbsp;Governor Kehoe&nbsp;said. "While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities.”

This week, the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Missouri National Guard established a Unified Command to monitor situations on the ground and prepare to assist local law enforcement.

Executive Order 25-25 declares that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest and calls on the Adjutant General, or his designee, to call and order into active service such portions of the National Guard personnel as he deems necessary to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property.

It is further ordered and directed that the Adjutant General or his designee, and through him, the commanding officer of any unit or other organization of the National Guard, to take action and employ such equipment as may be necessary in support of civilian authorities and provide such assistance as may be authorized and directed by Governor Kehoe.

To view Executive Order 25-25, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo25">this link</a>.

Jefferson City&nbsp;— On Thursday, in response to immigration enforcement protests planned across Missouri, Governor Mike Kehoe signed Executive Order 25-25, activating the Missouri National Guard as a precautionary measure in reaction to recent instances of civil unrest across the country, according to a statement from the governor's office."We respect, and will defend, the right to peacefully protest, but we will not tolerate violence or lawlessness in our state,"&nbsp;Governor Kehoe&nbsp;said. "While other states may wait for chaos to ensue, the State of Missouri is taking a proactive approach in the event that assistance is needed to support local law enforcement in protecting our citizens and communities.”This week, the Missouri Department of Public Safety, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and Missouri National Guard established a Unified Command to monitor situations on the ground and prepare to assist local law enforcement.Executive Order 25-25 declares that a State of Emergency exists in the State of Missouri due to civil unrest and calls on the Adjutant General, or his designee, to call and order into active service such portions of the National Guard personnel as he deems necessary to aid executive officials of Missouri to protect life and property.It is further ordered and directed that the Adjutant General or his designee, and through him, the commanding officer of any unit or other organization of the National Guard, to take action and employ such equipment as may be necessary in support of civilian authorities and provide such assistance as may be authorized and directed by Governor Kehoe.To view Executive Order 25-25, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sos.mo.gov/library/reference/orders/2025/eo25">this link</a>.

Missouri Gov. activates National Guard ahead of planned protests across the state

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Pet owners in St. Joseph will now experience a more streamlined process when licensing their pets, thanks to a new online system launched by St. Joseph Animal Services.

The city has partnered with DocuPet, a digital pet licensing platform designed to help reunite lost pets with their families more quickly and efficiently. The new system allows residents to register their pets online by visiting <a href="https://stjosephmo.docupet.com">stjosephmo.docupet.com</a>.

To complete registration, pet owners will need to upload vaccination records and spay/neuter documentation. Before creating a new profile, Animal Services asks residents to search the database to see if a profile for their pet already exists, which can help avoid delays and duplicate entries.

For questions or additional assistance, contact Holly Bowie at 816-271-4877 or via email at <a>hbowie@stjosephmo.gov</a>.

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Pet owners in St. Joseph will now experience a more streamlined process when licensing their pets, thanks to a new online system launched by St. Joseph Animal Services.The city has partnered with DocuPet, a digital pet licensing platform designed to help reunite lost pets with their families more quickly and efficiently. The new system allows residents to register their pets online by visiting <a href="https://stjosephmo.docupet.com">stjosephmo.docupet.com</a>.To complete registration, pet owners will need to upload vaccination records and spay/neuter documentation. Before creating a new profile, Animal Services asks residents to search the database to see if a profile for their pet already exists, which can help avoid delays and duplicate entries.For questions or additional assistance, contact Holly Bowie at 816-271-4877 or via email at <a>hbowie@stjosephmo.gov</a>.

St. Joseph Launches New Online Pet Licensing System

A former Missouri Western women's lacrosse player is hoping to help grow the game locally by launching a new program. 

A record holding goalkeeper at Western, Mackenzie Porter is hoping to teach more young girls about the sport she's played since second grade. 

Porter is launching Mighty Mo Lacrosse, a girls youth lacrosse clinic-based program here in St. Joseph.

Porter hopes with this program she can help grow the game, and bring more awareness

"Showing people like hey this is here, and I think once young girl see that the sport exists, then it's going to start to draw people more to Missouri Western and Missouri Western lacrosse," Porter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Porter says the game helps girls build community by playing on a team, and says while there are several other youth sports

"Something different, especially here that people don't even know exists and finding like maybe girls can find their community within this sport and it can become a love for them just like it was for me, it was an escape," Porter explains.

Porter says she felt something special while she played the game

"A part of something bigger I guess, because I was a part of a team," Porter says.

The program is still in its early stages.  Porter says currently she is working to gauge interest from people and raise funds, with hopes of starting clinics later this summer. 

"I know it's soon, because we're in the midst of summer right now, but I truly believe with community engagement and just sharing this initiative and getting people to hop on board, I think we can make it happen," Porter says.

Porter says she also hopes to get some of her former teammates from Missouri Western involved to help with the future clinics when they begin. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749749193120.jpeg" alt="Former Missouri Western women's lacrosse goalkeeper Mackenzie Porter (26 in goal) is launching a new program in St. Joseph to teach young girls about lacrosse/ Photo courtesy of MIssouri Western Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Former Missouri Western women's lacrosse goalkeeper Mackenzie Porter (26 in goal) is launching a new program in St. Joseph to teach young girls about lacrosse/ Photo courtesy of MIssouri Western Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostA former Missouri Western women's lacrosse player is hoping to help grow the game locally by launching a new program. A record holding goalkeeper at Western, Mackenzie Porter is hoping to teach more young girls about the sport she's played since second grade. Porter is launching Mighty Mo Lacrosse, a girls youth lacrosse clinic-based program here in St. Joseph.Porter hopes with this program she can help grow the game, and bring more awareness"Showing people like hey this is here, and I think once young girl see that the sport exists, then it's going to start to draw people more to Missouri Western and Missouri Western lacrosse," Porter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Porter says the game helps girls build community by playing on a team, and says while there are several other youth sports"Something different, especially here that people don't even know exists and finding like maybe girls can find their community within this sport and it can become a love for them just like it was for me, it was an escape," Porter explains.Porter says she felt something special while she played the game"A part of something bigger I guess, because I was a part of a team," Porter says.The program is still in its early stages. Porter says currently she is working to gauge interest from people and raise funds, with hopes of starting clinics later this summer. "I know it's soon, because we're in the midst of summer right now, but I truly believe with community engagement and just sharing this initiative and getting people to hop on board, I think we can make it happen," Porter says.Porter says she also hopes to get some of her former teammates from Missouri Western involved to help with the future clinics when they begin. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Former MWSU women's lacrosse legend launching new youth program

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/089nCQXs6lvvnAJ2Yt8MeY?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0p72KM9L3g4MpLFmJ4Wedf?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

An 18-year-old St.
Joseph man suffered serious injuries Wednesday night when he crashed his car
into a rock wall at Bartlett Park.

St. Joseph police
report the crash occurred around 9:18 last night in the 1400 block of
South Noyes Boulevard. Police believe the car was speeding prior to the crash. The
driver was the only one in the vehicle. He suffered multiple, serious injuries
and has been hospitalized. 

The accident
remains under investigation.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn 18-year-old St.
Joseph man suffered serious injuries Wednesday night when he crashed his car
into a rock wall at Bartlett Park.St. Joseph police
report the crash occurred around 9:18 last night in the 1400 block of
South Noyes Boulevard. Police believe the car was speeding prior to the crash. The
driver was the only one in the vehicle. He suffered multiple, serious injuries
and has been hospitalized. The accident
remains under investigation.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Speeding likely cause of injury accident in St. Joseph

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 Missouri House voted to set aside $1.5 billion of future tax revenue to finance stadium projects and provide $125 million of aid for communities hit by severe weather

The Missouri House closed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">the special legislative session</a>&nbsp;Wednesday with votes to finance&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/missouri-special-session-begins-with-lawmakers-split-on-stadium-funding-plan/">professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">tornado relief for St. Louis</a>.

Three special session bills, already&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/missouri-governor-allows-more-spending-property-tax-cap-as-he-pursues-stadium-deal/">approved in the state Senate</a>, are now in the hands of Gov. Mike Kehoe. He is expected to sign them quickly, putting the decision on whether to stay in Missouri in the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, who are also considering an offer from Kansas to cross the state line.

State Rep. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City handling the stadium bill, asked his colleagues to do what they would do to retain any large employer.

“We really need to, or should, look at these franchises, not just as entertainment,” Brown said. “They are entertaining, obviously, but it’s an incredibly big business.”

Opponents of the legislation said it improperly benefits wealthy team owners at the expense of other Missourians. They also contend the bill is unconstitutional.

“The middle class, everyday Missourian is expected to pay for this,” said state Rep. Richard West, a Republican from Wentzville. “We’ve been promising for years for some form of tax relief or tax adjustment or something to ease the burden on what they have, and this is exactly the opposite of what we promised them to come up here to do.”

The measure to finance new stadiums was the most controversial of the three bills, passing on a 90-58 vote, with 32 Democrats joining with 58 Republicans to provide the majority. There were 13 Democrats and 45 Republicans who voted against the bill.

To finance the stadium construction, the bill sets aside tax revenue generated by the teams and economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. Estimated at just under $1.5 billion over 30 years, the funding would pay for half the costs of improvements at Arrowhead and a new home for the Royals.

The Kansas offer would cover 70% of the construction costs for new stadiums, but it expires at the end of the month. The bill passed Wednesday requires financing from local governments, either in Jackson County, where the teams currently reside, or Clay County, which is trying to lure the Royals.

It is impossible to put a ballot measure before voters in the time remaining for the Kansas offer. House leaders from the Kansas City area had differing views on whether the teams should accept or reject Missouri’s offer now that it is a firm commitment but without knowing what voters will approve in the Kansas City region.

“I don’t know what the teams will do,” said House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican. “They have their own plan. I think that’s very unlikely, but I’m just worried about the things I can control, and teams are on their own schedule and will act accordingly.”

House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Democrat from Kansas City, said the teams should make a decision before June 30

“I would call on them to do so,” Aune said. “We bent over backwards here in the Missouri legislature to deliver them something by the end of their imposed deadline of June 30. And I would very much like for them to hold true to that deadline and let us know where they’re going before that.”

Chiefs owner Clark Hunt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02vF4BdALzcghzkkop9ZNFJeGpLRBZqwWMgXUgTPF9f7ALK1DCmLS9wqQnoFFCFHeEl&amp;id=61552483836166" target="_blank">issued a statement</a>&nbsp;thanking the legislature but made no commitment.

“The passing of this legislation is an important piece of the overall effort,” Hunt said. “While there’s still work to be done, this legislation enables the Chiefs to continue exploring potential options to consider remaining in Missouri.”

Patterson and Aune also disagreed on whether the extra disaster aid and property tax controls Kehoe added to the special session agenda had made the difference between success and failure on the stadium bill.

Patterson said each bill was considered on its own merits and that the property tax provisions may have cost votes. The stadium legislation won 103 votes in the House in May but the bill died in the state Senate.

“I’d like to think that people took a look at both those things on their own,” Patterson said. “I don’t think anybody here voted for one thing just because of the other.”

The House voted down two amendments so the bill did not require another vote in the state Senate. Patterson said it would have failed the second time around.

“A second Senate vote on the (stadium bill) would have been impossible, just the political climate after that vote,” Patterson said. “So we were very mindful of that. I thought if it goes back, it’s not going to pass.”

Aune said the additional disaster aid was essential to securing Democratic votes.

“If he wanted to get this stadium done, which is an economic development opportunity for the state and a priority of our governor, it was necessary to make sure that he could shore up those votes by making folks happy in other ways,” Aune said.

During debate on the special session spending bill, the House fell silent as state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, a St. Louis Democrat, described the devastation of her north St. Louis legislative district.

Collins was home on May 16 because the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/15/stadium-funding-gun-rights-law-among-casualties-of-missouri-senate-breakdown/">General Assembly adjourned early</a>&nbsp;instead of working to the final day allowed by the Missouri Constitution. She was in her car, preparing to attend a high school graduation when the tornado hit, she said.

“I watched a tornado rip through the middle of my house district,” Collins said. “I also watched it rip off my roof, and I watched the tornado rip off my neighbor’s roof. To this day, debris still sits in my front yard, and I’m a girl that has no insurance.”

Four of the five Missourians who died in the tornado lived in her district, Collins said.

The disaster relief provisions in the legislation address both the devastation of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis and the damages suffered by other Missourians in storms and flooding earlier in the year. They are:

The provisions were demanded before the Senate vote because of uncertainty about the federal response to the tornado. Kehoe asked President Donald Trump for a federal disaster declaration for the tornado on May 25 and for April 29 storms in Scott on May 19.&nbsp;

Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">approved both late Monday</a>, making federal aid for emergency housing and rebuilding available to individuals and providing money to reimburse the state and local governments for recovery costs.

State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson who is in her last term in the House, asked her colleagues to stand by St. Louis for the long-term.

“For those of us who will be termed-out next year,” Proudie said, “we need the rest of you who will be here five years later to continue to remember this day, to remember this time, to remember these last three weeks, to continue to pour help into these communities, into these people.”

The property tax cap in the stadium bill will be imposed in 97 counties. There would be 75 counties where basic tax bills would not increase more than 5% per year and 22 where no increase would be allowed.

The list excludes most of the largest counties of the state and many members opposed it because the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=X++++3&amp;bid=32025&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">Missouri Constitution requires</a>&nbsp;property taxes to be “uniform upon the same class or subclass of subjects.”

Another constitutional objection was raised that the bill improperly aids a private entity by giving state support to the Chiefs and Royals, in violation of a provision&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++38(a)&amp;bid=31785&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">added to the Constitution in 1875</a>.&nbsp;

“I haven’t heard an argument yet that this bill is going to be upheld,” said state Rep. Bill Hardwick, a Republican from Dixon. “I’ve only heard arguments that we should ignore the fact that it’s unconstitutional.”

The likelihood of the property tax provisions being blocked by the courts led at least one Democrat to vote for the bill. State Rep. Kathy Steinmetz of Columbia, speaking at a news conference after the vote, said she sees the cap as shifting the tax burden for schools to state taxpayers.

“They’re ending up paying more,” she said, “so that we can help the school districts that are not putting forth that local tax effort.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749680219632.png" alt=" State Rep. Chris Brown, R-Kansas City, speaks Wednesday in favor of the bill he handled that would finance new or improved professional sports stadiums in Kansas City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Chris Brown, R-Kansas City, speaks Wednesday in favor of the bill he handled that would finance new or improved professional sports stadiums in Kansas City (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>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><h2>The Missouri House voted to set aside $1.5 billion of future tax revenue to finance stadium projects and provide $125 million of aid for communities hit by severe weather</h2>The Missouri House closed&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">the special legislative session</a>&nbsp;Wednesday with votes to finance&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/02/missouri-special-session-begins-with-lawmakers-split-on-stadium-funding-plan/">professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">tornado relief for St. Louis</a>.Three special session bills, already&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/05/missouri-governor-allows-more-spending-property-tax-cap-as-he-pursues-stadium-deal/">approved in the state Senate</a>, are now in the hands of Gov. Mike Kehoe. He is expected to sign them quickly, putting the decision on whether to stay in Missouri in the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals, who are also considering an offer from Kansas to cross the state line.State Rep. Chris Brown, a Republican from Kansas City handling the stadium bill, asked his colleagues to do what they would do to retain any large employer.“We really need to, or should, look at these franchises, not just as entertainment,” Brown said. “They are entertaining, obviously, but it’s an incredibly big business.”Opponents of the legislation said it improperly benefits wealthy team owners at the expense of other Missourians. They also contend the bill is unconstitutional.“The middle class, everyday Missourian is expected to pay for this,” said state Rep. Richard West, a Republican from Wentzville. “We’ve been promising for years for some form of tax relief or tax adjustment or something to ease the burden on what they have, and this is exactly the opposite of what we promised them to come up here to do.”The measure to finance new stadiums was the most controversial of the three bills, passing on a 90-58 vote, with 32 Democrats joining with 58 Republicans to provide the majority. There were 13 Democrats and 45 Republicans who voted against the bill.To finance the stadium construction, the bill sets aside tax revenue generated by the teams and economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums. Estimated at just under $1.5 billion over 30 years, the funding would pay for half the costs of improvements at Arrowhead and a new home for the Royals.The Kansas offer would cover 70% of the construction costs for new stadiums, but it expires at the end of the month. The bill passed Wednesday requires financing from local governments, either in Jackson County, where the teams currently reside, or Clay County, which is trying to lure the Royals.It is impossible to put a ballot measure before voters in the time remaining for the Kansas offer. House leaders from the Kansas City area had differing views on whether the teams should accept or reject Missouri’s offer now that it is a firm commitment but without knowing what voters will approve in the Kansas City region.“I don’t know what the teams will do,” said House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican. “They have their own plan. I think that’s very unlikely, but I’m just worried about the things I can control, and teams are on their own schedule and will act accordingly.”House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Democrat from Kansas City, said the teams should make a decision before June 30“I would call on them to do so,” Aune said. “We bent over backwards here in the Missouri legislature to deliver them something by the end of their imposed deadline of June 30. And I would very much like for them to hold true to that deadline and let us know where they’re going before that.”Chiefs owner Clark Hunt&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02vF4BdALzcghzkkop9ZNFJeGpLRBZqwWMgXUgTPF9f7ALK1DCmLS9wqQnoFFCFHeEl&amp;id=61552483836166" target="_blank">issued a statement</a>&nbsp;thanking the legislature but made no commitment.“The passing of this legislation is an important piece of the overall effort,” Hunt said. “While there’s still work to be done, this legislation enables the Chiefs to continue exploring potential options to consider remaining in Missouri.”Patterson and Aune also disagreed on whether the extra disaster aid and property tax controls Kehoe added to the special session agenda had made the difference between success and failure on the stadium bill.Patterson said each bill was considered on its own merits and that the property tax provisions may have cost votes. The stadium legislation won 103 votes in the House in May but the bill died in the state Senate.“I’d like to think that people took a look at both those things on their own,” Patterson said. “I don’t think anybody here voted for one thing just because of the other.”The House voted down two amendments so the bill did not require another vote in the state Senate. Patterson said it would have failed the second time around.“A second Senate vote on the (stadium bill) would have been impossible, just the political climate after that vote,” Patterson said. “So we were very mindful of that. I thought if it goes back, it’s not going to pass.”Aune said the additional disaster aid was essential to securing Democratic votes.“If he wanted to get this stadium done, which is an economic development opportunity for the state and a priority of our governor, it was necessary to make sure that he could shore up those votes by making folks happy in other ways,” Aune said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749680176449.png" alt=" State Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, speaks Wednesday on the devastation her district has suffered after a tornado hit the area on May 16 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, D-St. Louis, speaks Wednesday on the devastation her district has suffered after a tornado hit the area on May 16 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Disaster relief</h2>During debate on the special session spending bill, the House fell silent as state Rep. Kimberly-Ann Collins, a St. Louis Democrat, described the devastation of her north St. Louis legislative district.Collins was home on May 16 because the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/15/stadium-funding-gun-rights-law-among-casualties-of-missouri-senate-breakdown/">General Assembly adjourned early</a>&nbsp;instead of working to the final day allowed by the Missouri Constitution. She was in her car, preparing to attend a high school graduation when the tornado hit, she said.“I watched a tornado rip through the middle of my house district,” Collins said. “I also watched it rip off my roof, and I watched the tornado rip off my neighbor’s roof. To this day, debris still sits in my front yard, and I’m a girl that has no insurance.”Four of the five Missourians who died in the tornado lived in her district, Collins said.The disaster relief provisions in the legislation address both the devastation of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis and the damages suffered by other Missourians in storms and flooding earlier in the year. They are:<ul>
 <li>$100 million in the spending bill for storm recovery in the city of St. Louis;</li><li>$25 million for home repairs and other housing needs through programs of the Missouri Housing Development Commission, available in any county included in a request for federal disaster aid;</li><li>A tax credit worth up to $5,000 for insurance deductibles paid for residential damage in an area included in a request for federal disaster aid. The legislation would allow $90 million in claims this year and $45 million per year for future years.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The provisions were demanded before the Senate vote because of uncertainty about the federal response to the tornado. Kehoe asked President Donald Trump for a federal disaster declaration for the tornado on May 25 and for April 29 storms in Scott on May 19.&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">approved both late Monday</a>, making federal aid for emergency housing and rebuilding available to individuals and providing money to reimburse the state and local governments for recovery costs.State Rep. Raychel Proudie, a Democrat from Ferguson who is in her last term in the House, asked her colleagues to stand by St. Louis for the long-term.“For those of us who will be termed-out next year,” Proudie said, “we need the rest of you who will be here five years later to continue to remember this day, to remember this time, to remember these last three weeks, to continue to pour help into these communities, into these people.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749680145631.png" alt=" State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, speaks on the House floor Wednesday about how property tax provisions in the stadium funding bill affects local schools (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Kathy Steinhoff, D-Columbia, speaks on the House floor Wednesday about how property tax provisions in the stadium funding bill affects local schools (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Constitutional questions</h2>The property tax cap in the stadium bill will be imposed in 97 counties. There would be 75 counties where basic tax bills would not increase more than 5% per year and 22 where no increase would be allowed.The list excludes most of the largest counties of the state and many members opposed it because the&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=X++++3&amp;bid=32025&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">Missouri Constitution requires</a>&nbsp;property taxes to be “uniform upon the same class or subclass of subjects.”Another constitutional objection was raised that the bill improperly aids a private entity by giving state support to the Chiefs and Royals, in violation of a provision&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++38(a)&amp;bid=31785&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">added to the Constitution in 1875</a>.&nbsp;“I haven’t heard an argument yet that this bill is going to be upheld,” said state Rep. Bill Hardwick, a Republican from Dixon. “I’ve only heard arguments that we should ignore the fact that it’s unconstitutional.”The likelihood of the property tax provisions being blocked by the courts led at least one Democrat to vote for the bill. State Rep. Kathy Steinmetz of Columbia, speaking at a news conference after the vote, said she sees the cap as shifting the tax burden for schools to state taxpayers.“They’re ending up paying more,” she said, “so that we can help the school districts that are not putting forth that local tax effort.”

Missouri special session ends with passage of KC stadium funding, disaster aid

BROWN COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Deanna N.&nbsp;Roybal, 16, Horton, was southbound on U.S. 73 approximately five miles north of the city of Horton. The pickup traveled into the west ditch and rolled.

EMS transported&nbsp;Roybal and passengers Melissa A. Mathewson, 50, and Clayette&nbsp;Snow Wakole, 16, both of Horton to Amberwell in Hiawatha.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—Three people were injured in an accident just after 11p.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Deanna N.&nbsp;Roybal, 16, Horton, was southbound on U.S. 73 approximately five miles north of the city of Horton. The pickup traveled into the west ditch and rolled.EMS transported&nbsp;Roybal and passengers Melissa A. Mathewson, 50, and Clayette&nbsp;Snow Wakole, 16, both of Horton to Amberwell in Hiawatha.&nbsp; All three were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

2-teens, adult hospitalized after pickup rollover crash

ANDREW COUNTY —Two juveniles were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge 1500 driven by a 16-year-old Savannah girl was eastbound on County Road 339 two miles south of Savannah. The driver failed to negotiate a left turn onto County Road 335. The pickup started sliding, traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; A 16-year-old female passenger was released to her mother for treatment of a minor injury. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

ANDREW COUNTY —Two juveniles were injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Wednesday in Andrew County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2002 Dodge 1500 driven by a 16-year-old Savannah girl was eastbound on County Road 339 two miles south of Savannah. The driver failed to negotiate a left turn onto County Road 335. The pickup started sliding, traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.Andrew County EMS transported the driver to Mosaic Life Care.&nbsp; A 16-year-old female passenger was released to her mother for treatment of a minor injury. Both were properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The MSHP no longer releases names of accident victims.

Two Missouri teens injured after pickup overturns

Legendary boxer Rob Calloway will become a new member of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame.  

Calloway, known as the All-American Prize Fighter, became the Kansas City Gold Gloves Champion three times.  He also fought many times at St. Joseph's Civic Arena.  

Calloway says he's happy and honored to be a member of the 2025 class in the Hall of Fame.  

"I love St. Joseph, I was the All American Prize Fighter for 20 years, so this is very much a dream come true," Calloway tells reporters.  

Calloway says a lot of work went into his long boxing career, starting all the way back in his amateur fighting days at 19 years old 

"A bit older than most, 40 amateur bouts and the '92 Olympic trials and turned pro in '92 to 2012, so 20 years fighting all over the world, over 20 different states, 10 different countries," Calloway says.  "It takes a lot of hard work, but you've got to love what you're doing, and I loved every minute of training, and I loved every fight I was in." 

Calloway won several titles throughout his career.  He fought 23 of his 92 career matches at Civic Arena, and in those 92 matches, he boasted an outstanding 72-14-2 record with four no contests.  He also won several titles. 

Calloway says there's a lot that stands out to him about his illustrious career 

"I love that I won the world title in the Gold Coast of Australia and it was the fight of the year and it was probably my best fight," Calloway says.  "I also had several fights on ESPN, Showtime, some great fights I was glad the city got to be a part of, I had a great career and I'm glad to be honored now." 

Calloway was one of nine individuals in the class along with one Special Olympian and one team. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749657271770.jpeg" alt="Rob Calloway in a boxing match against Ruslan Chagaev on May 10th, 2002, one of just two draws in Calloway's career.&nbsp; Calloway is a member of the 2025 class of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame/ Photo courtesy of Youtube" />
 <figcaption>Rob Calloway in a boxing match against Ruslan Chagaev on May 10th, 2002, one of just two draws in Calloway's career.&nbsp; Calloway is a member of the 2025 class of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame/ Photo courtesy of Youtube</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Legendary boxer Rob Calloway will become a new member of the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame. Calloway, known as the All-American Prize Fighter, became the Kansas City Gold Gloves Champion three times. He also fought many times at St. Joseph's Civic Arena. Calloway says he's happy and honored to be a member of the 2025 class in the Hall of Fame. "I love St. Joseph, I was the All American Prize Fighter for 20 years, so this is very much a dream come true," Calloway tells reporters. Calloway says a lot of work went into his long boxing career, starting all the way back in his amateur fighting days at 19 years old "A bit older than most, 40 amateur bouts and the '92 Olympic trials and turned pro in '92 to 2012, so 20 years fighting all over the world, over 20 different states, 10 different countries," Calloway says. "It takes a lot of hard work, but you've got to love what you're doing, and I loved every minute of training, and I loved every fight I was in." Calloway won several titles throughout his career. He fought 23 of his 92 career matches at Civic Arena, and in those 92 matches, he boasted an outstanding 72-14-2 record with four no contests. He also won several titles. Calloway says there's a lot that stands out to him about his illustrious career "I love that I won the world title in the Gold Coast of Australia and it was the fight of the year and it was probably my best fight," Calloway says. "I also had several fights on ESPN, Showtime, some great fights I was glad the city got to be a part of, I had a great career and I'm glad to be honored now." Calloway was one of nine individuals in the class along with one Special Olympian and one team. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749657126596.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Sports Commission&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>

Calloway considers St. Joseph Hall of Fame a dream come true

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5NlFF0dnX2jZ67NfdgxYuR?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1Vpmxv1LaeQd44fYe0cjf0?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

PLATTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect after two reports of burglaries in Platte County.

Just before 8:30 a.m. on June 10, deputies responded to the Timber Park where a burglary suspect was believed to still be on foot in the area, according to a media release.

Platte County deputies began searching for the suspect while using a K9s and drone deployment. Deputies continued to search the Timber Park area, Summit Way neighborhood and Prairie Creek Greenway for the suspect until just after noon with no results.

At 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a residence on Running Horse Road on another report of residential burglary. Deputies located and took a suspect into custody. The suspect matched the description of the earlier residential burglary report.

The suspect, 25-year-old Lucas Majors, identified from online jail records, received medical attention on scene before being transported to the Platte County Detention Center. Majors is on a twenty-four hour investigative hold pending the filing of charges.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749654610323.png" alt="Majors photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Majors photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating a suspect after two reports of burglaries in Platte County.Just before 8:30 a.m. on June 10, deputies responded to the Timber Park where a burglary suspect was believed to still be on foot in the area, according to a media release.Platte County deputies began searching for the suspect while using a K9s and drone deployment. Deputies continued to search the Timber Park area, Summit Way neighborhood and Prairie Creek Greenway for the suspect until just after noon with no results.At 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a residence on Running Horse Road on another report of residential burglary. Deputies located and took a suspect into custody. The suspect matched the description of the earlier residential burglary report.The suspect, 25-year-old Lucas Majors, identified from online jail records, received medical attention on scene before being transported to the Platte County Detention Center. Majors is on a twenty-four hour investigative hold pending the filing of charges.

K9 helps capture home burglary suspect after search

The special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe could wrap up Wednesday if no changes are made to the bills already passed in the Senate

The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">special session</a>&nbsp;bills to fund&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267440" target="_blank">professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267452" target="_blank">disaster relief to St. Louis</a>&nbsp;passed House committees easily on Tuesday, setting up final votes that will send them to Gov. Mike Kehoe.

There were no changes from the Senate-approved versions as the stadium financing bill passed the House Economic Development Committee on an 11-2 vote and a spending bill with $100 million for storm cleanup in St. Louis by a unanimous vote.

As long as there are no amendments passed on the floor, those two bills and another to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267450" target="_blank">authorize disaster housing support</a>&nbsp;will be finished Wednesday. If there are any changes, they will have to be approved by the state Senate, which passed all three bills last week.

The immediate purpose of the special session was to get state lawmakers on record with an offer to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and MLB’s Royals before the teams had to make a decision on whether to jump the state line to take a deal offered by Kansas.&nbsp;

The Kansas offer, with a deadline at the end of the month, is a serious proposal and Missouri will lose the teams — and the economic activity associated with them — if it does not put up a counter-offer, said state Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Republican from Marshall.

Under the stadium bill, Missouri would calculate the tax revenue generated by activities in Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums — home of the Chiefs and Royals, respectively, since the early 1970s — and dedicate the money to bond payments.

“This isn’t using tax dollars off of the income tax that’s collected from someone that’s working at Dollar General or a feed store or a fertilizer shop or a clothing store or wherever,” Gregory said. “This is using the taxes that are generated at the stadiums themselves, off of Joe Burrow when he comes to play in Kansas City, we collect taxes off his paycheck, or when Taylor Swift has a concert at Arrowhead Stadium.”

Backers of the bill estimate that close to $1.5 billion would be spent over 30 years. The money would pay about half the cost of upgrades at Arrowhead and a brand new stadium for the Royals.

Opponents of the plan tried to persuade the committee to wait. The Chiefs and Royals have not accepted the Kansas offer and haven’t promised to stay if Missouri makes a firm financial commitment, said Patrick Tuohey, a senior fellow at the conservative Show-Me Institute.

“This entire special session and this deal is an absolute hustle,” Tuohey said.

The Kansas offer is dependent on investors being willing to buy bonds backed only by the new tax revenue generated in a district around the stadiums, Tuohey said. That won’t be enough money to service the debt, he said.

“This deadline simply means that the Kansas offer ends,” Tuouhey said. “The absolute worst time for Missouri to offer, to make an offer is during that time. You should wait until after the 30th and see if Kansas wants to extend. But the idea that the Chiefs and the Royals are dictating deadlines to the Missouri Legislature is crazy.”

Under the legislation, Missouri would keep money received that exceeds the current tax revenue, Gregory said. And if the teams move, he added, the state loses both.

“We’re not talking just about the potential revenue loss for the team moving across the state lines,” he said. “I think we are talking about jobs and tax revenue coming from a lot of different places across the Kansas City metro area.”

The property tax cap in the legislation would apply to 97 counties, 75 where base bills could not increase more than 5% per year and 22 more where no increase would be allowed. The bill exempts additions to the tax bill for newly voted levies and the additional value of home improvements.&nbsp;

The bill includes two other major provisions, with the most expensive being a tax credit for people living in areas where a federal disaster declaration has been requested. The credit would be equal to their insurance deductible and available regardless of whether the disaster request is approved. The other provision would renew a tax credit program that supports major amateur sporting events.

The disaster tax credit, only for damage occurring this year, would be capped at $5,000 per person and $90 million total this year. For people who cannot use their full tax credit, the bill would allow them to carry the loss forward for another 29 years and cap the total allowed at $45 million per year.

The provision could eventually cost state taxpayers about $600 million, Dan Haug, state budget director, said in testimony to the House Budget Committee.

“That is what I would call an upper limit,” he said.

In the spending bill, Kehoe initially sought $25 million for housing assistance grants, adding it to the core items he wanted from a construction bill spiked in the House just before a final vote in the regular session. Under pressure from Democratic lawmakers in the Senate — votes vital to passing the stadium package — Kehoe agreed to add $100 million to help St. Louis recover from a devastating tornado that hit May 16.

The bill spends $360 million overall — $175 million of general revenue and $185 million from other funds.

Despite grumbling that many items in the bill spiked during the regular session were badly needed, House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said nothing would be added.

When Kehoe agreed to the additional money, federal recovery aid for St. Louis was uncertain. That changed Monday when President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">approved the request</a>&nbsp;for a disaster declaration, making federal help to the state and local governments available as well as aid to individuals with damaged property.

The federal recovery aid is welcome but the state funding should be maintained, Haug said to the budget committee.

“These disasters are so expensive that without federal help, there’s no way we can cover all of this,” Haug said. “We just don’t have the general revenue resources to do that.”

Just in the city of St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer told the committee, the tornado damaged 23,000 homes and affected 48,000 people.

“Many of the homes that are so badly damaged are generational homes,” Spencer said. “These are homes that represent all that many of these families have.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749637478080.png" alt=" St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer listens to a question Tuesday as she testifies on the need for tornado relief funds alongside city policy director Casey Millburg. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer listens to a question Tuesday as she testifies on the need for tornado relief funds alongside city policy director Casey Millburg. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure>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><h2>The special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe could wrap up Wednesday if no changes are made to the bills already passed in the Senate</h2>The&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/05/27/missouri-governor-calls-special-session-for-kansas-city-stadiums-st-louis-disaster-funding/">special session</a>&nbsp;bills to fund&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267440" target="_blank">professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;in Kansas City and provide&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267452" target="_blank">disaster relief to St. Louis</a>&nbsp;passed House committees easily on Tuesday, setting up final votes that will send them to Gov. Mike Kehoe.There were no changes from the Senate-approved versions as the stadium financing bill passed the House Economic Development Committee on an 11-2 vote and a spending bill with $100 million for storm cleanup in St. Louis by a unanimous vote.As long as there are no amendments passed on the floor, those two bills and another to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=E1&amp;BillID=18267450" target="_blank">authorize disaster housing support</a>&nbsp;will be finished Wednesday. If there are any changes, they will have to be approved by the state Senate, which passed all three bills last week.The immediate purpose of the special session was to get state lawmakers on record with an offer to the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs and MLB’s Royals before the teams had to make a decision on whether to jump the state line to take a deal offered by Kansas.&nbsp;<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>The Kansas offer, with a deadline at the end of the month, is a serious proposal and Missouri will lose the teams — and the economic activity associated with them — if it does not put up a counter-offer, said state Sen. Kurtis Gregory, a Republican from Marshall.Under the stadium bill, Missouri would calculate the tax revenue generated by activities in Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums — home of the Chiefs and Royals, respectively, since the early 1970s — and dedicate the money to bond payments.“This isn’t using tax dollars off of the income tax that’s collected from someone that’s working at Dollar General or a feed store or a fertilizer shop or a clothing store or wherever,” Gregory said. “This is using the taxes that are generated at the stadiums themselves, off of Joe Burrow when he comes to play in Kansas City, we collect taxes off his paycheck, or when Taylor Swift has a concert at Arrowhead Stadium.”Backers of the bill estimate that close to $1.5 billion would be spent over 30 years. The money would pay about half the cost of upgrades at Arrowhead and a brand new stadium for the Royals.Opponents of the plan tried to persuade the committee to wait. The Chiefs and Royals have not accepted the Kansas offer and haven’t promised to stay if Missouri makes a firm financial commitment, said Patrick Tuohey, a senior fellow at the conservative Show-Me Institute.“This entire special session and this deal is an absolute hustle,” Tuohey said.The Kansas offer is dependent on investors being willing to buy bonds backed only by the new tax revenue generated in a district around the stadiums, Tuohey said. That won’t be enough money to service the debt, he said.“This deadline simply means that the Kansas offer ends,” Tuouhey said. “The absolute worst time for Missouri to offer, to make an offer is during that time. You should wait until after the 30th and see if Kansas wants to extend. But the idea that the Chiefs and the Royals are dictating deadlines to the Missouri Legislature is crazy.”Under the legislation, Missouri would keep money received that exceeds the current tax revenue, Gregory said. And if the teams move, he added, the state loses both.“We’re not talking just about the potential revenue loss for the team moving across the state lines,” he said. “I think we are talking about jobs and tax revenue coming from a lot of different places across the Kansas City metro area.”The property tax cap in the legislation would apply to 97 counties, 75 where base bills could not increase more than 5% per year and 22 more where no increase would be allowed. The bill exempts additions to the tax bill for newly voted levies and the additional value of home improvements.&nbsp;The bill includes two other major provisions, with the most expensive being a tax credit for people living in areas where a federal disaster declaration has been requested. The credit would be equal to their insurance deductible and available regardless of whether the disaster request is approved. The other provision would renew a tax credit program that supports major amateur sporting events.The disaster tax credit, only for damage occurring this year, would be capped at $5,000 per person and $90 million total this year. For people who cannot use their full tax credit, the bill would allow them to carry the loss forward for another 29 years and cap the total allowed at $45 million per year.The provision could eventually cost state taxpayers about $600 million, Dan Haug, state budget director, said in testimony to the House Budget Committee.“That is what I would call an upper limit,” he said.In the spending bill, Kehoe initially sought $25 million for housing assistance grants, adding it to the core items he wanted from a construction bill spiked in the House just before a final vote in the regular session. Under pressure from Democratic lawmakers in the Senate — votes vital to passing the stadium package — Kehoe agreed to add $100 million to help St. Louis recover from a devastating tornado that hit May 16.The bill spends $360 million overall — $175 million of general revenue and $185 million from other funds.Despite grumbling that many items in the bill spiked during the regular session were badly needed, House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, said nothing would be added.When Kehoe agreed to the additional money, federal recovery aid for St. Louis was uncertain. That changed Monday when President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">approved the request</a>&nbsp;for a disaster declaration, making federal help to the state and local governments available as well as aid to individuals with damaged property.The federal recovery aid is welcome but the state funding should be maintained, Haug said to the budget committee.“These disasters are so expensive that without federal help, there’s no way we can cover all of this,” Haug said. “We just don’t have the general revenue resources to do that.”Just in the city of St. Louis, Mayor Cara Spencer told the committee, the tornado damaged 23,000 homes and affected 48,000 people.“Many of the homes that are so badly damaged are generational homes,” Spencer said. “These are homes that represent all that many of these families have.”

Stadium bill, disaster aid sail through Missouri House committees

The Missouri Department of Conservation has closed all shooting ranges at the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area in Buchanan County indefinitely.  

The Department says while the rest of the conservation area will remain open to the public, an investigation of the shooting ranges showed misuse which put public safety at risk forcing the closure.  

“Unfortunately, the actions of unsafe, irresponsible shooting range users created a situation that we could not allow to persist,” Justin McGuire, the Departments Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator says in a news release. 

Despite increased patrols and other security measures the practices the department has deemed unsafe have continued.  Photographs from the department showed firearm damage to restrooms as an example. 

“This decision was not made lightly," Department Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries, “but it was the responsible course of action. Our first priority is the safety of the shooting range users and others in the area.” 

While the Pigeon Hill shooting ranges have been closed there are other areas available for target shooting, including the Elam Bend Conservation Area in Gentry County. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749591163344.jpeg" alt="Firearm damage to regulation signs at Pigeon Hill Conservation Area, as photographed above, is further evidence of unsafe range behavior. Rogue shots outside of the designated target area create an unsafe environment for the public/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation" />
 <figcaption>Firearm damage to regulation signs at Pigeon Hill Conservation Area, as photographed above, is further evidence of unsafe range behavior. Rogue shots outside of the designated target area create an unsafe environment for the public/ Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE The Missouri Department of Conservation has closed all shooting ranges at the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area in Buchanan County indefinitely. The Department says while the rest of the conservation area will remain open to the public, an investigation of the shooting ranges showed misuse which put public safety at risk forcing the closure. “Unfortunately, the actions of unsafe, irresponsible shooting range users created a situation that we could not allow to persist,” Justin McGuire, the Departments Hunter Education and Shooting Range Coordinator says in a news release. Despite increased patrols and other security measures the practices the department has deemed unsafe have continued. Photographs from the department showed firearm damage to restrooms as an example. “This decision was not made lightly," Department Deputy Director Aaron Jeffries, “but it was the responsible course of action. Our first priority is the safety of the shooting range users and others in the area.” While the Pigeon Hill shooting ranges have been closed there are other areas available for target shooting, including the Elam Bend Conservation Area in Gentry County. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749591227295.jpeg" alt="Firearm damage to a restroom building at Pigeon Hill Conservation Area, as photographed above, is one example of evidence of unsafe range behavior that led to the range closures. Firearms aimed anywhere besides the designated targets pose a serious threat to public safety./ Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation" />
 <figcaption>Firearm damage to a restroom building at Pigeon Hill Conservation Area, as photographed above, is one example of evidence of unsafe range behavior that led to the range closures. Firearms aimed anywhere besides the designated targets pose a serious threat to public safety./ Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Conservation</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

MO Department of Conservation closes Pigeon Hill shooting range indefinitely 

A special
legislative session called in Jefferson City to consider an incentive package
to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri could wrap up as early as
Wednesday.

St. Joseph state
Rep. Brenda Shields says the legislature understands the importance of the
Chiefs and the Royals.

“As well as the
Show Me Investment Act, which is the stadium bill, but the amateur sporting tax
credit, which is very important to St. Joseph and why we’ve been able to bring
so many great college tournaments and youth sports to St. Joseph is because of
that tax credit,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, there is something
in here very important for St. Joseph.” 

Shields calls
keeping the two professional sports teams in the state incredibly important.

“We know how
important the Chiefs and the Royals are, but they are truly an economic driver
as well as a job-creator for our state,” Shields says.

The Missouri
Senate approved the incentive package for the Chiefs and Royals last week after
Gov. Mike Kehoe amended his special session call to include broader tax relief
provisions.

Shields expects
the House to follow up the action by the Senate. Shields says the legislature
understands the importance of the two teams, adding that the numbers are
impressive:&nbsp; $28 million in annual tax
revenue and $572 million in economic activity.

“And the Royals we
know are looking for a new stadium and looking to build one,” Shields says. “And
if we’re able to keep them in Missouri and in Kansas City, labor alone will be $440
million is what we’re expecting and $1.28 billion will be their annual contribution
to the state.”

Shields adds she
believes the House will give its approval to a disaster assistance package
being pushed by Gov. Kehoe as well as a much scaled down capital improvement
package. Shields says the St. Joseph area legislative delegation was unable to
find an avenue to reinstate $7 million for the UMKC dental school on the Missouri
Western State University campus or $2.8 million to make improvements to the
Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU.

The special
legislation session in Jefferson City could conclude its business soon.

“I am sure there’ll
be lots of discussion on the House floor, but the House runs a little bit
different than the Senate. We run by different rules,” Shields points out. “I
anticipate that we’ll be able to finish up our work by the end of Wednesday.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749578364954.jpeg" alt="Rep Brenda Shields/Photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications" />
 <figcaption>Rep Brenda Shields/Photo courtesy of Missouri House Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA special
legislative session called in Jefferson City to consider an incentive package
to keep the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals in Missouri could wrap up as early as
Wednesday.St. Joseph state
Rep. Brenda Shields says the legislature understands the importance of the
Chiefs and the Royals.“As well as the
Show Me Investment Act, which is the stadium bill, but the amateur sporting tax
credit, which is very important to St. Joseph and why we’ve been able to bring
so many great college tournaments and youth sports to St. Joseph is because of
that tax credit,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “So, there is something
in here very important for St. Joseph.” Shields calls
keeping the two professional sports teams in the state incredibly important.“We know how
important the Chiefs and the Royals are, but they are truly an economic driver
as well as a job-creator for our state,” Shields says.The Missouri
Senate approved the incentive package for the Chiefs and Royals last week after
Gov. Mike Kehoe amended his special session call to include broader tax relief
provisions.Shields expects
the House to follow up the action by the Senate. Shields says the legislature
understands the importance of the two teams, adding that the numbers are
impressive:&nbsp; $28 million in annual tax
revenue and $572 million in economic activity.“And the Royals we
know are looking for a new stadium and looking to build one,” Shields says. “And
if we’re able to keep them in Missouri and in Kansas City, labor alone will be $440
million is what we’re expecting and $1.28 billion will be their annual contribution
to the state.”Shields adds she
believes the House will give its approval to a disaster assistance package
being pushed by Gov. Kehoe as well as a much scaled down capital improvement
package. Shields says the St. Joseph area legislative delegation was unable to
find an avenue to reinstate $7 million for the UMKC dental school on the Missouri
Western State University campus or $2.8 million to make improvements to the
Chiefs Training Camp at MWSU.The special
legislation session in Jefferson City could conclude its business soon.“I am sure there’ll
be lots of discussion on the House floor, but the House runs a little bit
different than the Senate. We run by different rules,” Shields points out. “I
anticipate that we’ll be able to finish up our work by the end of Wednesday.”You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Rep. Shields expects special session to wrap up quickly; perhaps by Wednesday

It's the perfect time to take in a movie during the K Jo 105 point 5 Canned Film Festival at Regal Hollywood Cinemas. 

Starting today, and every Tuesday and Wednesday through August 6th, Regal will show two movies where the price of admission is just a non-perishable food item. The movies are geared toward children. 

General Manager of Regal Hollywood Theatre Mike Glore says this is done as a tie in with Second Harvest Food Bank 

"To try to help people out that can use the help and it's a side benefit because people can come in to watch these movies for just a canned food donation, a nonperishable food donation per person that comes in the door, and it helps fill the pantries of those people in need," Glore tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. 

$1 tickets can also be purchased in lieu of a food donation to see the movies, which will be donated to charity as well.  

Glore says the event is always well received 

"It's a double ended win in the fact that people who may not be able to afford a regular ticket can come out for next to nothing and watch a movie, and then what they're doing is also benefitting other people by bringing in those donations," Glore explains.  "So, everybody makes out and people stop by and buy their popcorn at our concession stand so we're good with that too." 

Glore says Mosaic will also be on hand during the event in the lobby, leading kids in some sort of healthy activity  

"Whether that may be talking to the kids about dietary, you know spin the wheel and tell me have you had this vegetable, or physical activities," Glore says.  "Sometimes they bring a set of, I believe it's pig lungs, and a doctor from Mosaic and they talk about respiratory and then of course our most popular week for activity is a bike blender." 

Glore says kids will ride on the bike blender and make some sort of fruit smoothie or salsa on the day, which is always fun.  

Sing 2 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish kick off the film festival today and tomorrow with showings at 11 am.  

A schedule of movies can be found by visiting Regal's website as well as K Jo's, Second Harvest's, and the K Jo Facebook page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749575398403.jpeg" alt="The K Jo 105.5 van sits at Regal Hollywood Theatres during the K Jo Canned Film Festival/ Photo courtesy of K Jo 105.5" />
 <figcaption>The K Jo 105.5 van sits at Regal Hollywood Theatres during the K Jo Canned Film Festival/ Photo courtesy of K Jo 105.5</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE Need a break from the summer heat? It's the perfect time to take in a movie during the K Jo 105 point 5 Canned Film Festival at Regal Hollywood Cinemas. Starting today, and every Tuesday and Wednesday through August 6th, Regal will show two movies where the price of admission is just a non-perishable food item. The movies are geared toward children. General Manager of Regal Hollywood Theatre Mike Glore says this is done as a tie in with Second Harvest Food Bank "To try to help people out that can use the help and it's a side benefit because people can come in to watch these movies for just a canned food donation, a nonperishable food donation per person that comes in the door, and it helps fill the pantries of those people in need," Glore tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. $1 tickets can also be purchased in lieu of a food donation to see the movies, which will be donated to charity as well. Glore says the event is always well received "It's a double ended win in the fact that people who may not be able to afford a regular ticket can come out for next to nothing and watch a movie, and then what they're doing is also benefitting other people by bringing in those donations," Glore explains. "So, everybody makes out and people stop by and buy their popcorn at our concession stand so we're good with that too." Glore says Mosaic will also be on hand during the event in the lobby, leading kids in some sort of healthy activity "Whether that may be talking to the kids about dietary, you know spin the wheel and tell me have you had this vegetable, or physical activities," Glore says. "Sometimes they bring a set of, I believe it's pig lungs, and a doctor from Mosaic and they talk about respiratory and then of course our most popular week for activity is a bike blender." Glore says kids will ride on the bike blender and make some sort of fruit smoothie or salsa on the day, which is always fun. Sing 2 and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish kick off the film festival today and tomorrow with showings at 11 am. A schedule of movies can be found by visiting Regal's website as well as K Jo's, Second Harvest's, and the K Jo Facebook page.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749575458520.jpeg" alt="The movie schedule for this years K Jo 105.5 Canned Film Festival.&nbsp; Movies will be shown at 11am each day, unless otherwise noted/ Photo courtesy of K Jo 105.5" />
 <figcaption>The movie schedule for this years K Jo 105.5 Canned Film Festival.&nbsp; Movies will be shown at 11am each day, unless otherwise noted/ Photo courtesy of K Jo 105.5</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

K Jo Canned Film Festival to benefit Second Harvest

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post <div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6GyQA3pmRXdqltl9cMC3eb?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/2bGuqrc3BekwGA9jfwO7k1?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

Former KFEQ broadcaster, Bob Orf, says
his election to the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame surprised him.

Orf, the longtime voice of the Missouri
Western State University Griffons, says it surprises him to be in the 2025
class.

“I’m not sure I belong in there. I
thought maybe I’d be elected to a Hall of Shame, not a Hall of Fame,” Orf tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s great. It’s an honor to be sure. I look at some of
the people that are already in there and some of the people going in and, boy,
that brings back a lot of memories in many ways.”

Orf was among the nine individuals, one
Special Olympian, and one team to be elected to the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall
of Fame in 2025.

Though known as the Voice of the Griffons
for years, Orf did much more than broadcast Missouri Western State University
football and basketball.&nbsp; Orf, a huge fan
of boxing, served as a ring announcer for boxing matches held at the Civic
Arena and broadcast throughout the world.

“I was lucky enough to do two broadcasts
on NBC-TV, one on ESPN, and one on Madison Square Garden Sports,” Orf says. “And
those are live. They weren’t taped and shown at 2:30 in the morning or
something.”

Orf says he is pleased to be included in
the class that will also induct St. Joseph boxing legend, Rob Calloway. Orf sat
ringside for many big Calloway victories and was ring announcer for one
championship fight.

At one event at the Civic Arena, Orf got
a chance to meet famed boxing promoter, Don King. Though, when he went to the
Civic Arena offices to meet King, he was greeted by King’s body guard who gave
him specific instructions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749568932219.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostFormer KFEQ broadcaster, Bob Orf, says
his election to the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame surprised him.Orf, the longtime voice of the Missouri
Western State University Griffons, says it surprises him to be in the 2025
class.“I’m not sure I belong in there. I
thought maybe I’d be elected to a Hall of Shame, not a Hall of Fame,” Orf tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “It’s great. It’s an honor to be sure. I look at some of
the people that are already in there and some of the people going in and, boy,
that brings back a lot of memories in many ways.”Orf was among the nine individuals, one
Special Olympian, and one team to be elected to the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall
of Fame in 2025.Though known as the Voice of the Griffons
for years, Orf did much more than broadcast Missouri Western State University
football and basketball.&nbsp; Orf, a huge fan
of boxing, served as a ring announcer for boxing matches held at the Civic
Arena and broadcast throughout the world.“I was lucky enough to do two broadcasts
on NBC-TV, one on ESPN, and one on Madison Square Garden Sports,” Orf says. “And
those are live. They weren’t taped and shown at 2:30 in the morning or
something.”Orf says he is pleased to be included in
the class that will also induct St. Joseph boxing legend, Rob Calloway. Orf sat
ringside for many big Calloway victories and was ring announcer for one
championship fight.At one event at the Civic Arena, Orf got
a chance to meet famed boxing promoter, Don King. Though, when he went to the
Civic Arena offices to meet King, he was greeted by King’s body guard who gave
him specific instructions.“Stay here and don’t move,” Orf recalls
the bodyguard telling him. “I’m not going to move and the guy turns away from
me and I notice he’s got shoulder holster with a pistol in it. He was his
bodyguard. Don King comes out smoking that cigar and said, ‘You did a great job.
You were really good.’”Orf also remembers when heavyweight champion, Larry Holmes, visited St. Joseph to be on hand when his brother, Mark, fought as the main event at the Civic Arena. Holmes entered the ring to wave to the crowd that night.The 2025 class features NFL
players, a sports broadcaster, coaches, and a men's softball star among the
nine individuals chosen. One area team will also be enshrined, as well as a
Special Olympics Athlete of the Year. The 2025 Hall of Fame class
includes:&nbsp; Bob Boyles – Seven Time AAU
Powerlifting Champion/Personal Trainer Rob Calloway – Local Boxing Legend
Mike Habermehl – PGA Club
Professional/Instructor/MWSU Golf Coach Elijah Lee – Kansas State
Football/National Football League Chris Miljavac – Men’s Fastpitch
Softball Star Bob Orf – Radio Broadcasting
Personality/Voice of Missouri Western Athletics Justin Thornton – Multisport
Central High School Star/University of Kansas Football Adam Selkirk – Three-time Missouri
State High School Tennis Champion Don Tabor – Bishop LeBlond/Benton
High School Football Coaching Legend 1977 Bishop LeBlond Boys
Basketball State Champions Chris Ringot – Special Olympics
Area Athlete of the Year<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0bVm0aFexvFrRtBRXHPwgm?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.