The state Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit targeting the voter-approved measures

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

Months after Missouri voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">overwhelmingly approved a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave</a>&nbsp;requirements, the new laws face challenges this week in court and the state legislature.&nbsp;

On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court Court heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to strike down Proposition A, which guarantees sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers and gradually hikes the minimum wage to $15.&nbsp;

A day earlier, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a bill repealing the sick leave law and modifying the minimum wage.&nbsp;

“This is a one-two punch to businesses, and it creates a one size fits all approach,” said Republican state Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton, who is sponsoring the legislation targeting the paid sick leave law.&nbsp;

A coalition of business groups and individuals argued Wednesday morning to the Missouri Supreme Court that the minimum wage and paid sick leave laws should be thrown out for violating constitutional rules on ballot initiatives.

“Both on the statutory side and the constitutional side, voters were misled,” Marc Ellinger, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told the court. “The constitution was not complied with.”

The lawsuit,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">&nbsp;filed late last year</a>, argues the election results should be overturned because of several alleged constitutional violations, including violations of the state constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++50&amp;bid=31808&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single-subject requirement&nbsp;</a>and a lack of a clear title.&nbsp;

It also contends that sick time and minimum wage are distinct issues that violate the single-subject rule, which should result in the election outcome being invalidated. It requests a new election be held, alleging the ballot title, which includes a summary of the proposition and its potential cost to the state, was misleading.&nbsp;

“This case is an example of where all of those procedures have been ignored,” Ellinger said.

A lawyer for Missouri Jobs with Justice, which led the campaign in support of Proposition A, said the court should uphold the law if at all possible, since voters approved it.

“The challengers ask you to overturn the will of the voters who exercised their fundamental right of the initiative,” said attorney Loretta Haggard, “based on technical issues that were not raised before the election.”

The measure won by a margin of over 400,000 votes. Haggard and other attorneys representing the responding parties wrote in a recent filing that the plaintiffs are asking the court “to tell these voters that their votes do not matter, and the court, not the people, will decide whether Proposition A should stay in effect,” calling it an “extraordinary request.”&nbsp;

Andrew Crane, an assistant attorney general representing the Secretary of State on Wednesday, defended the single subject of employee compensation, saying sick leave and pay “logically relate together…&nbsp;these are the kind things that employees and lawyers consider in any hiring decision.”&nbsp;

Robert Tillman, representing the auditor’s office, defended the fiscal note summary and said the plaintiffs didn’t prove any alleged irregularities that would have impacted the election.

“Even if contestants could establish election irregularities, they must then demonstrate that such irregularity sufficiently cast doubt for the entire election, to justify a new election.” Tillman said. “…As you can see from the record, contestants have offered no such evidence.”

The judges asked a few questions about whether they have jurisdiction to review the case, or whether a lower court would be the more appropriate venue.

Prop A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of numerous unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, as well as over 500 business owners.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45428" target="_blank">group of businesses filed</a>&nbsp;a friend-of-the-court brief in this case defending the proposition.&nbsp;

Under the law, beginning May 1, the law requires employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.&nbsp;

On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB567&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">a bill in Missouri’s House</a>&nbsp;to overturn the sick leave provisions and modify the minimum wage provisions was given initial approval. It needs to be approved one more time in the House before heading to the Senate for consideration.

Because the measure changed state law and not the constitution, the legislature can modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.

Gallick’s bill would repeal the paid sick leave provisions approved by voters.

It would also modify the minimum wage increase by no longer indexing it to inflation, a policy that has been<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/new-paid-sick-leave-requirement-targeted-by-missouri-republicans/">&nbsp;in place since 2007</a>. The minimum wage would still increase to $15 per hour in 2026, as voters approved, but it would not be adjusted for inflation thereafter.&nbsp;

Gallick has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/new-paid-sick-leave-requirement-targeted-by-missouri-republicans/">argued</a>&nbsp;employees will “abuse” the sick leave.

In states that have adopted sick leave mandates, employees take, on average, two more sick days a year than prior to the law going into effect, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26832/w26832.pdf" target="_blank">National Bureau of Economic Research report</a>&nbsp;found.

<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/paid-sick-leave-2023/" target="_blank">Studies</a>&nbsp;have found that offering paid sick time can increase workers’ productivity and reduce illness, and generally adds little or nothing to business expenses.

Republican state Rep. Scott Miller from St. Charles said “just because 57% of the people that voted that day, voted in favor of something, that doesn’t make it right. “They’re taking away the choice of businesses to engage in free market.”

Businesses are not equipped to handle the additional expenses from the proposition, said Republican state Rep. Jeff Vernetti of from Camdenton.

“I know that the will of the people will be brought up several times in this and I think that we’ve also got to represent the 87 counties that did not vote for this,” Vernetti said. “I think it’s our duty to respect the will of the people, but also at the same time, safeguard the long term prosperity of Missouri.”

Rep. Eric Woods, a Democrat from Kansas City, pointed out that Prop A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-missouri-proposition-a-raise-minimum-wage.html" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;in rural counties as well, including Clark, Adair, Mississippi and Henry.

“This isn’t a situation where Proposition A just passed in the cities,” he said, “this was a broad acceptance percentage wise.”&nbsp;

Lawmakers are wrong to treat voters as having been oblivious to what they were voting on, said state Rep. Keri Ingle, a Democrat from Lee’s Summit.

“The part that irks me is that you guys repeatedly call your constituents dumb,” Ingle said. “You say that they’re too stupid to understand what they voted for. I mean, you don’t use those words, but they hear you loud and clear, and they continue to vote for these policies.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1686689481146.png" alt=" The Supreme Court of Missouri (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> The Supreme Court of Missouri (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The state Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a lawsuit targeting the voter-approved measures</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Months after Missouri voters&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">overwhelmingly approved a minimum wage increase and paid sick leave</a>&nbsp;requirements, the new laws face challenges this week in court and the state legislature.&nbsp;On Wednesday, the state Supreme Court Court heard arguments in a lawsuit seeking to strike down Proposition A, which guarantees sick leave for hundreds of thousands of workers and gradually hikes the minimum wage to $15.&nbsp;A day earlier, the Missouri House gave initial approval to a bill repealing the sick leave law and modifying the minimum wage.&nbsp;“This is a one-two punch to businesses, and it creates a one size fits all approach,” said Republican state Rep. Sherri Gallick of Belton, who is sponsoring the legislation targeting the paid sick leave law.&nbsp;A coalition of business groups and individuals argued Wednesday morning to the Missouri Supreme Court that the minimum wage and paid sick leave laws should be thrown out for violating constitutional rules on ballot initiatives.“Both on the statutory side and the constitutional side, voters were misled,” Marc Ellinger, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, told the court. “The constitution was not complied with.”The lawsuit,<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/12/09/business-groups-file-legal-challenge-to-voter-approved-minimum-wage-hike-sick-leave/">&nbsp;filed late last year</a>, argues the election results should be overturned because of several alleged constitutional violations, including violations of the state constitution’s&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++50&amp;bid=31808&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single-subject requirement&nbsp;</a>and a lack of a clear title.&nbsp;It also contends that sick time and minimum wage are distinct issues that violate the single-subject rule, which should result in the election outcome being invalidated. It requests a new election be held, alleging the ballot title, which includes a summary of the proposition and its potential cost to the state, was misleading.&nbsp;“This case is an example of where all of those procedures have been ignored,” Ellinger said.A lawyer for Missouri Jobs with Justice, which led the campaign in support of Proposition A, said the court should uphold the law if at all possible, since voters approved it.“The challengers ask you to overturn the will of the voters who exercised their fundamental right of the initiative,” said attorney Loretta Haggard, “based on technical issues that were not raised before the election.”The measure won by a margin of over 400,000 votes. Haggard and other attorneys representing the responding parties wrote in a recent filing that the plaintiffs are asking the court “to tell these voters that their votes do not matter, and the court, not the people, will decide whether Proposition A should stay in effect,” calling it an “extraordinary request.”&nbsp;Andrew Crane, an assistant attorney general representing the Secretary of State on Wednesday, defended the single subject of employee compensation, saying sick leave and pay “logically relate together…&nbsp;these are the kind things that employees and lawyers consider in any hiring decision.”&nbsp;Robert Tillman, representing the auditor’s office, defended the fiscal note summary and said the plaintiffs didn’t prove any alleged irregularities that would have impacted the election.“Even if contestants could establish election irregularities, they must then demonstrate that such irregularity sufficiently cast doubt for the entire election, to justify a new election.” Tillman said. “…As you can see from the record, contestants have offered no such evidence.”The judges asked a few questions about whether they have jurisdiction to review the case, or whether a lower court would be the more appropriate venue.Prop A&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/11/05/missourians-vote-to-increase-minimum-wage-require-paid-sick-leave/">passed</a>&nbsp;with 58% of the vote and had the support of numerous unions, workers’ advocacy groups, social justice and civil rights organizations, as well as over 500 business owners.&nbsp;A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=45428" target="_blank">group of businesses filed</a>&nbsp;a friend-of-the-court brief in this case defending the proposition.&nbsp;Under the law, beginning May 1, the law requires employers with business receipts greater than $500,000 a year to provide at least one hour of paid leave for every 30 hours worked. Employers with fewer than 15 workers must allow workers to earn at least 40 hours per year, with larger employers mandated to allow at least 56 hours.&nbsp;<h2>Legislature</h2>On Tuesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/bill.aspx?bill=HB567&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">a bill in Missouri’s House</a>&nbsp;to overturn the sick leave provisions and modify the minimum wage provisions was given initial approval. It needs to be approved one more time in the House before heading to the Senate for consideration.Because the measure changed state law and not the constitution, the legislature can modify or overturn it without returning for a new vote of the people.Gallick’s bill would repeal the paid sick leave provisions approved by voters.It would also modify the minimum wage increase by no longer indexing it to inflation, a policy that has been<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/new-paid-sick-leave-requirement-targeted-by-missouri-republicans/">&nbsp;in place since 2007</a>. The minimum wage would still increase to $15 per hour in 2026, as voters approved, but it would not be adjusted for inflation thereafter.&nbsp;Gallick has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/20/new-paid-sick-leave-requirement-targeted-by-missouri-republicans/">argued</a>&nbsp;employees will “abuse” the sick leave.In states that have adopted sick leave mandates, employees take, on average, two more sick days a year than prior to the law going into effect, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26832/w26832.pdf" target="_blank">National Bureau of Economic Research report</a>&nbsp;found.<a href="https://www.epi.org/publication/paid-sick-leave-2023/" target="_blank">Studies</a>&nbsp;have found that offering paid sick time can increase workers’ productivity and reduce illness, and generally adds little or nothing to business expenses.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741862216947.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Republican state Rep. Scott Miller from St. Charles said “just because 57% of the people that voted that day, voted in favor of something, that doesn’t make it right. “They’re taking away the choice of businesses to engage in free market.”Businesses are not equipped to handle the additional expenses from the proposition, said Republican state Rep. Jeff Vernetti of from Camdenton.“I know that the will of the people will be brought up several times in this and I think that we’ve also got to represent the 87 counties that did not vote for this,” Vernetti said. “I think it’s our duty to respect the will of the people, but also at the same time, safeguard the long term prosperity of Missouri.”Rep. Eric Woods, a Democrat from Kansas City, pointed out that Prop A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/results-missouri-proposition-a-raise-minimum-wage.html" target="_blank">passed</a>&nbsp;in rural counties as well, including Clark, Adair, Mississippi and Henry.“This isn’t a situation where Proposition A just passed in the cities,” he said, “this was a broad acceptance percentage wise.”&nbsp;Lawmakers are wrong to treat voters as having been oblivious to what they were voting on, said state Rep. Keri Ingle, a Democrat from Lee’s Summit.“The part that irks me is that you guys repeatedly call your constituents dumb,” Ingle said. “You say that they’re too stupid to understand what they voted for. I mean, you don’t use those words, but they hear you loud and clear, and they continue to vote for these policies.”

Lawmakers, business groups push rollback of Mo. minimum wage hike, sick leave law

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman&nbsp; in connection with two instances of criminal tresspass.

On Wednesday, police arrested 44-year-old Angel R. Moorshead of Atchison, on a District Court warrant for theft and criminal trespass that occurred at Massasoit Apartments, 221 North 3rd, on February 2, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. She is also accused of a similar crime at Stop and Go, 405 U.S.59, on February 19.&nbsp;

She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741785692022.png" alt="Moorshead-photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Moorshead-photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas woman&nbsp; in connection with two instances of criminal tresspass.On Wednesday, police arrested 44-year-old Angel R. Moorshead of Atchison, on a District Court warrant for theft and criminal trespass that occurred at Massasoit Apartments, 221 North 3rd, on February 2, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson. She is also accused of a similar crime at Stop and Go, 405 U.S.59, on February 19.&nbsp;She remains in custody, according to online jail records.

Police: Kan. woman jailed for 2 instances of criminal trespass

Six candidates for
the St. Joseph School Board answered a variety of questions during a candidate
forum Wednesday morning sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and
broadcast live on KFEQ and streamed on St. Joseph Post.

St. Joseph voters
will elect two to the Board of Education April 8th.

A long-range plan
devised by the St. Joseph School District got the backing of nearly all
candidates for the school board, but not all.

Candidate Jennifer
Kerns said the St. Joseph School District needs to change.

“We definitely
need the change and we all know that,” Kerns told those gathered at the Stoney
Creek Hotel as well as the broadcast and streaming audience. “Our school
district needs an uplift, a facelift, I would say. Whatever’s going to move
this district forward is what I support.”

The St. Joseph
School District devised and the Board of Education approved a long-range plan
spanning five years, 2024 – 2029.

Candidate Brian
Kirk said he’s glad the district has devised a long-range plan, because he
doesn’t want to see the district look backwards.

“Why can’t we just
keep the school district the way it was 30 years ago when I loved it so much? And
I understand that, too. But I think a strength of our district is we do have
leadership that said we need to be looking forward,” Kirk stated. “We need to educate
students we have today, not just focus on what we were doing 30 years ago.”

Incumbent school
board member, Kim Miller, said the long-range plan approved by the school board
can be tweaked.

“Not everything
has been set in stone,” according to Miller. “Not everything has been decided.
But it gives community opportunity to input, if there are things that they
would like to see happen as that long-range plan moves along.”

As part of that
long-range plan, the St. Joseph School District has placed a $157 million bond
issue on the ballot April 8th that would pay to build a new high
school, moving the district from a three high school model to two high schools.
The bond issue would raise the school levy by 60 cents.

Candidate James
Mrkvicka said he is worried some St. Joseph residents cannot afford the
increased levy needed to build a new high school.

“That’s my hesitation
with the additional tax,” Mrkvicka said. “I think there’s a good way forward,
but maybe we should look for revisions.”

Former school
board member, Kenneth Reeder, flatly rejects the long-range plan.

“This plan is
misguided, not the correct plan,” Reeder said. “We only need to build one new
high school. It needs to be on the east side of 29, about 18-Hundred people.
Benton and Lafayette; leave them alone. All your opposition goes away then.”

Yet, candidate
Cassandra Veale supports the plan, saying the current structure provides unequal opportunities to students.

“I think we all
know that communities that have thriving public education are thriving
communities and I think that that’s an important piece to move St. Joseph
forward,” Veale said.

The candidates
answered questions on the structure of the school district, including the
preferred formula for middle schools, teacher compensation, and how to help
parents better prepare their children for school.

On the academic
progress of students, Veale said the district is moving in the right direction.

“I think one thing
that we need to do is constantly continue to look at the data, look at where
kids are at on their benchmarks, look at what we’re doing and what’s working
correctly and what could use a little bit more support,” Veale said.

Reeder advocated for
more classroom time.

“That’s what’s going
to help the most, more classroom time, more classroom time in front of that
teacher, more classroom time to learn,” according to Reeder.

Mrkvicka said the
district must to get families involved.

“I know that the
scores are trending upward and that’s a great thing, but without family
engagement I think there’s going to be some real challenges,” Mrkvicka stated.

Miller referred to
the district plan to improve academic performance, stating that it is working.

“So that has to do
with attendance, it has to do with family walking along side those students for
their success, as the administration and teachers work on those issues that
will encourage that success,” according to Miller.

Kirk said a focus on
early childhood education would improve academics.

“If we could have
more children involved in early childhood education that means they’re being
socialized at a much earlier age as to what it means to be in a school
environment to be learning with other kids,” Kirk said.

And Kerns said it
truly does take a village to raise a child.

“It does. It takes
a village to raise kids,” Kerns said. “Even in the classroom, when I see two different
facilities, one that does encourage family engagement and one that doesn’t, you
always see the one that encourages the family to be involved, they succeed much
better. The kid’s education and academics are better as well.”

School board
member, Isaura Garcia, chose not to run for re-election.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741791345446.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce school board candidate forum at Stoney Creek Hotel/Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce school board candidate forum at Stoney Creek Hotel/Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSix candidates for
the St. Joseph School Board answered a variety of questions during a candidate
forum Wednesday morning sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce and
broadcast live on KFEQ and streamed on St. Joseph Post.St. Joseph voters
will elect two to the Board of Education April 8th.A long-range plan
devised by the St. Joseph School District got the backing of nearly all
candidates for the school board, but not all.Candidate Jennifer
Kerns said the St. Joseph School District needs to change.“We definitely
need the change and we all know that,” Kerns told those gathered at the Stoney
Creek Hotel as well as the broadcast and streaming audience. “Our school
district needs an uplift, a facelift, I would say. Whatever’s going to move
this district forward is what I support.”The St. Joseph
School District devised and the Board of Education approved a long-range plan
spanning five years, 2024 – 2029.Candidate Brian
Kirk said he’s glad the district has devised a long-range plan, because he
doesn’t want to see the district look backwards.“Why can’t we just
keep the school district the way it was 30 years ago when I loved it so much? And
I understand that, too. But I think a strength of our district is we do have
leadership that said we need to be looking forward,” Kirk stated. “We need to educate
students we have today, not just focus on what we were doing 30 years ago.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741812724341.jpeg" alt="(From R to L) Cassandra Veale,&nbsp;Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and host Brent Martin/Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>(From R to L) Cassandra Veale,&nbsp;Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and host Brent Martin/Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Incumbent school
board member, Kim Miller, said the long-range plan approved by the school board
can be tweaked.“Not everything
has been set in stone,” according to Miller. “Not everything has been decided.
But it gives community opportunity to input, if there are things that they
would like to see happen as that long-range plan moves along.”As part of that
long-range plan, the St. Joseph School District has placed a $157 million bond
issue on the ballot April 8th that would pay to build a new high
school, moving the district from a three high school model to two high schools.
The bond issue would raise the school levy by 60 cents.Candidate James
Mrkvicka said he is worried some St. Joseph residents cannot afford the
increased levy needed to build a new high school.“That’s my hesitation
with the additional tax,” Mrkvicka said. “I think there’s a good way forward,
but maybe we should look for revisions.”Former school
board member, Kenneth Reeder, flatly rejects the long-range plan.“This plan is
misguided, not the correct plan,” Reeder said. “We only need to build one new
high school. It needs to be on the east side of 29, about 18-Hundred people.
Benton and Lafayette; leave them alone. All your opposition goes away then.”Yet, candidate
Cassandra Veale supports the plan, saying the current structure provides unequal opportunities to students.“I think we all
know that communities that have thriving public education are thriving
communities and I think that that’s an important piece to move St. Joseph
forward,” Veale said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741812902196.jpeg" alt="(From L to R)&nbsp;Jennifer Kerns,&nbsp;Brian Kirk,&nbsp;Kim Miller, and host Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>(From L to R)&nbsp;Jennifer Kerns,&nbsp;Brian Kirk,&nbsp;Kim Miller, and host Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>The candidates
answered questions on the structure of the school district, including the
preferred formula for middle schools, teacher compensation, and how to help
parents better prepare their children for school.On the academic
progress of students, Veale said the district is moving in the right direction.“I think one thing
that we need to do is constantly continue to look at the data, look at where
kids are at on their benchmarks, look at what we’re doing and what’s working
correctly and what could use a little bit more support,” Veale said.Reeder advocated for
more classroom time.“That’s what’s going
to help the most, more classroom time, more classroom time in front of that
teacher, more classroom time to learn,” according to Reeder.Mrkvicka said the
district must to get families involved.“I know that the
scores are trending upward and that’s a great thing, but without family
engagement I think there’s going to be some real challenges,” Mrkvicka stated.Miller referred to
the district plan to improve academic performance, stating that it is working.“So that has to do
with attendance, it has to do with family walking along side those students for
their success, as the administration and teachers work on those issues that
will encourage that success,” according to Miller.Kirk said a focus on
early childhood education would improve academics.“If we could have
more children involved in early childhood education that means they’re being
socialized at a much earlier age as to what it means to be in a school
environment to be learning with other kids,” Kirk said.And Kerns said it
truly does take a village to raise a child.“It does. It takes
a village to raise kids,” Kerns said. “Even in the classroom, when I see two different
facilities, one that does encourage family engagement and one that doesn’t, you
always see the one that encourages the family to be involved, they succeed much
better. The kid’s education and academics are better as well.”School board
member, Isaura Garcia, chose not to run for re-election.FULL FORUM<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-School-Board-Candidate-forum-e302ku3/a-abr0usr" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph school board candidates answer questions at Chamber forum

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-3122025-e302no0/a-abr12ha" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-3122025-e302nm9/a-abr12f1" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

Festivities surrounding the Apple Blossom parade kick off this month with the Apple Blossom Royalty Pageant.  

Executive Director Michelle Wolfe says there has been good turnout for this year's pageant 

"14 princesses, 12 junior queens, and six queen candidates right now," Wolfe tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

In the past, Wolfe says a lower turnout forced the Apple Blossom to extend the deadline.   

"But this year we are not extending the deadline, because we have plenty, I mean we will take more until the deadline, but we're not going to extend the deadline," Wolfe says.  "Gives me more time to get everything done." 

Wolfe says it feels wonderful to not have to extend the deadline 

"Because sometimes we're worried like are we going to have to cancel the pageant because we don't get enough people, I've done this for 25 years and I've never had to do that, so we're excited," Wolfe explains. 

Registration for the pageant ends this Saturday March 15th. Wolfe says the pageant will be held on March 29th. 

"It will start at 6pm for the princesses, the juniors will start 10 minutes after the end of the princess, and the queen will start 10 minutes after the juniors," Wolfe says.  "There's no admission charge; it's at the Missouri Theatre." 

You can register for the pageant by clicking <a href="https://appleblossomparade.com/pageant/">HERE</a>.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741794563886.jpeg" alt="Former winners of the Apple Blossom Pageant/ Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former winners of the Apple Blossom Pageant/ Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostFestivities surrounding the Apple Blossom parade kick off this month with the Apple Blossom Royalty Pageant. Executive Director Michelle Wolfe says there has been good turnout for this year's pageant "14 princesses, 12 junior queens, and six queen candidates right now," Wolfe tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. In the past, Wolfe says a lower turnout forced the Apple Blossom to extend the deadline. "But this year we are not extending the deadline, because we have plenty, I mean we will take more until the deadline, but we're not going to extend the deadline," Wolfe says. "Gives me more time to get everything done." Wolfe says it feels wonderful to not have to extend the deadline "Because sometimes we're worried like are we going to have to cancel the pageant because we don't get enough people, I've done this for 25 years and I've never had to do that, so we're excited," Wolfe explains. Registration for the pageant ends this Saturday March 15th. Wolfe says the pageant will be held on March 29th. "It will start at 6pm for the princesses, the juniors will start 10 minutes after the end of the princess, and the queen will start 10 minutes after the juniors," Wolfe says. "There's no admission charge; it's at the Missouri Theatre." You can register for the pageant by clicking <a href="https://appleblossomparade.com/pageant/">HERE</a>.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Deadline to register for the Apple Blossom Parade fast approaching

Six candidates vying for two seats on the St. Joseph School Board participated in a candidate forum, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;

If you missed it, below you can listen or watch the forum, which was part of the KFEQ Hotline on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741791345446.jpeg" alt="Several attended the St. Joseph Public Affairs Coffee that held a School Board Candidate Forum hosted by Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Several attended the St. Joseph Public Affairs Coffee that held a School Board Candidate Forum hosted by Brent Martin/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKESt. Joseph PostSix candidates vying for two seats on the St. Joseph School Board participated in a candidate forum, hosted by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.&nbsp;If you missed it, below you can listen or watch the forum, which was part of the KFEQ Hotline on Wednesday morning.&nbsp;LISTEN<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-School-Board-Candidate-forum-e302ku3/a-abr0usr" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>WATCH<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C_xekaOsJY4?si=mYRKO0baddfDyZc_&amp;start=597" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce School Board Candidate Forum LISTEN/WATCH

KFEQ Radio
broadcasts live a St. Joseph Board of Education candidate forum Wednesday morning.

The forum, at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee, will also be
streamed at the Eagle Media website, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/">St. Joseph Post</a>.

<a href="https://youtube.com/live/C_xekaOsJY4?feature=share">YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STREAM</a>.

The event begins
at 7:30am Wednesday morning at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, 1201
N. Woodbine Road. The broadcast begins at 8am.

Voters in the St.
Joseph School District will elect two candidates to the Board of Education
April 8th. Board member, Isaura Garcia, has chosen not to run for re-election.
Board member, Kim Miller, is running for re-election, one of six candidates on
the ballot. Miller and the five other candidates: Brian Kirk, Cassandra Veale,
Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and Jennifer Kerns have been invited to
participate.

KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post News Director Brent Martin will moderate the forum.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729624606896.jpeg" alt="Previous St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce candidate forum/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Previous St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce candidate forum/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KFEQ Radio
broadcasts live a St. Joseph Board of Education candidate forum Wednesday morning.The forum, at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Coffee, will also be
streamed at the Eagle Media website, <a href="https://stjosephpost.com/">St. Joseph Post</a>.<a href="https://youtube.com/live/C_xekaOsJY4?feature=share">YOU CAN CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STREAM</a>.The event begins
at 7:30am Wednesday morning at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center, 1201
N. Woodbine Road. The broadcast begins at 8am.Voters in the St.
Joseph School District will elect two candidates to the Board of Education
April 8th. Board member, Isaura Garcia, has chosen not to run for re-election.
Board member, Kim Miller, is running for re-election, one of six candidates on
the ballot. Miller and the five other candidates: Brian Kirk, Cassandra Veale,
Kenneth Reeder, James Mrkvicka, and Jennifer Kerns have been invited to
participate.KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post News Director Brent Martin will moderate the forum.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph Chamber school board candidate forum to be broadcast on KFEQ

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services still hasn’t indicated how soon it will act on Planned Parenthood’s medication abortion complication plan

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

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is doubling down on his demand that Planned Parenthood stop performing a type of abortion that its clinics aren’t actually offering patients.&nbsp;

On Monday, Bailey issued a notice of an intent to serve a cease and desist letter to Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in the Kansas City metro and Columbia.

It’s an identical threat to the one Bailey issued earlier this month to Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which operates clinics in the St. Louis metro, Springfield and Rolla.

Bailey is demanding the clinics not perform medication abortions without an approved complication plan from state health officials.&nbsp;

But clinic leadership has said they have no intention of offering medication abortion without an approved complication plan, which they have submitted for approval to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The health department has not yet responded with a timeline for approval.

Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, in a written response this week to the attorney general’s office called Bailey’s notice “baseless political posturing” and an attempt at intimidation.

Rather than urging the state health department to respond to the proposed complication plan, Wales and Riphagen wrote, Bailey has instead “threatened to ‘take action’ against (Planned Parenthood) for hypothetical, future medication abortion which you have no reason to believe will occur without such a plan.”

Asked if the attorney general’s office has any reason to believe Planned Parenthood intends to start providing medication abortions without authorization from the state, James Lawson, deputy chief of staff in Bailey’s office, said Planned Parenthood “has a documented history of subverting state law and providing unauthorized services.”

“This cease and desist letter provides a forcing function to ensure basic health and safety standards,” Lawson said.&nbsp;

As of Wednesday, only&nbsp;a handful of procedural abortions have been performed up to 12 weeks gestation, and only at the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City.

Wales previously said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state signs off on a complication plan.&nbsp;

Complication plans are “important to ensure the safety of patients because medication abortions will likely be completed at home without a physician present,” Sami Jo Freeman, a spokeswoman with the department, said in an emailed statement in late February.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;as opposed to in-clinic procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group.&nbsp;

In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad, including to states where abortion remains illegal.&nbsp;

Bailey is also among a trio of attorneys general who filed litigation asking a judge in Texas to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/22/missouri-mifepristone-lawsuit-andrew-bailey-teen-pregnancy/">order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone,</a>&nbsp;one of two medications prescribed to induce chemical abortions.

According to the FDA,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation#:~:text=When%20did%20the%20FDA%20approve,ten%20weeks%20gestation%20in%202016." target="_blank">mifepristone is safe to use if taken as directed.</a>&nbsp;Cramping and bleeding are common side effects of the medication. Those prescribed mifepristone are urged to call their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain or a fever. The same guidance applies to those who recently underwent procedural abortions, experienced miscarriages or delivered a baby.&nbsp;

Since the medication was approved for use 28 years ago, only 32 deaths have been reported associated with mifepristone, according to the FDA.&nbsp;

Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart procedural abortions.

In an email last month, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Wednesday, the office had not filed an appeal.

“Should the attorney general wish to appeal, there are the correct avenues to go through an appeal,” Riphagen said. “Instead, sending a cease and desist that ignores both the law and the truth leads us to the conclusion that this is politically motivated.”

Court to hear more arguments Wednesday&nbsp;

Shortly after Missourians in November narrowly approved Amendment 3, granting the constitutional right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued the state in Jackson County arguing dozens of regulations on abortion providers were no longer constitutional.

Several days later, Bailey’s office filed a petition in Cole County seeking to throw out Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit based on a 2010 settlement agreement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“The terms of the contract were plain: the state will let (Planned Parenthood) operate in partial compliance with the state’s licensure requirements in exchange for (Planned Parenthood’s) promise never to challenge Missouri’s abortion licensure regulations again,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a recent court filing.&nbsp;

About a week after the Jackson County ruling opened the door for procedural abortions in February, Bailey asked a Cole County judge to consider a temporary restraining order against Planned Parenthood that would halt any abortions at the Columbia and Kansas City clinics.

Planned Parenthood maintains that because the 2010 settlement was made with different federal and state constitution laws around abortion in place, the AG’s arguments are no longer relevant.

“The state is attempting to enforce an outdated agreement regarding a regime of laws and regulations that now conflict with the Missouri Constitution,” attorneys for Planned Parenthood wrote in court filings.

Planned Parenthood and the attorney general’s office are again scheduled to meet in court Wednesday morning. The hearing, to take place before Cole County Judge Daniel Green, will address Planned Parenthood’s request that the court dismiss the case or move it to Jackson County. It will also address Bailey’s request for a temporary restraining order.&nbsp;

Wales called Wednesday’s case “entirely about distraction and delay.”&nbsp;

“I don’t think what’s happening in our Amendment 3 litigation is that far removed from the federal chaos …” she said. “There is an element of creating chaos in the courts and having us respond to a million different demands and requests. It’s the same approach, fundamentally.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733518349622.png" alt="&nbsp;The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis on June 24, 2022 (Tessa Weinberg/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services still hasn’t indicated how soon it will act on Planned Parenthood’s medication abortion complication plan</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/annaspoerre/">ANNA SPOERRE</a>&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/02/20/state-senator-throws-first-punches-of-2024-missouri-governors-campaign/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is doubling down on his demand that Planned Parenthood stop performing a type of abortion that its clinics aren’t actually offering patients.&nbsp;On Monday, Bailey issued a notice of an intent to serve a cease and desist letter to Planned Parenthood Great Plains, which operates clinics in the Kansas City metro and Columbia.It’s an identical threat to the one Bailey issued earlier this month to Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, which operates clinics in the St. Louis metro, Springfield and Rolla.Bailey is demanding the clinics not perform medication abortions without an approved complication plan from state health officials.&nbsp;But clinic leadership has said they have no intention of offering medication abortion without an approved complication plan, which they have submitted for approval to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.The health department has not yet responded with a timeline for approval.Emily Wales, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Plains, and Margot Riphagen, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Great Rivers, in a written response this week to the attorney general’s office called Bailey’s notice “baseless political posturing” and an attempt at intimidation.Rather than urging the state health department to respond to the proposed complication plan, Wales and Riphagen wrote, Bailey has instead “threatened to ‘take action’ against (Planned Parenthood) for hypothetical, future medication abortion which you have no reason to believe will occur without such a plan.”Asked if the attorney general’s office has any reason to believe Planned Parenthood intends to start providing medication abortions without authorization from the state, James Lawson, deputy chief of staff in Bailey’s office, said Planned Parenthood “has a documented history of subverting state law and providing unauthorized services.”“This cease and desist letter provides a forcing function to ensure basic health and safety standards,” Lawson said.&nbsp;As of Wednesday, only&nbsp;a handful of procedural abortions have been performed up to 12 weeks gestation, and only at the clinics in Columbia and Kansas City.Wales previously said Planned Parenthood’s clinics in Kansas City and Columbia are stocked with abortion medication and ready to administer it as soon as the state allows. Leadership at the clinic in St. Louis said they are also ready to begin providing the medication as soon as the state signs off on a complication plan.&nbsp;Complication plans are “important to ensure the safety of patients because medication abortions will likely be completed at home without a physician present,” Sami Jo Freeman, a spokeswoman with the department, said in an emailed statement in late February.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/2024/03/medication-abortion-accounted-63-all-us-abortions-2023-increase-53-2020" target="_blank">In 2023, nearly two-thirds of abortions in the United States took place using medication</a>&nbsp;as opposed to in-clinic procedures, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group.&nbsp;In states where abortion is legal, medication that induces a miscarriage is available to patients in their first trimester of pregnancy. Patients typically take two doses of medication, the second of which is often taken at home. In recent years, a growing number of women have been ordering abortion medication from online providers in the United States and abroad, including to states where abortion remains illegal.&nbsp;Bailey is also among a trio of attorneys general who filed litigation asking a judge in Texas to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/10/22/missouri-mifepristone-lawsuit-andrew-bailey-teen-pregnancy/">order the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reinstate restrictions on mifepristone,</a>&nbsp;one of two medications prescribed to induce chemical abortions.According to the FDA,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/questions-and-answers-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation#:~:text=When%20did%20the%20FDA%20approve,ten%20weeks%20gestation%20in%202016." target="_blank">mifepristone is safe to use if taken as directed.</a>&nbsp;Cramping and bleeding are common side effects of the medication. Those prescribed mifepristone are urged to call their doctor if they experience heavy bleeding, abdominal pain or a fever. The same guidance applies to those who recently underwent procedural abortions, experienced miscarriages or delivered a baby.&nbsp;Since the medication was approved for use 28 years ago, only 32 deaths have been reported associated with mifepristone, according to the FDA.&nbsp;Bailey is also expected to appeal the most recent order out of Jackson County which allowed Planned Parenthood to restart procedural abortions.In an email last month, a spokeswoman for the attorney general said the office intends to appeal the judge’s Feb. 14 order “immediately.” As of Wednesday, the office had not filed an appeal.“Should the attorney general wish to appeal, there are the correct avenues to go through an appeal,” Riphagen said. “Instead, sending a cease and desist that ignores both the law and the truth leads us to the conclusion that this is politically motivated.”<h2>Court to hear more arguments Wednesday&nbsp;</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741779798916.png" alt=" Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey answers questions from reporters about Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive orders in January (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey answers questions from reporters about Gov. Mike Kehoe’s executive orders in January (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>Shortly after Missourians in November narrowly approved Amendment 3, granting the constitutional right to an abortion, Planned Parenthood sued the state in Jackson County arguing dozens of regulations on abortion providers were no longer constitutional.Several days later, Bailey’s office filed a petition in Cole County seeking to throw out Planned Parenthood’s lawsuit based on a 2010 settlement agreement.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The terms of the contract were plain: the state will let (Planned Parenthood) operate in partial compliance with the state’s licensure requirements in exchange for (Planned Parenthood’s) promise never to challenge Missouri’s abortion licensure regulations again,” the attorney general’s office wrote in a recent court filing.&nbsp;About a week after the Jackson County ruling opened the door for procedural abortions in February, Bailey asked a Cole County judge to consider a temporary restraining order against Planned Parenthood that would halt any abortions at the Columbia and Kansas City clinics.Planned Parenthood maintains that because the 2010 settlement was made with different federal and state constitution laws around abortion in place, the AG’s arguments are no longer relevant.“The state is attempting to enforce an outdated agreement regarding a regime of laws and regulations that now conflict with the Missouri Constitution,” attorneys for Planned Parenthood wrote in court filings.Planned Parenthood and the attorney general’s office are again scheduled to meet in court Wednesday morning. The hearing, to take place before Cole County Judge Daniel Green, will address Planned Parenthood’s request that the court dismiss the case or move it to Jackson County. It will also address Bailey’s request for a temporary restraining order.&nbsp;Wales called Wednesday’s case “entirely about distraction and delay.”&nbsp;“I don’t think what’s happening in our Amendment 3 litigation is that far removed from the federal chaos …” she said. “There is an element of creating chaos in the courts and having us respond to a million different demands and requests. It’s the same approach, fundamentally.”

Missouri AG renews demand Planned Parenthood stop abortion procedure it isn’t offering

Work is ongoing to raise money to build a new aquatic center in St. Joseph.  

The project which totals around 15 million dollars is a collaboration between the YMCA of St. Joseph, the city, and Buchanan County.  

YMCA CEO Tammy Killan says they have spearheaded raising money for the project and accept whatever money people are willing to give 

"We will take any amount, we have $5 that have been put in our donation box, and again it's $5, so if everybody would have that mentality we would be there," Killan tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  "So, the pledges can come into the YMCA, we have information on our website, we have a Venmo account, we have a QR code, we have brochures, we have postcards." 

Killan says currently the YMCA has raised more than $13-million in grants and donations.&nbsp;

"We're continuing to trickle in the funds, which also helps keep us motivated and have that hope alive that our community really wants this to happen," Killan explains.  "So, we're about just over $1.3 million away from the goal, which we have a deadline of the end of April to present back to the city to say we have secured all the funding." 

The new aquatics center will provide space for many things such as competitive swimming and aqua therapy.  It will be a space open to the public 

Killan says the advantage of an indoor center is being able to use it year-round 

"Water is a great activity to stay physically fit and to have something to do for all ages and stages, so that's the biggest feature," Killan says.  

Killan says the Y has consulted with experts and plans to build garage doors for some outside use as well 

"So, you can have an area to go out with a patio area so you can still get some sun, come back in, and we can close up those doors in the wintertime and still enjoy the aquatic center," Killan points out. 

The YMCA has until the end of next month to raise the funds 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741710733151.jpeg" alt="St. Joseph YMCA/ Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>St. Joseph YMCA/ Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Work is ongoing to raise money to build a new aquatic center in St. Joseph. The project which totals around 15 million dollars is a collaboration between the YMCA of St. Joseph, the city, and Buchanan County. YMCA CEO Tammy Killan says they have spearheaded raising money for the project and accept whatever money people are willing to give "We will take any amount, we have $5 that have been put in our donation box, and again it's $5, so if everybody would have that mentality we would be there," Killan tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, the pledges can come into the YMCA, we have information on our website, we have a Venmo account, we have a QR code, we have brochures, we have postcards." Killan says currently the YMCA has raised more than $13-million in grants and donations.&nbsp;"We're continuing to trickle in the funds, which also helps keep us motivated and have that hope alive that our community really wants this to happen," Killan explains. "So, we're about just over $1.3 million away from the goal, which we have a deadline of the end of April to present back to the city to say we have secured all the funding." The new aquatics center will provide space for many things such as competitive swimming and aqua therapy. It will be a space open to the public Killan says the advantage of an indoor center is being able to use it year-round "Water is a great activity to stay physically fit and to have something to do for all ages and stages, so that's the biggest feature," Killan says. Killan says the Y has consulted with experts and plans to build garage doors for some outside use as well "So, you can have an area to go out with a patio area so you can still get some sun, come back in, and we can close up those doors in the wintertime and still enjoy the aquatic center," Killan points out. The YMCA has until the end of next month to raise the funds You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

YMCA working to raise money for new aquatic center with deadline approaching

The University of Missouri
– Kansas City has a School of Medicine satellite campus in St. Joseph. It might
have a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph as well.

UMKC Chancellor
Mauli Agrawal says the university expanded to St. Joseph to address a shortage
of medical professionals in rural Missouri and soon hopes to also address a
severe shortage of dentists and dental hygienists.

“And so now that
we felt more comfortable with a satellite program in St. Joe because of the
medical program, we thought it’s time to address the dental shortage as well,” Agrawal
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.

Work must be done
before it becomes reality. UMKC must receive approval. It must also raise
money.

Agrawal says UMKC
has been in negotiations with Missouri Western State University about
renovating open space on its St. Joseph campus. Agrawal says UMKC estimates it
will take $12 million for renovations.

Under the
proposal, dental students would spend their first two years on the Kansas City
campus. They then would transfer to clinics on the MWSU campus in St. Joseph.
There, they will do actual dental work on low-income patients who might not
have dental insurance or not enough insurance to afford a dentist.

Agrawal says UMKC
began to consider expansion to St. Joseph after he spoke with leaders in
northern Missouri about the lack of dental care in rural Missouri. The federal
government has identified approximately 500 areas throughout the country
suffering from a severe shortage of dentists or dental hygienists. 

“In Iowa and
Nebraska, the federal government has identified four areas of shortage. In Kansas,
seven or eight. Missouri had 18; 1-8,” according to Agrawal. “And, as you can
see, that’s way above our fair share across the nation. So, yes, there is a
severe shortage across the whole state of Missouri.”

The UMKC School of
Medicine in St. Joseph began in cooperation with Mosaic Life Care at the
hospital campus in St. Joseph. It graduated its first students in January. A
$14.5 million medical building is under construction across the street from
Mosaic.

Agrawal says the
goal of both the medical school and the dental school is to address the
shortage of medical and dental care in rural Missouri. The thought being that
if students train in an area, they are more likely to set up practice in that
area.

“I think it’s been
a win-win,” Agrawal says. “Only time will tell if we really impact the shortage,
but we cannot not do anything. There’s a severe shortage in our state and we
need to step up and do the work so that we can at least start addressing the
shortage.”

If approval is
granted and the money raised, UMKC hopes to open its St. Joseph School of Dentistry
satellite campus in the fall of 2027.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741720193629.jpeg" alt="UMKC School of Dentistry/Photo courtesy of UMKC" />
 <figcaption>UMKC School of Dentistry/Photo courtesy of UMKC</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe University of Missouri
– Kansas City has a School of Medicine satellite campus in St. Joseph. It might
have a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph as well.UMKC Chancellor
Mauli Agrawal says the university expanded to St. Joseph to address a shortage
of medical professionals in rural Missouri and soon hopes to also address a
severe shortage of dentists and dental hygienists.“And so now that
we felt more comfortable with a satellite program in St. Joe because of the
medical program, we thought it’s time to address the dental shortage as well,” Agrawal
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post in a phone interview.Work must be done
before it becomes reality. UMKC must receive approval. It must also raise
money.Agrawal says UMKC
has been in negotiations with Missouri Western State University about
renovating open space on its St. Joseph campus. Agrawal says UMKC estimates it
will take $12 million for renovations.Under the
proposal, dental students would spend their first two years on the Kansas City
campus. They then would transfer to clinics on the MWSU campus in St. Joseph.
There, they will do actual dental work on low-income patients who might not
have dental insurance or not enough insurance to afford a dentist.Agrawal says UMKC
began to consider expansion to St. Joseph after he spoke with leaders in
northern Missouri about the lack of dental care in rural Missouri. The federal
government has identified approximately 500 areas throughout the country
suffering from a severe shortage of dentists or dental hygienists. “In Iowa and
Nebraska, the federal government has identified four areas of shortage. In Kansas,
seven or eight. Missouri had 18; 1-8,” according to Agrawal. “And, as you can
see, that’s way above our fair share across the nation. So, yes, there is a
severe shortage across the whole state of Missouri.”The UMKC School of
Medicine in St. Joseph began in cooperation with Mosaic Life Care at the
hospital campus in St. Joseph. It graduated its first students in January. A
$14.5 million medical building is under construction across the street from
Mosaic.Agrawal says the
goal of both the medical school and the dental school is to address the
shortage of medical and dental care in rural Missouri. The thought being that
if students train in an area, they are more likely to set up practice in that
area.“I think it’s been
a win-win,” Agrawal says. “Only time will tell if we really impact the shortage,
but we cannot not do anything. There’s a severe shortage in our state and we
need to step up and do the work so that we can at least start addressing the
shortage.”If approval is
granted and the money raised, UMKC hopes to open its St. Joseph School of Dentistry
satellite campus in the fall of 2027.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

UMKC proposes setting up a School of Dentistry in St. Joseph

A state senator new to legislative
sessions in Topeka says he entered the race for District One to give northeast
Kansas different representation in the Kansas Senate.

Sen. Craig Bowser, a Republican from
Holton, says there’s no secret as to why he entered the race.

“If you think back in time, our current
state senator that was representing Senate District Number One; he left the
Republican Party, became an independent, and ran for governor,” Bowser tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph. “He lost that race, but at that point in time, I thought that
our district needed better representation and so that’s when I really decided
to run.”

Bowser defeated incumbent, Sen. Dennis
Pyle of Hiwatha, and another candidate last year to earn the seat.

Kansas Republicans fumed when Pyle
decided to become an independent and run for governor. Pyle lost badly,
garnering only 2% of the vote. Still, some Republicans blamed Pyle for the
party coming up short in its bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura
Kelly, who won the race with 49.5% of the vote, edging Republican challenger,
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who received 47.33% of the vote. A Libertarian
candidate took one percent of the vote.

Schmidt would bounce back to win the
Second Congressional District race, succeeding Congressman Jake LaTurner, who
decided not to run for re-election.

Bowser says he has had to hit the ground
running in Topeka.

“I can tell you the current legislative
session here has been a lot busier than I anticipated,” Bowser says.

Last year, the Kansas legislative session
didn’t wrap up until early June.

This year, lawmakers hope to wrap up
business at the state Capitol by mid-April.

“They’re condensing it by about six weeks
and, of course, when you do that there’s still a large volume of bills that
need to be heard and work that needs to be done,” Bowser says. “And so that
compression has really made for a busy 2025 legislative session.”

Bowser works in cyber security. He has
been active in politics for a while, but this is the first office he has held.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741716191350.jpeg" alt="Sen. Craig Bowser/Photo courtesy of Sen. Bowser's office" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Craig Bowser/Photo courtesy of Sen. Bowser's office</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA state senator new to legislative
sessions in Topeka says he entered the race for District One to give northeast
Kansas different representation in the Kansas Senate.Sen. Craig Bowser, a Republican from
Holton, says there’s no secret as to why he entered the race.“If you think back in time, our current
state senator that was representing Senate District Number One; he left the
Republican Party, became an independent, and ran for governor,” Bowser tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph. “He lost that race, but at that point in time, I thought that
our district needed better representation and so that’s when I really decided
to run.”Bowser defeated incumbent, Sen. Dennis
Pyle of Hiwatha, and another candidate last year to earn the seat.Kansas Republicans fumed when Pyle
decided to become an independent and run for governor. Pyle lost badly,
garnering only 2% of the vote. Still, some Republicans blamed Pyle for the
party coming up short in its bid to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. Laura
Kelly, who won the race with 49.5% of the vote, edging Republican challenger,
Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who received 47.33% of the vote. A Libertarian
candidate took one percent of the vote.Schmidt would bounce back to win the
Second Congressional District race, succeeding Congressman Jake LaTurner, who
decided not to run for re-election.Bowser says he has had to hit the ground
running in Topeka.“I can tell you the current legislative
session here has been a lot busier than I anticipated,” Bowser says.Last year, the Kansas legislative session
didn’t wrap up until early June.This year, lawmakers hope to wrap up
business at the state Capitol by mid-April.“They’re condensing it by about six weeks
and, of course, when you do that there’s still a large volume of bills that
need to be heard and work that needs to be done,” Bowser says. “And so that
compression has really made for a busy 2025 legislative session.”Bowser works in cyber security. He has
been active in politics for a while, but this is the first office he has held.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

New state senator says northeast Kansas needed new representation

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-3112025-e30135g/a-abquvd8" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-3112025-e3012s5/a-abquv1t" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement investigating a car theft have recovered the vehicle.

Police in St. Joseph located a 2014 Nissan Altima four door that had been reported stolen from the 1600 block South 7th Street in Atchison on March 1, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson

Police have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan.—Law enforcement investigating a car theft have recovered the vehicle.Police in St. Joseph located a 2014 Nissan Altima four door that had been reported stolen from the 1600 block South 7th Street in Atchison on March 1, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike WilsonPolice have not reported an arrest or possible suspect details.&nbsp;&nbsp;

St. Joe police recover car stolen 10-days ago

A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill repealing the ban on construction work in progress charges on utility bills. It could be sent to Gov. Mike Kehoe by the end of the week

BY:&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>

A bill changing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">how utility rates are set</a>&nbsp;won overwhelming approval in a Missouri House committee Monday after a hearing where backers said it is vital to the state’s economy and opponents said it would soak consumers with higher costs.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;to repeal&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=393.135&amp;bid=22080&amp;hl=" target="_blank">a 1976 law</a>&nbsp;passed by initiative petition that prohibits companies from charging for power plants under construction but not yet operating has already passed the state Senate. Following the 17-4 vote Monday in the House Utilities Committee, it could go directly to Gov. Mike Kehoe if nothing is changed during the upcoming debate in the full House.

The legislation would allow companies to seek rate increases for “construction work in progress,” or CWIP, with a specific allowance for new generating plants that burn natural gas and an allowance in another section for any generating plant that is an approved resource plan.

The initiative that passed the 1976 law was launched by people upset over rate hikes allowed for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Callaway County.&nbsp;

The bill repeals the ban for 10 years and allows the Public Service Commission to extend it for another 10. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, the Republican from Lee’s Summit who is sponsoring the bill, said he doubts the new CWIP allowance would be used for a new nuclear power plant.

“I was asked to have nuclear CWIP this bill, and I actually don’t think that’s a horrible idea, but I think it’s kind of 15 years off before we actually start deploying those,” Cierpiot said.

In the Monday vote, two of the committee’s seven Democratic members supported the legislation along with 15 of 16 Republicans, while three Democrats and one Republican were opposed.

During two hours of testimony, opponents argued the CWIP provisions, when coupled with other allowances for utilities to seek more from customers, would add as much as $1,100 a year to residential electric bills.&nbsp;

“This bill is not designed to benefit Missourians,” said Gretchen Barwick, director of the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s designed to provide corporate welfare to monopoly utilities.”

Representatives of utilities and the Public Service Commission said growing power demands mean new generation plants will be built in the Midwest. Passing the law allowing the charge for construction of new plants will be an incentive to build in Missouri, they said.

Large industrial users of electricity will locate plants where power is plentiful, said Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. The bill includes requirements that large users pay a rate that is not subsidized by residential users, he said, arguing that will spread the cost out and result in lower overall rates for everyone.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741689295959.png" alt=" State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, on Monday presents his bill allowing utilities to charge customers for power plants while they are under construction to the House Utilities Committee. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, on Monday presents his bill allowing utilities to charge customers for power plants while they are under construction to the House Utilities Committee. (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>A House committee voted Monday to approve a bill repealing the ban on construction work in progress charges on utility bills. It could be sent to Gov. Mike Kehoe by the end of the week</h2>BY:&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>A bill changing&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/07/massive-utility-legislation-expected-to-boost-missouri-power-generation-and-energy-bills/">how utility rates are set</a>&nbsp;won overwhelming approval in a Missouri House committee Monday after a hearing where backers said it is vital to the state’s economy and opponents said it would soak consumers with higher costs.The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&amp;BillID=66" target="_blank">proposal</a>&nbsp;to repeal&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=393.135&amp;bid=22080&amp;hl=" target="_blank">a 1976 law</a>&nbsp;passed by initiative petition that prohibits companies from charging for power plants under construction but not yet operating has already passed the state Senate. Following the 17-4 vote Monday in the House Utilities Committee, it could go directly to Gov. Mike Kehoe if nothing is changed during the upcoming debate in the full House.The legislation would allow companies to seek rate increases for “construction work in progress,” or CWIP, with a specific allowance for new generating plants that burn natural gas and an allowance in another section for any generating plant that is an approved resource plan.The initiative that passed the 1976 law was launched by people upset over rate hikes allowed for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Callaway County.&nbsp;The bill repeals the ban for 10 years and allows the Public Service Commission to extend it for another 10. State Sen. Mike Cierpiot, the Republican from Lee’s Summit who is sponsoring the bill, said he doubts the new CWIP allowance would be used for a new nuclear power plant.“I was asked to have nuclear CWIP this bill, and I actually don’t think that’s a horrible idea, but I think it’s kind of 15 years off before we actually start deploying those,” Cierpiot said.In the Monday vote, two of the committee’s seven Democratic members supported the legislation along with 15 of 16 Republicans, while three Democrats and one Republican were opposed.During two hours of testimony, opponents argued the CWIP provisions, when coupled with other allowances for utilities to seek more from customers, would add as much as $1,100 a year to residential electric bills.&nbsp;“This bill is not designed to benefit Missourians,” said Gretchen Barwick, director of the Missouri chapter of the Sierra Club. “It’s designed to provide corporate welfare to monopoly utilities.”Representatives of utilities and the Public Service Commission said growing power demands mean new generation plants will be built in the Midwest. Passing the law allowing the charge for construction of new plants will be an incentive to build in Missouri, they said.Large industrial users of electricity will locate plants where power is plentiful, said Jason Klindt, senior director of external affairs at Evergy. The bill includes requirements that large users pay a rate that is not subsidized by residential users, he said, arguing that will spread the cost out and result in lower overall rates for everyone.Evergy is the major power provider for western Missouri. It is building two new&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/evergy-plans-to-build-two-new-natural-gas-plants-in-kansas-by-2030/">gas-fired power plants</a>&nbsp;in Kansas. The company would like to build in Missouri as well, Klindt said.&nbsp;“We look forward, frankly, to announcing new power plants if we can get this bill across the finish line,” he said.The bill would apply to investor-owned utilities regulated by the PSC. The commission has no control over rates for municipal power companies or rural electric cooperatives.The bill would also allow all utilities regulated by the commission — water, gas and sewer along with electricity — to seek rates based on what the bill calls a “future test year.”Currently, rates are set after the PSC examines the actual costs incurred to deliver service and determines if each expense was prudent and necessary. In a future test year scenario, the utility would outline what it expects to spend and the costs would be pre-approved by the PSC.There are some aspects of the bill intended to benefit consumers. The Office of Public Counsel, which represents the interests of ratepayers in utility cases, would receive dedicated funding for the first time from an assessment on utility revenues.There are changes to the rule blocking shutoffs for non-payment during hot and cold months as well as provisions requiring the commission to account for any federal tax savings by adjusting rates.The bill would also allow the PSC to order electric utilities to repay customers for construction work in progress charges if the plant does not go into service.The time is now for CWIP because of a rapidly escalating demand for power, said Rich Germinder, policy and strategic initiatives advisor to the PSC. The rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles and the construction of power-hungry data centers is helping drive up demand.“Everyone was caught unprepared for the demands of the increased load growth that we’re seeing,” Germinder said.Opponents of the bill said the items intended to help consumers won’t offset the additional costs.All three of Missouri’s major electric suppliers are before the commission seeking rate increases. Evergy is seeking a rate increase to&nbsp;<a href="https://thebeaconnews.org/stories/2024/08/26/evergy-west-2025-rate-increase/" target="_blank">boost revenues by 14%</a>, Ameren, which serves eastern Missouri, is seeking a rate increase&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missourians-speak-out-against-proposed-ameren-electric-rate-increase-in-public-hearing/#:~:text=Ameren%20Missouri%20wants%20to%20increase,additional%20%24446%20million%20per%20year.">of nearly 16%</a>&nbsp;and the Empire District Electric Company, which serves many smaller communities doing business as Liberty, wants regulators to increase its revenue by nearly 30%.The CWIP and future test year provisions will just add to the additional costs consumers already face, opponents said.If this legislation passes, it will be the most costly and expensive legislation ever passed by the Missouri legislature,” said Diana Plescia, attorney for the Missouri Industrial Energy Consumers, a consortium of 14 major manufacturers.The legislation will increase rates by an additional 40- to 80%, she said, making it too expensive to attract new investment.“The damage to our economic base in Missouri will be real,” Plescia said “And I say this in terms of both the jobs that will be lost and the jobs that will never come.”

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