HOLT COUNTY—Four&nbsp; people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 49-year-old Carter Lake, Iowa woman was southbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Craig. The driver experienced a medical emergency. The car traveled off the road into the median, continued southbound in the northbound lanes and off the east side of the road. The vehicle continued into a wooded area where it came to rest.

Holt County EMS transported the driver and three passengers including a 17 and 15-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY—Four&nbsp; people were injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 49-year-old Carter Lake, Iowa woman was southbound on Interstate 29 ten miles south of Craig. The driver experienced a medical emergency. The car traveled off the road into the median, continued southbound in the northbound lanes and off the east side of the road. The vehicle continued into a wooded area where it came to rest.Holt County EMS transported the driver and three passengers including a 17 and 15-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. All four were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver, 3 teens hospitalized in St. Joe after medical emergency

ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest in Atchison.

Just before 6:30p.m. on Thursday officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block South 7th Street to investigate an unwanted person at the residence, according to Police Mike Wilson.

Once at the scene officers found the resident outside of the home who told police he arrived home to see a man identified as 36-year-old Joshua R. Morgan at the back of his residence.&nbsp; The resident knows Morgan.

It was determined that entry had been made into the residence and police searched the residence and found Morgan hiding in a closet. He was taken into custody on requested charges of burglary, attempted theft, and criminal damage to property

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754058456279.png" alt="Morgan-photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Morgan-photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after an arrest in Atchison.Just before 6:30p.m. on Thursday officers responded to a residence in the 1100 block South 7th Street to investigate an unwanted person at the residence, according to Police Mike Wilson.Once at the scene officers found the resident outside of the home who told police he arrived home to see a man identified as 36-year-old Joshua R. Morgan at the back of his residence.&nbsp; The resident knows Morgan.It was determined that entry had been made into the residence and police searched the residence and found Morgan hiding in a closet. He was taken into custody on requested charges of burglary, attempted theft, and criminal damage to property

Kansas burglary suspect found hiding in a closet

St. Joseph Nestlé
Purina workers dedicated more than 300 volunteer hours to various charities
during the 24th annual Parina Cares Day.

The company reports
around 150 employees from both Purina St. Joseph facilities put in 310 hours to
hands-on service throughout the region. Workers helped out at more than eight
organizations, including Second Harvest, InterServ, United Cerebral Palsy,
YWCA, the St. Joseph School District, and the Open Door Food Kitchen. 

“It’s incredible
to have a partner like Purina that not only shows up but dives in,” Mike
Ritter, Volunteer Services Manager at Interserv, said in a written statement.
“Their associates bring energy, empathy, and a real sense of purpose to
everything they do.”

The company says
the volunteers cleaned and painted community spaces, served meals, organized
stockrooms, sorted and packed food baskets, and worked directly with adults
with cerebral palsy. Others cleaned up local roadways, supported senior
nutrition programs by packing boxes at Second Harvest, made blankets and
stuffed KONG toys for pets at the local animal shelter. 

“This isn’t just a
one-day initiative for us—it’s part of who we are,” Stacey King, event
organizer at Purina’s St. Joseph research facility, said in a written statement
released by the company. “We’ve been showing up this big for years because we
believe in building up the communities that surround us. And every year, our
teams ask how we can do even more.” 

Across the U.S.,
Purina donates more than $30 million annually in financial and in-kind support
to pet-related and community nonprofit organizations.

The St. Joseph
factory and research facility employ more than 450 workers.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754070712257.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of&nbsp;Nestlé Purina " />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of&nbsp;Nestlé Purina </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph Nestlé
Purina workers dedicated more than 300 volunteer hours to various charities
during the 24th annual Parina Cares Day.The company reports
around 150 employees from both Purina St. Joseph facilities put in 310 hours to
hands-on service throughout the region. Workers helped out at more than eight
organizations, including Second Harvest, InterServ, United Cerebral Palsy,
YWCA, the St. Joseph School District, and the Open Door Food Kitchen. “It’s incredible
to have a partner like Purina that not only shows up but dives in,” Mike
Ritter, Volunteer Services Manager at Interserv, said in a written statement.
“Their associates bring energy, empathy, and a real sense of purpose to
everything they do.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754070767796.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina</figcaption>
 </figure>The company says
the volunteers cleaned and painted community spaces, served meals, organized
stockrooms, sorted and packed food baskets, and worked directly with adults
with cerebral palsy. Others cleaned up local roadways, supported senior
nutrition programs by packing boxes at Second Harvest, made blankets and
stuffed KONG toys for pets at the local animal shelter. “This isn’t just a
one-day initiative for us—it’s part of who we are,” Stacey King, event
organizer at Purina’s St. Joseph research facility, said in a written statement
released by the company. “We’ve been showing up this big for years because we
believe in building up the communities that surround us. And every year, our
teams ask how we can do even more.” Across the U.S.,
Purina donates more than $30 million annually in financial and in-kind support
to pet-related and community nonprofit organizations.The St. Joseph
factory and research facility employ more than 450 workers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754070816997.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Nestlé Purina</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Nestlé Purina workers give back to the community

New St. Joseph
School Superintendent, Ashly McGinnis, has a firm goal in mind as she enters
her first school year as superintendent.

Finances and
academics remain top priorities that McGinnis says the district must tackle.

But McGinnis’
primary goal is to get back to a place of pride for the St. Joseph School
District.

“I am hopeful that
we can get back to a place where people love being at our district and parents
are satisfied with the learning that they’re receiving,” McGinnis tells
KFEQmmunity. “I’m hopeful that we can get back to a place that we have a sense
of pride in our district.”

McGinnis says the
theme for this school year is “We Believe in St. Joseph.”

McGinnis says the
district must improve its score on the Annual Performance Report (APR). It sits
at 67.5%, with improvements in math and science scores, but still lagging
behind in literacy and social studies.

“I’ll tell you,
literacy remains a key priority at all grade levels,” McGinnis says. “That’s a
life skill, impacts every subject and is the foundation for our kids to be
successful in the real world.”

McGinnis came to
the St. Joseph School District in 2007. She has served as a counselor, a
special education teacher, a middle school math teacher, an athletic director,
and as principal at Layette High School. McGinnis became the district Assistant
Superintendent of Academic Services before the Board of Education promoted her
to superintendent, succeeding Gabe Edgar, who retired.

McGinnis says the
district must improve test scores, but also see improvements in its graduation
rate, career readiness, and even attendance to raise the district APR rating.

“The biggest piece
of our APR that we have to focus on is the academics. So, we need to focus on
literacy, on math, on science, and on social studies,” McGinnis says. “We did
make quite a bit of improvement with math and in science this past year, but we
still have a lot of work to do with literacy and social studies.”

McGinnis says the
district must also focus on finances, pointing out the current budget reserve
balance is at 16%, short of the 20% goal of the Board of Education.

McGinnis says she
seeks to be a servant-leader. She says the leadership team must take care of
the staff and support them in any way they can.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754068833067.jpeg" alt="Ashly McGinnis/Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Ashly McGinnis/Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostNew St. Joseph
School Superintendent, Ashly McGinnis, has a firm goal in mind as she enters
her first school year as superintendent.Finances and
academics remain top priorities that McGinnis says the district must tackle.But McGinnis’
primary goal is to get back to a place of pride for the St. Joseph School
District.“I am hopeful that
we can get back to a place where people love being at our district and parents
are satisfied with the learning that they’re receiving,” McGinnis tells
KFEQmmunity. “I’m hopeful that we can get back to a place that we have a sense
of pride in our district.”McGinnis says the
theme for this school year is “We Believe in St. Joseph.”McGinnis says the
district must improve its score on the Annual Performance Report (APR). It sits
at 67.5%, with improvements in math and science scores, but still lagging
behind in literacy and social studies.“I’ll tell you,
literacy remains a key priority at all grade levels,” McGinnis says. “That’s a
life skill, impacts every subject and is the foundation for our kids to be
successful in the real world.”McGinnis came to
the St. Joseph School District in 2007. She has served as a counselor, a
special education teacher, a middle school math teacher, an athletic director,
and as principal at Layette High School. McGinnis became the district Assistant
Superintendent of Academic Services before the Board of Education promoted her
to superintendent, succeeding Gabe Edgar, who retired.McGinnis says the
district must improve test scores, but also see improvements in its graduation
rate, career readiness, and even attendance to raise the district APR rating.“The biggest piece
of our APR that we have to focus on is the academics. So, we need to focus on
literacy, on math, on science, and on social studies,” McGinnis says. “We did
make quite a bit of improvement with math and in science this past year, but we
still have a lot of work to do with literacy and social studies.”McGinnis says the
district must also focus on finances, pointing out the current budget reserve
balance is at 16%, short of the 20% goal of the Board of Education.McGinnis says she
seeks to be a servant-leader. She says the leadership team must take care of
the staff and support them in any way they can.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

McGinnis wants to restore pride in St. Joseph School District

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to Greg Bollella about the Kansas swiftwater rescue team's work in providing aid during the recent Texas floods.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/heyYTnnSWk4?si=8sPdf2R-xpYIf0XG" 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>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman talks to Greg Bollella about the Kansas swiftwater rescue team's work in providing aid during the recent Texas floods.

🎤 Forward Ever: Greg Bollella: Kansan swfitwater rescue in Texas

A container and
packaging manufacturer has announced it will expand in St. Joseph.

Officials with Schütz Container Systems say the company will invest $31 million and hire
20 additional employees. It will use a state tax credit program to finance the
expansion.

The St. Joseph
Chamber of Commerce says Schütz has expanded three times since coming to St.
Joseph in 2014; a total investment of $86 million, expanding over 66
acres in Eastowne Business Park, employing a total of 130 workers.

“Missouri is proud
to welcome Schütz new facility to St. Joseph,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a
written statement released by his office. “Their investment reinforces the
strength of our state’s manufacturing sector, our highly skilled workforce, and
our commitment to supporting businesses that choose to grow here. This expansion
will bring quality jobs and continued economic momentum to northwest Missouri,
and we look forward to a strong partnership for years to come.”

Schutz plans to
add a new building for an industrial packaging line.

“St. Joseph has
proven to be the ideal place for us to grow,” Frederik Wenzel, President and CEO
of Schütz Container Systems, said in a written statement released by the
company. “With this expansion, we’re increasing our container manufacturing
capacity and creating new jobs to meet rising demand. The skilled workforce and
strong community support make St. Joseph the right place to invest in our
future.”

Schütz produces packaging
systems for a number of uses.

Schütz was among
the companies visited during Missouri’s trade mission to Germany and the Netherlands
in July 2022.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA container and
packaging manufacturer has announced it will expand in St. Joseph.Officials with Schütz Container Systems say the company will invest $31 million and hire
20 additional employees. It will use a state tax credit program to finance the
expansion.The St. Joseph
Chamber of Commerce says Schütz has expanded three times since coming to St.
Joseph in 2014; a total investment of $86 million, expanding over 66
acres in Eastowne Business Park, employing a total of 130 workers.“Missouri is proud
to welcome Schütz new facility to St. Joseph,” Gov. Mike Kehoe said in a
written statement released by his office. “Their investment reinforces the
strength of our state’s manufacturing sector, our highly skilled workforce, and
our commitment to supporting businesses that choose to grow here. This expansion
will bring quality jobs and continued economic momentum to northwest Missouri,
and we look forward to a strong partnership for years to come.”Schutz plans to
add a new building for an industrial packaging line.“St. Joseph has
proven to be the ideal place for us to grow,” Frederik Wenzel, President and CEO
of Schütz Container Systems, said in a written statement released by the
company. “With this expansion, we’re increasing our container manufacturing
capacity and creating new jobs to meet rising demand. The skilled workforce and
strong community support make St. Joseph the right place to invest in our
future.”Schütz produces packaging
systems for a number of uses.Schütz was among
the companies visited during Missouri’s trade mission to Germany and the Netherlands
in July 2022.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Packaging manufacturer to expand in St. Joseph

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6qIgvU2Uy1G9Dd103MsZId?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 data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/21becMnyCys7GxEKeJGv6i?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

Missouri's Tax-Free weekend means it's also time to help the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Stuff the Bus with school supplies for kids in need.  

Today and tomorrow, the big yellow buses will be sitting in front of both the North and South belt Walmart's, with volunteers collecting school supplies to be distributed to students in need. 

Director of Community Invesment Jodi Flurry says volunteers will be handing out lists at each Walmart location on the day to shoppers 

"Letting the donors or the shoppers know what we need for school supplies and what the priority items are, as well as just the full of school supplies, and this is based on the list of school supplies from the St. Joseph School District," Flurry tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Flurry says some of the bigger items that they need donated are backpacks 

"Cause backpacks are a little more expensive, you know you might be able to get a pack of crayons for 50 cents, but a backpack is going to cost a little more than that, so we usually have a need for backpacks," Flurry explains.  "Three ring binders, we provide school supplies for kids from kindergarten through high school." 

Flurry says there's also a need for crayons, markers, notebooks, pencil boxes, and sharpies among other school supplies as they try to help every kind of student.  

Since 2009, residents have donated more than 300,000 school supplies to Stuff the Bus to be distributed by United Way to students in need ahead of the new school year.  

Flurry says she's blown away by the community's generosity to the program 

"To say that more than 300,000 school supply items have been collected and distributed out to area kids since this started in 2009 is really amazing," Flurry says.  "And the school supplies do go out through the Salvation Army as well as other United Way programs." 

Today from 8am to 7pm and tomorrow from 8am until 5:30pm, the United Way will have school buses parked in front of both the north and south belt Walmart locations, gathering school supplies.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1754000163285.jpeg" alt="Busses will be out in front of the north and south belt Walmart's on Friday and Saturday as the United Way of Greater St. Joseph collects school supplies/ Photo courtesy of United Way of Greater St. Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Busses will be out in front of the north and south belt Walmart's on Friday and Saturday as the United Way of Greater St. Joseph collects school supplies/ Photo courtesy of United Way of Greater St. Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Missouri's Tax-Free weekend means it's also time to help the United Way of Greater St. Joseph Stuff the Bus with school supplies for kids in need. Today and tomorrow, the big yellow buses will be sitting in front of both the North and South belt Walmart's, with volunteers collecting school supplies to be distributed to students in need. Director of Community Invesment Jodi Flurry says volunteers will be handing out lists at each Walmart location on the day to shoppers "Letting the donors or the shoppers know what we need for school supplies and what the priority items are, as well as just the full of school supplies, and this is based on the list of school supplies from the St. Joseph School District," Flurry tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Flurry says some of the bigger items that they need donated are backpacks "Cause backpacks are a little more expensive, you know you might be able to get a pack of crayons for 50 cents, but a backpack is going to cost a little more than that, so we usually have a need for backpacks," Flurry explains. "Three ring binders, we provide school supplies for kids from kindergarten through high school." Flurry says there's also a need for crayons, markers, notebooks, pencil boxes, and sharpies among other school supplies as they try to help every kind of student. Since 2009, residents have donated more than 300,000 school supplies to Stuff the Bus to be distributed by United Way to students in need ahead of the new school year. Flurry says she's blown away by the community's generosity to the program "To say that more than 300,000 school supply items have been collected and distributed out to area kids since this started in 2009 is really amazing," Flurry says. "And the school supplies do go out through the Salvation Army as well as other United Way programs." Today from 8am to 7pm and tomorrow from 8am until 5:30pm, the United Way will have school buses parked in front of both the north and south belt Walmart locations, gathering school supplies.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1754000358320.jpeg" alt="Volunteers help with United Way's Stuff the Bus/ Photo courtesy of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Volunteers help with United Way's Stuff the Bus/ Photo courtesy of the United Way of Greater St. Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Take advantage of tax free weekend and help United Way Stuff the Bus

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 bill authorizing state&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-kansas-city-stadium-funding-st-louis-disaster-aid/">support for professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;is unconstitutional because it grants&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/13/rudi-splains-it-how-kansas-city-stadium-funding-clears-state-constitutional-hurdles/">public aid to private interests</a>&nbsp;and combines widely different and unrelated subjects, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by two state lawmakers.

State Sen. Mile Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, and state Rep. Bryant Wolfin, a Republican from Ste. Genevieve, filed the case in Cole County Circuit Court. They were joined as plaintiffs by Ron Calzone, a long-time activist who has successfully challenged past legislation on constitutional grounds.

During a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/11/missouri-special-session-ends-with-passage-kc-stadium-funding-disaster-aid/">special session in June</a>, lawmakers passed the bill to provide up to $1.5 billion in state tax funds to back bonds that would finance new construction or stadium improvements for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Gov. Mike Kehoe pushed for the bill to counter moves from Kansas intended to lure one or both teams across the state line.

Moon objected to the bill as unconstitutional when it was passed and said in an interview Thursday that getting court guidance over what can and cannot be in a single bill is an important goal of the lawsuit.

The Constitution “kind of gives us our marching orders for legislators and how we pass bills and what they should look like,” Moon said. “Can you amend the bill beyond a certain point? I’ve come to realize it seems like we have veered way off the road.”

Kehoe let his ambition to retain the Chiefs and Royals cloud his constitutional judgment, Moon said.

“This was a pretty big deal for the governor,” Moon said. “I’m not knocking the governor, but yet he was a legislator at one time, and he should know the bounds that we are governed by.”

In the bill, stadium construction would be financed by diverting tax money from economic activity surrounding the teams — sales tax on tickets, merchandise and food, income tax from player and team staff salaries — to repay bonds.

The lawsuit seeks to toss the bill in its entirety, alleging that it violates requirements that bills be limited to a&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++23&amp;bid=31763&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single subject</a>&nbsp;with a title that “clearly” states its purpose. The petition also alleges the bill was amended to go&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++21&amp;bid=31761&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">beyond its original purpose</a>&nbsp;and that the property tax provisions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++40&amp;bid=31796&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">“special laws”</a>&nbsp;forbidden by the constitution.&nbsp;

“The stadium provisions subsidize business enterprises; the tax credits for disaster relief and for property tax relief subsidize homeowners,” attorneys W. Bevis Schock and Erich Vieth wrote in the lawsuit for Moon and Wolfin. “The former showers beneficence on billionaires; the latter showers the beneficence on all homeowners. The former will likely produce political contributions in vast sums from those able to make such contributions; the latter will likely produce political benefit but likely no political contributions.”

The title of the bill, relating to taxation, is so vague as to be meaningless, the attorneys wrote.

“The bill’s procedural infirmities,” they wrote, “mean it is not severable and fails in its entirety.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1754043650988.png" alt=" Republican Sen. Mike Moon speaks during February 2022 on Senate floor. He is suing to block a bill passed in a June special session that would finance stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals (photo by Madeline Carter)." />
 <figcaption> Republican Sen. Mike Moon speaks during February 2022 on Senate floor. He is suing to block a bill passed in a June special session that would finance stadiums for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals (photo by Madeline Carter).</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>The bill authorizing state&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-kansas-city-stadium-funding-st-louis-disaster-aid/">support for professional sports stadiums</a>&nbsp;is unconstitutional because it grants&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/13/rudi-splains-it-how-kansas-city-stadium-funding-clears-state-constitutional-hurdles/">public aid to private interests</a>&nbsp;and combines widely different and unrelated subjects, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday by two state lawmakers.State Sen. Mile Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, and state Rep. Bryant Wolfin, a Republican from Ste. Genevieve, filed the case in Cole County Circuit Court. They were joined as plaintiffs by Ron Calzone, a long-time activist who has successfully challenged past legislation on constitutional grounds.During a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/11/missouri-special-session-ends-with-passage-kc-stadium-funding-disaster-aid/">special session in June</a>, lawmakers passed the bill to provide up to $1.5 billion in state tax funds to back bonds that would finance new construction or stadium improvements for the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. Gov. Mike Kehoe pushed for the bill to counter moves from Kansas intended to lure one or both teams across the state line.Moon objected to the bill as unconstitutional when it was passed and said in an interview Thursday that getting court guidance over what can and cannot be in a single bill is an important goal of the lawsuit.The Constitution “kind of gives us our marching orders for legislators and how we pass bills and what they should look like,” Moon said. “Can you amend the bill beyond a certain point? I’ve come to realize it seems like we have veered way off the road.”Kehoe let his ambition to retain the Chiefs and Royals cloud his constitutional judgment, Moon said.“This was a pretty big deal for the governor,” Moon said. “I’m not knocking the governor, but yet he was a legislator at one time, and he should know the bounds that we are governed by.”In the bill, stadium construction would be financed by diverting tax money from economic activity surrounding the teams — sales tax on tickets, merchandise and food, income tax from player and team staff salaries — to repay bonds.The bill also included provisions to:<ul>
 <li>Cap increases in property tax bills in most counties of the state. There are 75 counties where basic tax bills would not increase more than 5% per year or the rate of inflation, whichever is greater, and 22 where no increase would be allowed.</li><li>Extend a tax credit for amateur sporting events.</li><li>Provide a tax credit for damage from natural disasters this year to help property owners recover losses not met by insurance or other payments.</li><li>Require the courts to preserve any portions of the bill found constitutional by severing them from unconstitutional portions.</li>
 </ul>The lawsuit seeks to toss the bill in its entirety, alleging that it violates requirements that bills be limited to a&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++23&amp;bid=31763&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">single subject</a>&nbsp;with a title that “clearly” states its purpose. The petition also alleges the bill was amended to go&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++21&amp;bid=31761&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">beyond its original purpose</a>&nbsp;and that the property tax provisions are&nbsp;<a href="https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=III++++40&amp;bid=31796&amp;constit=y" target="_blank">“special laws”</a>&nbsp;forbidden by the constitution.&nbsp;“The stadium provisions subsidize business enterprises; the tax credits for disaster relief and for property tax relief subsidize homeowners,” attorneys W. Bevis Schock and Erich Vieth wrote in the lawsuit for Moon and Wolfin. “The former showers beneficence on billionaires; the latter showers the beneficence on all homeowners. The former will likely produce political contributions in vast sums from those able to make such contributions; the latter will likely produce political benefit but likely no political contributions.”The title of the bill, relating to taxation, is so vague as to be meaningless, the attorneys wrote.“The bill’s procedural infirmities,” they wrote, “mean it is not severable and fails in its entirety.”

Mo. legislators file lawsuit claiming stadium funding for Chiefs, Royals is unconstitutional

United States Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) makes an appearance at Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph.

“I’m a lifelong Chiefs fan. I remember
Super Bowl I. I remember Super Bowl IV,” Marshall tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And
just a boyhood dream to come to camp some day and here it is, so excited to see
everybody.”

Marshall, a Republican, says he is
pleased with the start of President Trump’s second term.

“Well, I think that we’ve never seen such
a successful first six months of a presidency. That we’ve secured the border.
That we’ve rolled back regulation. That the price of gas and groceries are
coming down. Job market looks good,” according to Marshall. “Trillions of
dollars are going to be invested here in the next several years as well to grow
those jobs even more. Very proud of our big, beautiful bill.”

Marshall says he is pleased to see
President Trump move to shore up trade agreements with major trading partners,
such as the United Kingdom and the European Union. 

“EU is probably our second biggest trade
partner, overall, right now. And, basically, they’ve locked us out for years.
So, we’re unable to sell Kansas agriculture products, Kansas ethanol in EU
right now,” Marshall says. “So, we’re going to break down those non-tariff
barriers and it will be good for the world economy overall.”

He says a move to reach agreements in
southeast Asia could have a big impact.

“By getting agreements done with
Indonesia, which is the 4th largest country in the world right now,”
Marshall says. “Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines. So, we’re kind of
making a box around China and going to force them to the table as well.” 

Marshall says agriculture will benefit
from the recent agreements, though another industry will benefit a bit more.

“I think agriculture will have a
significant benefit, because it’s going from zero to something; probably a $25
billion trade deficit with the EU right now as well. But there are bigger
markets out there for our food as well,” Marshall says. “Probably the cars is
the big issue with the EU. We buy so many of their cars, but they block our
cars from going in there. The president removing tariffs going into the EU is
really going to open up that market.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753986579348.jpeg" alt="Sen. Roger Marshall shades his eyes as he watches Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. The Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus, was his guide./Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Roger Marshall shades his eyes as he watches Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. The Voice of the Chiefs, Mitch Holthus, was his guide./Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostUnited States Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) makes an appearance at Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph.“I’m a lifelong Chiefs fan. I remember
Super Bowl I. I remember Super Bowl IV,” Marshall tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “And
just a boyhood dream to come to camp some day and here it is, so excited to see
everybody.”Marshall, a Republican, says he is
pleased with the start of President Trump’s second term.“Well, I think that we’ve never seen such
a successful first six months of a presidency. That we’ve secured the border.
That we’ve rolled back regulation. That the price of gas and groceries are
coming down. Job market looks good,” according to Marshall. “Trillions of
dollars are going to be invested here in the next several years as well to grow
those jobs even more. Very proud of our big, beautiful bill.”Marshall says he is pleased to see
President Trump move to shore up trade agreements with major trading partners,
such as the United Kingdom and the European Union. “EU is probably our second biggest trade
partner, overall, right now. And, basically, they’ve locked us out for years.
So, we’re unable to sell Kansas agriculture products, Kansas ethanol in EU
right now,” Marshall says. “So, we’re going to break down those non-tariff
barriers and it will be good for the world economy overall.”He says a move to reach agreements in
southeast Asia could have a big impact.“By getting agreements done with
Indonesia, which is the 4th largest country in the world right now,”
Marshall says. “Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines. So, we’re kind of
making a box around China and going to force them to the table as well.” Marshall says agriculture will benefit
from the recent agreements, though another industry will benefit a bit more.“I think agriculture will have a
significant benefit, because it’s going from zero to something; probably a $25
billion trade deficit with the EU right now as well. But there are bigger
markets out there for our food as well,” Marshall says. “Probably the cars is
the big issue with the EU. We buy so many of their cars, but they block our
cars from going in there. The president removing tariffs going into the EU is
really going to open up that market.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753986706866.jpeg" alt="Sen. Marshall/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Marshall/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Sen. Marshall stops by Chiefs Training Camp, talks trade deals

St. Joseph School District cash reserves
have fallen below 20% as local and state revenues have sagged.

Assistant Superintendent of Business and
Operations, Robert Hedgecorth, reported to the Board of Education Monday night that
the reserve dipped to 10% at the end of the fiscal year, June 30th. Though
that is below the 20% threshold approved by the Board of Education, it remains
a healthy budget balance, according to Hedgecorth.

“What that really does, if you think
about it, it gives us about 2 ½ to 3 months reserves. If we received absolutely
no revenue at all, we’d be able to handle all of our expenses,” Hedgecorth says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.

Hedgecorth adds that cash reserve would
have looked much different if federal funding had come in before the budget
year closed out.

“If those amounts would have landed
before that June 30th deadline, we would have seen a different
reserve ratio than that 10.02% that was talked about (Monday) night,” according
to Hedgecorth.&nbsp; “It would have been a lot
closer to 16%.”

Even at 16%, though, the cash reserve
falls short of the district goal set by the St. Joseph Board of Education.

“We know we’re below our 20% board policy,”
Hedgecorth acknowledges. “We need to take a look at future years. And so, if we
have declining revenues, we also need to have declining expenses. We need to
take a good look at some efficiencies in our district and see where we can
become more efficient to ensure that our expenses are trending with our
revenues.”

Hedgecorth says state funding has fallen
short, because the state budget hasn’t met the revenue expectations of the
legislature. Fiscal Year 2025 federal funding should arrive in August or
September.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph School District cash reserves
have fallen below 20% as local and state revenues have sagged.Assistant Superintendent of Business and
Operations, Robert Hedgecorth, reported to the Board of Education Monday night that
the reserve dipped to 10% at the end of the fiscal year, June 30th. Though
that is below the 20% threshold approved by the Board of Education, it remains
a healthy budget balance, according to Hedgecorth.“What that really does, if you think
about it, it gives us about 2 ½ to 3 months reserves. If we received absolutely
no revenue at all, we’d be able to handle all of our expenses,” Hedgecorth says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.Hedgecorth adds that cash reserve would
have looked much different if federal funding had come in before the budget
year closed out.“If those amounts would have landed
before that June 30th deadline, we would have seen a different
reserve ratio than that 10.02% that was talked about (Monday) night,” according
to Hedgecorth.&nbsp; “It would have been a lot
closer to 16%.”Even at 16%, though, the cash reserve
falls short of the district goal set by the St. Joseph Board of Education.“We know we’re below our 20% board policy,”
Hedgecorth acknowledges. “We need to take a look at future years. And so, if we
have declining revenues, we also need to have declining expenses. We need to
take a good look at some efficiencies in our district and see where we can
become more efficient to ensure that our expenses are trending with our
revenues.”Hedgecorth says state funding has fallen
short, because the state budget hasn’t met the revenue expectations of the
legislature. Fiscal Year 2025 federal funding should arrive in August or
September.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

St. Joseph School District cash reserves fall short of 20% goal

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7LvtB6ev1TM7kg7Un3GdB8?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 data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6WMastmHJpnVcZHD2DFcxA?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:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>

Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.

Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.

In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.

The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.

Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.

“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.

Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.

But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.

This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.

Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.

“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”

Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.

But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.

“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”

Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.

However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.

“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”

Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.

“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”

Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.

Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.

“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”

This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753957064006.png" alt=" Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)" />
 <figcaption> Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Cattle weight may be approaching a tipping point, experts say (Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert)</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/noahgrabianski/">Noah Grabianski</a>Cattle farms and feedlots in Missouri today are populated by cows that are a far cry from those that roamed pastures 80 or 90 years ago.Cattle back then were referred to as “buckle cows” – named that way because they only went about as high as a rancher’s belt buckle. But in the 1950s, when cattle herd numbers were low, cattlemen began putting more emphasis on cows’ “frame size,” or their height.In the past few decades, with improvements in genetic technology, farmers have been able to measure extremely specific qualities in their cattle. This has led to a shift from increasing the frame size of cattle to increasing the “performance,” or weight, of cattle. That means cattle aren’t getting taller, but heavier.The U.S. cattle inventory&nbsp;<a href="https://downloads.usda.library.cornell.edu/usda-esmis/files/h702q636h/6108x003v/kk91h696g/catl0124.pdf" target="_blank">hit its lowest level in 73 years</a>&nbsp;in 2024,&nbsp;largely as a result of recent droughts. The solution isn’t as simple as just breeding more cows, because cattle producers have to balance the amount of cattle they hold back to reproduce, and the amount they sell off to feedyards to generate revenue.Don Close, a senior animal protein analyst at agriculture publication Terrain Ag, said the industry has been shifting breeding practices to mitigate the recent cattle shortage.“Being the lowest we’ve been since 1951, the industry has elected to make cattle bigger, to compensate in pounds what we’re losing in head count,” Close said.Close estimated that the average live weight of U.S. cattle increases by about eight pounds a year. The carcass weight, or how much cattle weigh once the hide, bone and other inedible parts are removed, increases by about five pounds a year.But there has been a particularly noticeable spike in the past decade or so, caused by incentives from meatpacking plants.This trend can be seen through what’s known as the hot carcass weight discount, which is the payout reduction cattle producers receive when carcasses exceed a meatpacking plant’s maximum weight. As a result, producers try to get their cattle as close to that weight limit as possible without exceeding it.Jamie Courter, the state beef genetics specialist at University of Missouri Extension, said that when she first started in the industry about 10 years ago, that weight limit was 1,000 pounds. It’s been creeping up ever since. The limit went up to 1,050 pounds, then 1,100, and now some plants have improved their technology enough to accept 1,200-pound carcasses.“We keep pushing what we’re willing to accept, as far as size of feedyard steers, higher and higher,” Courter said. “The packers are incentivizing the feedyards and the commercial cattlemen to do so, and — right, wrong or indifferent — commercial cattlemen are going to chase that incentive because that impacts their bottom line.”Higher cattle weights also have an effect on consumers down the line. Certain beef cuts, namely ribeye and loin, are getting too big to be easily packaged. Because the cows are bigger, these cuts are larger, meaning they have to be cut thinner and with more surface area than they used to be to maintain a consistent weight.But Close said these high cattle weights are, in large part, a good thing for beef consumers.“If we were to limit weights on the cattle, it would limit the total of beef production, limiting supply, that would drive price higher,” Close said. “So in a backwards kind of way, yes, it’s actually supporting … consumers, because it keeps more product available to the counter.”Beef is getting more expensive, with the average price of ground beef hitting a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nationalbeefwire.com/beef-prices-soar-to-record-highs-in-june" target="_blank">record high of $6.12 per pound</a>&nbsp;in June. However, bigger cows also means better quality. Bigger size leads to higher fat content and better marbling. Close estimated that 82% to 84% of all beef is of choice or prime grade, which lines up with consumer tastes.However, researchers and cattle producers have said the current trajectory of beef performance isn’t sustainable. Courter said it’s important to consider the economic factors of farming cattle when trying to breed for size.“We can’t have 2,000-pound mature-weight cows, because those cows eat more, which means you need more acres to raise that cow in a year,” Courter said. “Which means, if you don’t buy more land, you have to decrease the number of cows you have, or you have to increase how much hay or corn or whatever you’re buying to sustain that 2,000-pound cow.”Doug Frank, co-owner of the Frank/Hazelrigg Cattle Co., said that cattle performance is reaching a threshold. In recent years, this has led farmers to start analyzing other significant traits.“Maintenance costs are going up, and maybe we’re past the point of the most efficiency there,” Frank said. “We’re probably at the limit of what our commercial customers have for resources, and we’re a lot more interested in other traits.”Where farmers used to look towards breeding for weight, some are now beginning to place importance in feeding efficiency. Farmers are tracking relative feed intake, which measures how much weight a cow gains from a certain amount of feed. Those that need less food to gain weight are more profitable for farmers.Cattle performance may be starting to even out, but Frank highlighted the industry’s ability to continue delivering product, even during a downturn in inventory.“Beef is not cheap today, but … we’ve increased production pretty substantially in the U.S. beef industry,” Frank said, “and we’ve done it with the lowest cow numbers that we’ve had in (decades).”This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Thinning herd, heavier cattle reshape Missouri’s beef supply chain

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on sex crime allegations.

Police began an investigation focusing on an incident that occurred at the Walmart Store located at 1920 U.S.73 in Atchison on the afternoon of Thursday, July 24, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.

A 17-year-old girl was shopping in the store when she was approached by a man who attempted to solicit her for illicit sexual activity. She was able to walk away from the suspect and quickly went to store employees for safety and reported the incident. 

The suspect, later identified as 51-year-old David Holmgren of Weston, Missouri, left the store. 

An investigation led police detectives to Holmgren. Just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police arrested Holmgren on requested charges of commercial sexual exploitation of a child. He turned himself in at Police headquarters, according to Wilson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888651713.png" alt="Holmgren photo Atchison Co." />
 <figcaption>Holmgren photo Atchison Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on sex crime allegations.Police began an investigation focusing on an incident that occurred at the Walmart Store located at 1920 U.S.73 in Atchison on the afternoon of Thursday, July 24, according to Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson.A 17-year-old girl was shopping in the store when she was approached by a man who attempted to solicit her for illicit sexual activity. She was able to walk away from the suspect and quickly went to store employees for safety and reported the incident. The suspect, later identified as 51-year-old David Holmgren of Weston, Missouri, left the store. An investigation led police detectives to Holmgren. Just before 5:30p.m. Tuesday, police arrested Holmgren on requested charges of commercial sexual exploitation of a child. He turned himself in at Police headquarters, according to Wilson.

Police: Mo. man solicited teen for sex while in Walmart

It was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. 

Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu.  Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. 

For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one.

"It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”

Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. 

With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. 

Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly

"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility,"  Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”

After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood Brown

The Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. 

Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch

"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.

The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. 

The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half.  They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903544787.jpeg" alt="JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>JuJu Smith-Schuster (9) warms up before a lighter 10-10-10 practice alongside Nikki Remigio (81) and Jason Brownlee (89)/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEIt was a lighter day at practice for the Kansas City Chiefs after three consecutive days of padded practices in the heat, with cooler temperatures today as well. Back at full strength in this year's camp has been defensive end Charles Omenihu. Injuries have limited Omenihu during his time with the Chiefs, but for the first time in Kansas City, he'll be on the field in week one. For Omenihu, he says it will be exciting to be able to be on the field week one."It is going to be the first time I play in Week 1 since my fourth year in the league. So, I have definitely, these last two years have understood the fact of not taking things for granted. Understood the fact that you got to cherish everything in this game. Because I have been on the end where you’ve had to sit and wait for different reasons," Omenihu tells reporters. "So, I’ll be excited, I’ll be geeked (and) I’ll be ready to rock and ready to go help us get a win.”Omenihu had just one sack in six games for the Chiefs last year, first hitting the field in week 13. With a very young receiving group, when asked who the leader in that room is, Head Coach Andy Reid quickly said it was ninth year receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster. Smith-Schuster says that's a responsiblility he does not take lightly"We’ve got a bunch of young guys in the room, different ages; and you know, for me it’s a big responsibility," Smith-Schuster says. "I take full control. I think I lead by, you know, not just by my words, but by my actions. And, you know, like I said there’s a lot of guys, a lot of experience, different ages, and everyone’s coachable, so, you know, I’m glad to take (on) that responsibility.”After returning to practice yesterday (Tues), Xavier Worthy was out of practice today, and it was reported he is in concussion protocol, putting the Chiefs down three receivers with injuries to Skyy Moore and Hollywood BrownThe Chiefs are getting a little break after a tough stretch of practices, with three straight days of padded practices in pretty extreme heats. Defensive Coordinator Steve Spagnuolo says he felt like the team held up pretty well through that tough stretch"What will be really interesting to me, you know, we had the three hard days, we had today was 10-10-10 – we get the day off. The tough day to come back is the next one, you know after you’ve had the day off so I’m looking for them – if we can ramp it up on that day, I’ll be pretty happy," Spagnuolo says.The “10-10-10” specifically refers to the team cycling through 10 offensive plays, 10 defensive plays and 10 minutes of special teams work during the duration of the practice session. The Chiefs practiced for an hour and a half. They are off tomorrow and will practice again on Friday at 9:15.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753903613835.jpeg" alt="Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock" />
 <figcaption>Charles Omenihu (90) walks down the hill with rookie Ashton Gillotte (97) for practice on Wednesday/ Photo by Justin Peacock</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chiefs get relief from heat with lighter practice on Wednesday

UPDATED WITH IDENTITY AND MORE INFORMATION

A young
motorcyclist died, another suffered injuries in a multi-motorcycle crash at
North Belt and Blackwell in the early morning hours of Wednesday.

The St. Joseph
Police Department identifies the person killed in the crash as 23-year-old
Tristian Plumley of St. Joseph.

St. Joseph police
officers responded to the scene shortly before two o’clock and found the two
individuals. The other subject, not identified by police, was taken for medical
treatment. Plumley was rushed to the hospital, but died of his injuries.

Initial reports
indicated a third motorcyclist might have been involved in the wreck, but fled
the scene. The St. Joseph Police Department released a photo and asked anyone
with information to contact the department.

The Tips Hotline
at (816) 238-TIPS or the SJPD Traffic Unit at (816) 271-4882.

UPDATE:&nbsp; St. Joseph police report the 3rd motorcyclist has been identified.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753896449312.jpeg" alt="Photo issued by the St. Joseph Police Dept. from fatal motorcycle crash" />
 <figcaption>Photo issued by the St. Joseph Police Dept. from fatal motorcycle crash</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostUPDATED WITH IDENTITY AND MORE INFORMATIONA young
motorcyclist died, another suffered injuries in a multi-motorcycle crash at
North Belt and Blackwell in the early morning hours of Wednesday.The St. Joseph
Police Department identifies the person killed in the crash as 23-year-old
Tristian Plumley of St. Joseph.St. Joseph police
officers responded to the scene shortly before two o’clock and found the two
individuals. The other subject, not identified by police, was taken for medical
treatment. Plumley was rushed to the hospital, but died of his injuries.Initial reports
indicated a third motorcyclist might have been involved in the wreck, but fled
the scene. The St. Joseph Police Department released a photo and asked anyone
with information to contact the department.The Tips Hotline
at (816) 238-TIPS or the SJPD Traffic Unit at (816) 271-4882.UPDATE:&nbsp; St. Joseph police report the 3rd motorcyclist has been identified.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ

Young motorcyclist dies in early morning St. Joseph wreck (UPDATED)

That is the decision before the Kansas
City Chiefs as executives with the Chiefs consider proposals from both Missouri
and Kansas to offset the cost of either renovating Arrowhead Stadium or
building a new stadium.

Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt, says the team has
made a lot of progress evaluating two really good options.

“I don't want to get into how
close we are making a decision, because I've found over time with stadium
situations, that until they're done, they're not done,” Hunt tells reporters
during his visit to Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. “There's a lot of work,
a lot of moving parts, and we're working through those. Certainly, I would say
we feel an urgency to bringing the process to a conclusion. But that doesn't
mean I can will it to happen in any specified period of time.”

Hunt calls the two offers from the two
states two very good options.

Hunt says the Kansas offer would provide
financing needed to build a new stadium.

“And our priority on the
Missouri side has been a renovation of GEHA Field at Arrowhead,” Hunt says. “So,
those are the two primary options.”

Hunt acknowledges there is an emotional
pull toward Arrowhead.

“I think anybody who’s been
coming to Chiefs games for decades understands what a special stadium GEHA
Field at Arrowhead is,” Hunt says. “And you know, it's fun being here at
training camp and getting to interact with our fans. And I certainly hear from
them in terms of their thoughts. And many of them have grown up going to games
with their dad, their mother, their family, and so it's a very special place
for them. So that'll be part of the calculus for sure.”

Hunt says the team has a sense of urgency,
because the Arrowhead lease expires in the Spring of 2031 and it takes 4 ½ to 5
years to complete a stadium project.

“So, it's important for us to
be able to make a decision somewhat in the in the near term to be able to be on
schedule to have the renovated or new building open in ’31.”

Still, Hunt says the Chiefs must make a
decision that is best for the team’s fans and the organization’s future. Hunt
says the team is intent on getting it right.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753890912655.jpeg" alt="Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt, takes reporters' questions at Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt, takes reporters' questions at Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph/Photo by Brent Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINRenovate or build new?That is the decision before the Kansas
City Chiefs as executives with the Chiefs consider proposals from both Missouri
and Kansas to offset the cost of either renovating Arrowhead Stadium or
building a new stadium.Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt, says the team has
made a lot of progress evaluating two really good options.“I don't want to get into how
close we are making a decision, because I've found over time with stadium
situations, that until they're done, they're not done,” Hunt tells reporters
during his visit to Chiefs Training Camp in St. Joseph. “There's a lot of work,
a lot of moving parts, and we're working through those. Certainly, I would say
we feel an urgency to bringing the process to a conclusion. But that doesn't
mean I can will it to happen in any specified period of time.”Hunt calls the two offers from the two
states two very good options.Hunt says the Kansas offer would provide
financing needed to build a new stadium.“And our priority on the
Missouri side has been a renovation of GEHA Field at Arrowhead,” Hunt says. “So,
those are the two primary options.”Hunt acknowledges there is an emotional
pull toward Arrowhead.“I think anybody who’s been
coming to Chiefs games for decades understands what a special stadium GEHA
Field at Arrowhead is,” Hunt says. “And you know, it's fun being here at
training camp and getting to interact with our fans. And I certainly hear from
them in terms of their thoughts. And many of them have grown up going to games
with their dad, their mother, their family, and so it's a very special place
for them. So that'll be part of the calculus for sure.”Hunt says the team has a sense of urgency,
because the Arrowhead lease expires in the Spring of 2031 and it takes 4 ½ to 5
years to complete a stadium project.“So, it's important for us to
be able to make a decision somewhat in the in the near term to be able to be on
schedule to have the renovated or new building open in ’31.”Still, Hunt says the Chiefs must make a
decision that is best for the team’s fans and the organization’s future. Hunt
says the team is intent on getting it right.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753890993034.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>

Chiefs CEO, Clark Hunt, sees two good options for team's future home

ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.

Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753888339864.png" alt="Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>Photo of the scooter involved -Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY, Kan. —Law enforcement are investigating an injury accident that occurred at&nbsp;5p.m. on Tuesday in Atchison.Isaiah Williams, 24, Atchison, was riding his electric scooter eastbound in the 1800 block Main Street in Atchison, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.Williams lost control of the scooter and crashed. There were no other vehicles involved.&nbsp; A private vehicle transported Williams to Amberwell Hospital&nbsp; for treatment of injuries. Police were then notified and an investigation followed.

Police: Kansas man injured in electric scooter crash

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7bIPGZTWw5sF47BXDgStov?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 data-testid="embed-iframe" style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/33cpREFTULxI0ZfcaJv37d?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:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>

Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.

City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.

Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.

“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”

Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.

“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”

Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.

“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”

David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.

City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.

The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.

Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.

“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”

Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.

“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753872060905.png" alt=" Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted)." />
 <figcaption> Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City helps refugees integrate into the local community (photo submitted).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/sauravrahman/">Saurav Rahman</a>Nonprofit organizations that provide refugee services in Missouri are pivoting to diversified financial strategies to reduce their dependency&nbsp;on government funding. These organizations are now focusing more on expanding community-based crowdfunding and scaling up revenue-generating programs to address anticipated financial gaps and ensure continued support for refugees.City of Refuge, a Columbia-based nonprofit that provides services for refugees resettled in mid-Missouri, was notified that 40% of its federal and state funding might dry up by October 2026.Jackson Efuta, a former refugee and now a staff member at City of Refuge, said witnessing the ongoing funding cuts is deeply painful.“I have personally experienced how vital these resources are during the most vulnerable time in a person’s life, when they are trying to adjust, heal and survive in a completely new environment,” Efuta said. “It is life-changing, providing emotional, practical and community based help that gives individuals the chance to thrive, not just survive.”Garrett Rucinski, director&nbsp;of engagement at City of Refuge, said the organization is making plans in case its funding dries up.“We already have a plan now,” Rucinski said. “It’s to grow the revenue producers, grow the monthly donors.”Hilary Cohen Singer, executive director at Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City, said it’s hard to determine a specific number of funds lost, as some programs have been discontinued permanently, others temporarily paused and some funding has fluctuated between being frozen and unfrozen.“We are increasingly looking to our local community to help provide the vital services for refugees and immigrants to help them integrate into the community,” Cohen Singer said. “We are certainly affected in significant ways by the loss of federal funding.”David Gonzalez, vice president of development at the International Institute of St. Louis, thinks the future for these service providers is going to be less reliant on government funding, and that is the direction his organization is moving in.The&nbsp;<a href="https://moora.org/data-reports" target="_blank">Missouri Office of Refugee Administration reported</a>&nbsp;3,272 refugee arrivals in Missouri during the 2024 fiscal year, which extended from Oct. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2024 — the highest number in the past eight years. According to the American Immigration Council, the&nbsp;<a href="https://map.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/locations/missouri/" target="_blank">total number of refugees in Missouri</a>&nbsp;is estimated to be around 24,600.<h2>Expanding revenue-generating services</h2>City of Refuge launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 donors contributing $50 per month. According to Rucinski, it has reached 20% of that goal within just a couple of months.The organization is also focusing on its three revenue-generating initiatives — City Boutique, City Cuisine and City Preschool. City Boutique is a thrift shop that sells goods from local donors and refugee artisans; City Cuisine operates a food truck and provides catering services; and the preschool program supports young children’s social and language development.Together, these initiatives help fund the larger organization, with revenue from the boutique funding 15% of the total annual budget, Rucinski said.“We are knocking on every door possible, asking for monthly gifts, asking for end-of-year gifts. That’s what every nonprofit is doing right now,” Rucinski said. “We have the benefit of having those three revenue generators, and those revenue generators are going to help&nbsp;us.”Amid news of future funding cuts, an unexpected opportunity arose for City of Refuge — the building next to its location was listed for sale. The organization purchased it using previously awarded American Rescue Plan Act funds to expand on its services.“When the building came up, we realized that we could put down the down payment,” Rucinski said. “With tenants still in the building next door, we can continue to operate as we were, while affording the building next door to us, so it is self-sustaining.”City of Refuge is now planning to use the remaining space in that new building for youth programming and a commercial kitchen, which it hopes will generate additional revenue for the organization, Rucinski said.“If we keep getting more monthly donors and end-of-year donors, if we keep getting more visitors to the Boutique, Cuisine and people attending our preschool, more sponsors and we continue on the pace that we are at, I feel very positive about October 2026,” Rucinski said.<h2>Leaning on community support</h2>Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City continues to support refugees despite the ongoing challenges caused by the federal funding cuts. The organization has adapted by reducing staff and expanding its search for alternative funding sources.Katie Norman, communication manager at JVS, said that the organization supports approximately 7,500 refugees and immigrants each year, with community integration, health and education.“We do receive quite a bit of funding&nbsp;from the federal government, so we have been impacted by the cuts and freezes to federal funds,” Norman said. “But we also receive funding from private foundations and the state as well.”Due to federal funding cuts, JVS has already reduced its services and is now seeking and has received new funding to continue much of its work, Cohen Singer said.“We did have to make staff reductions, and so we have done that,” Cohen Singer said. “We anticipate being able to continue with our operations at the size and scale that we are certainly into next fiscal year, and that is probably as far as we are able to plan for.”Agencies like JVS have traditionally been closely involved in the initial resettlement period of refugees. That program has now stopped, and there are no new arrivals associated with it. Following that, there is no funding available for refugee resettlement, said Cohen Singer.“But that doesn’t mean that our work stops, because the work that we do provides support to people who have been here one year, but also three years or five years or 10 years, depending on what their needs are,” she said.According to Cohen Singer, the organization now reaches the local community, individuals, foundations, and state and local governments that have programs to support people’s wellbeing, even if the funding is not specifically for refugees and immigrants.“The people that we serve can benefit from funding that is targeted towards employment or education or youth services or mental health, or any number of things,” Cohen Singer said. “So we are talking to folks that provide funding in all of those areas so that we can bring additional resources into the organization.”<h2>Less reliance on government funding</h2>The International Institute of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping refugees, has been forced to make staff reductions and a renewed push for community and private-sector support to adapt to the federal funding cuts.The organization has been a government contractor since the 70s, working to safely and legally bring refugees to the area and support them by providing housing, education and employment. Last year, the organization served over 3,500 individuals. However, since&nbsp;January, things have been tough due to a roughly $500,000 funding cut.Gonzalez said that even when federal funding was frozen, the organization still had an agreement with the federal government to bring refugees to the St. Louis region and provide support.“We immediately found a shortfall of about half a million dollars that we had to come up with,” Gonzalez said. “This money would be used for things like housing.”To continue that support, the International Institute of St. Louis launched a campaign in February called Keeping Our Promise, aiming to raise $500,000. The organization also made workforce reductions in areas that didn’t have much direct client access, Gonzalez said.“We had about 125 people here locally, and we had to cut about 60% of those,” Gonzalez said. “So we were down to under 60 staff in February and March.”Gonzalez said the organization has now been able to bring some staff back, bringing the current team size to around 70 to 75, with some community support.The annual budget of the International Institute of St. Louis is roughly $24 to $25 million, with 70% to 80% of that coming from federal funding, Gonzalez said.“That is not a long-term solution for funding, particularly when our funding is at the whims of whoever’s in&nbsp;the White House,” he said. “So we have looked at&nbsp;re-establishing or establishing alternative sources of funding.”Gonzalez outlined three key strategies for future financing: increasing support from the corporate sector by making&nbsp;them understand the importance of new people in the local economy; uncovering new grant opportunities from organizations that are new but interested&nbsp;in the program outcomes; and engaging the broader community, which values the long-term impact of this work.“They understood the cuts, they understood what was happening. And so we had a tremendous response to the Keeping Our Promise campaign,” Gonzalez said. “I will say now we’ve had more individual donors already, at this point, halfway through the year, than we had all of last year.”Last year, the International Institute of St. Louis increased its non-governmental fundraising by 33%, which amounted to over a million dollars, Gonzalez said.<h2>Urge for more support</h2>Kindness Begins with Me supports refugee women in the greater St. Louis area, providing English lessons and driving instruction. The organization serves 225 refugees each week.Half of its annual budget comes from federal funding through the Missouri Office of Refugee Administration, which is about $125,000.Jessica Pachak, executive director at Kindness Begins with Me, said its funding was temporarily frozen, then came back after the freeze. But it’s still unstable.“We are going to have to be a mixture of fundraising initiatives, which will be individual donors and then additional foundations,” Pachak said. “So in the past, we relied 50% on federal funds, and now that 50% of federal funds, potentially, is going to need to be replaced with foundation donors.”Pachak thinks that Kindness Begins with Me is going to be able to raise most of that money but not all.KC for Refugees, an organization that supports refugees in the Kansas City metro area, is mostly funded by donations from the community and friends. It has not received any federal funding since 2019.Linda Zemke, president of the Board of Directors at KC for Refugees, said it is planning to expand its program in the coming days.“We’d like to have more to be able to help the refugees with more things, maybe with rent and emergency assistance,” Zemke said. “But right now we don’t have the money for that. So that would be a good thing to be able to get donations for that, for grants for that.”Carson Myers, interim executive director at Refuge KC, said its programs are funded 100% by donations from individuals and churches.“We have experienced an increased bandwidth for operations and support and future planning in the midst of a time of deep need,” Myers said in an email.This story originally appeared in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/" target="_blank">Missouri&nbsp;Business&nbsp;Alert</a>, a digital newsroom covering&nbsp;businessand the economy in&nbsp;Missouri.

Local