BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

More than 140,000 marijuana cases have been expunged since Missouri legalized recreational cannabis in 2022

Missouri courts have expunged more than 140,000 marijuana cases since voters approved the 2022 constitution amendment to legalize recreational cannabis.&nbsp;

And the numbers won’t climb much higher than that.&nbsp;

Courts were mandated, as part of the amendment, to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/07/experts-worry-expungements-under-missouri-marijuana-law-could-be-procedural-nightmare/">search their files for eligible marijuana-related charges</a>&nbsp;and then make it as if they never existed on people’s records.&nbsp;

Missouri’s biggest counties have made it through the bulk of the task, but some will continue to chip away at it this year.&nbsp;

“We are working on paper files in the mid 80s,” said Bryan Feemster,&nbsp;Greene County Circuit Clerk. “We may be nearing completion midway this year. We can’t be sure how many are left.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The state courts’ paper files largely end around 2014, and the first marijuana-related drug statutes are from 1971, according to information the state administrator provided to court clerks.&nbsp;

However, there’s no set date for how far back the county courts have to go.

Scott Lauck, spokesman for 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County, said the clerks completed their review of cases in December 2023.

“According to our criminal records department, we have completed the review of the marijuana expungements dated back to 1989,” Lauck said. “That was as far back as we were able to identify cases on any reports available to us.”

The county sometimes, he said, becomes aware of additional defendants as they are released from probation.&nbsp;

“If we determine the charges were for marijuana, the cases are sent to the sentencing division for further review,” he said.&nbsp;

St. Louis County Court clerks are in the “review and redetermination phase, to determine what review of our next group of cases will look like,” said spokesman John O’Sullivan.

The Missouri Supreme Court estimates that about 307,000 cases have been reviewed — which would mean the counties expunged 46% of the cases they reviewed.&nbsp;

But this estimate does not include the paper records.&nbsp;

For paper records, court clerks have to read summaries for every single criminal record. There’s no way to run a report to search certain criminal codes.

Sammye White, circuit clerk in Iron County, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/10/slow-process-of-missouri-marijuana-expungement-drags-on-months-after-constitutional-deadlines/">paper files are the slowest to identify</a>.&nbsp;

“I have actually been working on this very thing this morning,” she said Friday. “I have scanned through hundreds of indexed records searching for any that indicate a possession or paraphernalia charge.”&nbsp;

When she finds a drug charge, she has to then find the actual file to see if the drug charge was marijuana.&nbsp;

Out of those, she has to narrow it down to a handful most likely to qualify.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738361417591.png" alt="Iron County Circuit Clerk Sammye White searches for marijuana cases in the office storage room in Ironton (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Iron County Circuit Clerk Sammye White searches for marijuana cases in the office storage room in Ironton (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a><h2>More than 140,000 marijuana cases have been expunged since Missouri legalized recreational cannabis in 2022</h2>Missouri courts have expunged more than 140,000 marijuana cases since voters approved the 2022 constitution amendment to legalize recreational cannabis.&nbsp;And the numbers won’t climb much higher than that.&nbsp;Courts were mandated, as part of the amendment, to&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/12/07/experts-worry-expungements-under-missouri-marijuana-law-could-be-procedural-nightmare/">search their files for eligible marijuana-related charges</a>&nbsp;and then make it as if they never existed on people’s records.&nbsp;Missouri’s biggest counties have made it through the bulk of the task, but some will continue to chip away at it this year.&nbsp;“We are working on paper files in the mid 80s,” said Bryan Feemster,&nbsp;Greene County Circuit Clerk. “We may be nearing completion midway this year. We can’t be sure how many are left.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The state courts’ paper files largely end around 2014, and the first marijuana-related drug statutes are from 1971, according to information the state administrator provided to court clerks.&nbsp;However, there’s no set date for how far back the county courts have to go.Scott Lauck, spokesman for 16th Judicial Circuit in Jackson County, said the clerks completed their review of cases in December 2023.“According to our criminal records department, we have completed the review of the marijuana expungements dated back to 1989,” Lauck said. “That was as far back as we were able to identify cases on any reports available to us.”The county sometimes, he said, becomes aware of additional defendants as they are released from probation.&nbsp;“If we determine the charges were for marijuana, the cases are sent to the sentencing division for further review,” he said.&nbsp;St. Louis County Court clerks are in the “review and redetermination phase, to determine what review of our next group of cases will look like,” said spokesman John O’Sullivan.The Missouri Supreme Court estimates that about 307,000 cases have been reviewed — which would mean the counties expunged 46% of the cases they reviewed.&nbsp;But this estimate does not include the paper records.&nbsp;For paper records, court clerks have to read summaries for every single criminal record. There’s no way to run a report to search certain criminal codes.Sammye White, circuit clerk in Iron County, said the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/10/slow-process-of-missouri-marijuana-expungement-drags-on-months-after-constitutional-deadlines/">paper files are the slowest to identify</a>.&nbsp;“I have actually been working on this very thing this morning,” she said Friday. “I have scanned through hundreds of indexed records searching for any that indicate a possession or paraphernalia charge.”&nbsp;When she finds a drug charge, she has to then find the actual file to see if the drug charge was marijuana.&nbsp;Out of those, she has to narrow it down to a handful most likely to qualify.<div><iframe title="Marijuana cases reviewed and expunged in Missouri" aria-label="Table" id="datawrapper-chart-457f0" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/457f0/4/" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" height="1093" data-external="1"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">!function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data["datawrapper-height"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var t in a.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data["datawrapper-height"][t]+"px";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();</script></div>

Missouri courts near the end of marijuana expungement review

HARRISON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Friday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1982 Chrysler Lebaron driven by a 22-year-old Eagleville man was southbound on U.S. 69 two miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp; The car struck a 2004 Ford F150 driven by 64-year-old Bethany man who was pulling out of a private drive attempting to travel north onto the U.S. 69.&nbsp; The vehicles collided head-on.

A 27-year-old female passenger in the car was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. Life Flight Eagle transported an 18-year-old passenger in the car to Truman Medical Center. North Harrison EMS transported both driver to Harrison County Community Hospital.&nbsp; The passengers in the car were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the identity of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 5p.m. Friday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1982 Chrysler Lebaron driven by a 22-year-old Eagleville man was southbound on U.S. 69 two miles south of Eagleville.&nbsp; The car struck a 2004 Ford F150 driven by 64-year-old Bethany man who was pulling out of a private drive attempting to travel north onto the U.S. 69.&nbsp; The vehicles collided head-on.A 27-year-old female passenger in the car was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Roberson Funeral Home. Life Flight Eagle transported an 18-year-old passenger in the car to Truman Medical Center. North Harrison EMS transported both driver to Harrison County Community Hospital.&nbsp; The passengers in the car were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the identity of accident victims.

Mo. woman dead, 3 injured after head-on crash

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Independent pharmacies across Kansas will close on Wednesday, Feb.5, for a day of advocacy to raise awareness of what they call unfair business practices by pharmacy benefit managers.

Sloane Freeman, president of the Kansas Pharmacists Association, said the "Close for a Cause" event is meant to show customers what life would be like without independent pharmacies in Kansas.

Pharmacists and their employees will also gather in Topeka that day to lobby for legislation the association is introducing to level the playing field for independent pharmacies.

As of Wednesday, Jan. 26, 96 pharmacies in 55 counties have pledged to participate in "Close for a Cause."

Freeman is an owner of a group of pharmacies in Kansas, one of which is in Hill City.

The benefit pharmacy manager system arose in the 1990s to control insurance companies' costs.

However, since then, the benefit pharmacy managers have become part of vertical integration that also includes the ownership of insurance companies and pharmacies.

Three pharmacy benefit managers control about 85% of the market and rank in the top 20 companies in the U.S. They include Cigna, United Healthcare and CVS/Caremark.

"They are charging your insurance plan one cost, reimbursing the pharmacy another cost and then they're keeping everything in the middle," Freeman said.

Freeman said these companies require insured people to use the benefits manager's pharmacies or offer significant discounts as incentives.

Fred Schertz, pharmacist with Midwest Family Health of Russell, will be participating in lobbying efforts in Topeka on Feb. 5. Midwest Family Health will be closed Wednesday.

"[Mail-order pharmacies] not only drive revenue out of the state of Kansas and out of our local economy," he said, "but also it is a patient care thing. Patients are forced to fill out of state."

He said he sees patients who must fill prescriptions out of town or by mail.

"The patients that it really hurts are the ones who don't have the modes of transportation where they can make it to Hays every day to pick up medication,"&nbsp;Schertz said.

<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0317.htm">Many scholarly articles have been written on the importance of community pharmacies in local health outcomes, including a&nbsp;July 23, 2020, article shared by the Centers for Disease Control that discusses the role of local pharmacies in dealing with COVID-19.</a>&nbsp;It also touched on chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease.

The pharmacy benefit managers reimburse their pharmacies at a much higher rate than independent pharmacies, Freeman said.

She said independent pharmacies might be reimbursed 1 cent for the drug and $1 for filling the prescription, but the National Community Pharmacy of Association estimates it costs about $13.85 per prescription for an independent pharmacy to fill a prescription and break even.

That includes overhead costs like the container, label, lights and employees, but that doesn't include the cost of the drug.

"When we're not being paid for the drug or any of our employees, we're operating in the red," Freeman said.

Ten Kansas pharmacies closed within the last year, and Freeman said more will close if reforms are not implemented soon.

Two pharmacies in Russell recently merged to stay open.

"In certain pharmacies, up to one in every three prescriptions, they're getting paid below cost,"&nbsp;Schertz said. "That's not taking into account overhead to run it."

There is an appeal system for reimbursements, but appeals are always denied, Freeman said.

"The [pharmacy benefits managers] don't have to play by any rules because there are no rules," Freeman said.

Freeman said the most important aspect of this debate is patient access to medications in a timely manner.

Independent pharmacies deliver to people who can't leave their homes. Pharmacists are available to answer questions in person and provide other special services, such as bubble packs.&nbsp;

Freeman said her pharmacies have even gone to people's homes to give flu shots.

"You won't find that in a mail-order pharmacy or in a chain pharmacy that is 60 to 75 miles away," she said.

Mail-order and chain pharmacies won't be able to handle the volume if more independent pharmacies close, Freeman said.

An independent pharmacy in Garden City closed, and the remaining pharmacies are swamped. Freeman said people are waiting up to five days to get prescriptions filled.

Mail service in rural Kansas is a barrier for patients who are being required to use mail-order pharmacies.&nbsp;Schertz said patients are seeing delays in receiving their medications.

"If something gets hung up half a state away with critical medications, it's not just a package from Amazon. It's lifesaving medication that can be held up," he said.

Climate control is also a concern. Temperature differences can harm medication efficacy, so pharmacies must maintain their medications at consistent temperatures.&nbsp;

Medication that comes through the mail may be sitting in a mail van or on a dock for hours to days in more than 100-degree temperatures or temperatures well below freezing, Freeman said.

The&nbsp;Kansas Pharmacists Association's bill would set a floor for the reimbursement rate to all pharamcies, Freeman said.

Paul Schiferl, pharmacist in Colby, said he did not think the bill would increase prices for consumers.

"We think that the pharmacies should be trued up," he said. ... "What we believe is that it will put everyone to the middle on a fair playing field."

He added, "You can't make a pharmacy run on a $2 dispensing fee."

The bill also encourages transparency. Employers and the state could see where their money goes for drug costs.

It would also reform the audit system. Freeman said the pharmacy benefit managers perform what she called "predatory audits" of independent pharmacies.

"It's common sense things," Freeman said. "We just want to level the playing field a little bit more instead of the three [pharmacy benefits managers] running us over and trying to close us."

Freeman said she and the other pharmacists did not want to close even for one day, but they need Kansans to understand the importance of this issue.

"Patients need to understand they may not have a pharmacy," she said. "Until people understand and feel the issue on themselves, they aren't going to fully understand what the impact could be.

"I can sit here and say until I'm blue in the face, 'If you don't have a pharmacy, you're not going to be able to get your medications.' But until you actually live in that world for a day, it's hard to comprehend."

Schiferl said he also did not want to close. He wants to serve his patients.

"We also want to have this visual representation. We believe our patients want us in their communities," he said, "and we're hoping that when they can see what this would be like if we were closed all of the time, they will want to support this and reach out to their legislators as well and [tell them] how important it is to have a community pharmacy in their town."

The pharmacies encourage their patients to contact local legislators to support the legislation. The independent pharmacies are also organizing letter-writing campaigns and will be taking letters written by patients to Topeka on Feb. 5

"Having the patient voice is what we really hope to have to help the legislators understand more," Freeman said.

Counties that will have pharmacies closed for "Closing for a Cause" on Feb.5 

Anderson Barber Chase Chautauqua ClayCoffey Decatur Dickinson Doniphan Edwards Elk Ellsworth Gove Graham Grant Gray Greenwood Harper Hodgeman Jewell Kingman Kiowa Lane Pawnee Lincoln Logan Marion Meade Mitchell Montgomery Morris Nemaha Ness Norton Osage Ottawa Pawnee Phillips Pottawatomie Rawlins Republic Rice Rooks Rush Russell Sheridan Smith Stafford Stanton Trego Washington Wichita Woodson

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738267698272.jpg" alt="Photo courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostIndependent pharmacies across Kansas will close on Wednesday, Feb.5, for a day of advocacy to raise awareness of what they call unfair business practices by pharmacy benefit managers.Sloane Freeman, president of the Kansas Pharmacists Association, said the "Close for a Cause" event is meant to show customers what life would be like without independent pharmacies in Kansas.Pharmacists and their employees will also gather in Topeka that day to lobby for legislation the association is introducing to level the playing field for independent pharmacies.As of Wednesday, Jan. 26, 96 pharmacies in 55 counties have pledged to participate in "Close for a Cause."Freeman is an owner of a group of pharmacies in Kansas, one of which is in Hill City.The benefit pharmacy manager system arose in the 1990s to control insurance companies' costs.However, since then, the benefit pharmacy managers have become part of vertical integration that also includes the ownership of insurance companies and pharmacies.Three pharmacy benefit managers control about 85% of the market and rank in the top 20 companies in the U.S. They include Cigna, United Healthcare and CVS/Caremark."They are charging your insurance plan one cost, reimbursing the pharmacy another cost and then they're keeping everything in the middle," Freeman said.Freeman said these companies require insured people to use the benefits manager's pharmacies or offer significant discounts as incentives.Fred Schertz, pharmacist with Midwest Family Health of Russell, will be participating in lobbying efforts in Topeka on Feb. 5. Midwest Family Health will be closed Wednesday."[Mail-order pharmacies] not only drive revenue out of the state of Kansas and out of our local economy," he said, "but also it is a patient care thing. Patients are forced to fill out of state."He said he sees patients who must fill prescriptions out of town or by mail."The patients that it really hurts are the ones who don't have the modes of transportation where they can make it to Hays every day to pick up medication,"&nbsp;Schertz said.<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2020/20_0317.htm">Many scholarly articles have been written on the importance of community pharmacies in local health outcomes, including a&nbsp;July 23, 2020, article shared by the Centers for Disease Control that discusses the role of local pharmacies in dealing with COVID-19.</a>&nbsp;It also touched on chronic illnesses such as cardiovascular disease.The pharmacy benefit managers reimburse their pharmacies at a much higher rate than independent pharmacies, Freeman said.She said independent pharmacies might be reimbursed 1 cent for the drug and $1 for filling the prescription, but the National Community Pharmacy of Association estimates it costs about $13.85 per prescription for an independent pharmacy to fill a prescription and break even.That includes overhead costs like the container, label, lights and employees, but that doesn't include the cost of the drug."When we're not being paid for the drug or any of our employees, we're operating in the red," Freeman said.Ten Kansas pharmacies closed within the last year, and Freeman said more will close if reforms are not implemented soon.Two pharmacies in Russell recently merged to stay open."In certain pharmacies, up to one in every three prescriptions, they're getting paid below cost,"&nbsp;Schertz said. "That's not taking into account overhead to run it."There is an appeal system for reimbursements, but appeals are always denied, Freeman said."The [pharmacy benefits managers] don't have to play by any rules because there are no rules," Freeman said.Freeman said the most important aspect of this debate is patient access to medications in a timely manner.Independent pharmacies deliver to people who can't leave their homes. Pharmacists are available to answer questions in person and provide other special services, such as bubble packs.&nbsp;Freeman said her pharmacies have even gone to people's homes to give flu shots."You won't find that in a mail-order pharmacy or in a chain pharmacy that is 60 to 75 miles away," she said.Mail-order and chain pharmacies won't be able to handle the volume if more independent pharmacies close, Freeman said.An independent pharmacy in Garden City closed, and the remaining pharmacies are swamped. Freeman said people are waiting up to five days to get prescriptions filled.Mail service in rural Kansas is a barrier for patients who are being required to use mail-order pharmacies.&nbsp;Schertz said patients are seeing delays in receiving their medications."If something gets hung up half a state away with critical medications, it's not just a package from Amazon. It's lifesaving medication that can be held up," he said.Climate control is also a concern. Temperature differences can harm medication efficacy, so pharmacies must maintain their medications at consistent temperatures.&nbsp;Medication that comes through the mail may be sitting in a mail van or on a dock for hours to days in more than 100-degree temperatures or temperatures well below freezing, Freeman said.<h2>The bill</h2>The&nbsp;Kansas Pharmacists Association's bill would set a floor for the reimbursement rate to all pharamcies, Freeman said.Paul Schiferl, pharmacist in Colby, said he did not think the bill would increase prices for consumers."We think that the pharmacies should be trued up," he said. ... "What we believe is that it will put everyone to the middle on a fair playing field."He added, "You can't make a pharmacy run on a $2 dispensing fee."The bill also encourages transparency. Employers and the state could see where their money goes for drug costs.It would also reform the audit system. Freeman said the pharmacy benefit managers perform what she called "predatory audits" of independent pharmacies."It's common sense things," Freeman said. "We just want to level the playing field a little bit more instead of the three [pharmacy benefits managers] running us over and trying to close us."Freeman said she and the other pharmacists did not want to close even for one day, but they need Kansans to understand the importance of this issue."Patients need to understand they may not have a pharmacy," she said. "Until people understand and feel the issue on themselves, they aren't going to fully understand what the impact could be."I can sit here and say until I'm blue in the face, 'If you don't have a pharmacy, you're not going to be able to get your medications.' But until you actually live in that world for a day, it's hard to comprehend."Schiferl said he also did not want to close. He wants to serve his patients."We also want to have this visual representation. We believe our patients want us in their communities," he said, "and we're hoping that when they can see what this would be like if we were closed all of the time, they will want to support this and reach out to their legislators as well and [tell them] how important it is to have a community pharmacy in their town."The pharmacies encourage their patients to contact local legislators to support the legislation. The independent pharmacies are also organizing letter-writing campaigns and will be taking letters written by patients to Topeka on Feb. 5"Having the patient voice is what we really hope to have to help the legislators understand more," Freeman said.Counties that will have pharmacies closed for "Closing for a Cause" on Feb.5 Anderson Barber Chase Chautauqua ClayCoffey Decatur Dickinson Doniphan Edwards Elk Ellsworth Gove Graham Grant Gray Greenwood Harper Hodgeman Jewell Kingman Kiowa Lane Pawnee Lincoln Logan Marion Meade Mitchell Montgomery Morris Nemaha Ness Norton Osage Ottawa Pawnee Phillips Pottawatomie Rawlins Republic Rice Rooks Rush Russell Sheridan Smith Stafford Stanton Trego Washington Wichita Woodson

Local pharmacies closings across Kan. for advocacy day; learn why, see where

ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase in stolen trucks.

Just before 9a.m. on Thursday police responded to the Walmart parking lot at 1920 U.S.73 to investigate the theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck that a 59 year old victim had reported was stolen while he was inside the store, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

Within minutes it was determined that a white box truck was involved in the theft of the pick-up truck. An Atchison County Sheriff’s deputy observed the stolen pickup and the white box truck on U.S. 73 south of Atchison. 

Both vehicles were southbound but ended up heading northbound. The deputy pursued the pick-up truck and Atchison Police pursued the box truck as it entered the city’s south end. Atchison Police pursued the box truck that eventually ended up westbound on U.S.73 into the western part of Atchison County and into Jackson County where Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the pursuit. 

That pursuit ended in Nemaha County where troopers took James A. Shoot, 42, of Belton Missouri, into custody. Atchison County deputies took Jason A. Smith, 40, of Olathe Kansas into custody in southern Atchison County. &nbsp; 

Smith is being held in Atchison County on requested charges for the theft of the pickup truck from the parking lot.&nbsp; Shoot is being held in Nemaha County on requested charges that&nbsp; include felony fleeing and eluding.&nbsp; The box truck had been stolen earlier on Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Law enforcement recovered both vehicles.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738335678672.png" alt="Smith photo Atchison County" />
 <figcaption>Smith photo Atchison County</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON —Law enforcement are investigating two suspects on multiple allegations after a chase in stolen trucks.Just before 9a.m. on Thursday police responded to the Walmart parking lot at 1920 U.S.73 to investigate the theft of a 2005 Ford pick-up truck that a 59 year old victim had reported was stolen while he was inside the store, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738336088437.png" alt="Shoot photo Nemaha County" />
 <figcaption>Shoot photo Nemaha County</figcaption>
 </figure>Within minutes it was determined that a white box truck was involved in the theft of the pick-up truck. An Atchison County Sheriff’s deputy observed the stolen pickup and the white box truck on U.S. 73 south of Atchison. Both vehicles were southbound but ended up heading northbound. The deputy pursued the pick-up truck and Atchison Police pursued the box truck as it entered the city’s south end. Atchison Police pursued the box truck that eventually ended up westbound on U.S.73 into the western part of Atchison County and into Jackson County where Kansas Highway Patrol troopers took over the pursuit. That pursuit ended in Nemaha County where troopers took James A. Shoot, 42, of Belton Missouri, into custody. Atchison County deputies took Jason A. Smith, 40, of Olathe Kansas into custody in southern Atchison County. &nbsp; Smith is being held in Atchison County on requested charges for the theft of the pickup truck from the parking lot.&nbsp; Shoot is being held in Nemaha County on requested charges that&nbsp; include felony fleeing and eluding.&nbsp; The box truck had been stolen earlier on Thursday morning in Kansas City, Missouri. Law enforcement recovered both vehicles.&nbsp;

Stolen vehicle suspects captured after 3 county chase

Air National Guard
personnel are under new leadership at the 139th Airlift Wing based
at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.

Col. Barrett
Golden has taken over for Col. John Cluck as base commander. Golden served as
Cluck’s vice commander and says he got to see first-hand the passion Cluck had
for the base.

“Biggest take away
for me is just to see him balance both, not only strategic level engagements,
but the political level engagements,” Golden tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. &nbsp;“And the importance of how you have to have
both of those sometimes to get some success with regard to some of your
initiatives you’re trying to go after.”

The Air Guard
employs approximately 1,000 people at the 139th, both flying C-130H
cargo planes and training pilots from across the country and throughout the
world at its Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. The Air Guard, as its
leaders state, serves two masters:&nbsp; the
state of Missouri and the United States. It must be prepared to respond to
disasters in Missouri as well as any military mission in which the country is
engaged.

Golden says he
will continue some of the initiatives that took shape under Cluck. The 139th
is continuing to complete new buildings north of Rosecrans, out of the flood
plain, as it prepares to move from its current location.

“We have a few
properties we’ve already built up north. Our next initiative is to absolutely
build what we call the fuel cell hangar,” according to Golden. “One of our
issues with regard to obtaining the C-130J model is our fuel cell hangar is not
quite big enough to its specifications required.”

Also, Golden will
continue to seek the new “J” model C-130 planes from the Air National Guard. The
139th got passed over during the initial allocation, but huge
improvements to Rosecrans, including a new Traffic Control Tower, is expected
to satisfy the shortcomings that led to the local base not getting the
aircraft.

Golden also is
pressing to get a new C-130 simulator at the base. He says the 139th
needs a C-130J simulator with the Air Force moving on from the C-130H model
planes.

Golden says the
base must always be thinking of its future and consider its contingencies.

“If we are not
selected for the C-130J model, we’ve got to continue to think of course of
action number two:&nbsp; going after a
potential other mission set,” Golden says. “We are very adamant about
maintaining a flying mission at the 139th Airlift Wing. So, what is
next aircraft? That is the second concerning, or challenge, that I would say
that I’m looking at right now.”

Golden came to the
St. Joseph base in the summer of 2011 as Advanced Tactics Aircrew Course
Director at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. He became Assistant
Director of Operations of the center in late 2012, moving up to the director in
2014. Golden became Vice Commander of the 139th Airlift Wing in
April of 2024.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738347634364.jpeg" alt="Brig. Gen. Patrick Lanaghan, Col. John Cluck, and Col. Barrett Golden at the 139th Airlift Wing Change of Command ceremony on the base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport/U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rivera" />
 <figcaption>Brig. Gen. Patrick Lanaghan, Col. John Cluck, and Col. Barrett Golden at the 139th Airlift Wing Change of Command ceremony on the base at Rosecrans Memorial Airport/U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rivera</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAir National Guard
personnel are under new leadership at the 139th Airlift Wing based
at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph.Col. Barrett
Golden has taken over for Col. John Cluck as base commander. Golden served as
Cluck’s vice commander and says he got to see first-hand the passion Cluck had
for the base.“Biggest take away
for me is just to see him balance both, not only strategic level engagements,
but the political level engagements,” Golden tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. &nbsp;“And the importance of how you have to have
both of those sometimes to get some success with regard to some of your
initiatives you’re trying to go after.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738348878709.jpeg" alt="139th Change of Command ceremony/U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rivera" />
 <figcaption>139th Change of Command ceremony/U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Andrew Rivera</figcaption>
 </figure>The Air Guard
employs approximately 1,000 people at the 139th, both flying C-130H
cargo planes and training pilots from across the country and throughout the
world at its Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. The Air Guard, as its
leaders state, serves two masters:&nbsp; the
state of Missouri and the United States. It must be prepared to respond to
disasters in Missouri as well as any military mission in which the country is
engaged.Golden says he
will continue some of the initiatives that took shape under Cluck. The 139th
is continuing to complete new buildings north of Rosecrans, out of the flood
plain, as it prepares to move from its current location.“We have a few
properties we’ve already built up north. Our next initiative is to absolutely
build what we call the fuel cell hangar,” according to Golden. “One of our
issues with regard to obtaining the C-130J model is our fuel cell hangar is not
quite big enough to its specifications required.”Also, Golden will
continue to seek the new “J” model C-130 planes from the Air National Guard. The
139th got passed over during the initial allocation, but huge
improvements to Rosecrans, including a new Traffic Control Tower, is expected
to satisfy the shortcomings that led to the local base not getting the
aircraft.Golden also is
pressing to get a new C-130 simulator at the base. He says the 139th
needs a C-130J simulator with the Air Force moving on from the C-130H model
planes.Golden says the
base must always be thinking of its future and consider its contingencies.“If we are not
selected for the C-130J model, we’ve got to continue to think of course of
action number two:&nbsp; going after a
potential other mission set,” Golden says. “We are very adamant about
maintaining a flying mission at the 139th Airlift Wing. So, what is
next aircraft? That is the second concerning, or challenge, that I would say
that I’m looking at right now.”Golden came to the
St. Joseph base in the summer of 2011 as Advanced Tactics Aircrew Course
Director at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center. He became Assistant
Director of Operations of the center in late 2012, moving up to the director in
2014. Golden became Vice Commander of the 139th Airlift Wing in
April of 2024.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

New leadership settles in at the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford Ranger driven by an 81-year-old Stanberry woman was eastbound in the median crossover on U.S. 71 at Route U four miles west of Arkoe.

A northbound 2002 Chevy Silverado driven by a 45-year-old Maryville woman struck the passenger side of the pickup as the Ford attempted to cross U.S. 71.

Nodaway County EMS transported the 45-year-old to Mosaic in Maryville. The Ford driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;

NODAWAY COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2019 Ford Ranger driven by an 81-year-old Stanberry woman was eastbound in the median crossover on U.S. 71 at Route U four miles west of Arkoe.A northbound 2002 Chevy Silverado driven by a 45-year-old Maryville woman struck the passenger side of the pickup as the Ford attempted to cross U.S. 71.Nodaway County EMS transported the 45-year-old to Mosaic in Maryville. The Ford driver was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the identity of accident victims.

Missouri woman injured after 2-vehicle crash

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by a 24-year-old St. Joseph woman was southbound on Route K just north of Arcadia Street at the St. Joseph City limits.

The car rear-ended a 2016 Nissan Rogue driven by a 76-year-0ld Amazonia man who was slowing to turn. After impact the Nissan traveled down an embankment. Buchanan County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

BUCHANAN COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 5a.m. Thursday in Buchanan County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass driven by a 24-year-old St. Joseph woman was southbound on Route K just north of Arcadia Street at the St. Joseph City limits.The car rear-ended a 2016 Nissan Rogue driven by a 76-year-0ld Amazonia man who was slowing to turn. After impact the Nissan traveled down an embankment. Buchanan County EMS transported both drivers to Mosaic Life Care. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the identity of accident victims.

2 hospitalized after Buchanan County rear-end crash

A northwest
Missouri state representative will chair the House Conservation and Natural
Resources Committee.

Rep. Jeff Farnan,
a Republican from Stanberry, says it’s an honor that the House Speaker chose
him to chair a committee important to his district.

“To me, managing
and protecting our natural resources is very important, not only for our generation,
but for generations to come. So, any bills down here that deal with air, water,
plants, soil and minerals or animals should come through there,” Farnan tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I feel that we have a good committee and I think that we’ll
pass maybe some good legislation that will help Missourians.”

Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.

Farnan, who
represents Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House,
says the committee fits his district.

“I feel that
agriculture and conservation, they go hand-in-hand,” Farnan says. “It’s a good
fit.”

A bill before the
committee seeks to resolve the conflict which arises when farmers spread manure
on fields close to a city. Farnan says such issues illustrate problems that
arise as cities spread to rural areas of the state.

“There’s always a
tight line you have to walk there between farmers and people that live in the
cities,” Farnan says. “I’m looking forward to that. I think that we can come up
with a good solution that will, hopefully, make everybody happy.” &nbsp;

Farnan says the
members of his committee come from a variety of backgrounds.

Farnan also serves
on the Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Sub-Committee dealing with
Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Emerging Issues
Committee, and the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738256895409.jpeg" alt="Rep. Jeff Farnan/file photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Jeff Farnan/file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA northwest
Missouri state representative will chair the House Conservation and Natural
Resources Committee.Rep. Jeff Farnan,
a Republican from Stanberry, says it’s an honor that the House Speaker chose
him to chair a committee important to his district.“To me, managing
and protecting our natural resources is very important, not only for our generation,
but for generations to come. So, any bills down here that deal with air, water,
plants, soil and minerals or animals should come through there,” Farnan tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I feel that we have a good committee and I think that we’ll
pass maybe some good legislation that will help Missourians.”Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.Farnan, who
represents Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House,
says the committee fits his district.“I feel that
agriculture and conservation, they go hand-in-hand,” Farnan says. “It’s a good
fit.”A bill before the
committee seeks to resolve the conflict which arises when farmers spread manure
on fields close to a city. Farnan says such issues illustrate problems that
arise as cities spread to rural areas of the state.“There’s always a
tight line you have to walk there between farmers and people that live in the
cities,” Farnan says. “I’m looking forward to that. I think that we can come up
with a good solution that will, hopefully, make everybody happy.” &nbsp;Farnan says the
members of his committee come from a variety of backgrounds.Farnan represents
Atchison, Holt, Nodaway, and Gentry Counties in the Missouri House.Farnan also serves
on the Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Sub-Committee dealing with
Agriculture, Conservation, and Natural Resources, the Emerging Issues
Committee, and the Special Committee on Innovation and Technology.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

NW Missouri lawmaker heads House Conservation Committee

Wilkerson Crane
has announced it has acquired Ideal Crane of St. Joseph.

Wilkerson Crane, a
leading provider of crane and lifting services located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, says the acquisition
strengthens its position in the market.

“We
are thrilled to welcome Ideal Crane to the Wilkerson family,” Diana Holt, Owner and Board Chair of Wilkerson Crane Rental, said in a
written statement released by the company. “Ideal Crane has built a strong
reputation for excellence, and this partnership allows us to combine our
expertise, resources, and commitment to safety to deliver unparalleled service
to our customers.”

The company
states the purchase allows Wilkerson to expand its fleet as well as the
territory is serves. Ideal Crane’s longstanding relationships and industry
knowledge will complement Wilkerson’s operations and drive continued growth,
according to the company.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738258996133.jpeg" alt="Wilkerson Crane photo" />
 <figcaption>Wilkerson Crane photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostWilkerson Crane
has announced it has acquired Ideal Crane of St. Joseph.Wilkerson Crane, a
leading provider of crane and lifting services located in Bonner Springs, Kansas, says the acquisition
strengthens its position in the market.“We
are thrilled to welcome Ideal Crane to the Wilkerson family,” Diana Holt, Owner and Board Chair of Wilkerson Crane Rental, said in a
written statement released by the company. “Ideal Crane has built a strong
reputation for excellence, and this partnership allows us to combine our
expertise, resources, and commitment to safety to deliver unparalleled service
to our customers.”The company
states the purchase allows Wilkerson to expand its fleet as well as the
territory is serves. Ideal Crane’s longstanding relationships and industry
knowledge will complement Wilkerson’s operations and drive continued growth,
according to the company.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Wilkerson Crane announces purchase of Ideal Crane of St. Joseph

The St. Joseph School Board will put a $157 Million bond issue before voters in April in an effort to raise money to help build two new high schools.  

The board proposes raising the debt service levy by 60-cents per $100 assessed valuation. If approved, the current levy would increase from 53-cents to $1.13 cents. 

Superintendent Gabe Edgar says in putting together how much money was needed, the board wanted to do everything right 

"If we're going to do this, they wanted to do it right, and so the $157 million tag is where we landed and that has everything, it has a performing arts center, I'm just using that as an example because that was something we could have taken out as a money savings for $10 million, but we chose not to, and I think that was the right move on the Board of Education's part," Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr.  

Edgar says the money would benefit the long-range plan of moving to a two high school model, building two new buildings. 

"Benton and Lafayette would both become middle schools, Truman and Bode would stay as middle schools," Edgar explains.  "Spring Garden and Roubidoux would become elementary schools, and the elementary model right now is 13 and it would go to 10." 

Edgar says if the measure is not approved, the board plans to move forward with its long-range plan to downsize from three to two high schools.  

"If you go to a two high school model, Benton is the one that's not big enough to use," Edgar says.  "So, let's say it goes to the public and in the long-range plan it states that if it fails you go to a two high school model anyway, and the two high school model would essentially be Central and Lafayette if you went that path." 

The money raised from the measure would finance construction of a new high school south of 36 highway as well as land acquisition. Money will also be put towards improvements and repairs of current facilities.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727362179237.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The St. Joseph School Board will put a $157 Million bond issue before voters in April in an effort to raise money to help build two new high schools. The board proposes raising the debt service levy by 60-cents per $100 assessed valuation. If approved, the current levy would increase from 53-cents to $1.13 cents. Superintendent Gabe Edgar says in putting together how much money was needed, the board wanted to do everything right "If we're going to do this, they wanted to do it right, and so the $157 million tag is where we landed and that has everything, it has a performing arts center, I'm just using that as an example because that was something we could have taken out as a money savings for $10 million, but we chose not to, and I think that was the right move on the Board of Education's part," Edgar tells KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. Edgar says the money would benefit the long-range plan of moving to a two high school model, building two new buildings. "Benton and Lafayette would both become middle schools, Truman and Bode would stay as middle schools," Edgar explains. "Spring Garden and Roubidoux would become elementary schools, and the elementary model right now is 13 and it would go to 10." Edgar says if the measure is not approved, the board plans to move forward with its long-range plan to downsize from three to two high schools. "If you go to a two high school model, Benton is the one that's not big enough to use," Edgar says. "So, let's say it goes to the public and in the long-range plan it states that if it fails you go to a two high school model anyway, and the two high school model would essentially be Central and Lafayette if you went that path." The money raised from the measure would finance construction of a new high school south of 36 highway as well as land acquisition. Money will also be put towards improvements and repairs of current facilities.<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/Hotline-Interview-Gabe-Edgar-and-LaTonya-Williams-on-upcoming-bond-issue-e2u8551/a-abonvcc" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

St. Joseph voters will decide $157 million bond issue in April

A body found in
the remains of a St. Joseph house fire last week has been identified.

The St. Joseph Police
Department identifies the victim as 75-year-old David Clevenger.

St. Joseph firefighters
responded to the house fire in the 4600 block of Badger Street last week. Crews
discovered the body. An autopsy was ordered. Police say an investigation of the
fire and the death has uncovered nothing suspicious.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA body found in
the remains of a St. Joseph house fire last week has been identified.The St. Joseph Police
Department identifies the victim as 75-year-old David Clevenger.St. Joseph firefighters
responded to the house fire in the 4600 block of Badger Street last week. Crews
discovered the body. An autopsy was ordered. Police say an investigation of the
fire and the death has uncovered nothing suspicious.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Body found in remains of St. Joseph house fire identified

Local state
lawmakers want more details from Gov. Mike Kehoe on the education platform he
unveiled during his State of the State address to a joint session of the
Missouri General Assembly.

State Rep. Brenda
Shields, a fellow Republican from St. Joseph, would have liked to have heard
the governor promise to fully fund the school education formula.

“And we’ll have to
sort out and see if we’re able to fund that and if we can increase that funding
for public education,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “But I think what we
have to remember is there’s lots of ideas that we need to make sure that we
move Missouri education forward.”

State Rep. Bill
Falkner of St. Joseph, also a Republican, says he has concerns about the
governor’s education proposal.

“And so, we’re
going to wait to see how it’s laid out and then whether I can support it or
not,” Falkner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Because, right now, (with) the
information I’ve got, it’d be kind of hard to support.”

The governor has
proposed a $53.7 billion state budget. It includes a record $4 billion for
education, but that is still short $300 million of fully funding the state
public school formula, known as the Foundation Formula.

Kehoe has also
suggested overhauling the Foundation Formula. Shields has more than a passing
interest in the discussion. Her husband, then Sen. Charlie Shields, devised the
Foundation Formula. But that was 20 years ago.

“I do think it is
time that we address a new education formula for our state,” Shields says. “We
just need to make sure that it is equitable to all students in our state so
they can all receive a quality education.”

Much has changed
over the past two decades.

“Even the types of
students and the families and the home life that our students are coming from
are different than they even were 20 years ago,” according to Shields. “So, I
think those are some of the things that we’re going to have to address.”

Falkner wants the
state to support public education as much as possible.

“As mayor, dealing
with companies wanting to move into our community, the public school system was
a very important piece to that,” Falkner says. “I think it’s vital to our
communities to have a strong public education system.”

Sen. Rusty Black,
a Republican from Chillicothe, also wants more information about how the
governor plans to change the Foundation Formula.

“There’s been
discussion since I’ve been here about making some major changes to it, because
of changes that have happened in communities, etc.,” Black says. “None of that was
a surprise and I’ve been around some of the discussion associated with that.”

The governor has
proposed allocating more money to charter schools as well as a tax credit
program that offsets the cost of sending a child to private school.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostLocal state
lawmakers want more details from Gov. Mike Kehoe on the education platform he
unveiled during his State of the State address to a joint session of the
Missouri General Assembly.State Rep. Brenda
Shields, a fellow Republican from St. Joseph, would have liked to have heard
the governor promise to fully fund the school education formula.“And we’ll have to
sort out and see if we’re able to fund that and if we can increase that funding
for public education,” Shields tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “But I think what we
have to remember is there’s lots of ideas that we need to make sure that we
move Missouri education forward.”State Rep. Bill
Falkner of St. Joseph, also a Republican, says he has concerns about the
governor’s education proposal.“And so, we’re
going to wait to see how it’s laid out and then whether I can support it or
not,” Falkner tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “Because, right now, (with) the
information I’ve got, it’d be kind of hard to support.”The governor has
proposed a $53.7 billion state budget. It includes a record $4 billion for
education, but that is still short $300 million of fully funding the state
public school formula, known as the Foundation Formula.Kehoe has also
suggested overhauling the Foundation Formula. Shields has more than a passing
interest in the discussion. Her husband, then Sen. Charlie Shields, devised the
Foundation Formula. But that was 20 years ago.“I do think it is
time that we address a new education formula for our state,” Shields says. “We
just need to make sure that it is equitable to all students in our state so
they can all receive a quality education.”Much has changed
over the past two decades.“Even the types of
students and the families and the home life that our students are coming from
are different than they even were 20 years ago,” according to Shields. “So, I
think those are some of the things that we’re going to have to address.”Falkner wants the
state to support public education as much as possible.“As mayor, dealing
with companies wanting to move into our community, the public school system was
a very important piece to that,” Falkner says. “I think it’s vital to our
communities to have a strong public education system.”Sen. Rusty Black,
a Republican from Chillicothe, also wants more information about how the
governor plans to change the Foundation Formula.“There’s been
discussion since I’ve been here about making some major changes to it, because
of changes that have happened in communities, etc.,” Black says. “None of that was
a surprise and I’ve been around some of the discussion associated with that.”The governor has
proposed allocating more money to charter schools as well as a tax credit
program that offsets the cost of sending a child to private school.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Local lawmakers want more information on Gov. Kehoe's education plan

Software problems created a months-long backlog that forced some providers out of business, but Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger said 70% of that backlog has been cleared

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

A backlog of payments due to child care providers is 70% clear after a year-long struggle with the state’s new software, Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told lawmakers Tuesday morning.

The Missouri Senate Education Committee questioned Eslinger about everything from school accreditation to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Standing out among the interrogation was an update on the child care subsidy administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“I want to lift up a ‘hallelujah’ that the calculator in the system is fixed. So that is a huge, huge lift,”&nbsp; Eslinger told the committee. “It’s something that I was not able to say for probably four or five months that I sat in this chair.”

The department changed its software vendor in December of 2023, and both providers and families enrolling in the program began noticing issues tracking and receiving payment. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/missouri-education-officials-apologize-for-ongoing-backlog-of-child-care-subsidy-payments/">child care centers closed</a>&nbsp;and others turned away families using the subsidy program during months of missed payments.

State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, said day cares in her area have contacted her about missed payments.

One provider told her, “I’m taking out mortgages. I’m literally doing everything to keep this facility afloat. These kids need this,” she said, adding that the facility later closed.

Eslinger said the department has spent “over $200 million sending out support to those providers.”

There is a remaining “25% or so” of the backlog in payments that has still yet to be resolved, with some issues reaching back a year.

Everyone should be paid up by the end of February, she predicted. Kari Monsees, commissioner of financial and administrative services, nodded in agreement.

Eslinger added that the system of paying on attendance is not working, saying she hopes to shift to paying providers based on enrollment in the future.

Gov. Mike Kehoe, in his State of the State speech Tuesday afternoon, said the state will begin paying child care providers by enrollment numbers in fiscal year 2026.

“My administration is committed to timely payments for the child care providers who partner with the state to provide care,” he said. “We know delays in payments from the state have made it difficult for providers to even stay open.”

While Eslinger spoke to the Senate Education Committee, a House committee heard a proposal to create tax credit programs to expand and fund child care.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, said the legislation would support the workforce. Around 60% of Missouri businesses reported that child care was a barrier in recruiting new employees, she told committee members.

One of the proposed programs would give taxpayers a 75% tax credit for donations made to child care providers. Another incentivizes businesses to provide or help fund child care, and the last would give a 30% tax credit on improvements providers make and refund withholding tax.

Shield said 94 of Missouri’s 114 counties qualify as child care deserts, meaning there is one day care slot for every three children under the age of five.

“Child care is as important of infrastructure as roads and bridges and everything else that we talk about,” she said.

The Senate committee also asked Eslinger about St. Louis Public Schools, which has been under fire as its administration regroups after the investigation and ousting of its former superintendent.

The district’s interim superintendent and school board president stepped up to answer questions as well Tuesday, saying they have instituted a new reading program among other changes.

“There is a program that has been introduced that totally has changed the narrative on the way that our teachers, families and parents are learning and teaching our children how to read,”&nbsp; Toni Cousins, SLPS school board president said. And “that has shown growth in our reading.”

The district also reported it has begun preparing for a new transportation contract next year, opening up the proposal process in November and hearing presentations from bussing companies this month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738168260456.png" alt="Missouri Commissioner of Education updates the Senate Education Committee on department activity and answers questions Tuesday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Missouri Commissioner of Education updates the Senate Education Committee on department activity and answers questions Tuesday morning (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Software problems created a months-long backlog that forced some providers out of business, but Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger said 70% of that backlog has been cleared</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>A backlog of payments due to child care providers is 70% clear after a year-long struggle with the state’s new software, Missouri Education Commissioner Karla Eslinger told lawmakers Tuesday morning.The Missouri Senate Education Committee questioned Eslinger about everything from school accreditation to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Standing out among the interrogation was an update on the child care subsidy administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.“I want to lift up a ‘hallelujah’ that the calculator in the system is fixed. So that is a huge, huge lift,”&nbsp; Eslinger told the committee. “It’s something that I was not able to say for probably four or five months that I sat in this chair.”The department changed its software vendor in December of 2023, and both providers and families enrolling in the program began noticing issues tracking and receiving payment. Some&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/08/06/missouri-education-officials-apologize-for-ongoing-backlog-of-child-care-subsidy-payments/">child care centers closed</a>&nbsp;and others turned away families using the subsidy program during months of missed payments.State Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, a Democrat from Kansas City, said day cares in her area have contacted her about missed payments.One provider told her, “I’m taking out mortgages. I’m literally doing everything to keep this facility afloat. These kids need this,” she said, adding that the facility later closed.Eslinger said the department has spent “over $200 million sending out support to those providers.”There is a remaining “25% or so” of the backlog in payments that has still yet to be resolved, with some issues reaching back a year.Everyone should be paid up by the end of February, she predicted. Kari Monsees, commissioner of financial and administrative services, nodded in agreement.Eslinger added that the system of paying on attendance is not working, saying she hopes to shift to paying providers based on enrollment in the future.Gov. Mike Kehoe, in his State of the State speech Tuesday afternoon, said the state will begin paying child care providers by enrollment numbers in fiscal year 2026.“My administration is committed to timely payments for the child care providers who partner with the state to provide care,” he said. “We know delays in payments from the state have made it difficult for providers to even stay open.”<h2>A proposal to expand</h2>While Eslinger spoke to the Senate Education Committee, a House committee heard a proposal to create tax credit programs to expand and fund child care.The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Rep. Brenda Shields of St. Joseph, said the legislation would support the workforce. Around 60% of Missouri businesses reported that child care was a barrier in recruiting new employees, she told committee members.One of the proposed programs would give taxpayers a 75% tax credit for donations made to child care providers. Another incentivizes businesses to provide or help fund child care, and the last would give a 30% tax credit on improvements providers make and refund withholding tax.Shield said 94 of Missouri’s 114 counties qualify as child care deserts, meaning there is one day care slot for every three children under the age of five.“Child care is as important of infrastructure as roads and bridges and everything else that we talk about,” she said.The Senate committee also asked Eslinger about St. Louis Public Schools, which has been under fire as its administration regroups after the investigation and ousting of its former superintendent.The district’s interim superintendent and school board president stepped up to answer questions as well Tuesday, saying they have instituted a new reading program among other changes.“There is a program that has been introduced that totally has changed the narrative on the way that our teachers, families and parents are learning and teaching our children how to read,”&nbsp; Toni Cousins, SLPS school board president said. And “that has shown growth in our reading.”The district also reported it has begun preparing for a new transportation contract next year, opening up the proposal process in November and hearing presentations from bussing companies this month.

Missouri child care subsidy payment backlog will be resolved next month, commissioner says

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Acura RDX driven by an 85-year-old Maryville man was southbound on Route E three miles west of Ravenwood.

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign for U.S. 136. The Acura struck an eastbound 2009 Cadillac DTS driven by a 58-year-old Parnell man. The impact pushed the Cadillac into a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by a 30-year-old Ravenwood man.

The driver of the Cadillac was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Brahms Funeral Home. A private vehicle transported the driver of the Silverado to Mosaic in Maryville. Nodaway County EMS transported the driver of the Acura to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The drivers of the Acura and the Cadillac were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

NODAWAY COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 4p.m. Wednesday in Nodaway County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2023 Acura RDX driven by an 85-year-old Maryville man was southbound on Route E three miles west of Ravenwood.The driver failed to stop at the stop sign for U.S. 136. The Acura struck an eastbound 2009 Cadillac DTS driven by a 58-year-old Parnell man. The impact pushed the Cadillac into a 2020 Chevy Silverado driven by a 30-year-old Ravenwood man.The driver of the Cadillac was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Brahms Funeral Home. A private vehicle transported the driver of the Silverado to Mosaic in Maryville. Nodaway County EMS transported the driver of the Acura to Mosaic in St. Joseph. The drivers of the Acura and the Cadillac were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.The Missouri State Highway Patrol no longer releases the identity of accident victims.

Missouri man dies after 3-vehicle Nodaway Co. crash

ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Tuesday in Atchison.

A 2018 GMC pickup driven by Floyd Kuhnert, 62, Atchison, was eastbound in the 600 Block of Kansas Avenue, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.

The truck collided with a 1988 GMC grain truck driven by Michael Lednicky, 67, Everest, that was exiting a parking lot on the south side of Kansas Avenue. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1738163615274.png" alt="photo Atchison Police" />
 <figcaption>photo Atchison Police</figcaption>
 </figure>ATCHISON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 2:30p.m. Tuesday in Atchison.A 2018 GMC pickup driven by Floyd Kuhnert, 62, Atchison, was eastbound in the 600 Block of Kansas Avenue, according to Police Chief Mike Wilson.The truck collided with a 1988 GMC grain truck driven by Michael Lednicky, 67, Everest, that was exiting a parking lot on the south side of Kansas Avenue. EMS transported Kuhnert and his 56 year old passenger were transported to Amberwell Hospital for examination.