LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Saturday in Livingston County.&nbsp;

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven by Blayze R. Stains, 18, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 two miles west of Mooresville. The car traveled off the south side of the road into the median. It overturned, crossed eastbound lanes of U.S. 36 and came to rest on its top off the south side of the road.

Chillicothe EMS transported Stains to Hedrick Medical Center. A 17-year-old female passenger from St. Joseph refused treatment at the scene for minor injuries. Stains was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 4:30p.m. Saturday in Livingston County.&nbsp;The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Pontiac G6 driven by Blayze R. Stains, 18, St. Joseph, was westbound on U.S. 36 two miles west of Mooresville. The car traveled off the south side of the road into the median. It overturned, crossed eastbound lanes of U.S. 36 and came to rest on its top off the south side of the road.Chillicothe EMS transported Stains to Hedrick Medical Center. A 17-year-old female passenger from St. Joseph refused treatment at the scene for minor injuries. Stains was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

St. Joe teen hospitalized after rollover accident

CALDWELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Expedition driven by Lawson J. Brown, 33, Mooresville, was westbound on Old U.S. 36 at Northeast Litton Road&nbsp; two miles east of Breckenridge.

The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road, began to slide, traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment, overturned, struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest on its top.

EMS transported Brown to Liberty Hospital and a. passenger Shalai E. Brown, 31, Mooresville to Hedrick Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

CALDWELL COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Saturday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Expedition driven by Lawson J. Brown, 33, Mooresville, was westbound on Old U.S. 36 at Northeast Litton Road&nbsp; two miles east of Breckenridge.The SUV traveled off the north side of the road, returned to the road, began to slide, traveled off the south side of the road, struck an embankment, overturned, struck a barbed wire fence and came to rest on its top.EMS transported Brown to Liberty Hospital and a. passenger Shalai E. Brown, 31, Mooresville to Hedrick Medical Center. They were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP.

Missouri couple hospitalized after SUV rollover crash

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Holt County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chrysler Aspen driven by Mary J. Nauman, 66, Mound City was eastbound on Route C four miles west of Maitland.

The SUV traveled off the north&nbsp; side of the road and struck a ditch. Atchison-Holt ambulance transported Nauman to Mosaic. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.

HOLT COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 4p.m. Friday in Holt County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chrysler Aspen driven by Mary J. Nauman, 66, Mound City was eastbound on Route C four miles west of Maitland.The SUV traveled off the north&nbsp; side of the road and struck a ditch. Atchison-Holt ambulance transported Nauman to Mosaic. She was not wearing a seat belt, according to the MSHP.&nbsp;

Missouri woman hospitalized after SUV crash

A St. Joseph native who has published numerous novels returns
to her home town for a forthcoming book.

Lee Ann Sonthemeier Murphy now lives in Neosho, but grew up in
St. Joseph. Murphy published her first novel in 2010 and explores a variety of
subjects.

“I like to say I write everything from sweet to heat,” Murphy
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I also write historical romance. For those books,
I write those under Patrice Wayne, a pen name because my publisher thought to
keep them different, separate, from my contemporary romance. But I write, pretty
much I write whatever ideas that come up.”

Murphy has been busy this year. “The Legacy of Boone Wilson”
came out earlier this year. “Venganza” came out earlier this month. “The
Cowboy’s Last Chance” comes out next month with “Homeward Bound Hearts” set in
St. Joseph and Savannah is due out in mid-December. An earlier work, “Urban
Renewal,” was set in St. Joseph.

Murphy says she dreamed of being a novelist since she was a
little girl, growing up in north St. Joseph.

“I hope they get a good story that they enjoy. I hope it’s a
story that sticks with them awhile. I occasionally get some fan mail, not a
lot, but some,” Murphy says. “If they tell me my work really touched them or
they really related to it, that makes me feel good.”

Murphy, who now lives in Neosho, has published more than 50
novels or novellas over the years. She published her first novel in 2010 after
working as editor of the Neosho Daily News and the Aurora Advertiser. Murphy even
worked for a time as a broadcast reporter.

And while Murphy says some fantasize about the glamorous life
of a writer, reality is much different.

“My Dad used to say there is no perfect job and I think he was
right,” Murphy says. “I love what I do, but it’s maybe not what people envision
it to be. At the end of the day, I’m still me. I’m still Lee Ann from north St.
Joe, spinning my stories.”

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727461183355.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph native who has published numerous novels returns
to her home town for a forthcoming book.Lee Ann Sonthemeier Murphy now lives in Neosho, but grew up in
St. Joseph. Murphy published her first novel in 2010 and explores a variety of
subjects.“I like to say I write everything from sweet to heat,” Murphy
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I also write historical romance. For those books,
I write those under Patrice Wayne, a pen name because my publisher thought to
keep them different, separate, from my contemporary romance. But I write, pretty
much I write whatever ideas that come up.”Murphy has been busy this year. “The Legacy of Boone Wilson”
came out earlier this year. “Venganza” came out earlier this month. “The
Cowboy’s Last Chance” comes out next month with “Homeward Bound Hearts” set in
St. Joseph and Savannah is due out in mid-December. An earlier work, “Urban
Renewal,” was set in St. Joseph.Murphy says she dreamed of being a novelist since she was a
little girl, growing up in north St. Joseph.Murphy says her aim is simple.“I hope they get a good story that they enjoy. I hope it’s a
story that sticks with them awhile. I occasionally get some fan mail, not a
lot, but some,” Murphy says. “If they tell me my work really touched them or
they really related to it, that makes me feel good.”Murphy, who now lives in Neosho, has published more than 50
novels or novellas over the years. She published her first novel in 2010 after
working as editor of the Neosho Daily News and the Aurora Advertiser. Murphy even
worked for a time as a broadcast reporter.And while Murphy says some fantasize about the glamorous life
of a writer, reality is much different.“My Dad used to say there is no perfect job and I think he was
right,” Murphy says. “I love what I do, but it’s maybe not what people envision
it to be. At the end of the day, I’m still me. I’m still Lee Ann from north St.
Joe, spinning my stories.”<div><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/St--Joseph-native-returns-to-hometown-for-latest-book-e2ov008" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph native returns to home town in Christmas romance

A tailgate party at River Bluff Brewery will help raise money for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter, and also give pets a chance to find a new home. 

Purina will be wrapping up their month long Raise a Pint for Pups event with the party, that will feature adoptable dogs and puppies, and also an appearance from KC Wolf.  

Nikki Olt with Purina says also to help raise money for the shelter there will be two raffles, a basket raffle and a raffle for a Chiefs experience 

"The winner will receive four Chiefs tickets with a parking pass and a tailgate bundle, including a $200 Clark's Custom Meats card, and this is for the Chiefs vs Saints game and it's in section 106," Olt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "The Animal Shelter will be doing hot dogs for donations, and we'll be selling shirts and glassware." 

During the event dogs and puppies will be on site starting at 1pm, Purina will help cover the adoption fees of those dogs during the event.  

Olt says during the tailgate at River Bluff will also have a way to benefit the animal shelter 

"For every Arrowhead Red that is purchased at River Bluff Brewing there's also going to be $1 donated to the animal shelter as well," Olt says. "So, the shirts, glassware, raffle tickets, everything that day as well as what we've been selling the 5th through now, will be going to the animal shelter." 

The St. Joseph Animal Shelter will also have food available for purchase during the event to raise money.  KC Wolf will be there at 1pm.  

The tailgate will kick off at 11am on Sunday at River Bluff Brewery in downtown St. Joseph 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A tailgate party at River Bluff Brewery will help raise money for the St. Joseph Animal Shelter, and also give pets a chance to find a new home. Purina will be wrapping up their month long Raise a Pint for Pups event with the party, that will feature adoptable dogs and puppies, and also an appearance from KC Wolf. Nikki Olt with Purina says also to help raise money for the shelter there will be two raffles, a basket raffle and a raffle for a Chiefs experience "The winner will receive four Chiefs tickets with a parking pass and a tailgate bundle, including a $200 Clark's Custom Meats card, and this is for the Chiefs vs Saints game and it's in section 106," Olt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "The Animal Shelter will be doing hot dogs for donations, and we'll be selling shirts and glassware." During the event dogs and puppies will be on site starting at 1pm, Purina will help cover the adoption fees of those dogs during the event. Olt says during the tailgate at River Bluff will also have a way to benefit the animal shelter "For every Arrowhead Red that is purchased at River Bluff Brewing there's also going to be $1 donated to the animal shelter as well," Olt says. "So, the shirts, glassware, raffle tickets, everything that day as well as what we've been selling the 5th through now, will be going to the animal shelter." The St. Joseph Animal Shelter will also have food available for purchase during the event to raise money. KC Wolf will be there at 1pm. The tailgate will kick off at 11am on Sunday at River Bluff Brewery in downtown St. Joseph

Raise a Pint for Pets at River Bluff Brewery this weekend

Trial over 2023 law turns to impact of ban after first days dive into expert testimony on effect of treatments

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

After three days of battling over&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/battling-experts-qualifications-of-witnesses-a-key-in-missouri-gender-affirming-care-case/">scientific papers and expert testimony</a>, the trial of a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s restrictions on gender-affirming treatments on Thursday turned to the impact the law has on patients and providers.

Nicole Carr, a nurse practitioner at Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis, said anxiety, fear and depression first increased in transgender patients when Attorney General Andrew Bailey published an emergency rule that established barriers to care in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/13/emergency-rule-seeks-to-limit-access-to-certain-procedures-for-transgender-missourians/">April 2023</a>.

“No one thinks about how these laws affect the actual people they are supposed to protect and they are supposed to serve,” she said.

Patients were crying in the clinic in fear, she testified.

“I’m trying to give them hope that they don’t have to fear being in Missouri, that they don’t have to fear coming to me as a provider, that they can move past this,” Carr said. “It’s sad because I’m referring a lot of people to therapy that, before these rules, were fine.”

She worries about youth in foster care, which she worked with frequently in a previous position. Transgender teenagers in foster care often must wait until they turn 18 to go to the doctor alone for assessment to obtain hormone-replacement therapy.

But if they are on Medicaid, as most are soon after foster care, Missouri won’t pay for the treatment.

“(The law) has impacted the quality of care I can give my patients when I know the solution to their problem is out there and I can’t do anything about it,” she said.

Carr and Southampton healthcare are among 11 plaintiffs hoping to block enforcement of a 2023 law banning&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-for-trans-athletes/">gender-affirming medical treatments for minors</a>. Other plaintiffs include parents of transgender children, transgender adolescents, other medical care providers and organizations supporting gender-affirming care.

Their attorneys began putting witnesses on the stand Monday in the Cole County Circuit Court trial scheduled to continue through next week. The lawsuit asks Judge Craig Carter, assigned to the case from Wright County, to declare the law unconstitutional,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=2861307" target="_blank">alleging violations of equal protection</a>, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution.

Although the law does not ban counseling or the continuation of treatments begun before it passed, several providers ceased all gender-affirming treatments for minors soon after it took effect on Aug. 28, 2023. First University of Missouri Health, then&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/11/washington-university-the-second-missouri-provider-to-stop-transgender-care-for-minors/">Washington University&nbsp; in St. Louis</a>, ended their programs, citing the threat of future litigation allowed in the law.

Neither provider is a party to the lawsuit.

Over the first three days of the trial, assistant attorney generals defending the law have repeatedly sought to discredit plaintiffs’ expert witnesses. The painstaking cross examinations have slowed the pace of the trial to two experts per day and led to a late recess on Wednesday.

Carter, however, has declined to limit the cross-examination, despite arguments from plaintiffs’ attorneys that it means the trial will exceed the time allotted to complete it.

During cross-examination, members of the defense team have read scientific articles, news articles and editorials on gender-affirming care. Almost invariably, that leads to objections that the exhibits are new.

Carter has allowed reading as a way to challenge the credibility of witnesses by&nbsp; showing deficiencies in their testimony, such as bias or poor memory.

“They seem to be reading a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of opinion pieces,” Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, an attorney for plaintiffs, told reporters. “If they wanted to introduce the opinion of some random person in the United Kingdom, they could have called them.”

During one question to Dr. Armand Matheny Antommaria from Solicitor General Joshua Divine, plaintiffs’ attorney Nora Huppert objected, arguing that it was as if Divine was testifying himself.

It came as Antommaria, a pediatric hospitalist and bioethicist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, answered questions slowly, often with a “yes sir” or “no sir,” correcting Divine’s questions.

“If you go to the key findings, the statement you’ve pulled out is not part of the key findings,” he said, after a question in which Divine asked about a singular sentence of a scientific article. The context is important, Antommaria told him, saying the overall report was the opposite of Divine’s characterization.

Divine also asked&nbsp; if Antommaria’s religious beliefs or divinity degree should disqualify him as an expert.

“Given the nature of that particular degree, that does not disqualify myself,” he said.

Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, an adolescent medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and medical director of the hospital’s center for transgender youth health and development, testified about her research linking distress about breast development to depression and anxiety. She also discussed benefits of gender-affirming care she has seen in her clinical experience.

Hal Frampton, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, brought one of the 11 three-ring binders prepared for the Olson-Kennedy testimony to the podium. He flipped through the approximately three-inch binder, presenting studies and articles to question Olson-Kennedy’s research and concluding with videos from talks she gave years ago.

In one talk, she said people “get worked up” about certain surgical procedures that are part of gender affirming care.

Frampton asked if she doesn’t like people that get worked up. Olson-Kennedy said she was emphasizing the difference between gender-affirming surgeries.

“The seriousness of getting a sterilizing surgery is more severe than someone who needs a chest surgery,” she said.

He also asked about an interview she gave in which she spoke about being involved in social justice efforts.

“People being able to get access to medically necessary care is an advocacy issue,” she responded.

The defense is scheduled to begin arguments Monday, with a scheduled final day of Oct. 4.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727446832059.png" alt=" Judge Craig Carter, a Wright County judge serving in Cole County for Missouri’s gender-affirming care trial, listens to a nurse practitioner testify Thursday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Judge Craig Carter, a Wright County judge serving in Cole County for Missouri’s gender-affirming care trial, listens to a nurse practitioner testify Thursday afternoon (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Trial over 2023 law turns to impact of ban after first days dive into expert testimony on effect of treatments</h2>BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW&nbsp; <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>After three days of battling over&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/09/23/battling-experts-qualifications-of-witnesses-a-key-in-missouri-gender-affirming-care-case/">scientific papers and expert testimony</a>, the trial of a lawsuit challenging Missouri’s restrictions on gender-affirming treatments on Thursday turned to the impact the law has on patients and providers.Nicole Carr, a nurse practitioner at Southampton Community Healthcare in St. Louis, said anxiety, fear and depression first increased in transgender patients when Attorney General Andrew Bailey published an emergency rule that established barriers to care in&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/04/13/emergency-rule-seeks-to-limit-access-to-certain-procedures-for-transgender-missourians/">April 2023</a>.“No one thinks about how these laws affect the actual people they are supposed to protect and they are supposed to serve,” she said.Patients were crying in the clinic in fear, she testified.“I’m trying to give them hope that they don’t have to fear being in Missouri, that they don’t have to fear coming to me as a provider, that they can move past this,” Carr said. “It’s sad because I’m referring a lot of people to therapy that, before these rules, were fine.”She worries about youth in foster care, which she worked with frequently in a previous position. Transgender teenagers in foster care often must wait until they turn 18 to go to the doctor alone for assessment to obtain hormone-replacement therapy.But if they are on Medicaid, as most are soon after foster care, Missouri won’t pay for the treatment.“(The law) has impacted the quality of care I can give my patients when I know the solution to their problem is out there and I can’t do anything about it,” she said.Carr and Southampton healthcare are among 11 plaintiffs hoping to block enforcement of a 2023 law banning&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-governor-signs-ban-on-gender-affirming-care-restrictions-for-trans-athletes/">gender-affirming medical treatments for minors</a>. Other plaintiffs include parents of transgender children, transgender adolescents, other medical care providers and organizations supporting gender-affirming care.Their attorneys began putting witnesses on the stand Monday in the Cole County Circuit Court trial scheduled to continue through next week. The lawsuit asks Judge Craig Carter, assigned to the case from Wright County, to declare the law unconstitutional,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.courts.mo.gov/fv/c/Petition.PDF?courtCode=19&amp;di=2861307" target="_blank">alleging violations of equal protection</a>, due process and other rights guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution.Although the law does not ban counseling or the continuation of treatments begun before it passed, several providers ceased all gender-affirming treatments for minors soon after it took effect on Aug. 28, 2023. First University of Missouri Health, then&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/09/11/washington-university-the-second-missouri-provider-to-stop-transgender-care-for-minors/">Washington University&nbsp; in St. Louis</a>, ended their programs, citing the threat of future litigation allowed in the law.Neither provider is a party to the lawsuit.Over the first three days of the trial, assistant attorney generals defending the law have repeatedly sought to discredit plaintiffs’ expert witnesses. The painstaking cross examinations have slowed the pace of the trial to two experts per day and led to a late recess on Wednesday.Carter, however, has declined to limit the cross-examination, despite arguments from plaintiffs’ attorneys that it means the trial will exceed the time allotted to complete it.During cross-examination, members of the defense team have read scientific articles, news articles and editorials on gender-affirming care. Almost invariably, that leads to objections that the exhibits are new.Carter has allowed reading as a way to challenge the credibility of witnesses by&nbsp; showing deficiencies in their testimony, such as bias or poor memory.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727446795351.png" alt=" Plaintiffs’ attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan listens to testimony Thursday afternoon in Missouri’s gender-affirming care trial (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption> Plaintiffs’ attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan listens to testimony Thursday afternoon in Missouri’s gender-affirming care trial (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>“They seem to be reading a lot of newspaper articles and a lot of opinion pieces,” Omar Gonzalez-Pagan, an attorney for plaintiffs, told reporters. “If they wanted to introduce the opinion of some random person in the United Kingdom, they could have called them.”During one question to Dr. Armand Matheny Antommaria from Solicitor General Joshua Divine, plaintiffs’ attorney Nora Huppert objected, arguing that it was as if Divine was testifying himself.It came as Antommaria, a pediatric hospitalist and bioethicist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, answered questions slowly, often with a “yes sir” or “no sir,” correcting Divine’s questions.“If you go to the key findings, the statement you’ve pulled out is not part of the key findings,” he said, after a question in which Divine asked about a singular sentence of a scientific article. The context is important, Antommaria told him, saying the overall report was the opposite of Divine’s characterization.Divine also asked&nbsp; if Antommaria’s religious beliefs or divinity degree should disqualify him as an expert.“Given the nature of that particular degree, that does not disqualify myself,” he said.Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, an adolescent medicine physician at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and medical director of the hospital’s center for transgender youth health and development, testified about her research linking distress about breast development to depression and anxiety. She also discussed benefits of gender-affirming care she has seen in her clinical experience.Hal Frampton, senior counsel with the Alliance Defending Freedom, brought one of the 11 three-ring binders prepared for the Olson-Kennedy testimony to the podium. He flipped through the approximately three-inch binder, presenting studies and articles to question Olson-Kennedy’s research and concluding with videos from talks she gave years ago.In one talk, she said people “get worked up” about certain surgical procedures that are part of gender affirming care.Frampton asked if she doesn’t like people that get worked up. Olson-Kennedy said she was emphasizing the difference between gender-affirming surgeries.“The seriousness of getting a sterilizing surgery is more severe than someone who needs a chest surgery,” she said.He also asked about an interview she gave in which she spoke about being involved in social justice efforts.“People being able to get access to medically necessary care is an advocacy issue,” she responded.The defense is scheduled to begin arguments Monday, with a scheduled final day of Oct. 4.

Patients hurt by Missouri’s ban on gender-affirming care, providers testify

Residents will have a chance to hear several area bands perform at Coleman Hawkins Park in St. Joseph this weekend during the 15th annual 'Bluegrass Battles Hunger' food drive to benefit Second Harvest Community Food Bank.

CEO of Second Harvest, Chad Higdon, is looking forward to this year's event, "We're really excited about the bands and the lineup and people coming out to support Second Harvest."

While the event is free, Second Harvest Community Food Bank will accept nonperishable food items, such as peanut butter, cereal, and pastas, as well as monetary donations.

Higdon says there are some limitations on what can and cannot be accepted, "We can't take fresh proteins or anything cold because there is no refrigeration on site. And we try to avoid glass containers."

Higdon notes that in past years the event has raised anywhere between 1,000 - 2,000 pounds of food. He emphasizes the food bank always utilizes both food and monetary donations. "We know through their buying power that they are really able to make those dollars go far."

Second Harvest serves approximately 40,000 individuals throughout eighteen counties in Northwest Missouri.

The lineup for Friday evening includes performers, Beth and Brandon, Dewpew and Morris, and Boxcar Brethren. The music begins at 6:00.

Beginning at 4:00 Saturday afternoon the event includes performances by, The St. Joseph Fine Arts Academy, Natalie Prausser, Rural Grit Allstars, Cameron Keeling and the Runaway Train, and True North.

Food vendors will be on site throughout the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695315372867.jpeg" alt="Bluegrass Battles Hunger 2" />
 <figcaption>Bluegrass Battles Hunger 2</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostResidents will have a chance to hear several area bands perform at Coleman Hawkins Park in St. Joseph this weekend during the 15th annual 'Bluegrass Battles Hunger' food drive to benefit Second Harvest Community Food Bank.CEO of Second Harvest, Chad Higdon, is looking forward to this year's event, "We're really excited about the bands and the lineup and people coming out to support Second Harvest."While the event is free, Second Harvest Community Food Bank will accept nonperishable food items, such as peanut butter, cereal, and pastas, as well as monetary donations.Higdon says there are some limitations on what can and cannot be accepted, "We can't take fresh proteins or anything cold because there is no refrigeration on site. And we try to avoid glass containers."Higdon notes that in past years the event has raised anywhere between 1,000 - 2,000 pounds of food. He emphasizes the food bank always utilizes both food and monetary donations. "We know through their buying power that they are really able to make those dollars go far."Second Harvest serves approximately 40,000 individuals throughout eighteen counties in Northwest Missouri.The lineup for Friday evening includes performers, Beth and Brandon, Dewpew and Morris, and Boxcar Brethren. The music begins at 6:00.Beginning at 4:00 Saturday afternoon the event includes performances by, The St. Joseph Fine Arts Academy, Natalie Prausser, Rural Grit Allstars, Cameron Keeling and the Runaway Train, and True North.Food vendors will be on site throughout the event.

'Bluegrass Battles Hunger' food drive this weekend to benefit Second Harvest

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

Missouri has begun distributing summer food benefits for children and aims to finish by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told The Independent this week.

The aid was intended to be distributed during summer break, to help vulnerable kids avoid a drop-off in nutrition while they were out of school.

Missouri didn’t begin issuing the benefits until Sept. 19.

That’s faster than the state issued summer 2022 emergency benefits that were tied to the COVID-19 pandemic — those were not&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/15/missouri-begins-distributing-summer-2022-food-benefits-as-deadline-for-2023-application-looms/">distributed until the following summer</a>. And in 2023, Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/14/missouri-has-decided-to-turn-down-millions-in-federal-food-aid-for-low-income-children/">did not accept</a>&nbsp;federal pandemic summer food aid for children.

This year’s benefits are part of a federal program in its first year called Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, or SUN Bucks, which is administered by states.

Each eligible child receives a one-time benefit of $120, loaded onto a card that can be used like a debit card to buy groceries.

<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/06/27/13-states-with-republican-governors-opt-out-of-summer-food-program-for-kids/" target="_blank">Thirteen Republican-led states, but not Missouri,</a>&nbsp;opted out of participating in the program.

Benefits for the program have so far been issued to 9,500 Missouri kids, out of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/implementation#Missouri" target="_blank">490,000 kids</a>&nbsp;estimated to receive benefits that amount to $58.8 million.

“[The Family Support Division]&nbsp;remains committed to disbursing benefits as swiftly and accurately as possible,” DSS spokesperson Chelsea Blair said, “with the goal of completing all disbursements by the end of the year.”

State officials said they dealt with technical issues that delayed federal approval and hindered earlier launch of the program.&nbsp;

One issue is that “much of the data collection process for children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program is still manual at this time,” another DSS spokesperson, Baylee Watts, said — the department needs schools to submit data before they can determine eligibility for many of the kids.

The children who will be automatically eligible for the program are:

Missouri has so far issued benefits to foster kids, Watts said, and is next turning to kids whose families are already on SNAP or temporary assistance.

It won’t be until after Oct. 10 that the benefits for kids on free or reduced-price lunch will begin to be issued, she said, because that’s the deadline for schools to submit eligibility data to the department.

Benefits will be issued on an existing card if the family is enrolled in SNAP benefits or temporary assistance, or on a new mailed card if they are not. Families who need a new EBT card can request one&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/missouri-sun-bucks-faqs" target="_blank">by phone or the ebtEDGE mobile app.</a>

SUN Bucks benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/missouri-sun-bucks-faqs" target="_blank">will expire</a>&nbsp;122 days after they are issued, regardless of usage, so families must act quickly once the benefits are distributed. They should also keep the cards for next summer’s program, the state’s website advises.

Those who aren’t automatically eligible were required to submit an application. The window for applications closed Aug. 31, and any received thereafter will be considered for next summer’s program, the department said. The agency received 17,000 applications.

Next summer, Watts said,&nbsp;the agency is expecting benefits to be distributed during the summer months, because the proper infrastructure will be in place.

BY&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri has begun distributing summer food benefits for children and aims to finish by the end of the year, a spokesperson for the Department of Social Services told The Independent this week.The aid was intended to be distributed during summer break, to help vulnerable kids avoid a drop-off in nutrition while they were out of school.Missouri didn’t begin issuing the benefits until Sept. 19.That’s faster than the state issued summer 2022 emergency benefits that were tied to the COVID-19 pandemic — those were not&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/06/15/missouri-begins-distributing-summer-2022-food-benefits-as-deadline-for-2023-application-looms/">distributed until the following summer</a>. And in 2023, Missouri&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/14/missouri-has-decided-to-turn-down-millions-in-federal-food-aid-for-low-income-children/">did not accept</a>&nbsp;federal pandemic summer food aid for children.This year’s benefits are part of a federal program in its first year called Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer, or SUN Bucks, which is administered by states.Each eligible child receives a one-time benefit of $120, loaded onto a card that can be used like a debit card to buy groceries.<a href="https://stateline.org/2024/06/27/13-states-with-republican-governors-opt-out-of-summer-food-program-for-kids/" target="_blank">Thirteen Republican-led states, but not Missouri,</a>&nbsp;opted out of participating in the program.Benefits for the program have so far been issued to 9,500 Missouri kids, out of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fns.usda.gov/sebt/implementation#Missouri" target="_blank">490,000 kids</a>&nbsp;estimated to receive benefits that amount to $58.8 million.“[The Family Support Division]&nbsp;remains committed to disbursing benefits as swiftly and accurately as possible,” DSS spokesperson Chelsea Blair said, “with the goal of completing all disbursements by the end of the year.”State officials said they dealt with technical issues that delayed federal approval and hindered earlier launch of the program.&nbsp;One issue is that “much of the data collection process for children enrolled in the National School Lunch Program is still manual at this time,” another DSS spokesperson, Baylee Watts, said — the department needs schools to submit data before they can determine eligibility for many of the kids.The children who will be automatically eligible for the program are:<ul>
 <li>Students who are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch during the school year;</li><li>Households already enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or temporary assistance; and</li><li>Students who are in foster care, are experiencing homelessness or are migrants.</li>
 </ul>Missouri has so far issued benefits to foster kids, Watts said, and is next turning to kids whose families are already on SNAP or temporary assistance.It won’t be until after Oct. 10 that the benefits for kids on free or reduced-price lunch will begin to be issued, she said, because that’s the deadline for schools to submit eligibility data to the department.Benefits will be issued on an existing card if the family is enrolled in SNAP benefits or temporary assistance, or on a new mailed card if they are not. Families who need a new EBT card can request one&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/missouri-sun-bucks-faqs" target="_blank">by phone or the ebtEDGE mobile app.</a>SUN Bucks benefits&nbsp;<a href="https://mydss.mo.gov/missouri-sun-bucks-faqs" target="_blank">will expire</a>&nbsp;122 days after they are issued, regardless of usage, so families must act quickly once the benefits are distributed. They should also keep the cards for next summer’s program, the state’s website advises.Those who aren’t automatically eligible were required to submit an application. The window for applications closed Aug. 31, and any received thereafter will be considered for next summer’s program, the department said. The agency received 17,000 applications.Next summer, Watts said,&nbsp;the agency is expecting benefits to be distributed during the summer months, because the proper infrastructure will be in place.

Missouri pledges to disperse summer food aid by end of year

The American Red Cross is again experiencing a blood shortage, and while the need isn't critical, it is close to an emergency situation.  

Executive Director of the northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says it's currently a tenuous situation.  

"We're still not seeing quite the levels of blood donors walking in the doors as we would like, we're not quite in as bad a spot as we were a couple months ago," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But we're still in that very tenuous position where if we don't beef up our numbers of blood donors walking in the doors to donate blood, then we could find ourselves back in that very critical space of a blood emergency again."  

Woody says since July the Red Cross has seen a 25% decrease in the number of donors coming to donate blood. 

Woody says there's a number of reasons why people may not donate, whether it's time or not being able too.  

But Woody says for those that are able to donate, the Red Cross asks them to step back and think about how it could affect people in their own lives.  

"It's kind of like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, you can find someone who is needing blood in our personal circles if you step back and look at it," Woody explains. 

Woody says even in her role when she really sat back to think about friends and family members in her own life 

"And then when I really got to looking at it, it was like wow there are so many people that I know that have had to rely on the generosity of a blood donor," Woody says. 

Woody says it can be really kind of scary when you sit back and dig into the people in your lives that have relied on a blood transfusion for a medical emergency.  

Woody says a way people can help in getting donations, if there are no events near you, is to call the Red Cross and help set one up 

"In a school, in a church, in a community center, you know it's easy to do, it doesn't take much, it's not a heavy lift on the person who has the idea and the facility, Red Cross brings the staff, we bring the equipment and the supplies," Woody points out. "What we ask the blood sponsor, if you will, to help with is the recruitment and just kind of helping to make sure they help get the word out." 

Woody emphasizes while it's not a critical situation yet, it is a time where with people back in school and doing sporting events, there's a increased risk of blood being needed. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727368952449.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The American Red Cross is again experiencing a blood shortage, and while the need isn't critical, it is close to an emergency situation. Executive Director of the northwest Missouri chapter JoAnn Woody says it's currently a tenuous situation. "We're still not seeing quite the levels of blood donors walking in the doors as we would like, we're not quite in as bad a spot as we were a couple months ago," Woody tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "But we're still in that very tenuous position where if we don't beef up our numbers of blood donors walking in the doors to donate blood, then we could find ourselves back in that very critical space of a blood emergency again." Woody says since July the Red Cross has seen a 25% decrease in the number of donors coming to donate blood. Woody says there's a number of reasons why people may not donate, whether it's time or not being able too. But Woody says for those that are able to donate, the Red Cross asks them to step back and think about how it could affect people in their own lives. "It's kind of like the six degrees of Kevin Bacon, you can find someone who is needing blood in our personal circles if you step back and look at it," Woody explains. Woody says even in her role when she really sat back to think about friends and family members in her own life "And then when I really got to looking at it, it was like wow there are so many people that I know that have had to rely on the generosity of a blood donor," Woody says. Woody says it can be really kind of scary when you sit back and dig into the people in your lives that have relied on a blood transfusion for a medical emergency. Woody says a way people can help in getting donations, if there are no events near you, is to call the Red Cross and help set one up "In a school, in a church, in a community center, you know it's easy to do, it doesn't take much, it's not a heavy lift on the person who has the idea and the facility, Red Cross brings the staff, we bring the equipment and the supplies," Woody points out. "What we ask the blood sponsor, if you will, to help with is the recruitment and just kind of helping to make sure they help get the word out." Woody emphasizes while it's not a critical situation yet, it is a time where with people back in school and doing sporting events, there's a increased risk of blood being needed. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Red Cross worried blood shortage could become critical

Week 5 of high school football in Missouri and Week 4 in Kansas are now here! Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!

Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night of the regular season from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!

University Academy Charter vs Pembroke Hill

Lafayette vs Summit Christian Academy- Fri @7pm

Dekalb vs Stewartsville- Osborn- Fri @7pm

St. Joseph Christian vs Worth County- Fri @7pm

Riverside @ Atchison-Maur Hill-Mount Academy

Week 5 of high school football in Missouri and Week 4 in Kansas are now here! Below is a list of all of the games being played in the KFEQ/St. Joseph Post area!Tune into KFEQ Radio (680, 95.3, 680kfeq.com) for Friday Night Lights with Matt Pike every Friday night of the regular season from 10- midnight. for scores and interviews with area coaches!MECCameron vs Maryville- Fri @7pmChillicothe @ St. Pius- Fri 7pmBenton vs Savannah- Fri @7pmUniversity Academy Charter vs Pembroke HillLafayette vs Summit Christian Academy- Fri @7pmBishop Leblond vs Archie KCIEast Buchanan vs Lathrop= Fri @7pmNorth Platte vs Hamilton-Fri @7pmLawson vs Mid-Buchanan- Fri @7pmWest Platte vs Father Tolton- Fri @7pmPlattsburg vs Kansas City East- Fri @6pmGRC 11-man (East Division)Trenton vs South Harrison-Fri @7pmGallatin vs Westran= Fri @7pmMaysville vs Marceline- Fri @7pmPutnam County vs Brookfield GRC 8-man (West Division)King City vs Pattonsburg= Fri @7pmPrinceton vs Stanberry- Fri @7pmEast Atchison vs Platte Valley- Thu @7pmDekalb vs Stewartsville- Osborn- Fri @7pmMound City @ Nodaway Valley- Fri @7pmNorth Andrew @ Albany- Fri @7pmSt. Joseph Christian vs Worth County- Fri @7pmSouth Holt vs Rock Port- Thu @7pm275 ConferenceDekalb vs Stewartsville- Osborn- Fri @7pmGreater KC SuburbanCentral vs Liberty - Fri @7pmNortheast KansasAtchison vs Kansas City-FL Schlagle HSHiawatha vs Meriden-Jefferson West HSTroy @ Horton HSRiverside @ Atchison-Maur Hill-Mount Academy

KFEQ/St. Joseph Post High School Football schedule for Sept 26th-27th

The arts in the St. Joseph School District gets
some badly needed upgrades.

The St. Joseph Board of Education has approved
spending $3.2 million for improvements to the fine and performing arts, money
funded through the $20 million bond issue approved by voters in April.

St. Joseph Superintendent Gabe Edgar says it all
is long overdue.

“So, a lot of those were internal. A lot of those
were replacement of instruments and those types of things and then, the rest of
it was upgrades to the facilities,” Edgar tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline. “So I do know that they’re going to upgrade the stages at the high
schools, for instances. So, all the stages are going to be brand new at
Central, Lafayette, and Benton.”

Edgar says many of the instruments used by band
members date back to the 1990s, even 1980s. The Fine Arts and Performing Arts
programs have suffered from a lack of funding for years, according to Edgar.

As part of the expenditures, the St. Joseph Board
of Education has approved a $1.5 million contract with Lawhon Construction of
St. Joseph to make improvement to the stages at Central, Lafayette, and Benton
High Schools. Improvements will not only include replacing the stages, but also
installing modern lighting and sound systems. 
Even such miscellaneous aspects, such as curtains, will be replaced.

Edgar is hopeful these improvements will prove
long lasting.

“I’ll be honest with you, it was just stuff that
needed to be taken care of and I think as long as we take a proactive approach
of staying ahead of the game moving forward, then the Fine Arts Department
won’t be in that position again,” Edgar says.

School Board Vice President Mike Moore says the
board heard from students during a recent St. Joseph School District Foundation
breakfast.

“The student talked about trying to sing, perform
chorally with a rather inexpensive electronic keyboard and compare that to what
he’s got now with the grand piano and he said it’s an unbelievable difference,”
Moore tells Birr during his KFEQ Hotline appearance alongside Edgar. “Kids are
excited and that’s what it’s all about.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostThe arts in the St. Joseph School District gets
some badly needed upgrades.The St. Joseph Board of Education has approved
spending $3.2 million for improvements to the fine and performing arts, money
funded through the $20 million bond issue approved by voters in April.St. Joseph Superintendent Gabe Edgar says it all
is long overdue.“So, a lot of those were internal. A lot of those
were replacement of instruments and those types of things and then, the rest of
it was upgrades to the facilities,” Edgar tells host Barry Birr on the KFEQ
Hotline. “So I do know that they’re going to upgrade the stages at the high
schools, for instances. So, all the stages are going to be brand new at
Central, Lafayette, and Benton.”Edgar says many of the instruments used by band
members date back to the 1990s, even 1980s. The Fine Arts and Performing Arts
programs have suffered from a lack of funding for years, according to Edgar.As part of the expenditures, the St. Joseph Board
of Education has approved a $1.5 million contract with Lawhon Construction of
St. Joseph to make improvement to the stages at Central, Lafayette, and Benton
High Schools. Improvements will not only include replacing the stages, but also
installing modern lighting and sound systems. 
Even such miscellaneous aspects, such as curtains, will be replaced.Edgar is hopeful these improvements will prove
long lasting.“I’ll be honest with you, it was just stuff that
needed to be taken care of and I think as long as we take a proactive approach
of staying ahead of the game moving forward, then the Fine Arts Department
won’t be in that position again,” Edgar says.It is already making an impact.School Board Vice President Mike Moore says the
board heard from students during a recent St. Joseph School District Foundation
breakfast.“The student talked about trying to sing, perform
chorally with a rather inexpensive electronic keyboard and compare that to what
he’s got now with the grand piano and he said it’s an unbelievable difference,”
Moore tells Birr during his KFEQ Hotline appearance alongside Edgar. “Kids are
excited and that’s what it’s all about.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Arts in St. Joseph public schools getting $3.2M boost

BeLeaf Medical is arguing the post-harvest employees at its Sinse facility in St. Louis don’t have the right to unionize because they’re considered agricultural workers

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

It’s been more than seven months since employees of St. Louis-based Beleaf Medical cannabis company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/company-continues-to-argue-missouri-cannabis-workers-cant-unionize/">held an election</a>&nbsp;to unionize.

The majority of the ballots — 11 of the 16 — have remained closed.

“It’s been quite a while,” said&nbsp;Will Braddum, a post-harvest technician at the&nbsp;company’s Sinse facility in St. Louis. “We’re just like, what is happening? Why is this happening? We’re just kind of in the dark waiting.”

The reason behind the delay is likely that Braddum and his fellow “post-harvest” team members exist in a gray area in national labor law — which could change if their union drive is successful.&nbsp;

Not long after Braddum and other employees&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/04/cannabis-workers-across-missouri-begin-push-to-unionize-dispensaries/">filed their union petition last September</a>, the company argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees aren’t manufacturer workers — they’re agricultural workers.&nbsp;

And agricultural workers don’t have the right to unionize under the country’s labor laws.

But Braddum and his fellow employees — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24494135/ptl-dec-chal.pdf" target="_blank">the regional director of the NLRB</a>&nbsp;— believe they’re more like workers at tobacco processing plants, who courts repeatedly have found aren’t agricultural workers.&nbsp;

“I’ve never touched a living plant at work,”&nbsp;Braddum said, who is organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655.&nbsp;

The company has taken this fight all the way up to the national five-member board, asking them to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/04/union-drive-at-st-louis-cannabis-company-could-have-major-impact-on-national-labor-law/">national precedent</a>&nbsp;on whether employees who process the dried marijuana plants have the right to unionize.&nbsp;

And that’s likely why it’s taken so long for the regional director of the NLRB – who twice sided with the employees — to open the ballots, said St. Louis labor attorney George Suggs.

“If this is a unique situation, there’s no reason for [the regional director] to get out front by opening those ballots,” Suggs said. “Ultimately, the board will resolve it.”

But that doesn’t mean the fight would be over, Suggs said.&nbsp;

If the national board sides with the employees, then the company will likely refuse to bargain in order to land the decision in a federal court.&nbsp;

“Employers have this ability to string out the results of a campaign,” especially among businesses where there’s lots of employee turnover, Suggs said.

By the time there’s a resolution a couple years down the road, he said, union support has eroded.&nbsp;

“That’s the tactic,” Suggs said. “That’s what employers have been doing over the 40-plus years that I’ve been practicing labor law.”

Over the seven months of waiting, employees have noticed changes in their job descriptions that likely improve the company’s position in the case.

“It just seems like they’re trying to push our jobs more and more in the direction of quote unquote farmers,” said Ahmad “Jxggy” Haynes, a post-harvest technician at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility.&nbsp;

He said the company has hired temp workers to do the manufacturing work, including packaging, that he and other the union members were doing before.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company began hiring temps right after the employees filed a petition to form a union in September 2023, according to a recording of a recent staff meeting led by a company human resources representative and obtained by The Independent .

At the meeting, the HR representative said Beleaf has “burned through” 150 temporary employees since October. He told the temps they shouldn’t expect to be hired on full time anytime soon, but they should still feel part of the team.&nbsp;

<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/st-louis-area-cannabis-workers-win-the-right-to-review-ballots-in-union-election/">Twice so far this year</a>, NLRB Regional Director Andrea Wilkes – who oversees a swath of six states in the Midwest —&nbsp; has ruled that post-harvest employees’ work is similar to that of employees in a tobacco processing plant.&nbsp;

“Removing the veins from tobacco leaves and fermenting the leaves has been held to be outside the definition of agriculture,” under federal labor law, Wilkes wrote in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24413165-decision-and-direction-of-election-beleaf-medical-llc" target="_blank">Jan. 25 ruling</a>.

The company’s response to her decision indicates that union employees likely have a long fight ahead of them.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25174384-20240213-beleaf-medical-14-rc-325871-position-statement" target="_blank">Feb. 13 letter</a>&nbsp;from Beleaf’s attorney to Wilkes, the company plans on fighting their employees’ unionization efforts all the way to federal court.&nbsp;

“Although we understand and respect the Board’s recent decision on this issue, we are preserving this issue for presentation to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit,” the letter states.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The company can get into court by refusing to bargain with the union, creating “a technical violation,” Suggs said.&nbsp;

That will lead to filing a petition for review in a federal court, Suggs said, so they can challenge the underlying issue in this case — whether these are agricultural workers — “in front of a bunch of federal judges.”

“That’s become a bigger problem, particularly in the Eighth Circuit,” Suggs said, “because you’ve got a number of very conservative judges who are kind of hostile to the labor movement generally.”

Sean&nbsp;Shannon, lead organizer with UFCW Local 655, said it’s obvious this has been the company’s plan all along.

“They clearly stated their intention to bring this as far as the 8th Circuit Court – which is several steps into the fight – in their original statement,” Shannon said of the company’s February letter. “I feel nothing but clear intent to obstruct this union at all costs, which ironically proves just how much these folks need a union.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727349987721.png" alt="Post-harvest employees at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility await union election results on Feb. 6 at the St. Louis Public Library Barr branch (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>Post-harvest employees at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility await union election results on Feb. 6 at the St. Louis Public Library Barr branch (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>BeLeaf Medical is arguing the post-harvest employees at its Sinse facility in St. Louis don’t have the right to unionize because they’re considered agricultural workers</h2>By REBECCA RIVAS &nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>It’s been more than seven months since employees of St. Louis-based Beleaf Medical cannabis company&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/02/13/company-continues-to-argue-missouri-cannabis-workers-cant-unionize/">held an election</a>&nbsp;to unionize.The majority of the ballots — 11 of the 16 — have remained closed.“It’s been quite a while,” said&nbsp;Will Braddum, a post-harvest technician at the&nbsp;company’s Sinse facility in St. Louis. “We’re just like, what is happening? Why is this happening? We’re just kind of in the dark waiting.”The reason behind the delay is likely that Braddum and his fellow “post-harvest” team members exist in a gray area in national labor law — which could change if their union drive is successful.&nbsp;Not long after Braddum and other employees&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/12/04/cannabis-workers-across-missouri-begin-push-to-unionize-dispensaries/">filed their union petition last September</a>, the company argued before the National Labor Relations Board that the employees aren’t manufacturer workers — they’re agricultural workers.&nbsp;And agricultural workers don’t have the right to unionize under the country’s labor laws.But Braddum and his fellow employees — along with&nbsp;<a href="https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24494135/ptl-dec-chal.pdf" target="_blank">the regional director of the NLRB</a>&nbsp;— believe they’re more like workers at tobacco processing plants, who courts repeatedly have found aren’t agricultural workers.&nbsp;“I’ve never touched a living plant at work,”&nbsp;Braddum said, who is organizing with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655.&nbsp;The company has taken this fight all the way up to the national five-member board, asking them to set a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/04/04/union-drive-at-st-louis-cannabis-company-could-have-major-impact-on-national-labor-law/">national precedent</a>&nbsp;on whether employees who process the dried marijuana plants have the right to unionize.&nbsp;And that’s likely why it’s taken so long for the regional director of the NLRB – who twice sided with the employees — to open the ballots, said St. Louis labor attorney George Suggs.“If this is a unique situation, there’s no reason for [the regional director] to get out front by opening those ballots,” Suggs said. “Ultimately, the board will resolve it.”But that doesn’t mean the fight would be over, Suggs said.&nbsp;If the national board sides with the employees, then the company will likely refuse to bargain in order to land the decision in a federal court.&nbsp;“Employers have this ability to string out the results of a campaign,” especially among businesses where there’s lots of employee turnover, Suggs said.By the time there’s a resolution a couple years down the road, he said, union support has eroded.&nbsp;“That’s the tactic,” Suggs said. “That’s what employers have been doing over the 40-plus years that I’ve been practicing labor law.”A long fight aheadOver the seven months of waiting, employees have noticed changes in their job descriptions that likely improve the company’s position in the case.“It just seems like they’re trying to push our jobs more and more in the direction of quote unquote farmers,” said Ahmad “Jxggy” Haynes, a post-harvest technician at BeLeaf Medical’s Sinse facility.&nbsp;He said the company has hired temp workers to do the manufacturing work, including packaging, that he and other the union members were doing before.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company began hiring temps right after the employees filed a petition to form a union in September 2023, according to a recording of a recent staff meeting led by a company human resources representative and obtained by The Independent .At the meeting, the HR representative said Beleaf has “burned through” 150 temporary employees since October. He told the temps they shouldn’t expect to be hired on full time anytime soon, but they should still feel part of the team.&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/st-louis-area-cannabis-workers-win-the-right-to-review-ballots-in-union-election/">Twice so far this year</a>, NLRB Regional Director Andrea Wilkes – who oversees a swath of six states in the Midwest —&nbsp; has ruled that post-harvest employees’ work is similar to that of employees in a tobacco processing plant.&nbsp;“Removing the veins from tobacco leaves and fermenting the leaves has been held to be outside the definition of agriculture,” under federal labor law, Wilkes wrote in her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/24413165-decision-and-direction-of-election-beleaf-medical-llc" target="_blank">Jan. 25 ruling</a>.The company’s response to her decision indicates that union employees likely have a long fight ahead of them.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/25174384-20240213-beleaf-medical-14-rc-325871-position-statement" target="_blank">Feb. 13 letter</a>&nbsp;from Beleaf’s attorney to Wilkes, the company plans on fighting their employees’ unionization efforts all the way to federal court.&nbsp;“Although we understand and respect the Board’s recent decision on this issue, we are preserving this issue for presentation to the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit,” the letter states.&nbsp;&nbsp;The company can get into court by refusing to bargain with the union, creating “a technical violation,” Suggs said.&nbsp;That will lead to filing a petition for review in a federal court, Suggs said, so they can challenge the underlying issue in this case — whether these are agricultural workers — “in front of a bunch of federal judges.”“That’s become a bigger problem, particularly in the Eighth Circuit,” Suggs said, “because you’ve got a number of very conservative judges who are kind of hostile to the labor movement generally.”Sean&nbsp;Shannon, lead organizer with UFCW Local 655, said it’s obvious this has been the company’s plan all along.“They clearly stated their intention to bring this as far as the 8th Circuit Court – which is several steps into the fight – in their original statement,” Shannon said of the company’s February letter. “I feel nothing but clear intent to obstruct this union at all costs, which ironically proves just how much these folks need a union.”

Cannabis union drive stalls as company attempts to set national legal precedent

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Freightliner semi driven by Jose A. Ayalya&nbsp; Sarvaia, 52, Fairburn, Georgia, was westbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Chillicothe.

The vehicle traveled off the south side of the road. The semi returned to the road, traveled into the driving lane, off the south side of the road again and overturned.

Livingston County ambulance transported Sarvaia to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9a.m. Wednesday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2011 Freightliner semi driven by Jose A. Ayalya&nbsp; Sarvaia, 52, Fairburn, Georgia, was westbound on U.S. 36 five miles east of Chillicothe.The vehicle traveled off the south side of the road. The semi returned to the road, traveled into the driving lane, off the south side of the road again and overturned.Livingston County ambulance transported Sarvaia to Hedrick Medical Center. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP.

Driver injured after after semi overturns

The 7th annual 'Over the Edge' fundraiser in coming up in St. Joseph on October 12th to benefit the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center.

The event features dozens of participants who have signed up to rappel fourteen stories off the Corby Building in Downtown St. Joseph. 

Executive Director of Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center, Melissa Birdsell, says volunteers are still needed to help with setup, "If it's something that someone is interested in, we can always use more volunteer help. Maybe they're afraid to rappel, but they still want to volunteer."

Birdsell says in order to rappel, individuals who signup to participate need to raise at least $1,000. She notes people can also form teams in order to raise the money. 

Voices of Courage has a fundraising goal of $75,000, and participants can signup until the day of the event.

Given that the event involves such a tall structure, Birdsell stresses the event is completely safe, "There are professionals who come to town to rig the building to get it ready and make it nice and safe."

Birdsell says the event is just as much fun for the spectators as it is for the participants. "Its not something you see everyday. Its not like a regular event where you walk through and look at things." Birdsell adds that its a great opportunity for people to learn more about Voices of Courage, a nonprofit organization.

The theme this year is "Heroes for Kids." All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero. Birdsell emphasizes for the third year in a row a special type of hero will be participating, "A lot of people's favorite superheroes right now are Kansas City Chiefs and K.C. Wolf will be rappelling for us. The kids love it. He is immediately out there talking with them, hugging them and taking pictures with them."

The Mission for Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center is, "Responding to child abuse through a team approach to prevent further trauma to children by providing a safe environment for them to disclose abuse and through public education to achieve a better community in which children can thrive."

The 'Over the Edge' event begins at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 12.

For more information about Voices of Courage and to register for the event, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voicescac.org/">voicescac.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727297144561.jpeg" alt="Corby Building, St. Joseph" />
 <figcaption>Corby Building, St. Joseph</figcaption>
 </figure>By RYAN SKAITHSt. Joseph PostThe 7th annual 'Over the Edge' fundraiser in coming up in St. Joseph on October 12th to benefit the Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center.The event features dozens of participants who have signed up to rappel fourteen stories off the Corby Building in Downtown St. Joseph. Executive Director of Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center, Melissa Birdsell, says volunteers are still needed to help with setup, "If it's something that someone is interested in, we can always use more volunteer help. Maybe they're afraid to rappel, but they still want to volunteer."Birdsell says in order to rappel, individuals who signup to participate need to raise at least $1,000. She notes people can also form teams in order to raise the money. Voices of Courage has a fundraising goal of $75,000, and participants can signup until the day of the event.Given that the event involves such a tall structure, Birdsell stresses the event is completely safe, "There are professionals who come to town to rig the building to get it ready and make it nice and safe."Birdsell says the event is just as much fun for the spectators as it is for the participants. "Its not something you see everyday. Its not like a regular event where you walk through and look at things." Birdsell adds that its a great opportunity for people to learn more about Voices of Courage, a nonprofit organization.The theme this year is "Heroes for Kids." All participants are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero. Birdsell emphasizes for the third year in a row a special type of hero will be participating, "A lot of people's favorite superheroes right now are Kansas City Chiefs and K.C. Wolf will be rappelling for us. The kids love it. He is immediately out there talking with them, hugging them and taking pictures with them."The Mission for Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center is, "Responding to child abuse through a team approach to prevent further trauma to children by providing a safe environment for them to disclose abuse and through public education to achieve a better community in which children can thrive."The 'Over the Edge' event begins at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 12.For more information about Voices of Courage and to register for the event, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://voicescac.org/">voicescac.org</a>.

'Over the Edge' event to benefit Voices of Courage Child Advocacy Center

The search for the next superintendent in the St. Joseph School District is moving into the next phase as the school board seeks input from the community.   

With a search firm hired, the St. Joseph School District put out an online survey earlier this month to get input from community members on the next superintendent.  

And now with that survey complete, officials will seek additional input during community input sessions next week.  

School board President LaTonya Williams says these input sessions will go over the results of the community survey. 

"So, it's not like a blind meeting where you go out and you say these are our ideas, because in all honesty the time to do that was at the surveys," Williams tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The search for the next superintendent in the St. Joseph School District is moving into the next phase as the school board seeks input from the community. With a search firm hired, the St. Joseph School District put out an online survey earlier this month to get input from community members on the next superintendent. And now with that survey complete, officials will seek additional input during community input sessions next week. School board President LaTonya Williams says these input sessions will go over the results of the community survey. "So, it's not like a blind meeting where you go out and you say these are our ideas, because in all honesty the time to do that was at the surveys," Williams tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post Williams calls these input sessions step number two of the process, to review and expand upon the results of the online survey. Williams says during these sessions she hopes to hear the ideas of community members, and not just on the credentials, but on the person "Because a lot of times, school districts or organizations will just choose their new leader among their board, but this is a unique opportunity to where everyone in the community is able to be as involved as they would like to be," Williams explains. The idea of gathering input from the community was built off of the successful Vision Forward campaign. &nbsp;Williams says citizens should have a say in what qualities they would like to see in who is leading their school district "And the Vision Forward process was an extremely good model in order to be able to try out the different ideas about community engagement and the methods," Williams says. On Wednesday October 2nd, input sessions will be held at Spring Garden Middle School from 4 to 5pm, Bode Middle School from 5:30 to 6:30pm, and at Robidoux Middle School from 7 to 8pm.