Parents are
invited to bring their young children to downtown St. Joseph Tuesday for the Youth
Alliance Children’s Fair.

There is a morning
session and an evening session at the Civic Arena.

La’Sherrie Tyes
with Youth Alliance says the Children’s Fair is designed for children
six-years-old and younger with an emphasis on fostering a love of reading.

“Reading is very
fundamental, right? So, we definitely encourage our families to start reading with
their little ones, even prenatally, after birth,” Tyes says during a visit to
KFEQmmunity. “Those first five years are so vitally important. So, the earlier
we can develop a love for reading and just building that vocabulary and
language definitely helps that child to enhance later going into school.”

Around 25 area
businesses will join with Youth Alliance to set up stations within the Civic
Arena.

“Most of the things
are geared around a fairy tale-type of experience,” Tyes says. “Each station has
a book that they’re doing their theme around for their activity.”

There will be
activities build around The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, and others.

The activities are
designed for engagement, according to Tyes, inviting parents to interact with
their children as well as encouraging children to interact with other children.

La’Sherrie says it’s
important for children to get back together.

“Being able to do
that also in a way that you have that social aspect that you can connect with
other people. Again, like going to our public library, checking out books,
parents reading to them at home,” La’Sherrie says. “Fostering that early love
and that desire to help build their imagination, that creativity.”

The Children’s
Fair is free. There are two sessions; two hours each.

The morning
session at the Civic Arena begins at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning with the evening
session beginning at 5:30. Each child will leave with a free book.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744660514248.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostParents are
invited to bring their young children to downtown St. Joseph Tuesday for the Youth
Alliance Children’s Fair.There is a morning
session and an evening session at the Civic Arena.La’Sherrie Tyes
with Youth Alliance says the Children’s Fair is designed for children
six-years-old and younger with an emphasis on fostering a love of reading.“Reading is very
fundamental, right? So, we definitely encourage our families to start reading with
their little ones, even prenatally, after birth,” Tyes says during a visit to
KFEQmmunity. “Those first five years are so vitally important. So, the earlier
we can develop a love for reading and just building that vocabulary and
language definitely helps that child to enhance later going into school.”Around 25 area
businesses will join with Youth Alliance to set up stations within the Civic
Arena.“Most of the things
are geared around a fairy tale-type of experience,” Tyes says. “Each station has
a book that they’re doing their theme around for their activity.”There will be
activities build around The Three Little Pigs, Snow White, and others.The activities are
designed for engagement, according to Tyes, inviting parents to interact with
their children as well as encouraging children to interact with other children.La’Sherrie says it’s
important for children to get back together.“Being able to do
that also in a way that you have that social aspect that you can connect with
other people. Again, like going to our public library, checking out books,
parents reading to them at home,” La’Sherrie says. “Fostering that early love
and that desire to help build their imagination, that creativity.”The Children’s
Fair is free. There are two sessions; two hours each.The morning
session at the Civic Arena begins at 9 o’clock Tuesday morning with the evening
session beginning at 5:30. Each child will leave with a free book.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Fostering reading the theme of the Children's Fair at the Civic Arena

A budget framework
has been approved by Congress, though Republican leaders had to negotiate long
and hard to get the measure through the United States House.

Eastern Kansas
Congressman, Derek Schmidt, favors the bill, though it doesn’t aim to cut
federal spending as much as he would like. And Schmidt is quick to point out
this budget resolution only slows the growth of federal government spending. It
doesn’t cut it.

“The top line on
spending is what’s driving this,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “People
talk about the deficit. They talk about the accumulating debt. They talk about
tax revenues. But if you look at the graphs, what’s really driving this is that
spending has exploded over the last several generations, but especially about the
last five years, since the start of the pandemic.”

Schmidt, a
Republican, says Republican leaders, especially House Speaker Mike Johnson,
must walk a fine line to get the votes needed to pass the bill backed by
President Trump. Some say it goes too far. Some say it doesn’t go far enough.

Johnson had to
withdraw the measure for a time, because he lacked the votes to pass it. Once
it returned, it passed on a 216-214 vote.

The plan would
extend the 2017 federal tax cuts, increase spending for border security and
defense, while making a variety of cuts elsewhere in the budget. Approval just
moves the process forward. Detail needs to be added with other votes awaiting.

Schmidt says his
Republican colleagues must find the votes needed to slow the growth of federal
spending.

“The debate right
now, the fight right now is how much can we start to slow down the growth of
that spending line before we lose votes and we can’t pass anything,” according
to Schmidt.

Schmidt says he
would prefer to be more aggressive, but understands the delicate nature of
these discussions.

“The risk here is
that the balance isn’t struck and we wind up not accomplishing any of this,”
Schmidt says. “It’s a real risk.”

Schmidt says
spending has spiked since the pandemic. But Schmidt insists growth came before
the pandemic response, with passage of the Affordable Care Act that expanded
Medicaid well beyond its original intent.

“We have this
peculiar situation now where Washington is spending more of our tax money to
provide Medicaid coverage for people who able bodied and young, working age,
younger than 65, don’t have kids, than it is to provide the same medical
coverage for their neighbors down the street who are disabled, who are in a
nursing home, who do have young kids,” Schmidt says. “I think that’s been lost
in a lot of this discussion.”

President Trump
and other Republican leaders say Social Security and Medicare, the two biggest
programs run by the federal government, are off the table. The national debt,
now at $36 ½ trillion, has caused interest payments on the federal debt to move
into the third position in the federal budget. National defense is in fourth,
followed by Medicaid, a program of shared costs between the federal government
and the states.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA budget framework
has been approved by Congress, though Republican leaders had to negotiate long
and hard to get the measure through the United States House.Eastern Kansas
Congressman, Derek Schmidt, favors the bill, though it doesn’t aim to cut
federal spending as much as he would like. And Schmidt is quick to point out
this budget resolution only slows the growth of federal government spending. It
doesn’t cut it.“The top line on
spending is what’s driving this,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “People
talk about the deficit. They talk about the accumulating debt. They talk about
tax revenues. But if you look at the graphs, what’s really driving this is that
spending has exploded over the last several generations, but especially about the
last five years, since the start of the pandemic.”Schmidt, a
Republican, says Republican leaders, especially House Speaker Mike Johnson,
must walk a fine line to get the votes needed to pass the bill backed by
President Trump. Some say it goes too far. Some say it doesn’t go far enough.Johnson had to
withdraw the measure for a time, because he lacked the votes to pass it. Once
it returned, it passed on a 216-214 vote.The plan would
extend the 2017 federal tax cuts, increase spending for border security and
defense, while making a variety of cuts elsewhere in the budget. Approval just
moves the process forward. Detail needs to be added with other votes awaiting.Schmidt says his
Republican colleagues must find the votes needed to slow the growth of federal
spending.“The debate right
now, the fight right now is how much can we start to slow down the growth of
that spending line before we lose votes and we can’t pass anything,” according
to Schmidt.Schmidt says he
would prefer to be more aggressive, but understands the delicate nature of
these discussions.“The risk here is
that the balance isn’t struck and we wind up not accomplishing any of this,”
Schmidt says. “It’s a real risk.”Schmidt says
spending has spiked since the pandemic. But Schmidt insists growth came before
the pandemic response, with passage of the Affordable Care Act that expanded
Medicaid well beyond its original intent.“We have this
peculiar situation now where Washington is spending more of our tax money to
provide Medicaid coverage for people who able bodied and young, working age,
younger than 65, don’t have kids, than it is to provide the same medical
coverage for their neighbors down the street who are disabled, who are in a
nursing home, who do have young kids,” Schmidt says. “I think that’s been lost
in a lot of this discussion.”President Trump
and other Republican leaders say Social Security and Medicare, the two biggest
programs run by the federal government, are off the table. The national debt,
now at $36 ½ trillion, has caused interest payments on the federal debt to move
into the third position in the federal budget. National defense is in fourth,
followed by Medicaid, a program of shared costs between the federal government
and the states.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Congressman Schmidt says Congress must slow federal spending

A St. Joseph woman
died in a wreck on Interstate 29 in Platte County Sunday afternoon as the
driver swerved to avoid another vehicle, lost control of the vehicle, and
overturned.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 3:30 Sunday afternoon near
Missouri E Highway. According to the patrol, the van traveling north on I-29 swerved
to avoid a slow-moving vehicle, overcorrected, went into the median, and
overturned.

A 39-year-old
woman from St. Joseph died in the crash. A 52-year-old St. Joseph man suffered
moderate injuries. A 15-year-old boy suffered minor injuries.

The Missouri State
Highway Patrol no longer identifies victims in crashes.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph woman
died in a wreck on Interstate 29 in Platte County Sunday afternoon as the
driver swerved to avoid another vehicle, lost control of the vehicle, and
overturned.The Missouri State
Highway Patrol reports the crash occurred around 3:30 Sunday afternoon near
Missouri E Highway. According to the patrol, the van traveling north on I-29 swerved
to avoid a slow-moving vehicle, overcorrected, went into the median, and
overturned.A 39-year-old
woman from St. Joseph died in the crash. A 52-year-old St. Joseph man suffered
moderate injuries. A 15-year-old boy suffered minor injuries.The Missouri State
Highway Patrol no longer identifies victims in crashes.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph woman dies in Platte County I-29 wreck

St. Joseph voters chose Jennifer Kerns to fill one of two seats on the St. Joseph school board during Tuesday's election.  

Kerns led all candidates, receiving 4,836 votes, or 23% of the vote. Incumbent Kim Miller finished second, retaining her seat, with 4,391 voters, or 21% of the vote 

Kerns says it was truly humbling to earn the position, and be the leading vote getter 

"The community, I feel like they've seen what I've done, I've worked hard over the years supporting our district and supporting our kids, teachers, staff, and the community, I just feel like I was finally seen and heard, and it just feels great," Kerns tells KFEQ News. 

Kerns says during her three-year term on the board, she hopes to be a voice for those outside the board 

"Being that voice for the students, the parents, the community, the staff, and the teachers," Kerns explains.  "We have a great community and I'm ready to bring a voice to the table and hopefully work on our academics and look at our policies and see what we need to do." 

Kerns will be jumping into some difficult problems right away to start her term.  

The St. Joseph school board will look at the long-range plan and evaluate next steps after the defeat of Proposition 2 in Tuesday's election   

Kerns says the bond issue to build a new high school being defeated, just means the school board needs to go back to the drawing board 

"We do need to change, our buildings don't have all the resources that we need, especially with technology," Kerns says.  "And for the staff, the teachers, and the students our facilities need updated, so I'm hoping that we can get in there and update and give the resources we need to the students, the staff, and the teachers." 

Kerns says even with the defeat she supports the move to two high schools, like the board has voted on, and says if that's the decision they just must work with it and see what needs to be tweaked to give the resources needed to the district. 

A reorganization of the board will be held alongside a work session this evening at 5:30.

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph voters chose Jennifer Kerns to fill one of two seats on the St. Joseph school board during Tuesday's election. Kerns led all candidates, receiving 4,836 votes, or 23% of the vote. Incumbent Kim Miller finished second, retaining her seat, with 4,391 voters, or 21% of the vote Kerns says it was truly humbling to earn the position, and be the leading vote getter "The community, I feel like they've seen what I've done, I've worked hard over the years supporting our district and supporting our kids, teachers, staff, and the community, I just feel like I was finally seen and heard, and it just feels great," Kerns tells KFEQ News. Kerns says during her three-year term on the board, she hopes to be a voice for those outside the board "Being that voice for the students, the parents, the community, the staff, and the teachers," Kerns explains. "We have a great community and I'm ready to bring a voice to the table and hopefully work on our academics and look at our policies and see what we need to do." Kerns will be jumping into some difficult problems right away to start her term. The St. Joseph school board will look at the long-range plan and evaluate next steps after the defeat of Proposition 2 in Tuesday's election Kerns says the bond issue to build a new high school being defeated, just means the school board needs to go back to the drawing board "We do need to change, our buildings don't have all the resources that we need, especially with technology," Kerns says. "And for the staff, the teachers, and the students our facilities need updated, so I'm hoping that we can get in there and update and give the resources we need to the students, the staff, and the teachers." Kerns says even with the defeat she supports the move to two high schools, like the board has voted on, and says if that's the decision they just must work with it and see what needs to be tweaked to give the resources needed to the district. A reorganization of the board will be held alongside a work session this evening at 5:30.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

New St. Joseph School board member Jennifer Kerns humbled by community support

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Saturday in Daviess County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 70-year-old Wathena, Kansas, woman was eastbound on Route NN at MO 6 in Jamesport.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at MO 6.&nbsp; A northbound 2023 Ford Bronco driven by a 24-year-old Trenton woman struck the van.

Daviess County EMS transported the Trenton woman to Wright Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; The other driver refused treatment at the scene. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The&nbsp; &nbsp;Patrol no releases names of accident victims.

DAVIESS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 10:30a.m. Saturday in Daviess County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan driven by a 70-year-old Wathena, Kansas, woman was eastbound on Route NN at MO 6 in Jamesport.&nbsp; The driver failed to yield at MO 6.&nbsp; A northbound 2023 Ford Bronco driven by a 24-year-old Trenton woman struck the van.Daviess County EMS transported the Trenton woman to Wright Memorial Hospital.&nbsp; The other driver refused treatment at the scene. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the MSHP.&nbsp; The&nbsp; &nbsp;Patrol no releases names of accident victims.

Mo. woman hospitalized after SUV, van crash

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Week-in-Review-4122025-e31e7u8/a-absoag2" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Week in Review

A delegation from the greater St. Joseph
area has returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. in which members lobbied for
various interests in the region.

St. Joseph Deputy Mayor, Randy Schultz,
says a big push was lobbying for new cargo planes for the Air National Guard
139th Airlift Wing. Schultz points out the base at Rosecrans
Memorial Airport trains pilots from throughout the country and around the world
at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, using the new “J” model
C-130s.

“We train everybody in the world how to
fly the C-130s and the J models. We don’t have the J models, yet. So, that’s
why we’re out there pushing pretty hard for the last three years,” Schultz says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity. “That does two things. That keeps our base
modernized, but then it also gives our base longevity to stay.”

The 139th generates up to $220
million in economic activity for the greater St. Joseph area.

Schultz says the delegation didn’t
receive any promises, but did get some positive signs when it met with the leader
of the Air National Guard. Schultz says the head of the Air Guard does notice
the region speaks with a unified voice.

“He sees us coming and he’s always amazed
how we all are one unit, one group, one voice.” 

Along with area political and business
leaders, the delegation includes education officials representing the St.
Joseph School District and Missouri Western State University along with North
Central Missouri College in Trenton.

Education and transportation are big
points of interest, according to Schultz.

“They’re all out there, too. Lobbying (for)
things they can help us with,” Schultz says. &nbsp;“It’s either infrastructure, money, things
like that.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA delegation from the greater St. Joseph
area has returned from a trip to Washington, D.C. in which members lobbied for
various interests in the region.St. Joseph Deputy Mayor, Randy Schultz,
says a big push was lobbying for new cargo planes for the Air National Guard
139th Airlift Wing. Schultz points out the base at Rosecrans
Memorial Airport trains pilots from throughout the country and around the world
at the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center, using the new “J” model
C-130s.“We train everybody in the world how to
fly the C-130s and the J models. We don’t have the J models, yet. So, that’s
why we’re out there pushing pretty hard for the last three years,” Schultz says
during an appearance on KFEQmmunity. “That does two things. That keeps our base
modernized, but then it also gives our base longevity to stay.”The 139th generates up to $220
million in economic activity for the greater St. Joseph area.Schultz says the delegation didn’t
receive any promises, but did get some positive signs when it met with the leader
of the Air National Guard. Schultz says the head of the Air Guard does notice
the region speaks with a unified voice.“He sees us coming and he’s always amazed
how we all are one unit, one group, one voice.” Along with area political and business
leaders, the delegation includes education officials representing the St.
Joseph School District and Missouri Western State University along with North
Central Missouri College in Trenton.Education and transportation are big
points of interest, according to Schultz.“They’re all out there, too. Lobbying (for)
things they can help us with,” Schultz says. &nbsp;“It’s either infrastructure, money, things
like that.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph delegation returns after lobbying in Washington, D.C.

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jakemarszewski/">Jake Marszewski</a>&nbsp;

Missouri’s child care crisis was debated again Wednesday, with a bill changing provisions for licensed in-home child care facilities passing through the state House.

State law allows up to two children aged 5 years or older that are related to the operator of a child care facility to be exempt from the maximum number of children for which the facility is licensed. A bill sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Farnan, a Republican from Stanberry, removes the age minimum with hope to increase space in day care facilities.

“At unlicensed day care facilities, we don’t know if these kids are getting the care that they deserve, so hopefully this bill will increase the slots in licensed daycare facilities,” Farnan said in an interview.

Lawmakers originally pushed for changes to the state’s in-home child care provisions after the legislature approved “Nathan’s Law” in 2019.

According to previous Missourian reporting, the law was written to limit the capacity of unlicensed child care homes. It is named after Nathan Blecha, a 3-month old who died at an unlicensed in-home day care in 2007.

While the exclusion limit was set for unlicensed day cares, the same wasn’t set for licensed ones. All children had to be counted regardless of age. Child care providers around the state were then forced to stop serving families so they could care for their own.

A bill was eventually passed in 2022 permitting licensed care providers to exempt up to two of their children as long as they are 5 years old.

Legislators recalled Nathan’s Law when during Wednesday’s debate.

“The reason we have ratios in place in day care centers is to ensure that every child there has the proper care that they need,” said state Rep. Keri Ingle, a Lee’s Summit Democrat. “This is unfortunately one of those bills that is trying to address a problem and will create an even bigger one. At stake are the lives of the children in this state.”

Safety of child care facilities is just one facet of the state’s child care crisis. According to previous Missourian reporting, 54% of Missourians live in child care deserts.

Emily van Schenkhof is the executive director of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, the state’s foundation for child abuse prevention. She testified against the bill during a March hearing in the Committee on Children and Families.

“We maintain that we need to solve the state’s child care crisis without decreasing the safety of children in Missouri, so we are disappointed that this bill is moving forward,” van Schenkhof said.

The new bill moves the state away from best practices of child care capacity limits, she said.

Farnan said he shares the same concerns about safety, but believes that licensed child care providers receive adequate help from the state.

“They have fire services, they have food services and they have people that come check on them regularly to make sure that they are getting the care that they deserve,” Farnan said.

Still, van Schenkhof said solving the crisis without decreasing the safety of children is difficult.

“It’s hard to change the root factors that are causing the child care crisis,” van Schenkhof said. “Even though passing a bill isn’t easy, it’s easier than the financial investments we’d need to make to solve our child care problem.

The bill passed by a vote of 103-39. It now moves to the Missouri Senate.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-bill-highlights-concerns-about-states-child-care-crisis/article_5d64c0ac-8102-4a96-8720-fb7d1ce4d6a4.html" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744462684222.png" alt="State Rep. Jeff Farnan, a Republican from Stanberry, testifies to a Missouri House committee during the 2024 legislative session (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption>State Rep. Jeff Farnan, a Republican from Stanberry, testifies to a Missouri House committee during the 2024 legislative session (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jakemarszewski/">Jake Marszewski</a>&nbsp;Missouri’s child care crisis was debated again Wednesday, with a bill changing provisions for licensed in-home child care facilities passing through the state House.State law allows up to two children aged 5 years or older that are related to the operator of a child care facility to be exempt from the maximum number of children for which the facility is licensed. A bill sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Farnan, a Republican from Stanberry, removes the age minimum with hope to increase space in day care facilities.“At unlicensed day care facilities, we don’t know if these kids are getting the care that they deserve, so hopefully this bill will increase the slots in licensed daycare facilities,” Farnan said in an interview.Lawmakers originally pushed for changes to the state’s in-home child care provisions after the legislature approved “Nathan’s Law” in 2019.According to previous Missourian reporting, the law was written to limit the capacity of unlicensed child care homes. It is named after Nathan Blecha, a 3-month old who died at an unlicensed in-home day care in 2007.While the exclusion limit was set for unlicensed day cares, the same wasn’t set for licensed ones. All children had to be counted regardless of age. Child care providers around the state were then forced to stop serving families so they could care for their own.A bill was eventually passed in 2022 permitting licensed care providers to exempt up to two of their children as long as they are 5 years old.Legislators recalled Nathan’s Law when during Wednesday’s debate.“The reason we have ratios in place in day care centers is to ensure that every child there has the proper care that they need,” said state Rep. Keri Ingle, a Lee’s Summit Democrat. “This is unfortunately one of those bills that is trying to address a problem and will create an even bigger one. At stake are the lives of the children in this state.”Safety of child care facilities is just one facet of the state’s child care crisis. According to previous Missourian reporting, 54% of Missourians live in child care deserts.Emily van Schenkhof is the executive director of the Missouri Children’s Trust Fund, the state’s foundation for child abuse prevention. She testified against the bill during a March hearing in the Committee on Children and Families.“We maintain that we need to solve the state’s child care crisis without decreasing the safety of children in Missouri, so we are disappointed that this bill is moving forward,” van Schenkhof said.The new bill moves the state away from best practices of child care capacity limits, she said.Farnan said he shares the same concerns about safety, but believes that licensed child care providers receive adequate help from the state.“They have fire services, they have food services and they have people that come check on them regularly to make sure that they are getting the care that they deserve,” Farnan said.Still, van Schenkhof said solving the crisis without decreasing the safety of children is difficult.“It’s hard to change the root factors that are causing the child care crisis,” van Schenkhof said. “Even though passing a bill isn’t easy, it’s easier than the financial investments we’d need to make to solve our child care problem.The bill passed by a vote of 103-39. It now moves to the Missouri Senate.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/house-bill-highlights-concerns-about-states-child-care-crisis/article_5d64c0ac-8102-4a96-8720-fb7d1ce4d6a4.html" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri House approves changes to in-home child care regulations

The Buchanan County Sheriff's Department is continually looking to new technology to keep the community safe from con artists looking to steal money through scams. 

Sheriff Bill Puett says with the frequency of scams and the rise of artificial intelligence, it's important to verify information if you receive a call that you're unsure about. 

"When I say verify, go and verify the number, if I call you and say hey can I have your social security number and your date of birth and your credit card and your this and your that call me back at this number, that's kind of silly because I'm giving you the number to call me right back at," Puett tells KFEQ News. "So, make sure that you check and call the official number for the law enforcement entity or the court or whatever." 

Puett says his department is currently working on putting out a phone app as well that will help notify the public of information. 

Puett says the phone app would allow a lot of information about the department to be available to citizens right on their phones. 

"And it would also do push notifications about scams, and it will tie in with our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, it will tie in with all those things," Puett explains.  "There's also some educational stuff on there, so there will be some opioid education information and just a variety of things, so it's kind of in its infancy and we're trying to get that up and running." 

Puett says having more ways to get information out to people means the quicker the department can be to protect residents in Buchanan County.  

"Whether it's Facebook or this app or whatever, there's certain news cycles, you guys are always great about when we put a release out about the scam, but it's got to wait until the next news cycle and somebody's got to catch the news, if they don't catch the news well then they might be a day or two behind," Puett says. 

Puett says a push notification going out notifying the community of a scam would be something that could help the community in being aware of things affecting the community.

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

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Buchanan County Sheriff's Department is continually looking to new technology to keep the community safe from con artists looking to steal money through scams. Sheriff Bill Puett says with the frequency of scams and the rise of artificial intelligence, it's important to verify information if you receive a call that you're unsure about. "When I say verify, go and verify the number, if I call you and say hey can I have your social security number and your date of birth and your credit card and your this and your that call me back at this number, that's kind of silly because I'm giving you the number to call me right back at," Puett tells KFEQ News. "So, make sure that you check and call the official number for the law enforcement entity or the court or whatever." Puett says his department is currently working on putting out a phone app as well that will help notify the public of information. Puett says the phone app would allow a lot of information about the department to be available to citizens right on their phones. "And it would also do push notifications about scams, and it will tie in with our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, it will tie in with all those things," Puett explains. "There's also some educational stuff on there, so there will be some opioid education information and just a variety of things, so it's kind of in its infancy and we're trying to get that up and running." Puett says having more ways to get information out to people means the quicker the department can be to protect residents in Buchanan County. "Whether it's Facebook or this app or whatever, there's certain news cycles, you guys are always great about when we put a release out about the scam, but it's got to wait until the next news cycle and somebody's got to catch the news, if they don't catch the news well then they might be a day or two behind," Puett says. Puett says a push notification going out notifying the community of a scam would be something that could help the community in being aware of things affecting the community.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Buchanan County Sheriff says new app could help fight scams, protect community

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-4112025-e31d850/a-absn1bp" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-4112025-e31dmjd/a-absnk19" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

The budget bills include 45 new earmarked items in lawmakers’ districts for infrastructure, health care and tourism projects

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

The Missouri House Budget Committee approved almost $4 billion in construction funding Thursday, including 45 new earmarked items for projects that include a county government maintenance shed and a capital city parking garage.

About half of the spending is reauthorization of projects approved in past years and funded mainly from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. As of March 31, the state had $1.3 billion remaining to be spent from the $2.9 billion originally received from the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/06/missouri-senate-signs-off-on-3-billion-in-federal-covid-19-relief-funds/">federal COVID-19 relief</a>&nbsp;law.

Overall, the new items increased general revenue spending for construction projects by $76 million more than requested by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Adding the three construction bills to the operating budget approved in the House last week brings total spending proposed in the lower chamber to $51.7 billion, about $2 billion less than&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">Kehoe proposed in January</a>.

The construction budget will be debated in the full House on Tuesday.

Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel said he was comfortable with adding general revenue items despite a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-approves-tax-cuts-for-capital-gains-diapers-and-low-income-seniors/">tax cut bill</a>&nbsp;awaiting a final vote and ongoing uncertainty about&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">federal budget cuts</a>.

Current general revenue receipts are declining and a general revenue surplus built up to $5.7 billion two years ago is expected to be $2.5 billion at the end of June.

This may be the last year that lawmakers are able to tap the surplus for earmarked projects, Deaton said to reporters after the meeting.

“We’re still in a good position, but certainly those opportunities are diminishing,” he said. “And if it’s not next year, it’ll be the year after that.”

Deaton’s willingness to add dozens of small items for members is in contrast to his predecessor, former state Rep. Cody Smith. In past years, most earmarks were inserted during Senate consideration of the budget.

The change drew praise from the committee’s ranking Democrat, state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield.

“This has been the most collaborative and productive budget year that I’ve been a part of,” Fogle said.

The smallest item added to the construction list is $60,000 for a maintenance and equipment shed for Dallas County government. The largest is $20 million for a new Jefferson City parking garage that is part of a $130 million hotel and conference center.

To find money for the parking garage Deaton cut funding requested by Kehoe for renovations of the remaining structures of the Missouri State Penitentiary to support its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouripentours.com/" target="_blank">use as a tourist attraction</a>.

The original request of $52 million was pared down to $15 million, Deaton said, because members of the committee are willing to spend money to preserve the buildings but balk at major renovations or improvements on the property.

“If we were just to say, let’s just tear all these buildings down, it would be more than $15 million, so just to try to help them keep what they have and stabilize that seemed appropriate to me,” Deaton said to reporters after the meeting.

The parking garage would replace a crumbling structure near the Governor’s mansion and help relieve some of the problems finding parking in downtown Jefferson City, Deaton said. And adding it in the House makes friends in the Senate, he added.

“We’ve had talks with our colleagues on the other side of the building, and there’s some members over there I know that are very passionate about it,” Deaton said.

Of the other earmarked items added Thursday, there are 15 health-related projects that include hospital and mental health facilities and seven infrastructure projects for roads, bridges and water. There’s grants for library renovations in Newton and Barry counties and tourism projects to fund construction at the General Omar Bradley Memorial in Moberly, the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City and the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph.

Deaton didn’t greenlight every request, said Republican state Rep. Wendy Hausman of St. Peters.&nbsp;

“We had to prove that it’s beneficial throughout the state,” Hausman said.

The items that are funded are only a fraction of what he was asked to include, Deaton said.

“No matter what the resources we bring to bear, there’s always more need than there is opportunities to meet those needs,” he said.

Democrats were treated fairly and saw some of their items funded, Fogle said.

“The chair has continued to show a willingness to work with minority members and get some of our investments in the budget,” she said. “And today was a good day.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744367680106.png" alt=" House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, speaks during a Jan. 30 news conference with House Speaker Jon Patterson. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)" />
 <figcaption> House Budget Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, speaks during a Jan. 30 news conference with House Speaker Jon Patterson. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The budget bills include 45 new earmarked items in lawmakers’ districts for infrastructure, health care and tourism projects</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>The Missouri House Budget Committee approved almost $4 billion in construction funding Thursday, including 45 new earmarked items for projects that include a county government maintenance shed and a capital city parking garage.About half of the spending is reauthorization of projects approved in past years and funded mainly from the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. As of March 31, the state had $1.3 billion remaining to be spent from the $2.9 billion originally received from the&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/05/06/missouri-senate-signs-off-on-3-billion-in-federal-covid-19-relief-funds/">federal COVID-19 relief</a>&nbsp;law.Overall, the new items increased general revenue spending for construction projects by $76 million more than requested by Gov. Mike Kehoe. Adding the three construction bills to the operating budget approved in the House last week brings total spending proposed in the lower chamber to $51.7 billion, about $2 billion less than&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/28/gov-mike-kehoe-dips-deeply-into-surplus-as-missouri-budget-grows-to-nearly-54-billion/">Kehoe proposed in January</a>.The construction budget will be debated in the full House on Tuesday.Committee Chairman Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel said he was comfortable with adding general revenue items despite a&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-approves-tax-cuts-for-capital-gains-diapers-and-low-income-seniors/">tax cut bill</a>&nbsp;awaiting a final vote and ongoing uncertainty about&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/25/federal-medicaid-cuts-could-leave-missouri-with-huge-budget-shortfall/">federal budget cuts</a>.Current general revenue receipts are declining and a general revenue surplus built up to $5.7 billion two years ago is expected to be $2.5 billion at the end of June.This may be the last year that lawmakers are able to tap the surplus for earmarked projects, Deaton said to reporters after the meeting.“We’re still in a good position, but certainly those opportunities are diminishing,” he said. “And if it’s not next year, it’ll be the year after that.”Deaton’s willingness to add dozens of small items for members is in contrast to his predecessor, former state Rep. Cody Smith. In past years, most earmarks were inserted during Senate consideration of the budget.The change drew praise from the committee’s ranking Democrat, state Rep. Betsy Fogle of Springfield.“This has been the most collaborative and productive budget year that I’ve been a part of,” Fogle said.The smallest item added to the construction list is $60,000 for a maintenance and equipment shed for Dallas County government. The largest is $20 million for a new Jefferson City parking garage that is part of a $130 million hotel and conference center.To find money for the parking garage Deaton cut funding requested by Kehoe for renovations of the remaining structures of the Missouri State Penitentiary to support its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.missouripentours.com/" target="_blank">use as a tourist attraction</a>.The original request of $52 million was pared down to $15 million, Deaton said, because members of the committee are willing to spend money to preserve the buildings but balk at major renovations or improvements on the property.“If we were just to say, let’s just tear all these buildings down, it would be more than $15 million, so just to try to help them keep what they have and stabilize that seemed appropriate to me,” Deaton said to reporters after the meeting.The parking garage would replace a crumbling structure near the Governor’s mansion and help relieve some of the problems finding parking in downtown Jefferson City, Deaton said. And adding it in the House makes friends in the Senate, he added.“We’ve had talks with our colleagues on the other side of the building, and there’s some members over there I know that are very passionate about it,” Deaton said.Of the other earmarked items added Thursday, there are 15 health-related projects that include hospital and mental health facilities and seven infrastructure projects for roads, bridges and water. There’s grants for library renovations in Newton and Barry counties and tourism projects to fund construction at the General Omar Bradley Memorial in Moberly, the Starlight Theatre in Kansas City and the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph.Deaton didn’t greenlight every request, said Republican state Rep. Wendy Hausman of St. Peters.&nbsp;“We had to prove that it’s beneficial throughout the state,” Hausman said.The items that are funded are only a fraction of what he was asked to include, Deaton said.“No matter what the resources we bring to bear, there’s always more need than there is opportunities to meet those needs,” he said.Democrats were treated fairly and saw some of their items funded, Fogle said.“The chair has continued to show a willingness to work with minority members and get some of our investments in the budget,” she said. “And today was a good day.”

Missouri House committee approves $4 billion for state construction projects

An evaluation is
underway in wake of the defeat of the $157 million school bond issue during
Tuesday’s election.

St. Joseph voters
rejected the proposed 60-cent increase in the school levy with nearly 54%
voting against the issue.

St. Joseph School
Superintendent, Gabe Edgar, says school officials along with members of the
school board now must sift through the message voters sent.

“There’re probably
two messages,” Edgar tells KFEQmmunity. “I don’t know whether they want to be a
three high school system or whether it was a tax increase issue.&nbsp; We’ll need to find that out and we’ll get the
information from the community and go from there.”

The bonds would
have financed construction of a new high school in south St. Joseph, part of
the long-range plan adopted by the Board of Education that would reduce the
number of high schools in St. Joseph from three to two. The plan also calls for
the number of elementary schools to be reduced from 13 to 10, what the district
and the school board call “right sizing” the district.

Edgar says the
Board of Education must decide whether voters objected to the tax increase or
the two high school model.

“That’s what the
board will have to discuss at the board work session next Monday, the 14th,
to see whether they want to continue with the long-range plan that they
approved in August,” Edgar says. “And we will provide recommendations along the
way from the administration.”

Edgar says he will
sit down with his superintendent cabinet, a group of 22 school officials, to
discuss next steps and what it will recommend to the Board of Education.

A lot is at sake as
the school board attempts to determine what direction to take in wake of the
defeat at the polls and whether to stick with the long-range plan.

“It changes the
high school system. It changes the model at the elementary and the model at the
middle school and so we have to put all those pieces together,” Edgar points
out. “It won’t take us long, but it looks very different than what it looked
like with two new high schools.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostAn evaluation is
underway in wake of the defeat of the $157 million school bond issue during
Tuesday’s election.St. Joseph voters
rejected the proposed 60-cent increase in the school levy with nearly 54%
voting against the issue.St. Joseph School
Superintendent, Gabe Edgar, says school officials along with members of the
school board now must sift through the message voters sent.“There’re probably
two messages,” Edgar tells KFEQmmunity. “I don’t know whether they want to be a
three high school system or whether it was a tax increase issue.&nbsp; We’ll need to find that out and we’ll get the
information from the community and go from there.”The bonds would
have financed construction of a new high school in south St. Joseph, part of
the long-range plan adopted by the Board of Education that would reduce the
number of high schools in St. Joseph from three to two. The plan also calls for
the number of elementary schools to be reduced from 13 to 10, what the district
and the school board call “right sizing” the district.Edgar says the
Board of Education must decide whether voters objected to the tax increase or
the two high school model.“That’s what the
board will have to discuss at the board work session next Monday, the 14th,
to see whether they want to continue with the long-range plan that they
approved in August,” Edgar says. “And we will provide recommendations along the
way from the administration.”Edgar says he will
sit down with his superintendent cabinet, a group of 22 school officials, to
discuss next steps and what it will recommend to the Board of Education.A lot is at sake as
the school board attempts to determine what direction to take in wake of the
defeat at the polls and whether to stick with the long-range plan.“It changes the
high school system. It changes the model at the elementary and the model at the
middle school and so we have to put all those pieces together,” Edgar points
out. “It won’t take us long, but it looks very different than what it looked
like with two new high schools.”You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Defeat at the polls, now St. Joseph school board assesses future

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-News-4102025-e31c9p4/a-abslqp9" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

The NFL draft is in two weeks, which means a new NFL season, and Chiefs Training Camp, is just around the corner.  But will it be at Missouri Western State University? 

Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says currently the university is in negotiations with the Chiefs and are what she calls "pushing paper across the table" for a new contract. 

"And I think those conversations are very, very positive, I would be just completely shocked if we weren't finalized and they'll be back," Kennedy tells KFEQ News.  "I think the Chiefs recognize the importance of the St. Joseph community, I was just meeting with some of their folks, and they even are saying well the season starts in St. Joseph, the championship starts in St. Joseph." 

Kennedy says last year was the final option year on the contract between Missouri Western and the Chiefs 

"And the reason we decided not to, we had the opportunity to get more option years, but then we wouldn't have been able to have any changes to the contract," Kennedy explains.  "And we'd been operating with a contract for so long, that some of it just wasn't making sense for the Chiefs or for us, so that's where we are now." 

Kennedy says they love having the Chiefs here, but does point out that contrary to popular belief, it is not a money maker for the university 

"We do it to enhance St. Joseph and to bring people in, and to really showcase the university for what it looks like but it's not a student recruitment strategy," Kennedy says.  "But I think having the Chiefs here is a lot of fun, they're wonderful guests, we love hosting them." 

Kennedy says hosting Chiefs Training Camp does force the university to adjust its schedule, but it provides an opportunity for Missouri Western. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722883273489.jpeg" alt="Chiefs fans take in Training Camp on the Missouri Western campus/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs fans take in Training Camp on the Missouri Western campus/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The NFL draft is in two weeks, which means a new NFL season, and Chiefs Training Camp, is just around the corner. But will it be at Missouri Western State University? Missouri Western President Elizabeth Kennedy says currently the university is in negotiations with the Chiefs and are what she calls "pushing paper across the table" for a new contract. "And I think those conversations are very, very positive, I would be just completely shocked if we weren't finalized and they'll be back," Kennedy tells KFEQ News. "I think the Chiefs recognize the importance of the St. Joseph community, I was just meeting with some of their folks, and they even are saying well the season starts in St. Joseph, the championship starts in St. Joseph." Kennedy says last year was the final option year on the contract between Missouri Western and the Chiefs "And the reason we decided not to, we had the opportunity to get more option years, but then we wouldn't have been able to have any changes to the contract," Kennedy explains. "And we'd been operating with a contract for so long, that some of it just wasn't making sense for the Chiefs or for us, so that's where we are now." Kennedy says they love having the Chiefs here, but does point out that contrary to popular belief, it is not a money maker for the university "We do it to enhance St. Joseph and to bring people in, and to really showcase the university for what it looks like but it's not a student recruitment strategy," Kennedy says. "But I think having the Chiefs here is a lot of fun, they're wonderful guests, we love hosting them." Kennedy says hosting Chiefs Training Camp does force the university to adjust its schedule, but it provides an opportunity for Missouri Western. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

MWSU President Kennedy says university in talks with Chiefs on Training Camp

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe src="https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/kfeq-news/embed/episodes/KFEQ-Morning-Sports-4102025-e31bjj6/a-abskugs" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>

After a heavy lobbying effort, backers of video lottery games squeezed a slim majority out of the Missouri House on Wednesday, sending&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB970&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;promising&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/missouri-house-committee-votes-to-legalize-video-slot-machines/">$350 million a year for schools</a>&nbsp;to the state Senate.

By an 83-73 vote — just one more than the minimum needed to pass — the House approved the bill that also promises to remove “gray market machines” from retail locations.

“This is not a solution in search of a problem,” said the sponsor, Republican Rep. Bill Hardwick of Dixon. “We have a genuine problem, a money problem, a regulatory problem, a commerce problem, and this is a solution for all of that.”

House leadership held the tally board open for more than 15 minutes as they searched for the votes needed to pass. The bill was given first-round approval on Monday but with only 74 votes.

After that backers and opponents scrambled to find votes, with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/09/passing-video-lottery-bill-would-be-a-heavy-lift-in-missouri-senate/">both sides claiming Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that they would prevail.

The bill faces an uncertain future in the state Senate. Three video lottery bills have been proposed in the upper chamber but none have been given a hearing.

In the final vote, 54 Republicans were joined by 29 Democrats to pass the bill, while 18 Democrats and 55 Republicans opposed it.&nbsp;

The bill received support from nine of 10 Republicans who were absent on Monday and present on Wednesday. Five GOP members on each side of the question switched from yes to no or vice-versa.

Among Democrats, four members absent on Monday voted yes on Wednesday, while two Monday absentees voted no. Only one Democrat switched sides, voting no on Wednesday after voting yes on Monday.&nbsp;

Under the bill, the Missouri Lottery would be given the job of licensing video lottery terminal vendors and regulating their use in retail locations. While there would be a cap of eight machines in any location, the total number of machines that would be in use statewide is not capped.

The House added an amendment so counties and cities will be able to authorize — or ban — video lottery games in their home communities. It also added an amendment that declares any unlicensed games that offer cash prizes to winners to be illegal slot machines.

The games resembling casino slot machines that can be seen at retail locations throughout the state are unregulated. Called gray market or “no chance” games, operators claim they are not illegal under current law because a player can learn the outcome of the next play before committing their money.

The options for a player with a pending losing bet are to change games in search of a winner, ending their playing session or deliberately losing the bet to get to the next outcome.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/09/14/few-charges-result-from-scores-of-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">tried to initiate prosecutions</a>&nbsp;under anti-gambling laws, but most prosecutors have been reluctant to file charges.

And after years of operation, convenience store owners, fraternal lodges and other establishments have become dependent on the revenue.

The video lottery machines will be more trustworthy, supporters say, because the machines will be required to pay out at least 80% of the money wagered in prizes.&nbsp;

The remainder will be split three ways — the lottery will receive 34% of the net to support state education programs, with retailers and operators splitting the other 66%. The fiscal note for the bill estimates that within three years, there will be $1.1 billion annually for the three-way split generating approximately $350 million in state revenue.

Some opponents of the measure argue it is not strong enough to force gray market machine operators to shut down. Others said they do not support any expansion of gambling.

“I fully support my American Legion and VFW,” said state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, a Republican from Savannah, “but they better be able to find a better way to raise funds than stealing from their members and their patrons.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744281612270.png" alt=" State Rep. Bill Hardwick, a Republican from Dixon, speaks March 25 on the Missouri House floor. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)" />
 <figcaption> State Rep. Bill Hardwick, a Republican from Dixon, speaks March 25 on the Missouri House floor. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rudi-keller/">RUDI KELLER</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>After a heavy lobbying effort, backers of video lottery games squeezed a slim majority out of the Missouri House on Wednesday, sending&nbsp;<a href="https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB970&amp;year=2025&amp;code=R" target="_blank">a bill</a>&nbsp;promising&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/02/04/missouri-house-committee-votes-to-legalize-video-slot-machines/">$350 million a year for schools</a>&nbsp;to the state Senate.By an 83-73 vote — just one more than the minimum needed to pass — the House approved the bill that also promises to remove “gray market machines” from retail locations.“This is not a solution in search of a problem,” said the sponsor, Republican Rep. Bill Hardwick of Dixon. “We have a genuine problem, a money problem, a regulatory problem, a commerce problem, and this is a solution for all of that.”House leadership held the tally board open for more than 15 minutes as they searched for the votes needed to pass. The bill was given first-round approval on Monday but with only 74 votes.After that backers and opponents scrambled to find votes, with&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/09/passing-video-lottery-bill-would-be-a-heavy-lift-in-missouri-senate/">both sides claiming Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that they would prevail.The bill faces an uncertain future in the state Senate. Three video lottery bills have been proposed in the upper chamber but none have been given a hearing.In the final vote, 54 Republicans were joined by 29 Democrats to pass the bill, while 18 Democrats and 55 Republicans opposed it.&nbsp;The bill received support from nine of 10 Republicans who were absent on Monday and present on Wednesday. Five GOP members on each side of the question switched from yes to no or vice-versa.Among Democrats, four members absent on Monday voted yes on Wednesday, while two Monday absentees voted no. Only one Democrat switched sides, voting no on Wednesday after voting yes on Monday.&nbsp;Under the bill, the Missouri Lottery would be given the job of licensing video lottery terminal vendors and regulating their use in retail locations. While there would be a cap of eight machines in any location, the total number of machines that would be in use statewide is not capped.The House added an amendment so counties and cities will be able to authorize — or ban — video lottery games in their home communities. It also added an amendment that declares any unlicensed games that offer cash prizes to winners to be illegal slot machines.The games resembling casino slot machines that can be seen at retail locations throughout the state are unregulated. Called gray market or “no chance” games, operators claim they are not illegal under current law because a player can learn the outcome of the next play before committing their money.The options for a player with a pending losing bet are to change games in search of a winner, ending their playing session or deliberately losing the bet to get to the next outcome.The Missouri State Highway Patrol has&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2021/09/14/few-charges-result-from-scores-of-missouri-highway-patrol-gambling-investigations/">tried to initiate prosecutions</a>&nbsp;under anti-gambling laws, but most prosecutors have been reluctant to file charges.And after years of operation, convenience store owners, fraternal lodges and other establishments have become dependent on the revenue.The video lottery machines will be more trustworthy, supporters say, because the machines will be required to pay out at least 80% of the money wagered in prizes.&nbsp;The remainder will be split three ways — the lottery will receive 34% of the net to support state education programs, with retailers and operators splitting the other 66%. The fiscal note for the bill estimates that within three years, there will be $1.1 billion annually for the three-way split generating approximately $350 million in state revenue.Some opponents of the measure argue it is not strong enough to force gray market machine operators to shut down. Others said they do not support any expansion of gambling.“I fully support my American Legion and VFW,” said state Rep. Dean Van Schoiack, a Republican from Savannah, “but they better be able to find a better way to raise funds than stealing from their members and their patrons.”

Bill legalizing video lottery games narrowly passes Missouri House

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles Hopp, 98, Highland was westbound on U.S. 36 just east of Hiawatha.

The pickup traveled left of center and sideswiped an eastbound 2011 Nissan Altima driven by DeAndre&nbsp;Harris, 31, Sabetha. After impact the pickup traveled into the south ditch and struck a KDOT fence. The Nissan rotated counter clockwise off the roadway to the south and came to rest in the ditch.

Harris was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Hopp to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; Harris was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

BROWN COUNTY—One person died in an accident just before 6a.m. Wednesday in Brown County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Chevy Silverado driven by Charles Hopp, 98, Highland was westbound on U.S. 36 just east of Hiawatha.The pickup traveled left of center and sideswiped an eastbound 2011 Nissan Altima driven by DeAndre&nbsp;Harris, 31, Sabetha. After impact the pickup traveled into the south ditch and struck a KDOT fence. The Nissan rotated counter clockwise off the roadway to the south and came to rest in the ditch.Harris was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to Chapel Oaks Funeral Home. EMS transported Hopp to KU Medical Center.&nbsp; Harris was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man dies after pickup sideswipes a car

St. Joseph voters Tuesday
rejected a $157 million bond issue proposed by the St. Joseph School District
to finance a new high school.

Unofficial results
released by the Buchanan County Clerk’s office disclose that 6,081 voters cast
ballots against the proposal with only 5,262 voting in favor; a split of
53-46%. The issue would have raised the school tax levy by 60 cents. It needed
a 57% majority to pass.

St. Joseph Board
of Education Vice President, Mike Moore, says the community missed an
opportunity.

“As we think about
as a community competing with other regional schools for talent - teachers,
staff, coaches; and as we even think about competing with families to move to
the community of St. Joseph we’re falling behind, clearly,” Moore tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

Moore says the
results are disappointing, but not discouraging, though he says it will have an
impact on morale.

“Probably more importantly
is the message it sends to our kids and our staff,” Moore says. “Talked to a
lot of staff tonight (Tue.). They’re very disappointed.”

Moore says the
defeat leaves the district with problems that have not been addressed.

“We have serious problems
that include completely inequitable academic and activity offerings among the
three high schools today,” Moore says. “We have a feeder system that is
confusing and makes no sense from elementary to middle to high schools. We have
a middle school model that’s inconsistent across the community.”

The proposal to
build a new high school in south St. Joseph would have fit with the St. Joseph
School District long-range plan to reduce the number of high schools from three
to two.

Moore says the
school board still intends to carrying out the plan.

“I believe that
the votes are there and the commitment is there to move ahead and make those
improvements that I talked about even in light of this defeat.”

The school bond
issue passed in only four of the 15 precincts with the St. Joseph School
District. A bit more than 24% of the registered voters in Buchanan County cast
ballots in Tuesday’s elections.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph voters Tuesday
rejected a $157 million bond issue proposed by the St. Joseph School District
to finance a new high school.Unofficial results
released by the Buchanan County Clerk’s office disclose that 6,081 voters cast
ballots against the proposal with only 5,262 voting in favor; a split of
53-46%. The issue would have raised the school tax levy by 60 cents. It needed
a 57% majority to pass.St. Joseph Board
of Education Vice President, Mike Moore, says the community missed an
opportunity.“As we think about
as a community competing with other regional schools for talent - teachers,
staff, coaches; and as we even think about competing with families to move to
the community of St. Joseph we’re falling behind, clearly,” Moore tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.Moore says the
results are disappointing, but not discouraging, though he says it will have an
impact on morale.“Probably more importantly
is the message it sends to our kids and our staff,” Moore says. “Talked to a
lot of staff tonight (Tue.). They’re very disappointed.”Moore says the
defeat leaves the district with problems that have not been addressed.“We have serious problems
that include completely inequitable academic and activity offerings among the
three high schools today,” Moore says. “We have a feeder system that is
confusing and makes no sense from elementary to middle to high schools. We have
a middle school model that’s inconsistent across the community.”The proposal to
build a new high school in south St. Joseph would have fit with the St. Joseph
School District long-range plan to reduce the number of high schools from three
to two.Moore says the
school board still intends to carrying out the plan.“I believe that
the votes are there and the commitment is there to move ahead and make those
improvements that I talked about even in light of this defeat.”The school bond
issue passed in only four of the 15 precincts with the St. Joseph School
District. A bit more than 24% of the registered voters in Buchanan County cast
ballots in Tuesday’s elections.You can follow Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph school board VP contends city missed an opportunity in bond issue defeat

Legendary UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field motivated a roomful of St. Joseph residents on ways to be better leaders with stories of her journey.  

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744200888846.jpeg" alt="Legendary UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field spoke to St. Joseph residents at Word of Life Church about things she learned during her coaching career that helped shape her life and the way she lives and leads/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Legendary UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field spoke to St. Joseph residents at Word of Life Church about things she learned during her coaching career that helped shape her life and the way she lives and leads/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Legendary UCLA gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field motivated a roomful of St. Joseph residents on ways to be better leaders with stories of her journey. Kondos Field says she hopes people take from her message that whatever they do, they enjoy it, it's challenging and fulfilling, and that they win the day, but says while that's what you do, that's not who you are "And when we can focus on who we are and sharing that with every single person we come in contact with throughout the day, I mean imagine if everybody in the world literally just shared their inner light with everyone, every moment of the day," Kondos Field tells reporters. "I mean this world would literally just be palpable and pulsating with light, that is my goal." Kondos Field coached at UCLA for 28 years, winning seven national championships, and four Pac-12 coach of the year awards. She retired in 2019. Kondos Field says when she retired, she knew she wanted to be able to share everything she had learned and have an impact "It's not about the money, it's not about more celebrity, it's not about any of that, I just want to be able to share what I have learned through my experience in the coaching world," Kondos Field explains. "Especially having the blessing to be around people such as the great John Wooden, I mean what a blessing that was to have him in my life as like my grandfather."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744200931406.jpeg" alt="Valorie Kondos Field/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Valorie Kondos Field/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>Kondos Field had a pretty legendary mentor in another coaching legend, John Wooden. Kondos Field says she learned from Wooden the value of being yourself, and remembers a moment after winning her fourth national championship, when a reporter called her "the next John Wooden" during an interview alongside Coach Wooden "Before I could just say no, no, no that's blasphemy, Coach Wooden chimed in and he said, why would she want to be another Coach Wooden when she could be a great Valorie Kondos Field," Kondos Field recalls. Kondos Field says Wooden saying that helped release her from even trying to be like him "And just really realize who I was created to be, what God created me to be and all my blessings, and let's just fortify those and bring those to my work every day," Kondos Field says. Kondos Field spoke at Word of Life Church as part of a series put on by the Joseph Company.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744201022702.jpeg" alt="Wes Simmons (left) of the Joseph Company spoke with Valorie Kondos Field (middle). also known as Miss Val, and her husband Bobby Field (far right) during a presentation at Word of Life Church/ Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Wes Simmons (left) of the Joseph Company spoke with Valorie Kondos Field (middle). also known as Miss Val, and her husband Bobby Field (far right) during a presentation at Word of Life Church/ Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

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