A record setting goalkeeper for Missouri Western women's lacrosse was a big help in the opening days of the program at the university.  

Mackenzie Porter started her collegiate lacrosse career at Division I Rutgers, not playing as a freshman due to injury, and then playing just three games in her redshirt year before the coronavirus pandemic shut the season down.  

After the pandemic, Porter entered the transfer portal and says she wasn't sure what she was going to do 

"If that was Division I or Division II, I never thought that I would go Division II, I always had a dream to play Division I lacrosse and that dream came true when I committed my sophomore year of high school to Rutgers," Porter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. 

Porter made a decision to come to Western to help start the lacrosse program in 2021, even though many told her she should not go to Division II 

"What I would say back to them was God has a plan for me and he's going to place me where I'm wanted, where I belong, and I'm just going to trust in that honestly," Porter explains 

Porter says despite making the move from Division I to Division II, the competition didn't change to much 

"I do think the level of play, even the conference that I was in, playing against a Lindenwood that year one and the University of Indianapolis, who have won Division II National Championships, I still think the level of play was just as competitive," Porter says. 

Porter played for four years at Western and holds multiple records, including the most saves in a season.  She currently coaches high school lacrosse in Kansas City. 

Porter says she has seen lacrosse grow since she started in second grade, from many colleges not even having it as a sport, to now there being a professional women's league.  

"It is becoming such a strong women's sport, where people are just so intrigued by it, and it's crazy how many more people know about the sport," Porter says.  "Even from when I first came to Missouri Western, in general watching it grow like watching it grow in Kansas City, that's been something really awesome to just watch because a lot of people didn't even know what the sport was." 

Porter is hoping to continue helping the game grow locally, launching a new youth program for girls called Mighty Mo Lacrosse. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750438066746.jpeg" alt="Mackenzie Porter (26) didn't imagine playing Division II lacrosse, but made the leap to come to Missouri Western in 2021 to help launch and build the program, as a sport she has played most of her life continues to grow/ Photo courtesy of&nbsp; John Roushkolb- Missouri Western Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Mackenzie Porter (26) didn't imagine playing Division II lacrosse, but made the leap to come to Missouri Western in 2021 to help launch and build the program, as a sport she has played most of her life continues to grow/ Photo courtesy of&nbsp; John Roushkolb- Missouri Western Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post A record setting goalkeeper for Missouri Western women's lacrosse was a big help in the opening days of the program at the university. Mackenzie Porter started her collegiate lacrosse career at Division I Rutgers, not playing as a freshman due to injury, and then playing just three games in her redshirt year before the coronavirus pandemic shut the season down. After the pandemic, Porter entered the transfer portal and says she wasn't sure what she was going to do "If that was Division I or Division II, I never thought that I would go Division II, I always had a dream to play Division I lacrosse and that dream came true when I committed my sophomore year of high school to Rutgers," Porter tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Porter made a decision to come to Western to help start the lacrosse program in 2021, even though many told her she should not go to Division II "What I would say back to them was God has a plan for me and he's going to place me where I'm wanted, where I belong, and I'm just going to trust in that honestly," Porter explains Porter says despite making the move from Division I to Division II, the competition didn't change to much "I do think the level of play, even the conference that I was in, playing against a Lindenwood that year one and the University of Indianapolis, who have won Division II National Championships, I still think the level of play was just as competitive," Porter says. Porter played for four years at Western and holds multiple records, including the most saves in a season. She currently coaches high school lacrosse in Kansas City. Porter says she has seen lacrosse grow since she started in second grade, from many colleges not even having it as a sport, to now there being a professional women's league. "It is becoming such a strong women's sport, where people are just so intrigued by it, and it's crazy how many more people know about the sport," Porter says. "Even from when I first came to Missouri Western, in general watching it grow like watching it grow in Kansas City, that's been something really awesome to just watch because a lot of people didn't even know what the sport was." Porter is hoping to continue helping the game grow locally, launching a new youth program for girls called Mighty Mo Lacrosse. <div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/7HMEhlN5G7RQ4qkq9dfVhk?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

MWSU lacrosse standout follows unusual path

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident after 8p.m. Friday in Livingston County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Escape driven by a 62-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on MO 190 four miles west of Chillicothe. The driver swerved the SUV to avoid a deer. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a fence.

A private vehicle transported the driver to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

LIVINGSTON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident after 8p.m. Friday in Livingston County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ford Escape driven by a 62-year-old Chillicothe woman was southbound on MO 190 four miles west of Chillicothe. The driver swerved the SUV to avoid a deer. The vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and struck a fence.A private vehicle transported the driver to Hedrick Medical Center. She was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman injured after SUV crash into a fence

Staffing shortages
have kept the St. Joseph Police Department from finding as many school officers
as in the past, but Police Chief Paul Luster says he plans to add an officer
during the next school year.

Luster says the
department has been staffing six School Resource Officers in the St. Joseph
School District.

“This year I’m excited
that we’re adding a seventh back into the mix, which gives us a higher level of
coverage for the schools and just to continue to build that partnership,”
Luster says during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.

Luster calls the School
Resource Officer, or SRO, a really worthwhile program.&nbsp; It has been a stable
program. The SROs when Luster arrived in St. Joseph about two years ago remain
at the schools.

“They’ve all
remained in that unit, assigned to their schools,” Luster says. “When you’re
building relationships, it’s tough if it’s a new officer every year. It doesn’t
work as well.”

Each public high
school has an SRO. Two officers work at the four middle schools. Officers
rotate among the elementary schools with one overall supervisor. The officers
don’t just walk the school grounds, maintaining safety. They also teach. SROs,
according to Luster, teach conflict resolution, engage students in anti-drug
discussions, and hold anti-bullying classes.

Yet, their work
goes beyond patrolling the hallways and teaching in the classroom.

“So those officers
are mentors. They’re not just enforcers,” Luster says. “They’re there in those
schools and they build these relationships. They build trust with those
students through this their daily, what I see frequently and hear about even
more frequently, is they have these daily, positive interactions with the
students, with the staff. And so, they’re in the school, building trust, and
they’re really in a mentor or coach role.”

Luster says those
relationships elevate the program to something special.

“What you’ll find is
a lot of the students view that SRO as just this approachable, responsible adult
they can talk to about a lot of things.”

At one time, there
were nine School Resource Officers in St. Joseph. Luster says his goal is to
return to that staffing level, eventually.

You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostStaffing shortages
have kept the St. Joseph Police Department from finding as many school officers
as in the past, but Police Chief Paul Luster says he plans to add an officer
during the next school year.Luster says the
department has been staffing six School Resource Officers in the St. Joseph
School District.“This year I’m excited
that we’re adding a seventh back into the mix, which gives us a higher level of
coverage for the schools and just to continue to build that partnership,”
Luster says during an appearance on KFEQmmunity.Luster calls the School
Resource Officer, or SRO, a really worthwhile program.&nbsp; It has been a stable
program. The SROs when Luster arrived in St. Joseph about two years ago remain
at the schools.“They’ve all
remained in that unit, assigned to their schools,” Luster says. “When you’re
building relationships, it’s tough if it’s a new officer every year. It doesn’t
work as well.”Each public high
school has an SRO. Two officers work at the four middle schools. Officers
rotate among the elementary schools with one overall supervisor. The officers
don’t just walk the school grounds, maintaining safety. They also teach. SROs,
according to Luster, teach conflict resolution, engage students in anti-drug
discussions, and hold anti-bullying classes.Yet, their work
goes beyond patrolling the hallways and teaching in the classroom.“So those officers
are mentors. They’re not just enforcers,” Luster says. “They’re there in those
schools and they build these relationships. They build trust with those
students through this their daily, what I see frequently and hear about even
more frequently, is they have these daily, positive interactions with the
students, with the staff. And so, they’re in the school, building trust, and
they’re really in a mentor or coach role.”Luster says those
relationships elevate the program to something special.“What you’ll find is
a lot of the students view that SRO as just this approachable, responsible adult
they can talk to about a lot of things.”At one time, there
were nine School Resource Officers in St. Joseph. Luster says his goal is to
return to that staffing level, eventually.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ.

Police Chief to add an officer to patrol St. Joseph schools

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with James Bowden on the new Kernza wheat variety that was developed in Kansas.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4QTsxCp1QbE?si=RGRJXWET7f5HPrA6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with James Bowden on the new Kernza wheat variety that was developed in Kansas.

🎤 Forward Ever: James Bowden on new wheat variety

The National Pony Express Re Ride will come into St. Joseph this year tomorrow night at the Patee House Museum.  

Museum Director Gary Chilcote says this is the 40th year for the re ride 

"Each year they either start in St. Joseph or Sacramento, and this year they started in Sacramento, next year it will start in St. Joseph," Chilcote tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  

Riders relay a mochila carrying commemorative letters across eight states, traveling more than 1,900 miles on horseback, just as they did in 1860. 

Chilcote says it's important to keep the history of the Pony Express alive because of how short lived the service was 

"It was a temporary thing to permit the mail to be traveled to California within 10 days," Chilcote explains.  "They knew that it was going to be replaced by the telegraph, and also the stagecoach, but we commemorate it each year to keep the story alive of the Pony Express." 

Chilcote says ceremonies will start around 6pm, swearing in riders Penny Orrick and her family 

"And that was the original oath that they gave the pony riders 166 years ago, and then we'll do that, and they'll drive over to Elwood and park their vehicles and get on their horses and travel back to St. Joseph," Chilcote says.  "So, it's an interesting thing, they're dressed in costume." 

Orrick and the riders will be in Elwood, Kansas around 7pm, before arriving back in St. Joseph around 7:30pm at the museum. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Pony Express rides again. The National Pony Express Re Ride will come into St. Joseph this year tomorrow night at the Patee House Museum. Museum Director Gary Chilcote says this is the 40th year for the re ride "Each year they either start in St. Joseph or Sacramento, and this year they started in Sacramento, next year it will start in St. Joseph," Chilcote tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. Riders relay a mochila carrying commemorative letters across eight states, traveling more than 1,900 miles on horseback, just as they did in 1860. Chilcote says it's important to keep the history of the Pony Express alive because of how short lived the service was "It was a temporary thing to permit the mail to be traveled to California within 10 days," Chilcote explains. "They knew that it was going to be replaced by the telegraph, and also the stagecoach, but we commemorate it each year to keep the story alive of the Pony Express." Chilcote says ceremonies will start around 6pm, swearing in riders Penny Orrick and her family "And that was the original oath that they gave the pony riders 166 years ago, and then we'll do that, and they'll drive over to Elwood and park their vehicles and get on their horses and travel back to St. Joseph," Chilcote says. "So, it's an interesting thing, they're dressed in costume." Orrick and the riders will be in Elwood, Kansas around 7pm, before arriving back in St. Joseph around 7:30pm at the museum. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Pony Express rides back into St. Joseph tomorrow night

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6xxZhYqYxJihAvosGC6TnZ?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning Sports

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/63Oxj4QBWFWpQfuDfDR6fW?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

KFEQ Morning News

Only three states had a higher rate of nursing home residents on antipsychotic drugs

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 among the highest rates of antipsychotic drug use in nursing home residents, contributing to the state’s health care system ranking near the bottom nationally in a report released Wednesday.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2025/jun/2025-scorecard-state-health-system-performance" target="_blank">report, published by The Commonwealth Fund,</a>&nbsp;a private foundation focused on health care issues, used data from 2023 to measure every state’s health care access, quality and outcomes across six dimensions.&nbsp;

Around 15% of nursing home residents nationally are administered antipsychotic drugs, according to the Commonwealth Fund study.&nbsp;In Missouri, that figure was just over 21%.&nbsp;Only Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota had higher rates.&nbsp;

The data, collected by the federal government, excludes residents with schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome or Huntington’s disease — conditions for which antipsychotics are generally considered medically necessary.

Studies have found antipsychotic drugs are often administered to residents of nursing homes&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/WMD%20Nursing%20Home%20Report_Final.pdf" target="_blank">without medical necessity, posing medical risks and side effects.</a>&nbsp;They’ve also been used for residents with dementia, other cognitive impairments, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/april/understaffing-nursing-homes-antipsychotics.html" target="_blank">behavioral issues</a>&nbsp;to help control their behavior or sedate them&nbsp;<a href="https://medicareadvocacy.org/stop-drugging-nursing-home-residents-without-their-written-consent/" target="_blank">without their consent.</a>&nbsp;

Research has found a link between&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/missouri-advocates-decry-nursing-home-staffing-shortages-which-rank-among-worst-in-nation/">low nursing home staffing levels</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mcknights.com/news/antipsychotic-prescribing-higher-at-nursing-homes-in-disadvantaged-areas-study/" target="_blank">higher rates of antipsychotic drug use.&nbsp;</a>

The Commonwealth Fund’s findings echo a report last year from the U.S. Department of Justice that found&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/20/missouri-is-breaking-federal-law-by-housing-mentally-ill-in-nursing-homes-doj-finds/#:~:text=By%3A%20Clara%20Bates%20%2D%20June%2020,a%20scathing%20report%20published%20Tuesday.">Missouri in violation of federal disability law</a>&nbsp;for unnecessarily institutionalizing thousands of adults with mental illness in nursing homes when they would be better off in a less-restrictive environment.&nbsp;

Missouri is an outlier nationally in placing people with mental health needs in nursing homes.

The state is still in settlement negotiations with the DOJ over its findings, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Mental Health told The Independent. Missouri officials are working with the DOJ to come up with a plan to fix the violations identified in the report. If they can’t reach a resolution, the DOJ could file a lawsuit.

Beyond issues in Missouri nursing homes, the state’s health care system overall ranked&nbsp;43rd out of the 50 states plus D.C. in the Commonwealth Fund report.&nbsp;While the state has seen improvements in areas like the adult insured population over the years since Medicaid eligibility was expanded, other metrics, like premature deaths from preventable causes, have gotten worse.&nbsp;

Sara Collins, author of Wednesday’s report&nbsp;and Commonwealth Fund Senior Scholar and Vice President for Health Care Coverage and Access,&nbsp;said in a press briefing that the report “continues to reveal vast geographic variation in Americans’ coverage and access to care, health outcomes and people’s ability to live a long and healthy life.”

Congress is debating a budget bill that could cut millions nationally from Medicaid.

“Federal policy changes, both underway and proposed, threaten to reverse the improvements achieved by states, exacerbate areas of slippage,” Collins added, “and deepen geographic income and racial and ethnic disparities and health outcomes.”&nbsp;

Missouri’s uninsured rate improved between 2019 and 2023, as was the case nationally: The adult uninsured rate fell from 14% to 11% in Missouri, and kids’ uninsured rate fell from 7% to 5%. Both are now on par with the national average. Missouri implemented Medicaid expansion in 2021. The rate of adults going without care because of cost also declined.

But on the access and affordability category overall, Missouri ranked 36th, with a higher-than-average share of people with medical debt in collections and rate of those with high out-of-pocket medical costs relative to their income.

Missouri especially struggled in the “avoidable use and cost” category, with only West Virginia ranking worse. That includes low primary care spending, high rates of preventable hospitalizations and avoidable ER visits.&nbsp;

More children in Missouri lack preventative care than the national average. Thirty-five percent of Missouri children lacked medical and dental preventative care from 2022 to 2023. The national average was 32%.&nbsp;

Children also had trouble accessing mental health care in Missouri, with 24% of kids not receiving&nbsp; mental health care as needed, while the national average was 20%.&nbsp;

Missouri was better than average in a handful of categories. For one, the state had fewer adults with substance use disorder who lacked treatment. Nationally, 77% of those adults lack treatment, but in Missouri that number is 73%, or 11th best in the country.&nbsp;

The infant mortality rate got slightly worse from 2019 to 2023 and ranked 39th in the country.

“Threatened access to reproductive and maternal health care may further worsen infant mortality and sharpen current disparities between states,” the report noted, nationally. Missouri banned abortion until late last year, when it was legalized by initiative petition.

The rate of premature deaths from preventable causes got worse during the same period, and Missouri ranked 43rd in the country.

Additionally, more adults smoke in Missouri than the national average — 15% in Missouri versus 11%, or the 44th ranking.&nbsp;

Missouri had lower-than-average alcohol deaths.&nbsp;

47th on income disparity and 31st on racial equity&nbsp;

Missouri ranked among the worst states — 47th — for disparities in health care based on income. Low-income Missourians are far more likely to report fair or poor health than higher earners, and far more likely to have lost several teeth and/or be obese.

Missouri had slightly worse racial disparities in medical care than the national average.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749001441976.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Only three states had a higher rate of nursing home residents on antipsychotic drugs</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/cbates/">CLARA BATES</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri has among the highest rates of antipsychotic drug use in nursing home residents, contributing to the state’s health care system ranking near the bottom nationally in a report released Wednesday.&nbsp;The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/scorecard/2025/jun/2025-scorecard-state-health-system-performance" target="_blank">report, published by The Commonwealth Fund,</a>&nbsp;a private foundation focused on health care issues, used data from 2023 to measure every state’s health care access, quality and outcomes across six dimensions.&nbsp;Around 15% of nursing home residents nationally are administered antipsychotic drugs, according to the Commonwealth Fund study.&nbsp;In Missouri, that figure was just over 21%.&nbsp;Only Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota had higher rates.&nbsp;The data, collected by the federal government, excludes residents with schizophrenia, Tourette’s syndrome or Huntington’s disease — conditions for which antipsychotics are generally considered medically necessary.Studies have found antipsychotic drugs are often administered to residents of nursing homes&nbsp;<a href="https://democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/WMD%20Nursing%20Home%20Report_Final.pdf" target="_blank">without medical necessity, posing medical risks and side effects.</a>&nbsp;They’ve also been used for residents with dementia, other cognitive impairments, or&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2024/april/understaffing-nursing-homes-antipsychotics.html" target="_blank">behavioral issues</a>&nbsp;to help control their behavior or sedate them&nbsp;<a href="https://medicareadvocacy.org/stop-drugging-nursing-home-residents-without-their-written-consent/" target="_blank">without their consent.</a>&nbsp;Research has found a link between&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/03/13/missouri-advocates-decry-nursing-home-staffing-shortages-which-rank-among-worst-in-nation/">low nursing home staffing levels</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mcknights.com/news/antipsychotic-prescribing-higher-at-nursing-homes-in-disadvantaged-areas-study/" target="_blank">higher rates of antipsychotic drug use.&nbsp;</a>The Commonwealth Fund’s findings echo a report last year from the U.S. Department of Justice that found&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2024/06/20/missouri-is-breaking-federal-law-by-housing-mentally-ill-in-nursing-homes-doj-finds/#:~:text=By%3A%20Clara%20Bates%20%2D%20June%2020,a%20scathing%20report%20published%20Tuesday.">Missouri in violation of federal disability law</a>&nbsp;for unnecessarily institutionalizing thousands of adults with mental illness in nursing homes when they would be better off in a less-restrictive environment.&nbsp;Missouri is an outlier nationally in placing people with mental health needs in nursing homes.The state is still in settlement negotiations with the DOJ over its findings, a spokesperson for the Missouri Department of Mental Health told The Independent. Missouri officials are working with the DOJ to come up with a plan to fix the violations identified in the report. If they can’t reach a resolution, the DOJ could file a lawsuit.Beyond issues in Missouri nursing homes, the state’s health care system overall ranked&nbsp;43rd out of the 50 states plus D.C. in the Commonwealth Fund report.&nbsp;While the state has seen improvements in areas like the adult insured population over the years since Medicaid eligibility was expanded, other metrics, like premature deaths from preventable causes, have gotten worse.&nbsp;Sara Collins, author of Wednesday’s report&nbsp;and Commonwealth Fund Senior Scholar and Vice President for Health Care Coverage and Access,&nbsp;said in a press briefing that the report “continues to reveal vast geographic variation in Americans’ coverage and access to care, health outcomes and people’s ability to live a long and healthy life.”Congress is debating a budget bill that could cut millions nationally from Medicaid.“Federal policy changes, both underway and proposed, threaten to reverse the improvements achieved by states, exacerbate areas of slippage,” Collins added, “and deepen geographic income and racial and ethnic disparities and health outcomes.”&nbsp;<h2>36th on access and affordability</h2>Missouri’s uninsured rate improved between 2019 and 2023, as was the case nationally: The adult uninsured rate fell from 14% to 11% in Missouri, and kids’ uninsured rate fell from 7% to 5%. Both are now on par with the national average. Missouri implemented Medicaid expansion in 2021. The rate of adults going without care because of cost also declined.But on the access and affordability category overall, Missouri ranked 36th, with a higher-than-average share of people with medical debt in collections and rate of those with high out-of-pocket medical costs relative to their income.<h2>50th on avoidable hospital use and cost</h2>Missouri especially struggled in the “avoidable use and cost” category, with only West Virginia ranking worse. That includes low primary care spending, high rates of preventable hospitalizations and avoidable ER visits.&nbsp;<h2>40th on prevention and treatment</h2>More children in Missouri lack preventative care than the national average. Thirty-five percent of Missouri children lacked medical and dental preventative care from 2022 to 2023. The national average was 32%.&nbsp;Children also had trouble accessing mental health care in Missouri, with 24% of kids not receiving&nbsp; mental health care as needed, while the national average was 20%.&nbsp;Missouri was better than average in a handful of categories. For one, the state had fewer adults with substance use disorder who lacked treatment. Nationally, 77% of those adults lack treatment, but in Missouri that number is 73%, or 11th best in the country.&nbsp;<h2>40th on healthy lives</h2>The infant mortality rate got slightly worse from 2019 to 2023 and ranked 39th in the country.“Threatened access to reproductive and maternal health care may further worsen infant mortality and sharpen current disparities between states,” the report noted, nationally. Missouri banned abortion until late last year, when it was legalized by initiative petition.The rate of premature deaths from preventable causes got worse during the same period, and Missouri ranked 43rd in the country.Additionally, more adults smoke in Missouri than the national average — 15% in Missouri versus 11%, or the 44th ranking.&nbsp;Missouri had lower-than-average alcohol deaths.&nbsp;<h2>47th on income disparity and 31st on racial equity&nbsp;</h2>Missouri ranked among the worst states — 47th — for disparities in health care based on income. Low-income Missourians are far more likely to report fair or poor health than higher earners, and far more likely to have lost several teeth and/or be obese.Missouri had slightly worse racial disparities in medical care than the national average.

Missouri’s health system among worst-performing in the country, report finds

After making the move from Kansas City earlier this year, the St. Joseph Goats arena league football team is proud to call St. Joseph home. 

While they've only had one home game thus far, the St. Joseph Goats have been a hit in their first year in St. Joseph, selling out their home opener at Civic Arena.  

Team President and General Manager Ted Sweeney says since making the move, he's loved every second of being in St. Joseph 

"Being in Kansas City last year, not having a place to play, we had looked at St. Joseph before we even moved to Kansas City, so we were very familiar with St. Joe, but we had no idea that this place was so crazy about football," Sweeney says.  "It's been insane." 

Sweeney says never in his tenure has he seen the type of crowd that turned out during that opener.  

Sweeney says he already sees some differences between playing in Kansas City and St. Joseph that are beneficial  

"Kansas City is a larger community so although we had support, it wasn't crazy like it's starting to get here," Sweeney explains.  "And the arena is tailor made for arena football, there's no bad seats, you know Municipal (Auditorium) is a beautiful, historic building, but it also seats 12,000 people, Civic Arena, 3,200 and they're all great seats and it gets very loud." 

Sweeney says that despite a loss and some technical issues during the home opener, the crowd on hand was still very positive and one of the best he's seen and hopes to see another good crowd on hand Saturday. 

Sweeney says for those who have not experienced arena league football, you're in for a lot of action 

"It's high speed, the collisions are something to see, obviously the walls come into play quite a bit, they're going into them, they're going over them," Sweeney says. 

And the Goats also bring a roster full of close to National Football League talent 

"We have a gentleman we just picked up who was in the Washington Commanders camp. We have some Missouri Tigers, a Jayhawk, Ole Miss, and you're watching these guys play, depending on your seat, from five feet away," Sweeney says. 

The roster also features some local flares with former Missouri Western safety Antonio Taylor on the roster as well.  

The Goats are back at Civic Arena on Saturday, taking on the Iowa Woo, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.  Kickoff is at 7pm; tickets are still available. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750352286325.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Goats had a good crowd on hand for their home opener, and hope to see the same Saturday as they return to Civic Arena/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Goats Facebook" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Goats had a good crowd on hand for their home opener, and hope to see the same Saturday as they return to Civic Arena/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Goats Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post After making the move from Kansas City earlier this year, the St. Joseph Goats arena league football team is proud to call St. Joseph home. While they've only had one home game thus far, the St. Joseph Goats have been a hit in their first year in St. Joseph, selling out their home opener at Civic Arena. Team President and General Manager Ted Sweeney says since making the move, he's loved every second of being in St. Joseph "Being in Kansas City last year, not having a place to play, we had looked at St. Joseph before we even moved to Kansas City, so we were very familiar with St. Joe, but we had no idea that this place was so crazy about football," Sweeney says. "It's been insane." Sweeney says never in his tenure has he seen the type of crowd that turned out during that opener. Sweeney says he already sees some differences between playing in Kansas City and St. Joseph that are beneficial "Kansas City is a larger community so although we had support, it wasn't crazy like it's starting to get here," Sweeney explains. "And the arena is tailor made for arena football, there's no bad seats, you know Municipal (Auditorium) is a beautiful, historic building, but it also seats 12,000 people, Civic Arena, 3,200 and they're all great seats and it gets very loud." Sweeney says that despite a loss and some technical issues during the home opener, the crowd on hand was still very positive and one of the best he's seen and hopes to see another good crowd on hand Saturday. Sweeney says for those who have not experienced arena league football, you're in for a lot of action "It's high speed, the collisions are something to see, obviously the walls come into play quite a bit, they're going into them, they're going over them," Sweeney says. And the Goats also bring a roster full of close to National Football League talent "We have a gentleman we just picked up who was in the Washington Commanders camp. We have some Missouri Tigers, a Jayhawk, Ole Miss, and you're watching these guys play, depending on your seat, from five feet away," Sweeney says. The roster also features some local flares with former Missouri Western safety Antonio Taylor on the roster as well. The Goats are back at Civic Arena on Saturday, taking on the Iowa Woo, the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year. Kickoff is at 7pm; tickets are still available. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Goats personnel say move to St. Joseph has been successful  

Eastern Kansas Congressman, Derek
Schmidt, defends his support of rescinding nearly $10 billion in spending
already appropriated by Congress, saying the country simply cannot keep
spending as it has.

Schmidt, a Republican, backs the
Rescissions Act of 2025, which would claw back $9.4 billion already approved in
the federal budget.

“The United States is $36 trillion in
debt and sinking deeper by almost $2 trillion per year and there is no end in
sight unless we begin to slow the rate at which the United States federal
government is spending money we do not have,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.

Schmidt asserts the act gets rid of
spending that is absurd.

“Why on earth were we spending money,
literally, to put Sesame Street into television broadcasts in Iraq?” Schmidt
asks. “I like Sesame Street as much as the next guy, but, my goodness, that is
not an appropriate use of American taxpayers’ money.”

Other federal budget line items listed in
the Rescissions Act include $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, $1
million for voter ID in Haiti, and $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.

Schmidt says the rate of spending by
Congress is simply unsustainable.

“The people’s elected representatives in
Congress need to step up and make the hard choices on how to try to, sort of,
control this out-of-control spending that threatens our republic and threatens
the future of our children,” according to Schmidt.

Schmidt calls the bill a good first step
and appropriate.

“Budgeting decisions ought to be
Congress’ to make. Congress needs to step up and say we can’t continue to
afford to be all things to all people,” Schmidt says. “That is the appropriate
to begin to slow down the out-of-control rate of federal spending.” 

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostEastern Kansas Congressman, Derek
Schmidt, defends his support of rescinding nearly $10 billion in spending
already appropriated by Congress, saying the country simply cannot keep
spending as it has.Schmidt, a Republican, backs the
Rescissions Act of 2025, which would claw back $9.4 billion already approved in
the federal budget.“The United States is $36 trillion in
debt and sinking deeper by almost $2 trillion per year and there is no end in
sight unless we begin to slow the rate at which the United States federal
government is spending money we do not have,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St. Joseph
Post.Schmidt asserts the act gets rid of
spending that is absurd.“Why on earth were we spending money,
literally, to put Sesame Street into television broadcasts in Iraq?” Schmidt
asks. “I like Sesame Street as much as the next guy, but, my goodness, that is
not an appropriate use of American taxpayers’ money.”Other federal budget line items listed in
the Rescissions Act include $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico, $1
million for voter ID in Haiti, and $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda.Schmidt says the rate of spending by
Congress is simply unsustainable.“The people’s elected representatives in
Congress need to step up and make the hard choices on how to try to, sort of,
control this out-of-control spending that threatens our republic and threatens
the future of our children,” according to Schmidt.Schmidt calls the bill a good first step
and appropriate.“Budgeting decisions ought to be
Congress’ to make. Congress needs to step up and say we can’t continue to
afford to be all things to all people,” Schmidt says. “That is the appropriate
to begin to slow down the out-of-control rate of federal spending.” You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ.

Congressman Schmidt backs clawing back $10B from federal budget

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1EEAWycbag934HHNHqeMVf?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTIN&nbsp;St. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0JWj4pN6cpHh4QRKOjHUtI?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Freightliner semi driven by a 73-year-old King City man was southbound on Sale Barn Road two miles east of Cameron.

The driver yielded for a vehicle that stopped in from of the semi at Barwick Drive. The semi then continued into the intersection and struck the passenger side of a westbound 2006 Kia driven by a 24-year-old Cameron woman.

Caldwell County Ambulance transported the Kia driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The semi driver was not injured. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

CALDWELL COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Wednesday in Caldwell County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Freightliner semi driven by a 73-year-old King City man was southbound on Sale Barn Road two miles east of Cameron.The driver yielded for a vehicle that stopped in from of the semi at Barwick Drive. The semi then continued into the intersection and struck the passenger side of a westbound 2006 Kia driven by a 24-year-old Cameron woman.Caldwell County Ambulance transported the Kia driver to Cameron Regional Medical Center. The semi driver was not injured. The MSHP had incomplete seat belt usage information. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri woman hospitalized after crash with a semi

The NFL has announced&nbsp; dates for rookies and veterans to report to training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the rest of the league.&nbsp;

Chiefs rookies and veterans are scheduled to report to Missouri Western on July 21st according to the NFL.&nbsp; The Chiefs are currently in the midst of a three-day mandatory minicamp in Kansas City that wraps up Thursday.

The Chiefs and Missouri Western State University have not officially announced an updated contract for training camp after the current deal expired following last years camp.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723743620442.jpeg" alt="Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets ready to take a snap from center Creed Humprey during Training Camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Alexis Starks" />
 <figcaption>Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes gets ready to take a snap from center Creed Humprey during Training Camp in St. Joseph/ Photo by Alexis Starks</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEThe NFL has announced&nbsp; dates for rookies and veterans to report to training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs as well as the rest of the league.&nbsp;Chiefs rookies and veterans are scheduled to report to Missouri Western on July 21st according to the NFL.&nbsp; The Chiefs are currently in the midst of a three-day mandatory minicamp in Kansas City that wraps up Thursday.The Chiefs and Missouri Western State University have not officially announced an updated contract for training camp after the current deal expired following last years camp.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

NFL announces report dates for Chiefs rookies and veterans at MWSU

A little-known
piece of legislation approved during the special legislative session in
Jefferson City will have a big impact in St. Joseph.

In fact, the
Amateur Sports Tax Credit has already had a big impact locally.

“Its economic impact
just to St. Joseph alone has been over $8 million,” state Rep. Brenda Shields
of St. Joseph tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.

“We have used that
tax credit since 2018 to bring some really great sporting events to St. Joseph,”
according to Shields.

Thos events
include the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II women’s
basketball Elite Eight, and the NCAA Division II regional golf tournaments.

Extension of the
Amateur Sports Tax Credit was tucked inside the bill carrying incentives the
state hopes will persuade the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in
Missouri. The tax credit was set to expire at the end of August if the
legislature hadn’t acted.

Shields says the tax
credit has been used successfully throughout the state.

“And it needed to
be renewed because we’re getting ready to go into contract negotiations for more
NCAA (events),” Shields says. “I mean, it’s been responsible for bringing the
Big XII Tournament to Kansas City.”

St. Joseph Sports
Commission Executive Direction, Brett Esley, calls the tax credit vital to
making successful bids for such events.

“They all have a
different level of revenue generation, so, being able to take an event and make
it great,” Esley says of the impact of the tax credit for luring events to St.
Joseph. “And so as a result of that we’ve been able to enhance those events,
especially in this world of athletics, where everybody wants to know what’s in
it for me and what are you doing for me to make it great, which is just
reality.”

Esley confirms the
St. Joseph Sports Commission used the Amateur Sports Tax Credit during the
three-year run of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic as well as landing
the DII women’s basketball Elite Eight, in which the competition is fierce,
according to Esley.

“The women’s basketball
national championship that we hosted two years ago for two years was in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last year,” Esley says. “That’s an apples to oranges
comparison of communities, but that’s what we’re competing against.”

Esley says St.
Joseph and other Missouri communities were well aware the tax credit was set to
expire and lobbied the legislature hard to extend it.

“Our executive
director, Marci Bennett, I can’t tell you how many times she’s been to Jeff
City in the last six weeks. It’s been a lot,” Esley tells KFEQmmunity. “So, she’s
been our representative in concert with a number of colleagues. We were
fortunate to get the good news late last week that this has been extended and will
be something that we get to utilize moving forward, again.”

Esley says the tax
credit comes into play when St. Joseph makes a bid to host regional and
national amateur sporting events. Under its provisions, the state provides a $5
credit for every ticket sold to an event or $5 per destination. While the tax
credit helps St. Joseph, it becomes even a bigger factor for biggest communities
attempting to land bigger events, such as the national NCAA Volleyball
Tournament to be played in Kansas City this December.

St. Joseph used
the tax credit to land the MIAA Volleyball tournament at the Civic Arena. 

Easley calls the
tax credit vital to St. Joseph’s bid for NCAA events.

“If you went ahead
and took away tax credit dollars, not only is it crippling to St. Joseph, but
really crippling to some bigger markets that are hosting women’s volleyball
national championships.”

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA little-known
piece of legislation approved during the special legislative session in
Jefferson City will have a big impact in St. Joseph.In fact, the
Amateur Sports Tax Credit has already had a big impact locally.“Its economic impact
just to St. Joseph alone has been over $8 million,” state Rep. Brenda Shields
of St. Joseph tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.“We have used that
tax credit since 2018 to bring some really great sporting events to St. Joseph,”
according to Shields.Thos events
include the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II women’s
basketball Elite Eight, and the NCAA Division II regional golf tournaments.Extension of the
Amateur Sports Tax Credit was tucked inside the bill carrying incentives the
state hopes will persuade the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in
Missouri. The tax credit was set to expire at the end of August if the
legislature hadn’t acted.Shields says the tax
credit has been used successfully throughout the state.“And it needed to
be renewed because we’re getting ready to go into contract negotiations for more
NCAA (events),” Shields says. “I mean, it’s been responsible for bringing the
Big XII Tournament to Kansas City.”St. Joseph Sports
Commission Executive Direction, Brett Esley, calls the tax credit vital to
making successful bids for such events.“They all have a
different level of revenue generation, so, being able to take an event and make
it great,” Esley says of the impact of the tax credit for luring events to St.
Joseph. “And so as a result of that we’ve been able to enhance those events,
especially in this world of athletics, where everybody wants to know what’s in
it for me and what are you doing for me to make it great, which is just
reality.”Esley confirms the
St. Joseph Sports Commission used the Amateur Sports Tax Credit during the
three-year run of the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame Classic as well as landing
the DII women’s basketball Elite Eight, in which the competition is fierce,
according to Esley.“The women’s basketball
national championship that we hosted two years ago for two years was in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania last year,” Esley says. “That’s an apples to oranges
comparison of communities, but that’s what we’re competing against.”Esley says St.
Joseph and other Missouri communities were well aware the tax credit was set to
expire and lobbied the legislature hard to extend it.“Our executive
director, Marci Bennett, I can’t tell you how many times she’s been to Jeff
City in the last six weeks. It’s been a lot,” Esley tells KFEQmmunity. “So, she’s
been our representative in concert with a number of colleagues. We were
fortunate to get the good news late last week that this has been extended and will
be something that we get to utilize moving forward, again.”Esley says the tax
credit comes into play when St. Joseph makes a bid to host regional and
national amateur sporting events. Under its provisions, the state provides a $5
credit for every ticket sold to an event or $5 per destination. While the tax
credit helps St. Joseph, it becomes even a bigger factor for biggest communities
attempting to land bigger events, such as the national NCAA Volleyball
Tournament to be played in Kansas City this December.St. Joseph used
the tax credit to land the MIAA Volleyball tournament at the Civic Arena. Easley calls the
tax credit vital to St. Joseph’s bid for NCAA events.“If you went ahead
and took away tax credit dollars, not only is it crippling to St. Joseph, but
really crippling to some bigger markets that are hosting women’s volleyball
national championships.”

Little known tax credit has big impact on St. Joseph

New sculptures are adorning the downtown St. Joseph sidewalks for the 12th annual St. Joseph Sculpture Walk.  

Allied Arts Council Executive Director Jessica Agnew says the sculpture walk is a great free opportunity for anyone looking for something to do to explore downtown 

"This year we have 14 sculptures that are here, and it's an opportunity to have something fun to do with your friends and your family, see beautiful artwork, and highlight downtown," Agnew tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. 

A theme to this year's sculpture walk is "Whimsical Walk with the Arts".  Daniel Ramming with the walk says it's the first year there has been a sort of theme 

"Because with the new addition of the Discovery Center downtown, we just wanted to tie into that kind of excitement with a bunch of new people coming into the area downtown, we thought that would be a really nice tie in," Ramming says.   

One of the 14 featured sculptures will sit in front of InspireU, which is where the Sculpture Walk will kick off this evening with a guided tour, starting at 6:30pm 

"What's fun about this one is that we're going to actually have some of the artists, they actually come in specifically for the first walk," Agnew explains.  "And so, we'll get to have firsthand experience from them, they'll tell us about their sculpture." 

14 new sculptures have been placed downtown for this year’s walk that will be available to view year-round. A map can be found at locations around downtown.  

The brochure also acts as a ballot for people participating in the walk to vote on their favorite sculpture to be awarded the People’s Choice Award at the end of the walk. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750261467191.jpeg" alt="The St. Joseph Sculpture Walk begins it's 12th year this evening/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Downtown Association from Sculpture Walk 2024" />
 <figcaption>The St. Joseph Sculpture Walk begins it's 12th year this evening/ Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Downtown Association from Sculpture Walk 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post New sculptures are adorning the downtown St. Joseph sidewalks for the 12th annual St. Joseph Sculpture Walk. Allied Arts Council Executive Director Jessica Agnew says the sculpture walk is a great free opportunity for anyone looking for something to do to explore downtown "This year we have 14 sculptures that are here, and it's an opportunity to have something fun to do with your friends and your family, see beautiful artwork, and highlight downtown," Agnew tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. A theme to this year's sculpture walk is "Whimsical Walk with the Arts". Daniel Ramming with the walk says it's the first year there has been a sort of theme "Because with the new addition of the Discovery Center downtown, we just wanted to tie into that kind of excitement with a bunch of new people coming into the area downtown, we thought that would be a really nice tie in," Ramming says. One of the 14 featured sculptures will sit in front of InspireU, which is where the Sculpture Walk will kick off this evening with a guided tour, starting at 6:30pm "What's fun about this one is that we're going to actually have some of the artists, they actually come in specifically for the first walk," Agnew explains. "And so, we'll get to have firsthand experience from them, they'll tell us about their sculpture." 14 new sculptures have been placed downtown for this year’s walk that will be available to view year-round. A map can be found at locations around downtown. The brochure also acts as a ballot for people participating in the walk to vote on their favorite sculpture to be awarded the People’s Choice Award at the end of the walk. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

New sculptures adorn downtown for St. Joseph Sculpture Walk

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/45FjeNuuOKK70ftUi7lmCA?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/0QIwKrMwuqQ3lFg4yo7Qqc?utm_source=generator" width="100%" height="352" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobrichey/">Jacob Richey</a>&nbsp;

A Missouri Senate committee will hold a public hearing at the end of the month focused on failed negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that has impacted the coverage of 90,000 people.

The Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee will convene for the hearing at 1 p.m. June 30.

Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, wrote in a social media post that she asked the chair of the committee to organize the hearing. She also wrote that&nbsp;she has met with both MU Health Care and Anthem.

“While I understand the complexity involved in health care, I am encouraging both to find an agreement,” O’Laughlin wrote. “Patients need their doctors, and literally thousands of people are affected by this.”

MU Health Care and Anthem failed to renew their commercial contracts by April 1. Following the negotiation deadline, both parties released statements blaming the other.

MU Health Care was seeking a 39% increase in prices over the next three years, which Anthem said was four times the rate of inflation. Anthem said MU Health Care rejected its offers and canceled meetings with the deadline looming, according to past KOMU 8 reporting.

The June 30 hearing comes as MU Health Care patients who were on the continuity of care plan with Anthem will lose in-network access to their provider.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/state-senate-committee-sets-hearing-on-failed-mu-health-care-anthem-negotiations/article_ab3bb7eb-d6b3-5096-bf28-5f32664a2fd1.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian and KOMU</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jacobrichey/">Jacob Richey</a>&nbsp;A Missouri Senate committee will hold a public hearing at the end of the month focused on failed negotiations between MU Health Care and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield that has impacted the coverage of 90,000 people.The Missouri Senate Insurance and Banking Committee will convene for the hearing at 1 p.m. June 30.Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, a Republican from Shelbina, wrote in a social media post that she asked the chair of the committee to organize the hearing. She also wrote that&nbsp;she has met with both MU Health Care and Anthem.“While I understand the complexity involved in health care, I am encouraging both to find an agreement,” O’Laughlin wrote. “Patients need their doctors, and literally thousands of people are affected by this.”MU Health Care and Anthem failed to renew their commercial contracts by April 1. Following the negotiation deadline, both parties released statements blaming the other.MU Health Care was seeking a 39% increase in prices over the next three years, which Anthem said was four times the rate of inflation. Anthem said MU Health Care rejected its offers and canceled meetings with the deadline looming, according to past KOMU 8 reporting.The June 30 hearing comes as MU Health Care patients who were on the continuity of care plan with Anthem will lose in-network access to their provider.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/local/state-senate-committee-sets-hearing-on-failed-mu-health-care-anthem-negotiations/article_ab3bb7eb-d6b3-5096-bf28-5f32664a2fd1.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian and KOMU</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

Missouri Senate will hold hearing on MU Health, Anthem negotiations

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Leavenworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp;was 2006 Toyota passenger car driven by Cody L. Lamping, 16, Basehor, was southbound on 155th Street at U.S. 24. The driver ran a red light and the car entered the intersection. A westbound 2017 Chevrolet pickup driven by Steven H.&nbsp;Schuman, 68, Basehor,&nbsp;&nbsp;struck the the drivers side of the Toyota at highway speed.

EMS transported Lamping to&nbsp;Providence Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. EMS transported Schuman to St. Luke's. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

LEAVENWORTH COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 9:30p.m. Tuesday in Leavenworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a&nbsp;was 2006 Toyota passenger car driven by Cody L. Lamping, 16, Basehor, was southbound on 155th Street at U.S. 24. The driver ran a red light and the car entered the intersection. A westbound 2017 Chevrolet pickup driven by Steven H.&nbsp;Schuman, 68, Basehor,&nbsp;&nbsp;struck the the drivers side of the Toyota at highway speed.EMS transported Lamping to&nbsp;Providence Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased. EMS transported Schuman to St. Luke's. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

16-year-old Kansas driver dies in pickup, car crash

St. Joseph is finally set to get a new animal shelter.  

Ground has been broken next to the St. Joseph Recycling center on the long awaited animal shelter, a $5 million dollar project that&nbsp; is supported by $3.4 million in Capital Improvement Program funds and $1.6 million raised by the Friends of the Shelter.&nbsp;

Ed Vanover with Friends says it's an overwhelming sense of relief to finally have a new animal shelter coming, after over a decade of work by Friends of the Animal Shelter to get one 

"Somedays we doubted we would ever get there, and just to finally be standing here turning the dirt is a great relief to me," Vanover tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "Because we finally came the full cycle of where we wanted to be." 

It's been a long road to get to this point.  After original plans to build a new shelter on Corporate Drive were shut down due to costs, there were times it looked like a new shelter might not be in the cities future 

Vanover with Friends says he always hoped this day would come 

"I tried to remain positive, yes it's going to happen, yes it's going to happen, but sometimes it was oh Lord is it ever going to happen," Vanover says.  "And here we are today." 

Vanover said there were doubts it might happen around the time Friends had to shut down it's campaign to raise money for the shelter 

"When we shut the campaign down originally, we was coming to terms that ok we may be done, it may not happen, and then the city swooped right in, stepped right up, and here we are today," Vanover explains. 

The new shelter will include 13-thousand square feet of space, an upgrade from the current 8 thousand square feet facility, with several upgrades to holding facilities and areas for adopters 

Vanover with Friends says the community support for the project has meant a lot, especially when it comes to helping raise the funds for the project 

"The city of St. Joseph, the citizens, have always been behind us and backed us," Vanover says.  "And to be able to say, here you are you have a new animal shelter, it means a lot, it really does." 

The facility will also include larger holding areas for cats and dogs, as well as more space for adopters to interact with pets.   

The new shelter is set to open in June of next year. 

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750200944869.jpeg" alt="Friends of the Animal Shelters Ed Vanover (left) and other St. Joseph residents look at&nbsp; an artist rendering of the new animal shelter during the groundbreaking event/Photo by Matt Pike" />
 <figcaption>Friends of the Animal Shelters Ed Vanover (left) and other St. Joseph residents look at&nbsp; an artist rendering of the new animal shelter during the groundbreaking event/Photo by Matt Pike</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post St. Joseph is finally set to get a new animal shelter. Ground has been broken next to the St. Joseph Recycling center on the long awaited animal shelter, a $5 million dollar project that&nbsp; is supported by $3.4 million in Capital Improvement Program funds and $1.6 million raised by the Friends of the Shelter.&nbsp;Ed Vanover with Friends says it's an overwhelming sense of relief to finally have a new animal shelter coming, after over a decade of work by Friends of the Animal Shelter to get one "Somedays we doubted we would ever get there, and just to finally be standing here turning the dirt is a great relief to me," Vanover tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "Because we finally came the full cycle of where we wanted to be." It's been a long road to get to this point. After original plans to build a new shelter on Corporate Drive were shut down due to costs, there were times it looked like a new shelter might not be in the cities future Vanover with Friends says he always hoped this day would come "I tried to remain positive, yes it's going to happen, yes it's going to happen, but sometimes it was oh Lord is it ever going to happen," Vanover says. "And here we are today." Vanover said there were doubts it might happen around the time Friends had to shut down it's campaign to raise money for the shelter "When we shut the campaign down originally, we was coming to terms that ok we may be done, it may not happen, and then the city swooped right in, stepped right up, and here we are today," Vanover explains. The new shelter will include 13-thousand square feet of space, an upgrade from the current 8 thousand square feet facility, with several upgrades to holding facilities and areas for adopters Vanover with Friends says the community support for the project has meant a lot, especially when it comes to helping raise the funds for the project "The city of St. Joseph, the citizens, have always been behind us and backed us," Vanover says. "And to be able to say, here you are you have a new animal shelter, it means a lot, it really does." The facility will also include larger holding areas for cats and dogs, as well as more space for adopters to interact with pets. The new shelter is set to open in June of next year. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750201030219.jpeg" alt="Artist rendering of the new animal shelter" />
 <figcaption>Artist rendering of the new animal shelter</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

After decades of work, St. Joseph is finally getting a new animal shelter

Leaders of the United
States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee want Congress to
consider an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Committee chair,
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, has released a “discussion draft”
along with the ranking Democrat on the Committee, Congressman Rick Larsen of
Washington state.

Graves, a
Republican, says the two want to streamline FEMA, especially to help the
victims of disasters receive aid quicker.

“It just shouldn’t
take as long as FEMA does now, the way it’s set up,” Graves tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “It hasn’t been working for Americans for some time now. And we’ve
been working on FEMA reforms over the years and it just simply hasn’t been enough.
So, this is a big overhaul of the system.”

The proposal would
return FEMA to cabinet-level status, reporting directly to the president. It
would require FEMA to eliminate federal jargon and provide clear notices to
victims. It would give incentives to states to invest in disaster mitigation
efforts.

Graves accuses
FEMA of unfairly distributing disaster aid.

“And it’s almost
like cherry picking,” Graves says. “Some victims don’t get the help that they
need. Some get more help than they need. This is going to make sure that they
treat everybody fairly. This needs to be done once and for all. The system
needs to be overhauled.”

The proposal is
formally called the, “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025. It
would establish a Recovery Task Force to close out 1,000 lingering disaster declarations
dating back to Hurricane Katrina. It would direct FEMA to improve coordination
among federal agencies that respond to disasters.

Graves and Larsen
released what they call a “discussion draft” of the legislation to get feedback
from members of Congress as well as those who work in emergency management.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostLeaders of the United
States House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee want Congress to
consider an overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.Committee chair,
Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, has released a “discussion draft”
along with the ranking Democrat on the Committee, Congressman Rick Larsen of
Washington state.Graves, a
Republican, says the two want to streamline FEMA, especially to help the
victims of disasters receive aid quicker.“It just shouldn’t
take as long as FEMA does now, the way it’s set up,” Graves tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post. “It hasn’t been working for Americans for some time now. And we’ve
been working on FEMA reforms over the years and it just simply hasn’t been enough.
So, this is a big overhaul of the system.”The proposal would
return FEMA to cabinet-level status, reporting directly to the president. It
would require FEMA to eliminate federal jargon and provide clear notices to
victims. It would give incentives to states to invest in disaster mitigation
efforts.Graves accuses
FEMA of unfairly distributing disaster aid.“And it’s almost
like cherry picking,” Graves says. “Some victims don’t get the help that they
need. Some get more help than they need. This is going to make sure that they
treat everybody fairly. This needs to be done once and for all. The system
needs to be overhauled.”The proposal is
formally called the, “Fixing Emergency Management for Americans Act of 2025. It
would establish a Recovery Task Force to close out 1,000 lingering disaster declarations
dating back to Hurricane Katrina. It would direct FEMA to improve coordination
among federal agencies that respond to disasters.Graves and Larsen
released what they call a “discussion draft” of the legislation to get feedback
from members of Congress as well as those who work in emergency management.Graves accuses
FEMA of not only unfairly distributing disaster aid, but, at times, playing
politics with it.“Depending on your
politics or what signs that you have in your yard shouldn’t have any impact
whatsoever on whether or not you receive assistance or not,” Graves says.Florida officials
claimed FEMA, during the Biden administration, withheld aid from some Florida
hurricane victims, because they supported then President-elect Trump.Some in
Washington, D.C. have called for the elimination of FEMA with the money spend
on the federal agency distributed to the states.Graves says proposes
overhauling FEMA, not eliminating a federal agency to respond to disasters. “It’s under my
jurisdiction and I do think that we do need a federal agency,” Graves says.The proposal also
would remove obstacles that discourage donations from charities, religious
organizations, and the public, to increase private disaster response. It would
also promote more preventative measures.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ.

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