The effort may face fierce resistance from the marijuana industry, which accused hemp leaders of trying to roll back cannabis legalization amendments ‘all in hopes that politicians will eventually replace it with something down the road’

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

A group of Missouri hemp business leaders are organizing an initiative petition to allow marijuana and intoxicating hemp THC products to be sold in the same stores as alcohol and tobacco.

The goal of the effort, led by Kansas-City-based hemp business American Shaman and announced on an industry call Monday, is to repeal the 41-page constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana in 2022. It would replace it with language that instructs Missouri lawmakers to create regulations that are “no more burdensome than what we already have for alcohol and tobacco,” industry lobbyist Eapen Thampy said on a call with about 30 business owners and cannabis activists Monday morning.

“Part of the idea here is to remove that regulatory mandate in the Missouri Constitution,” he said. “We devolve regulatory authority back to the Missouri General Assembly, the elected representative of the people where it belongs.”

The petition language hasn’t been finalized yet, Thampy said, but it will ensure that cannabis remains legal until state lawmakers come up with laws regulating marijuana and intoxicating hemp products.&nbsp;It would take out criminal offenses for possessing too much marijuana but retain all the current taxes on the products.

It would also allow businesses to obtain licenses to sell the products through a similar process as they do with alcohol and tobacco products.&nbsp;Currently marijuana facility licenses are limited and highly regulated, but businesses don’t need a license to sell intoxicating hemp products&nbsp;— despite numerous legislative attempts to outright ban them.&nbsp;

The group is aiming, he said, to have the initiative petition language drafted in the next week, submitted to the Missouri Secretary of State by August with enough signatures by May to appear on the November 2026 ballot. It’s being organized under a new political&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C253534#gsc.tab=0" target="_blank">committee</a>&nbsp;called Missourians for a Single Market, formed last week.

The group’s announcement is the latest in the showdown between the marijuana industry — which has operated legally in Missouri since 2018 but is outlawed federally — and the hemp industry, whose products were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill.

Thampy acknowledged the hemp industry’s feeling of uncertainty after Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/09/missouri-attorney-general-threatens-legal-action-against-18-hemp-companies-more-to-come/">several cease-and-desist letters</a>&nbsp;to companies selling a hemp product called THCA flower that looks exactly like marijuana flower sold at dispensaries.

Bailey’s letters threaten legal action, including injunctions, civil penalties and attorney’s fees if the companies continue to sell the products.&nbsp;

“When purchasing products, Missourians deserve to know if they are being exposed to dangerous side effects like psychotic episodes, hallucinations or other life-threatening risks,” Bailey said in a statement to The Independent last week. “We have issued 18 cease and desist letters so far, and more are forthcoming.”

Thampy claims the initiative petition campaign will bring more unity between the two industries after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/intoxicating-hemp-regulations-stall-in-missouri-senate-after-7-hour-filibuster/">being at odds for several years over legislation</a>&nbsp;that could potentially ban intoxicating hemp products in Missouri.&nbsp;

“We want to give the marijuana operators an opportunity to pursue the consumer dollar in the mass market, as the hemp side already does,” Thampy said.&nbsp;

However, Andrew Mullins, executive director for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, called the idea a “bait and switch.”

The state’s regulated marijuana industry, he said, generated $241 million in state and local tax revenues last year alone and is regarded as one of the most successful marijuana programs in the country, citing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/missouri-cannabis-market-business-34dd47ad?mod=e2tw&amp;gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAi6PE3BQERvbb-fuJyCT3TUHPqzyDmZaOBA7z2p4IrJNE448pqQQlOJuYZuLnI%3D&amp;gaa_sig=589hKhzJJ83VibbJThKqws5L0tFMC4cfGLVI7iP9s6rCqnTgzMAFY3xKdfW3eaoC4-voDJHOVTTiObvrNWiHgw%3D%3D&amp;gaa_ts=68507e7e" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal article</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Voters have twice voted for cannabis regulation, he said, and any effort to roll back those constitutional protections would be a “spectacular failure.”

“Missourians aren’t about to take hundreds of millions away from local communities, veterans and our justice system, all in hopes that politicians will eventually replace it with something down the road,” Mullins said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thampy said that tax revenue wouldn’t go away. The taxable market would increase by about a third, he said, “meaning tens of millions in new revenue for public defenders, substance abuse prevention, and the Missouri Veterans Commission.”

Steve DeAngelo, a California-based marijuana advocate involved in multiple successful legalization campaigns, said during Monday’s call that the effort also will help unify those currently working in the “legacy” market, more commonly referred to as the black market.

“When you bring down the barriers to entry, all of the legacy folks who are right now out of the legal system would be able to come in,” he said. “So you create one single, unified market for cannabis across all sectors. That’s the proposal that I have to advance now.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750161811551.jpeg" alt="(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)" />
 <figcaption>(Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>The effort may face fierce resistance from the marijuana industry, which accused hemp leaders of trying to roll back cannabis legalization amendments ‘all in hopes that politicians will eventually replace it with something down the road’</h2>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/rebecca-rivas/">REBECCA RIVAS</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A group of Missouri hemp business leaders are organizing an initiative petition to allow marijuana and intoxicating hemp THC products to be sold in the same stores as alcohol and tobacco.The goal of the effort, led by Kansas-City-based hemp business American Shaman and announced on an industry call Monday, is to repeal the 41-page constitutional amendment that legalized recreational marijuana in 2022. It would replace it with language that instructs Missouri lawmakers to create regulations that are “no more burdensome than what we already have for alcohol and tobacco,” industry lobbyist Eapen Thampy said on a call with about 30 business owners and cannabis activists Monday morning.“Part of the idea here is to remove that regulatory mandate in the Missouri Constitution,” he said. “We devolve regulatory authority back to the Missouri General Assembly, the elected representative of the people where it belongs.”The petition language hasn’t been finalized yet, Thampy said, but it will ensure that cannabis remains legal until state lawmakers come up with laws regulating marijuana and intoxicating hemp products.&nbsp;It would take out criminal offenses for possessing too much marijuana but retain all the current taxes on the products.It would also allow businesses to obtain licenses to sell the products through a similar process as they do with alcohol and tobacco products.&nbsp;Currently marijuana facility licenses are limited and highly regulated, but businesses don’t need a license to sell intoxicating hemp products&nbsp;— despite numerous legislative attempts to outright ban them.&nbsp;The group is aiming, he said, to have the initiative petition language drafted in the next week, submitted to the Missouri Secretary of State by August with enough signatures by May to appear on the November 2026 ballot. It’s being organized under a new political&nbsp;<a href="https://mec.mo.gov/MEC/Campaign_Finance/CommInfo.aspx?MECID=C253534#gsc.tab=0" target="_blank">committee</a>&nbsp;called Missourians for a Single Market, formed last week.The group’s announcement is the latest in the showdown between the marijuana industry — which has operated legally in Missouri since 2018 but is outlawed federally — and the hemp industry, whose products were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill.Thampy acknowledged the hemp industry’s feeling of uncertainty after Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey sent&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/06/09/missouri-attorney-general-threatens-legal-action-against-18-hemp-companies-more-to-come/">several cease-and-desist letters</a>&nbsp;to companies selling a hemp product called THCA flower that looks exactly like marijuana flower sold at dispensaries.Bailey’s letters threaten legal action, including injunctions, civil penalties and attorney’s fees if the companies continue to sell the products.&nbsp;“When purchasing products, Missourians deserve to know if they are being exposed to dangerous side effects like psychotic episodes, hallucinations or other life-threatening risks,” Bailey said in a statement to The Independent last week. “We have issued 18 cease and desist letters so far, and more are forthcoming.”Thampy claims the initiative petition campaign will bring more unity between the two industries after&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/04/10/intoxicating-hemp-regulations-stall-in-missouri-senate-after-7-hour-filibuster/">being at odds for several years over legislation</a>&nbsp;that could potentially ban intoxicating hemp products in Missouri.&nbsp;“We want to give the marijuana operators an opportunity to pursue the consumer dollar in the mass market, as the hemp side already does,” Thampy said.&nbsp;However, Andrew Mullins, executive director for the Missouri Cannabis Trade Association, called the idea a “bait and switch.”The state’s regulated marijuana industry, he said, generated $241 million in state and local tax revenues last year alone and is regarded as one of the most successful marijuana programs in the country, citing a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/missouri-cannabis-market-business-34dd47ad?mod=e2tw&amp;gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAi6PE3BQERvbb-fuJyCT3TUHPqzyDmZaOBA7z2p4IrJNE448pqQQlOJuYZuLnI%3D&amp;gaa_sig=589hKhzJJ83VibbJThKqws5L0tFMC4cfGLVI7iP9s6rCqnTgzMAFY3xKdfW3eaoC4-voDJHOVTTiObvrNWiHgw%3D%3D&amp;gaa_ts=68507e7e" target="_blank">Wall Street Journal article</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Voters have twice voted for cannabis regulation, he said, and any effort to roll back those constitutional protections would be a “spectacular failure.”“Missourians aren’t about to take hundreds of millions away from local communities, veterans and our justice system, all in hopes that politicians will eventually replace it with something down the road,” Mullins said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thampy said that tax revenue wouldn’t go away. The taxable market would increase by about a third, he said, “meaning tens of millions in new revenue for public defenders, substance abuse prevention, and the Missouri Veterans Commission.”Steve DeAngelo, a California-based marijuana advocate involved in multiple successful legalization campaigns, said during Monday’s call that the effort also will help unify those currently working in the “legacy” market, more commonly referred to as the black market.“When you bring down the barriers to entry, all of the legacy folks who are right now out of the legal system would be able to come in,” he said. “So you create one single, unified market for cannabis across all sectors. That’s the proposal that I have to advance now.”

Hemp industry leaders seek to deregulate Missouri cannabis through initiative petition

By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph Post

Eastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt says the United States must move to protect its
personnel in wake of Israel’s strikes against Iran.

“It’s a very
difficult time and I’m hopeful that the Iranian nuclear program is now disabled
and also that this confrontation can be contained,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.

Early Friday
morning, Israel launched a targeted attack on Iran’s nuclear program, both
material and personnel. It has continued its assault on Iran through the past
weekend. A counter-attack by Iran killed at least eight in Israel early Monday.
Israel warned residents of Tehran to evacuate as the conflict entered its fourth
day.

Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to neutralize any threat from Iran’s
nuclear program.

Schmidt says the U.S.
must be clear Israel made this decision on its own.

“The United States
has made clear that this was a decision of the Israelis, not of the United
States government, and that the Israelis were within their rights to ensure that
Iran, which has obviously been overtly hostile to Israel, has launched attacks
on Israel within recent months, does not become a nuclear-capable power,”
Schmidt says.

Schmidt says the
Trump Administration has warned Iran not to harm any Americans in its
retaliation.

“We should defend
our own,” Schmidt says. “It is an America first policy and that ought to be our
top priority as well as obviously trying to deescalate at this point and prevent
the spread of the fighting.” 

Schmidt says the United
States has long opposed Iran becoming a nuclear power.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750102265434.png" alt="File photo Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt" />
 <figcaption>File photo Kansas 2nd District Congressman Derek Schmidt</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTIN St. Joseph PostEastern Kansas
Congressman Derek Schmidt says the United States must move to protect its
personnel in wake of Israel’s strikes against Iran.“It’s a very
difficult time and I’m hopeful that the Iranian nuclear program is now disabled
and also that this confrontation can be contained,” Schmidt tells KFEQ/St.
Joseph Post.Early Friday
morning, Israel launched a targeted attack on Iran’s nuclear program, both
material and personnel. It has continued its assault on Iran through the past
weekend. A counter-attack by Iran killed at least eight in Israel early Monday.
Israel warned residents of Tehran to evacuate as the conflict entered its fourth
day.Israeli Prime
Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, vowed to neutralize any threat from Iran’s
nuclear program.Schmidt says the U.S.
must be clear Israel made this decision on its own.“The United States
has made clear that this was a decision of the Israelis, not of the United
States government, and that the Israelis were within their rights to ensure that
Iran, which has obviously been overtly hostile to Israel, has launched attacks
on Israel within recent months, does not become a nuclear-capable power,”
Schmidt says.Schmidt says the
Trump Administration has warned Iran not to harm any Americans in its
retaliation.“We should defend
our own,” Schmidt says. “It is an America first policy and that ought to be our
top priority as well as obviously trying to deescalate at this point and prevent
the spread of the fighting.” Schmidt says the United
States has long opposed Iran becoming a nuclear power.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

Congressman Schmidt:  US must protect its own in Israel-Iran conflict

A St. Joseph state
representative who supported the incentive package for the Kansas City Chiefs
and Royals approved during the special legislative session sees it as an
economic development issue.

Rep. Brenda
Shields, a Republican, says the state needed to act to keep the Chiefs from
crossing the state line into Kansas and keep the Royals from moving to another
city. Shields understands many object to offering incentives to professional
teams.

“And if Missouri
was the only state offering incentives, I could question incentives, but there
are incentives offered for every industry across every state in America,” Shields
tells KFEQmmunity. “Incentives are just part of the deal of growing your
economy in your state, because businesses are going to go where they get the
best deal. And currently, right now, Kansas had a deal on the table that they
would pay for 70% of the build of a new stadium.”

Missouri lawmakers
met in special session the first two weeks of the month to primarily consider
an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. The special
session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe also delivered disaster aid for homeowners in
the St. Louis area as well as a few capital improvement projects, such as the
nuclear reactor own by the University of Missouri vital to cancer research.

Shields says the
Missouri economy has become stagnant and cannot afford the loss of a 
Chiefs and Royals.

“We’ve lost a
Congressional seat, because Missouri hasn’t grown,” Shields points out. “We
used to have nine. Now we have eight. I think that should be evident to
everyone that we need to do everything we can to continue to grow Missouri’s
economy.”

The prestige
factor plays a role as well.

“Prestige has a
lot of impact,” Shields says. “When we are attracting businesses to our state,
they are looking for the amenities that they need for their employees.”

Shields says the
Chiefs and Royals generate tremendous tax revenue and economic activity to
Missouri. Shields adds keeping the teams provides that little extra used to
attract other businesses to the state.

“They want to know
what type of amenities that you have in your community. Is it major league baseball,
major league football? Is it arts?&nbsp; It’s
the whole package. And how we draw top quality to our state is based upon what
we have to offer them in their spare time.”

Gov. Mike Kehoe
has signed the three bills approved in the special session into law.

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

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostA St. Joseph state
representative who supported the incentive package for the Kansas City Chiefs
and Royals approved during the special legislative session sees it as an
economic development issue.Rep. Brenda
Shields, a Republican, says the state needed to act to keep the Chiefs from
crossing the state line into Kansas and keep the Royals from moving to another
city. Shields understands many object to offering incentives to professional
teams.“And if Missouri
was the only state offering incentives, I could question incentives, but there
are incentives offered for every industry across every state in America,” Shields
tells KFEQmmunity. “Incentives are just part of the deal of growing your
economy in your state, because businesses are going to go where they get the
best deal. And currently, right now, Kansas had a deal on the table that they
would pay for 70% of the build of a new stadium.”Missouri lawmakers
met in special session the first two weeks of the month to primarily consider
an incentive package to keep the Chiefs and Royals in Missouri. The special
session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe also delivered disaster aid for homeowners in
the St. Louis area as well as a few capital improvement projects, such as the
nuclear reactor own by the University of Missouri vital to cancer research.Shields says the
Missouri economy has become stagnant and cannot afford the loss of a 
Chiefs and Royals.“We’ve lost a
Congressional seat, because Missouri hasn’t grown,” Shields points out. “We
used to have nine. Now we have eight. I think that should be evident to
everyone that we need to do everything we can to continue to grow Missouri’s
economy.”The prestige
factor plays a role as well.“Prestige has a
lot of impact,” Shields says. “When we are attracting businesses to our state,
they are looking for the amenities that they need for their employees.”Shields says the
Chiefs and Royals generate tremendous tax revenue and economic activity to
Missouri. Shields adds keeping the teams provides that little extra used to
attract other businesses to the state.“They want to know
what type of amenities that you have in your community. Is it major league baseball,
major league football? Is it arts?&nbsp; It’s
the whole package. And how we draw top quality to our state is based upon what
we have to offer them in their spare time.”Gov. Mike Kehoe
has signed the three bills approved in the special session into law.<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/4JYeXBt82kHEieStTXKeda?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&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ.

Shields says Chiefs-Royals package provides economic boost

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

Missouri high school graduates may soon be able to attend career-certificate programs for free after state lawmakers passed a bill creating a reimbursement process for career and technical education.

The legislation now awaits Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature or veto.

“This will increase (the workforce) astronomically,” said state Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar. “And it’s great for the kids who are in those career tech programs. It gives them another avenue to make themselves better.”

Kelley, who filed the bill in the House, told The Independent that she got the idea for the legislation after talking to a student. He was eligible for the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants-scholarships/a-plus" target="_blank">A+ Program</a>, which pays for two years of public community college, and he wanted to use the funds to train for his commercial driver’s license.

But his goal of operating a dump truck business was derailed when he realized that the state’s program wouldn’t cover the type of education he needed.

So Kelley proposed a new program — one with eligibility requirements mirroring the A+ Program but to fund career-certificate programs.

To qualify, students will need to graduate high school with at least a 2.5 GPA, at least 95% attendance rate, 50 hours of unpaid tutoring and achieve proficiency in the Algebra I end-of-course exam. The Missouri Senate added another path to eligibility, opening the door to students with&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-education/career-and-technical-education-certificate" target="_blank">high school career-tech certificates</a>.

“Currently a student who wants to obtain a certificate or license right out of high school… must pay for these out of pocket because the courses are too short to qualify for the A+ reimbursement program and are not Pell eligible,” Kelley said in a committee hearing in February. “These students are typically ones who are not interested in going to a two-year or four-year school.”

Some students use the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dhewd.mo.gov/initiatives/fast-track-workforce-incentive-grant/students" target="_blank">Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant</a>&nbsp;to pay for training and licensing, but the program requires participants to be at least 25 years old. Some students take jobs outside their career path to pass the time and avoid shelling out thousands for their certificate, Kelley said, but this legislation seeks to “fill the gap.”

To pay for the grants, the bill sets up a fund managed by the State Treasurer’s Office. Funding would have to be appropriated annually by the state’s general assembly, though the fund would also be open for donations.

The state estimates a cost of&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/fiscal-note/0200-h.02-p.-o-r-g-hb331.pdf?c=38643" target="_blank">up to $3.3 mil in 2028</a>, according to a fiscal note.

Kelley is “positive” that Kehoe will sign the bill given his vocal support for career-tech initiatives.

In his inaugural&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/13/new-missouri-governor-focuses-on-crime-education-tax-cuts-in-inaugural-address/">State of the State speech</a>&nbsp;in January, Kehoe placed an emphasis on career and technical education and&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-education/governors-workforce-future-challenge-executive-order-25-16" target="_blank">called for a work group to bolster CTE programs</a>.

The legislation has also generated support from advocacy groups. In committee, lobbyists from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri National Education Association spoke in favor of the idea.

“Skilled technical talent is a major asset to Missouri employers across all industries,” the chamber of commerce’s lobbyist Cade Tremain said in a hearing in February.

The legislation received wide support, drawing just two “no” votes in the House and one in the Senate. It ultimately passed as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/truly-agreed-to-and-finally-passed-sb150.pdf?c=38657" target="_blank">large higher education package</a>&nbsp;with bipartisan support.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750087991267.png" alt=" Rep. Ann Kelley, R-Lamar speaks at a House Children and Family committee hearing on foster kids’ benefits Jan. 22, 2025 (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)." />
 <figcaption> Rep. Ann Kelley, R-Lamar speaks at a House Children and Family committee hearing on foster kids’ benefits Jan. 22, 2025 (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications).</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;BY:&nbsp;ANNELISE HANSHAW <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2022/09/21/missouri-judge-once-again-delays-decision-on-closing-agape-boarding-school/">Missouri Independent</a>Missouri high school graduates may soon be able to attend career-certificate programs for free after state lawmakers passed a bill creating a reimbursement process for career and technical education.The legislation now awaits Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature or veto.“This will increase (the workforce) astronomically,” said state Rep. Ann Kelley, a Republican from Lamar. “And it’s great for the kids who are in those career tech programs. It gives them another avenue to make themselves better.”Kelley, who filed the bill in the House, told The Independent that she got the idea for the legislation after talking to a student. He was eligible for the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dhewd.mo.gov/ppc/grants-scholarships/a-plus" target="_blank">A+ Program</a>, which pays for two years of public community college, and he wanted to use the funds to train for his commercial driver’s license.But his goal of operating a dump truck business was derailed when he realized that the state’s program wouldn’t cover the type of education he needed.So Kelley proposed a new program — one with eligibility requirements mirroring the A+ Program but to fund career-certificate programs.To qualify, students will need to graduate high school with at least a 2.5 GPA, at least 95% attendance rate, 50 hours of unpaid tutoring and achieve proficiency in the Algebra I end-of-course exam. The Missouri Senate added another path to eligibility, opening the door to students with&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-education/career-and-technical-education-certificate" target="_blank">high school career-tech certificates</a>.“Currently a student who wants to obtain a certificate or license right out of high school… must pay for these out of pocket because the courses are too short to qualify for the A+ reimbursement program and are not Pell eligible,” Kelley said in a committee hearing in February. “These students are typically ones who are not interested in going to a two-year or four-year school.”Some students use the state’s&nbsp;<a href="https://dhewd.mo.gov/initiatives/fast-track-workforce-incentive-grant/students" target="_blank">Fast Track Workforce Incentive Grant</a>&nbsp;to pay for training and licensing, but the program requires participants to be at least 25 years old. Some students take jobs outside their career path to pass the time and avoid shelling out thousands for their certificate, Kelley said, but this legislation seeks to “fill the gap.”To pay for the grants, the bill sets up a fund managed by the State Treasurer’s Office. Funding would have to be appropriated annually by the state’s general assembly, though the fund would also be open for donations.The state estimates a cost of&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/fiscal-note/0200-h.02-p.-o-r-g-hb331.pdf?c=38643" target="_blank">up to $3.3 mil in 2028</a>, according to a fiscal note.Kelley is “positive” that Kehoe will sign the bill given his vocal support for career-tech initiatives.In his inaugural&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/2025/01/13/new-missouri-governor-focuses-on-crime-education-tax-cuts-in-inaugural-address/">State of the State speech</a>&nbsp;in January, Kehoe placed an emphasis on career and technical education and&nbsp;<a href="https://dese.mo.gov/college-career-readiness/career-education/governors-workforce-future-challenge-executive-order-25-16" target="_blank">called for a work group to bolster CTE programs</a>.The legislation has also generated support from advocacy groups. In committee, lobbyists from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri National Education Association spoke in favor of the idea.“Skilled technical talent is a major asset to Missouri employers across all industries,” the chamber of commerce’s lobbyist Cade Tremain said in a hearing in February.The legislation received wide support, drawing just two “no” votes in the House and one in the Senate. It ultimately passed as part of a&nbsp;<a href="https://instatrac-production.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/GovWatch/text/pdfs/23/bill-text/truly-agreed-to-and-finally-passed-sb150.pdf?c=38657" target="_blank">large higher education package</a>&nbsp;with bipartisan support.

Missouri lawmakers create pathway for free career-tech education

PLATTE COUNTY —A St. Joseph man is in custody for burglaries that occurred last week in the Timber Park, Running Horse Corridor, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Office.

Logan Tipton, 34,&nbsp; was charged in the Associate Court of Platte County with two counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree property damage following alleged break-ins. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750069562474.png" alt="Tipton photo Platte Co." />
 <figcaption>Tipton photo Platte Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>PLATTE COUNTY —A St. Joseph man is in custody for burglaries that occurred last week in the Timber Park, Running Horse Corridor, according to a media release from the Sheriff's Office.Logan Tipton, 34,&nbsp; was charged in the Associate Court of Platte County with two counts of second-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree property damage following alleged break-ins. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.

St. Joseph man charged for burglaries

A graduate from Northwest Missouri State University and a news anchor at KQ2 in St. Joseph, Miss Kansas City Courtney Rowe, has been crowned as Miss Missouri 2025.&nbsp;

Rowe and 20 other women competed for the title Saturday night in Mexico.&nbsp; Her community service initiative is “The Purple Project” Raising Awareness, Saving Lives,” which advocates for victims of domestic violence. Rowe is a survivor of domestic violence.

As winner of the Miss Missouri competition, Rowe will receive a $14,000 scholarship and will go onto Orlando, Florida to compete for the Miss America crown in August.&nbsp; This year was the 55th consecutive year that the Miss Missouri competition was held in mid-Missouri’s Mexico.

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1750029992510.jpeg" alt="Miss Kansas City Courtney Rowe, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and news anchor at KQ2, was crowned 2025 Miss Missouri/ Photo credit Matt Pilger, Missourinet" />
 <figcaption>Miss Kansas City Courtney Rowe, a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University and news anchor at KQ2, was crowned 2025 Miss Missouri/ Photo credit Matt Pilger, Missourinet</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKEA graduate from Northwest Missouri State University and a news anchor at KQ2 in St. Joseph, Miss Kansas City Courtney Rowe, has been crowned as Miss Missouri 2025.&nbsp;Rowe and 20 other women competed for the title Saturday night in Mexico.&nbsp; Her community service initiative is “The Purple Project” Raising Awareness, Saving Lives,” which advocates for victims of domestic violence. Rowe is a survivor of domestic violence.As winner of the Miss Missouri competition, Rowe will receive a $14,000 scholarship and will go onto Orlando, Florida to compete for the Miss America crown in August.&nbsp; This year was the 55th consecutive year that the Miss Missouri competition was held in mid-Missouri’s Mexico.You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.

NWMSU graduate, St. Joseph news personality named Miss Missouri

The Buchanan County R-IV School District must rerun a bond issue that passed in April. after an error by the Buchanan County Clerk's office.  

Superintendent Travis Dittemore says the bond for the sale of $2 million in bonds for renovations at the high school in Dekalb and elementary school in Rushville passed during the April election, however 

"When our bonding agent, which is L.J Hart, when they started the process of actually selling our bonds so we could start to collect the funds, they could not find where the ads had been properly run in area publications by the County Clerk," Dittemore tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.  "And that's part of the election process; that's part of what you pay for when you pay the clerk for an election." 

Dittemore emphasizes due to that error, the $2 million approved in April was not allowed to stand,  

"This $2 million we're asking them to raise, and I would mention this is a no tax increase, we're not raising taxes. This is perfectly doable by the district without touching any of our operating or debt service money," Dittemore explains.  "We're just asking people to understand that we don't need an additional $2 million, this is the original $2 million, we've just got to take another run at it." 

Dittemore says while the district waits to see if the issue passes, the district can continue to talk with potential contractors and get proposals and estimates 

"We just can't enter into any agreements without the district funds, because until the election passes officially and is approved by the state auditor and L.J Hart can sell the bonds, there's no funds to be had," Dittemore says.  "So basically, right now, anything that was already in place has been put on hold, we can continue to plan and organize." 

With the bond issue returning to the ballots in August, it will require 2/3 votes to pass.  Dittemore says during the April election, the bond passed easily above the 4/5 majority needed to pass. 

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/2025/6/1749840171948.png" alt="The Buchanan County R-IV School District will re run a bond issue on the August ballot, which passed in April, after an error by the Buchanan County Clerk's office nullified the original issue/ Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>The Buchanan County R-IV School District will re run a bond issue on the August ballot, which passed in April, after an error by the Buchanan County Clerk's office nullified the original issue/ Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post The Buchanan County R-IV School District must rerun a bond issue that passed in April. after an error by the Buchanan County Clerk's office. Superintendent Travis Dittemore says the bond for the sale of $2 million in bonds for renovations at the high school in Dekalb and elementary school in Rushville passed during the April election, however "When our bonding agent, which is L.J Hart, when they started the process of actually selling our bonds so we could start to collect the funds, they could not find where the ads had been properly run in area publications by the County Clerk," Dittemore tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. "And that's part of the election process; that's part of what you pay for when you pay the clerk for an election." Dittemore emphasizes due to that error, the $2 million approved in April was not allowed to stand, "This $2 million we're asking them to raise, and I would mention this is a no tax increase, we're not raising taxes. This is perfectly doable by the district without touching any of our operating or debt service money," Dittemore explains. "We're just asking people to understand that we don't need an additional $2 million, this is the original $2 million, we've just got to take another run at it." Dittemore says while the district waits to see if the issue passes, the district can continue to talk with potential contractors and get proposals and estimates "We just can't enter into any agreements without the district funds, because until the election passes officially and is approved by the state auditor and L.J Hart can sell the bonds, there's no funds to be had," Dittemore says. "So basically, right now, anything that was already in place has been put on hold, we can continue to plan and organize." With the bond issue returning to the ballots in August, it will require 2/3 votes to pass. Dittemore says during the April election, the bond passed easily above the 4/5 majority needed to pass. You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Election do over- Buchanan County R-IV must go back to polls on bond issue

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>

A $1.5 billion stadium funding plan aimed at convincing the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri was signed into law Saturday afternoon by Gov. Mike Kehoe shortly before his trip to France on a trade mission.

Kehoe signed two other bills on Saturday: one providing $125 million in aid for communities hit by severe weather and another spending around $200 million on various construction projects across the state.

The bills were the product of a two week special legislative session called by Kehoe last month designed, primarily, to counter an offer by Kansas to fund up to 70% of the construction costs for new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals if they moved across the state line. That deal expires at the end of the month.

Missouri’s counter offer would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties.

The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.

Both teams have expressed interest in leaving Missouri when the lease on their current stadiums expire in 2030.

“We called legislators back to Jefferson City because the stakes were too high to wait,” Kehoe said in an emailed statement announcing he signed the stadium funding deal.

The disaster relief provisions in the legislation address both the devastation of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis and the damages suffered by other Missourians in storms and flooding earlier in the year. The aid was required due to uncertainty about the federal response to the tornado.

Kehoe asked President Donald Trump for a federal disaster declaration for the tornado on May 25 and for April 29 storms in Scott on May 19. The president didn’t officially declare a disaster, opening the door for federal aid,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">until June 10</a>.

The governor was expected to quickly sign the bills, which passed earlier this week, because he will be in Paris on Monday for his first international trade mission. During Kehoe’s absence, Lt. Gov. David Wasinger will serve as acting governor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/5/1748263709817.png" alt="GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent)." />
 <figcaption>GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs, is pictured on Sat. Feb. 8 (Anna Spoerre/The Missouri Independent).</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/jason-hancock/">JASON HANCOCK</a> <a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/missouri-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-ban-texting-while-driving/">Missouri Independent</a>A $1.5 billion stadium funding plan aimed at convincing the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals to stay in Missouri was signed into law Saturday afternoon by Gov. Mike Kehoe shortly before his trip to France on a trade mission.Kehoe signed two other bills on Saturday: one providing $125 million in aid for communities hit by severe weather and another spending around $200 million on various construction projects across the state.The bills were the product of a two week special legislative session called by Kehoe last month designed, primarily, to counter an offer by Kansas to fund up to 70% of the construction costs for new stadiums for the Chiefs and Royals if they moved across the state line. That deal expires at the end of the month.Missouri’s counter offer would allocate state taxes collected from economic activity at Arrowhead and Kauffman to bond payments for renovations at Arrowhead and a new stadium for the Royals in Jackson or Clay counties.The cost is estimated at close to $1.5 billion over 30 years.Both teams have expressed interest in leaving Missouri when the lease on their current stadiums expire in 2030.“We called legislators back to Jefferson City because the stakes were too high to wait,” Kehoe said in an emailed statement announcing he signed the stadium funding deal.The disaster relief provisions in the legislation address both the devastation of the May 16 tornado in St. Louis and the damages suffered by other Missourians in storms and flooding earlier in the year. The aid was required due to uncertainty about the federal response to the tornado.Kehoe asked President Donald Trump for a federal disaster declaration for the tornado on May 25 and for April 29 storms in Scott on May 19. The president didn’t officially declare a disaster, opening the door for federal aid,&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/trump-allows-fema-aid-for-st-louis-tornado-recovery/">until June 10</a>.The governor was expected to quickly sign the bills, which passed earlier this week, because he will be in Paris on Monday for his first international trade mission. During Kehoe’s absence, Lt. Gov. David Wasinger will serve as acting governor.

Missouri governor signs Kansas City stadium funding, St. Louis disaster aid

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/5zjJqoHEl4TLK576gE4PSY?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 Week in Review

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Peterbilt semi driven by a 57-year-old Monticello, Arkansas man was northbound on Interstate 35 six miles south of Eagleville. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.

Harrison County EMS transported the driver the Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Friday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2025 Peterbilt semi driven by a 57-year-old Monticello, Arkansas man was northbound on Interstate 35 six miles south of Eagleville. The vehicle traveled off the east side of the road and overturned.Harrison County EMS transported the driver the Mosaic Life Care. He was properly restrained, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Driver hospitalized after semi overturns

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Harrison County.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Dodge Ram driven by a 58-year-old Eagleville man was leaving a business parking lot northbound at Route N.

The. pickup pulled into the path of an eastbound 2005 Scion XB driven by a 66-year-old Eagleville woman.&nbsp; The pickup struck the front passenger side of the Scion.

EMS transported the woman driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. The pickup driver was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

HARRISON COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8a.m. Friday in Harrison County.The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 1997 Dodge Ram driven by a 58-year-old Eagleville man was leaving a business parking lot northbound at Route N.The. pickup pulled into the path of an eastbound 2005 Scion XB driven by a 66-year-old Eagleville woman.&nbsp; The pickup struck the front passenger side of the Scion.EMS transported the woman driver to Harrison County Community Hospital. The pickup driver was not injured.&nbsp; Both drivers were not wearing seat belts, according to the MSHP. The Patrol no longer releases names of accident victims.

Missouri man injured after 2-vehicle crash

HawkFest begins
this evening in downtown St. Joseph.

HawkFest brings
blues and jazz to Coleman Hawkins Park, a celebration honoring the legacy of
St. Joseph-born jazz saxophonist, Coleman Hawkins.

Missouri Western
Director of Jazz Studies, Bob Long, a member of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz
Society, sees a growing popularity for jazz among the youth.

“It’s been great
to watch how that has developed and how the students take hold of that,” Long
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “UMKC has a great jazz program going right now. We
have one going out here. You see it happening at all the colleges right now. It’s
exciting to see.”

Long says many
have a misconception of jazz, thinking of the more traditional jazz of musicians
such as Louis Armstrong.

“But the term jazz
incorporates so much more than that,” Long says. “It can incorporate straight ahead
swing. It can include what we call fusion and funk, all these different styles.
And also, some more modern styles. It infuses all those factors into one new
genre.” 

Long invites
everyone to come to downtown St. Joseph to take in a wide variety of music.

“Hoping they get
an understanding about what jazz is about, maybe they’ll find something there
they really like and a certain style,” Long says. “The other thing I want them
to come away with is just seeing the excitement of the youth performing and see
the future of this music is moving forward with the youth. That to me is as
important as anything else.”

The blues takes
center stage Friday night at Coleman Hawkins Park with performances beginning
at six o’clock Jazz takes over Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749831621645.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostHawkFest begins
this evening in downtown St. Joseph.HawkFest brings
blues and jazz to Coleman Hawkins Park, a celebration honoring the legacy of
St. Joseph-born jazz saxophonist, Coleman Hawkins.Missouri Western
Director of Jazz Studies, Bob Long, a member of the Coleman Hawkins Jazz
Society, sees a growing popularity for jazz among the youth.“It’s been great
to watch how that has developed and how the students take hold of that,” Long
tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “UMKC has a great jazz program going right now. We
have one going out here. You see it happening at all the colleges right now. It’s
exciting to see.”Long says many
have a misconception of jazz, thinking of the more traditional jazz of musicians
such as Louis Armstrong.“But the term jazz
incorporates so much more than that,” Long says. “It can incorporate straight ahead
swing. It can include what we call fusion and funk, all these different styles.
And also, some more modern styles. It infuses all those factors into one new
genre.” Long invites
everyone to come to downtown St. Joseph to take in a wide variety of music.“Hoping they get
an understanding about what jazz is about, maybe they’ll find something there
they really like and a certain style,” Long says. “The other thing I want them
to come away with is just seeing the excitement of the youth performing and see
the future of this music is moving forward with the youth. That to me is as
important as anything else.”The blues takes
center stage Friday night at Coleman Hawkins Park with performances beginning
at six o’clock Jazz takes over Saturday afternoon, beginning at 1:30.HawkFest is free
and open to the public.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

HawkFest brings blues and jazz to downtown St. Joseph

Higher education
is entering a new world.

Missouri Western
State University Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Andy
Otto, says the demographics don’t look good.

“The biggest
thing, if you follow higher education in any fashion, is there’s the thing
called the enrollment cliff, where the college-going population is about to
drop off," Otto tells KFEQmmunity.

Otto says it
simply is a matter of numbers. There aren’t as many 16-to-18 year olds now as
in the past.

“That has kind of
been this impending, daunting issue that everyone in higher ed has kind of had
their eye on for the last few years,” Otto says.

It is a challenge Otto
must confront as the new Chief Enrollment Officer at Missouri Western. Otto
also serves as Chief Communications Officer after Missouri Western combined the
positions of enrollment management and marketing. 

Otto began his duties
on the St. Joseph campus in April after serving at William Woods University in
Fulton since 2022. Prior to that, he worked for nine years at his alma mater, Ottawa
University in Kansas.

The pending
enrollment cliff creates a challenge for the nation’s colleges and universities.
Otto says Missouri Western is up to the challenge, but must fit its educational
offerings with the demands of workforce, both for today’s job market and that
of tomorrow.

“I think skills
are a huge piece to where higher education’s going; the workforce,” according
to Otto. “How can we translate that to the workforce? So, when you have
programs like we hold out at the Houlne Center that we talk about industrial
engineering, manufacturing, cyber security, occupations that are in high demand
right now.”

The cost of
college has also become an issue, along with the national debate over student
debt. Otto says even with the rising cost of a college education, studies show
that those with a degree earn more over their lifetime than those with only a
high school education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749834126550.jpeg" alt="Houlne Center of Convergent Technology" />
 <figcaption>Houlne Center of Convergent Technology</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostHigher education
is entering a new world.Missouri Western
State University Vice President of Enrollment Management and Marketing, Andy
Otto, says the demographics don’t look good.“The biggest
thing, if you follow higher education in any fashion, is there’s the thing
called the enrollment cliff, where the college-going population is about to
drop off," Otto tells KFEQmmunity.Otto says it
simply is a matter of numbers. There aren’t as many 16-to-18 year olds now as
in the past.“That has kind of
been this impending, daunting issue that everyone in higher ed has kind of had
their eye on for the last few years,” Otto says.It is a challenge Otto
must confront as the new Chief Enrollment Officer at Missouri Western. Otto
also serves as Chief Communications Officer after Missouri Western combined the
positions of enrollment management and marketing. Otto began his duties
on the St. Joseph campus in April after serving at William Woods University in
Fulton since 2022. Prior to that, he worked for nine years at his alma mater, Ottawa
University in Kansas.The pending
enrollment cliff creates a challenge for the nation’s colleges and universities.
Otto says Missouri Western is up to the challenge, but must fit its educational
offerings with the demands of workforce, both for today’s job market and that
of tomorrow.“I think skills
are a huge piece to where higher education’s going; the workforce,” according
to Otto. “How can we translate that to the workforce? So, when you have
programs like we hold out at the Houlne Center that we talk about industrial
engineering, manufacturing, cyber security, occupations that are in high demand
right now.”The cost of
college has also become an issue, along with the national debate over student
debt. Otto says even with the rising cost of a college education, studies show
that those with a degree earn more over their lifetime than those with only a
high school education.<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/6F5FqtwvUNSlscFwFmgpaD?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&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

MWSU VP says the college must cope with new world of higher ed

St. Joseph School District officials
continue to look toward the future, though it’s not the future they had
planned.

“Plan A failed, so Plan B is to still go
to two high schools with that being Central and Lafayette,” Assistant
Superintendent of Academic and Education Services, Ashly McGinnis, says defeat
at the polls in April won’t change the long-range plan to reduce the number of
public high schools from three to two.

McGinnis, who soon will become
superintendent, tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post the district is looking at expanding
parking and the cafeteria at Lafayette to hold more students. 

“We still haven’t given up hope on a new
high school,” McGinnis says. “I think we need that for our community to move
forward. Our administrative team believes that, that that will draw folks into
our community and have people live here and be invested in our community. And so,
we haven’t given up on a new high school.”

Voters in April turned down a $157
million bond issue the St. Joseph School District proposed to build a new high
school. The issue needed 57% majority to pass. It received only 46% of the
vote.

McGinnis says declining enrollment and a
staffing shortage are really driving the move to reduce the number of public
high schools in St. Joseph from three to two. Central High School is the largest
with approximately 1,650 students. Benton has 620 students with the Lafayette student population at
585.

“So we’ve talked about some unequal
opportunities across the board at all three high schools, which is another
reason why we want to go to two high schools to condense our resources and
provide better services for all of our kids,” McGinnis says.

McGinnis says school officials have
already walked through Central and Lafayette High Schools to determine what
must be done to fit the new model.

Board of Education Vice President, Ronda
Chesney, says the board has big decisions ahead.

“Look at what the administrators have
proposed to us,” Chesney says, “asking any questions that we need to ask and
looking at the big picture of our district I think is important so that we’re
making sure that all students in our district receive the best possible education.”

McGinnis says the district’s
administrators and the Board of Education will be working together to better
detail the long-range plan.

By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph School District officials
continue to look toward the future, though it’s not the future they had
planned.“Plan A failed, so Plan B is to still go
to two high schools with that being Central and Lafayette,” Assistant
Superintendent of Academic and Education Services, Ashly McGinnis, says defeat
at the polls in April won’t change the long-range plan to reduce the number of
public high schools from three to two.McGinnis, who soon will become
superintendent, tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post the district is looking at expanding
parking and the cafeteria at Lafayette to hold more students. “We still haven’t given up hope on a new
high school,” McGinnis says. “I think we need that for our community to move
forward. Our administrative team believes that, that that will draw folks into
our community and have people live here and be invested in our community. And so,
we haven’t given up on a new high school.”Voters in April turned down a $157
million bond issue the St. Joseph School District proposed to build a new high
school. The issue needed 57% majority to pass. It received only 46% of the
vote.McGinnis says declining enrollment and a
staffing shortage are really driving the move to reduce the number of public
high schools in St. Joseph from three to two. Central High School is the largest
with approximately 1,650 students. Benton has 620 students with the Lafayette student population at
585.“So we’ve talked about some unequal
opportunities across the board at all three high schools, which is another
reason why we want to go to two high schools to condense our resources and
provide better services for all of our kids,” McGinnis says.McGinnis says school officials have
already walked through Central and Lafayette High Schools to determine what
must be done to fit the new model.Board of Education Vice President, Ronda
Chesney, says the board has big decisions ahead.“Look at what the administrators have
proposed to us,” Chesney says, “asking any questions that we need to ask and
looking at the big picture of our district I think is important so that we’re
making sure that all students in our district receive the best possible education.”McGinnis says the district’s
administrators and the Board of Education will be working together to better
detail the long-range plan.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

St. Joseph school officials look toward future and Plan B

By MATT PIKESt. Joseph Post<div><iframe style="border-radius:12px" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/1J67PodIRst2vBlUyEtb4p?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/14hPaU3rrNLYafjdksZ1o5?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

Tomorrow, St. Joseph will host its first ever video game convention.  

St. Joseph Retro Con is happening tomorrow at the Good Times Event Center, beginning bright and early for VIP's at 8am, and the general audience at 9am.  

Organizer Colt Skouby says there has been a lot of interest in having something like this around the community 

"We don't have any game stores in town besides Gamestop and Entertainmart, so wanted to give our community a chance to have something different, see some amazing vendors, celebrities, special guests, cosplay contest, just a big way to bring in the community," Skouby tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin.  

Skouby says one of the biggest draws of the convention will be famed artist Paule E Niemeyer  

"For those in the video game community he is really big, he is actually the original artist for Mortal Kombat, so that iconic Mortal Kombat logo that we all know, and love is going to be there," Skouby explains.  "He's also done work on Tron, all the Pac-Man's, some major motion pictures he was in charge of their advertisement, Lost World: Jurassic Park, Men in Black 2, and a bunch of others."

There will also be a cosplay contest as well as several vendors.  Tickets to the event are two dollars, or three dollars for VIPs. It will run until 5pm.   

Skouby says as more video games move to be digital only, it's nice to have conventions like this to keep physical games alive for people 

"Relive their childhood, I love when I vend shows and a parent goes up to their kid and is like I used to have that as a kid, this is what I used to play," Skouby says.  "So, if i can make those memories for kids to pass on, that would mean the world, because kids are the future of anything." 

There will also be a big after party for people 21 and older, which will go from 7 to 11pm, 10 dollars general admission or five if you attended the con. 

By MATT PIKE St. Joseph Post Tomorrow, St. Joseph will host its first ever video game convention. St. Joseph Retro Con is happening tomorrow at the Good Times Event Center, beginning bright and early for VIP's at 8am, and the general audience at 9am. Organizer Colt Skouby says there has been a lot of interest in having something like this around the community "We don't have any game stores in town besides Gamestop and Entertainmart, so wanted to give our community a chance to have something different, see some amazing vendors, celebrities, special guests, cosplay contest, just a big way to bring in the community," Skouby tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. Skouby says one of the biggest draws of the convention will be famed artist Paule E Niemeyer "For those in the video game community he is really big, he is actually the original artist for Mortal Kombat, so that iconic Mortal Kombat logo that we all know, and love is going to be there," Skouby explains. "He's also done work on Tron, all the Pac-Man's, some major motion pictures he was in charge of their advertisement, Lost World: Jurassic Park, Men in Black 2, and a bunch of others."<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F61570916127554%2Fvideos%2F1929901964495241%2F&show_text=true&width=309&t=0" width="309" height="591" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>There will also be a cosplay contest as well as several vendors. Tickets to the event are two dollars, or three dollars for VIPs. It will run until 5pm. Skouby says as more video games move to be digital only, it's nice to have conventions like this to keep physical games alive for people "Relive their childhood, I love when I vend shows and a parent goes up to their kid and is like I used to have that as a kid, this is what I used to play," Skouby says. "So, if i can make those memories for kids to pass on, that would mean the world, because kids are the future of anything." There will also be a big after party for people 21 and older, which will go from 7 to 11pm, 10 dollars general admission or five if you attended the con. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749832278190.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Retro Convention Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of St. Joseph Retro Convention Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

St. Joseph's first video game convention happening this weekend

By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/zoenaylor/">Zoe Naylor</a>&nbsp;-

A “No Kings” demonstration is scheduled Saturday in downtown Columbia, one of nearly 30 planned in Missouri and almost 2,000 across the country against Trump administration policies.

The “No Kings Day of Defiance” was organized nationwide at the same time a military parade will mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.

In response to the planned rallies in Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Thursday that he had activated the Missouri National Guard in preparation for the protests. The Guard will be mobilized only if “assistance is needed to support local law enforcement,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.

The rallies across the country are intended to “honor civil liberties for all” and protest deportation, U.S. actions in Gaza and recent funding cuts to government departments such as USAID, said Jeff Stack, coordinator of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation and an organizer of the demonstration in Columbia.

A number of rallies are planned in Kansas City and St. Louis, with additional demonstrations scheduled in Boonville, Fayette, Marshall, Jefferson City, Warrensburg, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, Rolla, St. Joseph, Poplar Bluff, West Plains, Kirksville, Maryville, Clinton and several other locations.

The demonstrations were spurred by the 50501 movement, a network of opposition that organizes and calls for protests across the country. The number refers to 50 protests, 50 states, one movement, according to the organization’s website.

It began on the social media platform Reddit after Trump’s second inauguration in January. The movement issued a statement earlier this month that “all No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety.”

Saturday is also Flag Day, a federal holiday that marks the adoption of the American flag on the date in 1777. No protest rally will be held in Washington, D.C., with the organizers saying it will “make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”

The rally in Columbia will be a “nonpartisan event,” Stack said. It is not in direct response to the presence of the National Guard and ICE in Los Angeles, Stack said, but federal action on the streets of California is emblematic of what will be protested.

“We’re not aligned with one particular party,” Stack said. “We’re just concerned about the policies.”

The goals of “No Kings” are to “give people a chance to come together to air grievances” and “honor the human rights and civil rights that we all have,” he said.

Cutting federal funding, deporting immigrants, enacting policies that “benefit the wealthiest of the wealthy” and laying off scores of federal employees are examples of the grievances, Stack said.

The demonstration in Columbia will begin at 11 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut St. Speakers will address the crowd until about 12:30 p.m., when there will be a march through downtown.

This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/at-least-30-no-kings-rallies-are-planned-saturday-in-missouri-thousands-nationwide/article_8af6088b-9252-4dc1-91e2-5c06d1f6ddb3.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749822989688.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By:&nbsp;<a href="https://missouriindependent.com/author/zoenaylor/">Zoe Naylor</a>&nbsp;-A “No Kings” demonstration is scheduled Saturday in downtown Columbia, one of nearly 30 planned in Missouri and almost 2,000 across the country against Trump administration policies.The “No Kings Day of Defiance” was organized nationwide at the same time a military parade will mark the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary in Washington, D.C. The date also coincides with President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.In response to the planned rallies in Missouri, Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Thursday that he had activated the Missouri National Guard in preparation for the protests. The Guard will be mobilized only if “assistance is needed to support local law enforcement,” according to a news release from the governor’s office.The rallies across the country are intended to “honor civil liberties for all” and protest deportation, U.S. actions in Gaza and recent funding cuts to government departments such as USAID, said Jeff Stack, coordinator of the Mid-Missouri Fellowship of Reconciliation and an organizer of the demonstration in Columbia.A number of rallies are planned in Kansas City and St. Louis, with additional demonstrations scheduled in Boonville, Fayette, Marshall, Jefferson City, Warrensburg, Cape Girardeau, Springfield, Joplin, Rolla, St. Joseph, Poplar Bluff, West Plains, Kirksville, Maryville, Clinton and several other locations.The demonstrations were spurred by the 50501 movement, a network of opposition that organizes and calls for protests across the country. The number refers to 50 protests, 50 states, one movement, according to the organization’s website.It began on the social media platform Reddit after Trump’s second inauguration in January. The movement issued a statement earlier this month that “all No Kings events adhere to a shared commitment to nonviolent protest and community safety.”Saturday is also Flag Day, a federal holiday that marks the adoption of the American flag on the date in 1777. No protest rally will be held in Washington, D.C., with the organizers saying it will “make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”The rally in Columbia will be a “nonpartisan event,” Stack said. It is not in direct response to the presence of the National Guard and ICE in Los Angeles, Stack said, but federal action on the streets of California is emblematic of what will be protested.“We’re not aligned with one particular party,” Stack said. “We’re just concerned about the policies.”The goals of “No Kings” are to “give people a chance to come together to air grievances” and “honor the human rights and civil rights that we all have,” he said.Cutting federal funding, deporting immigrants, enacting policies that “benefit the wealthiest of the wealthy” and laying off scores of federal employees are examples of the grievances, Stack said.The demonstration in Columbia will begin at 11 a.m. at the Boone County Courthouse, 705 E. Walnut St. Speakers will address the crowd until about 12:30 p.m., when there will be a march through downtown.This story originally appeared in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/at-least-30-no-kings-rallies-are-planned-saturday-in-missouri-thousands-nationwide/article_8af6088b-9252-4dc1-91e2-5c06d1f6ddb3.html#tncms-source=topstory" target="_blank">Columbia Missourian</a>. It can be republished in print or online.&nbsp;

At least 30 ‘No Kings’ rallies planned Saturday in Missouri, thousands nationwide

<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Troop H will conduct a Hazardous Moving Violations Operation on Saturday, June 28th, in Clinton, Daviess &amp; Harrison counties. Troopers will focus on violations that contribute to vehicle crashes. Obey all traffic laws, avoid distractions &amp; never drive impaired. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BuckleUpPhoneDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BuckleUpPhoneDown</a> <a href="https://t.co/gL3nYum6E8">pic.twitter.com/gL3nYum6E8</a>&mdash; MSHP Troop H (@MSHPTrooperH) <a href="https://twitter.com/MSHPTrooperH/status/1933191112451334331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>

MSHP will conduct a hazardous moving violations operation Saturday

St. Joseph’s
celebration of Juneteenth begins this weekend and stretches over the next couple
of weeks.

Executive
Director, Sara Wilson, with St. Joseph Museums says it all begins this weekend with
the theatrical production of Our Town at the Missouri Theater.

“So, we have just
a lot of fun stuff going on over the next couple of weeks,” Wilson tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I hope everybody will come out and celebrate Juneteenth,
because Juneteenth is for everyone. It is a national holiday now and we are all
celebrating it together.” 

Our Town will be
performed at the Missouri Theater Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

A 3-Point Shootout
will be held at the Bartlett Center on the 15th. The Juneteenth Gala
will be held on the 19th, followed by the Juneteenth Family Festival
and Vendor Fair on the 20th and 21st. The Juneteenth
Parade and Fashion Show will be held on the 21st, with the
Juneteenth Family Picnic the following day.

Wilson says
Juneteenth should be a celebration for everyone.

“I think it should
be really an exciting celebration of freedom. We live in the United States
where we are free,” Wilson says. “And that’s what we want to celebrate is the
emancipation of all people, for us to be who we are and embrace who we are, to
celebrate culture and to celebrate our differences as well as our
commonalities.”

Juneteenth
celebrates the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The United States
Capitol Historical Society states that on June 19th, 1865, more than a quarter
million slaves in Galveston, Texas received news of their emancipation from Union
Army General, Gordon Granger.

President Joe
Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at the White House in
2021. It is observed on June 19th.

Wilson says
Juneteenth should be seen as a celebration of freedom.

“We tend to
celebrate the Fourth of July as the celebration of freedom, but Juneteenth is
the celebration of freedom for all people,” Wilson says. “For many years, not
all Americans were free. And so, Juneteenth is the celebration of the freedom
for all Americans.” 

Click <a href="https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth">HERE</a> for
more on the Juneteenth celebration.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/6/1749756521159.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>By BRENT MARTINSt. Joseph PostSt. Joseph’s
celebration of Juneteenth begins this weekend and stretches over the next couple
of weeks.Executive
Director, Sara Wilson, with St. Joseph Museums says it all begins this weekend with
the theatrical production of Our Town at the Missouri Theater.“So, we have just
a lot of fun stuff going on over the next couple of weeks,” Wilson tells
KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “I hope everybody will come out and celebrate Juneteenth,
because Juneteenth is for everyone. It is a national holiday now and we are all
celebrating it together.” Our Town will be
performed at the Missouri Theater Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.A 3-Point Shootout
will be held at the Bartlett Center on the 15th. The Juneteenth Gala
will be held on the 19th, followed by the Juneteenth Family Festival
and Vendor Fair on the 20th and 21st. The Juneteenth
Parade and Fashion Show will be held on the 21st, with the
Juneteenth Family Picnic the following day.Wilson says
Juneteenth should be a celebration for everyone.“I think it should
be really an exciting celebration of freedom. We live in the United States
where we are free,” Wilson says. “And that’s what we want to celebrate is the
emancipation of all people, for us to be who we are and embrace who we are, to
celebrate culture and to celebrate our differences as well as our
commonalities.”Juneteenth
celebrates the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. The United States
Capitol Historical Society states that on June 19th, 1865, more than a quarter
million slaves in Galveston, Texas received news of their emancipation from Union
Army General, Gordon Granger.President Joe
Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at the White House in
2021. It is observed on June 19th.Wilson says
Juneteenth should be seen as a celebration of freedom.“We tend to
celebrate the Fourth of July as the celebration of freedom, but Juneteenth is
the celebration of freedom for all people,” Wilson says. “For many years, not
all Americans were free. And so, Juneteenth is the celebration of the freedom
for all Americans.” Click <a href="https://www.stjosephmuseum.org/juneteenth">HERE</a> for
more on the Juneteenth celebration.You can follow&nbsp;Brent on X @GBrentKFEQ and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.

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